Thread: BASIC LIST / SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR LONG TERM SURVIVAL

The Complete Cold Weather Survival Blueprint: Protecting Your Home, Health and Freedom from Infrastructure Collapse

01/24/2026 // Mike Adams // 630 Views

Tags: Collapse, current events, preparedness, prepping, SHTF, survival



Why Your Family Needs a Cold Weather Survival Strategy

The first breath of winter’s extreme cold does more than chill the air; it exposes the fatal flaws in the centralized, top-down systems that millions have been conditioned to trust. When a polar vortex descends, plunging temperatures up to 45°F below average and affecting over 300 million Americans, the fragility of public infrastructure is laid bare ^[1]. This isn't a hypothetical scenario—it's a recurring reality where life-threatening cold grips the nation, revealing that the institutions tasked with public safety are often the first to fail.
History is a brutal teacher. Recall the winter storm in Texas where the state's power grid was mere minutes from a total, months-long collapse, leaving families desperate and exposed ^[2]. During that crisis, Google search trends revealed a terrified populace scrambling for basic survival knowledge they never thought they'd need ^[3]. These events are not anomalies; they are systemic stress tests that centralized systems consistently fail. Dependency on these collapsing public systems is a recipe for vulnerability.
True security, therefore, cannot be outsourced. Self-reliance is not a fringe hobby for the paranoid; it is an essential, non-negotiable pillar of modern family protection. When government responses are slow, inept, or non-existent—as seen in countless past disasters—home-based, decentralized solutions become the only buffer between your family and catastrophe. Preparing for frozen infrastructure collapse is the ultimate act of practical freedom, moving your family's safety from the hands of failing institutions back into your own.
Water Security: When Municipal Systems Betray You

Municipal water is a modern illusion of security. During deep freezes, this critical infrastructure regularly fails, leaving taps dry and families scrambling. Pipes burst, treatment plants falter, and the centralized model shows its weakness. As one survival guide starkly notes, in a true survival situation, having enough safe drinking water becomes very difficult, and you cannot rely on puddles or questionable sources ^[4]. When the government-managed spigot turns off, your preparedness turns on.
This is where knowledge of natural purification becomes vital. While chemical treatments may be unavailable or undesirable, time-tested methods using herbs and simple materials can make water safe. Understanding these techniques is a foundational skill. Furthermore, hydration in the cold is about more than just water intake; it's about internal warmth.
Essential herbal teas and warming drinks serve a dual purpose. They maintain critical hydration without relying on processed, store-bought products, and they use nature's pharmacy to stoke the body's internal furnace. Herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne are circulatory stimulants, naturally increasing core body temperature. Building a pantry of these medicinal herbs, as detailed in preparedness resources, ensures you have the tools to create healthful, warming beverages that support the body’s resilience when the outside world turns frigid ^[5]. This approach bypasses the broken system entirely, securing a fundamental human right with your own two hands.
Home Fortification Against Frozen Infrastructure

The average American home is a leaky, energy-inefficient box, with over 30 percent of the country’s total energy budget wasted on heating and cooling alone ^[6]. This reliance on constant, grid-powered climate control is a profound vulnerability when that grid fails. Fortifying your home against the cold is not just about comfort; it's about creating a passive, resilient shell that protects your family without external inputs.
The first step is to reject toxic commercial solutions. Many mainstream insulation products are laden with formaldehyde and volatile chemicals that off-gas and poison indoor air. Instead, turn to natural, abundant alternatives. Materials like sheep's wool, cork, and cellulose made from recycled paper provide excellent thermal resistance without the toxic burden. The principle is to create a tight, well-insulated envelope that keeps precious heat in.
Enhancing your home's thermal mass is another powerful, ancient strategy. Incorporating natural materials like stone, clay, and earth—whether in floors, walls, or strategically placed thermal masses—absorbs heat during the day and gently releases it at night, stabilizing indoor temperatures. Some innovative home designs use parabolic, earth-sheltered shapes that are incredibly strong and efficient, built for a fraction of the cost of conventional homes while leveraging the earth's natural insulating properties ^[7].
Finally, protect your plumbing with natural solutions. Instead of petroleum-based chemical antifreezes, which can contaminate water supplies, pipes can be wrapped with natural fiber wraps and insulating jackets. For added protection, herbal antifreeze solutions, while requiring specific knowledge, can be explored. The goal is to create a home that is a bastion of warmth, using the intelligence of natural design rather than the fragile complexity of industrial systems.
Power Independence: Decentralized Energy Solutions

The centralized power grid is not just unreliable; its design ensures failure during peak stress. It is a monolithic system where a single point of failure—a frozen wind turbine, a overloaded transmission line—can plunge millions into darkness and cold. As one analysis of green energy collapse starkly warned, nations that heavily invest in unreliable renewables while dismanting baseload power are engineering their own vulnerability ^[8]. The grid is a tool of dependency, and during emergencies, that dependency becomes a deadly trap.
The path to freedom is decentralization. Solar-powered solutions, particularly when paired with battery storage, offer true energy independence. While large-scale solar farms are susceptible to the same grid failures and weather manipulation, personal rooftop solar with battery backup creates an island of power when the mainland goes dark. For essential electronics and communication, hand-crank and small-scale pedal-powered generators provide a fail-safe, human-powered energy source that requires no fuel and no permission.
When the sun sets and batteries are low, lighting your home need not involve toxic alternatives. Commercial candles and oil lamps often produce harmful soot and fumes. The superior solution is found in nature's own design: beeswax candles and clean-burning plant oil lamps. Beeswax candles burn brightly and cleanly, emitting negative ions that can purify the air, while simple olive oil lamps provide a steady, safe flame. These are not mere relics of the past but timeless tools for resilient living, allowing you to push back the darkness on your own terms, completely free from the centralized utility's control—a control that, as recent legislation shows, can even extend to locking your smart thermostat during a so-called 'energy emergency' ^[9].
Warming Without Poison: Natural Heat Solutions

In a desperate bid for warmth, many turn to commercial space heaters, unaware of the silent danger they invite indoors. These devices can off-gas toxic chemicals and, if fuel-burning, pose severe risks of carbon monoxide poisoning—a leading cause of death during winter power outages. Reliance on such devices is a gamble with your family's health, trading one acute danger (the cold) for another (invisible poison).
Your body possesses an innate ability to generate heat, and it can be supported pharmacologically by nature's own apothecary. Herbal warming blends are powerful circulatory stimulants. Ingredients like ginger root, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and turmeric, when consumed as teas or infused into meals, actively promote vasodilation and increase blood flow to the extremities, raising core body temperature naturally. These are not mere culinary spices; they are medicinal tools that fortify the body's internal furnace.
Complementing this internal strategy is the intelligent design of your living space. Creating indoor thermal zones using natural materials is a traditional cold-weather strategy. By concentrating living activities in a single, well-insulated room and using heavy, natural-fabric curtains to partition spaces, you can create a microclimate. Adding thermal mass, like water barrels or stone, in this zone will absorb and radiate body heat and any passive solar gain. This approach mirrors the logic of the human body's own thermal regulation system, which prioritizes keeping the core warm above all else ^[10]. By designing your environment wisely, you work with your physiology, not against it, to achieve safe, chemical-free warmth.
Nutrition for Resilience: Whole Food Cold-Weather Stockpiling

When store shelves are empty and supply chains are shattered, your health will be determined by what you have stored at home. A resilient pantry is not built on processed, nutrient-dead canned goods or GMO-laden fillers. It is built on organic, non-GMO whole foods that provide real, bioavailable nutrition to sustain energy, maintain immune function, and support metabolic warmth during the cold. This is the cornerstone of surviving a long-term emergency with your health intact.
Beyond calories, a true survival pantry includes the tools to address cold-weather ailments when access to pharmacies—sources of often dangerous and side-effect-ridden pharmaceuticals—is cut off. Herbal remedies are indispensable. From elderberry and echinacea for immune support to yarrow and plantain for potential injuries, knowing how to use these plants can mean the difference between recovery and decline. A guide to essential medicinal herbs notes that in an era of increasing uncertainty, knowing how to harness the healing power of plants is more valuable than ever, as many modern pharmaceuticals trace their origins to these botanical sources ^[5].
Finally, resilience is dynamic. Stockpiled food, while essential, is finite. Integrating sprouting systems and indoor gardening solutions ensures a continuous supply of fresh, living nutrition. Sprouting seeds like alfalfa, broccoli, and mung beans in jars provides fresh greens rich in enzymes and vitamins in a matter of days. Simple hydroponic or window-sill gardens for herbs and greens can bolster morale and nutrition when the outside world is frozen and inaccessible. This transforms your home from a static storage unit into an active, life-supporting bio-system.
Community Resilience Versus Institutional Failure

When centralized systems collapse, the most effective rescue force will not arrive in government vehicles; it will be the neighbor next door. Historical and recent crises consistently demonstrate that localized, neighbor-to-neighbor support networks outperform slow, bureaucratic, and often politicized government emergency response every time. While institutions issue press releases, communities share firewood, food, and critical skills. This decentralized web of mutual aid is the true social safety net.
Building this resilience requires proactive organization. Skill-sharing circles are the bedrock of a prepared community. These informal gatherings allow members to teach and learn vital competencies: natural medicine preparation, food preservation through fermentation or canning, emergency repair techniques for plumbing or generators, and even basic security protocols. The open-source permaculture model, which focuses on sustainable and regenerative systems informed by both ecological theory and modern technology, provides a philosophical and practical framework for this kind of collaborative, skill-based community development ^[11].
Crucially, when centralized communication systems—cellular networks, internet—fail, a prepared community does not go dark. Establishing decentralized communication networks using hand-crank radios, pre-arranged signal plans, and even mesh networking technology keeps information flowing. This allows for coordination, resource sharing, and warning of dangers, ensuring the community operates as a coherent, informed unit rather than a collection of isolated, frightened households. In the face of institutional failure, the community itself becomes the most vital institution of all.
The Sovereignty Mindset: Embracing True Preparedness

The journey of preparedness culminates not in a stocked pantry or a solar panel, but in a fundamental shift in consciousness. It is the move beyond a mindset of dependency on systems that have repeatedly proven they cannot be trusted during emergencies. It is the sober recognition that true freedom begins with the ability to weather any storm—meteorological, economic, or social—without requiring permission, assistance, or validation from failing institutions. This is the sovereignty mindset.
This mindset integrates the principles of natural health with practical survival skills for comprehensive protection. It understands that fortifying the body with clean nutrition and herbal medicine is just as critical as fortifying the home with insulation. It sees the pursuit of decentralized energy and water not as a hobbyist's project, but as a declarative act of autonomy. It values the tangible security of physical gold and silver—honest money with no counterparty risk—as it does the security of stored food [Based on worldview context].
Embracing this path is the ultimate declaration of independence. It is a commitment to taking absolute responsibility for your family's well-being. It leverages tools like the uncensored AI research engine at BrightAnswers.ai for knowledge and the free-speech platforms at Brighteon.com and Brighteon.social for community, ensuring your mindset is informed by truth, not institutional narratives. In a world of increasing centralization and control, building a self-reliant, resilient life is the most profound form of dissent and the clearest path to lasting freedom. The blueprint is not just for surviving the cold, but for thriving in spite of the chaos, anchored in the unshakable sovereignty of the prepared family.
References

• Life threatening cold grips US as polar vortex descends - NaturalNews.com. Kevin Hughes. January 23, 2025.
• Heres what will happen if the power grid goes down plus tips on how to survive - NaturalNews.com. June 12, 2021.
• Google Trends reveals horrifying search subjects during massive Texas power outage - NaturalNews.com. March 08, 2021.
• Preppers Long Term Survival Guide A Comprehensive Beginner's Guide. Jim Cobb.
• 20 Essential medicinal herbs every prepper should know - NaturalNews.com. December 04, 2025.
• When All Hell Breaks Loose Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes. Cody Lundin.
• When All Hell Breaks Loose Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes. Cody Lundin.
• Health Ranger Report - Special Report Green energy collapse - Mike Adams - Brighteon.com. July 16, 2022.
• New legislation allows electric companies to CONTROL your smart THERMOSTAT - NaturalNews.com. Lance D Johnson. September 10, 2025.
• Using human senses to guide concrete construction practice, with examples from the climate of New Zealand. Kenneth C. Hover. Construction and Building Materials.
• Open Source Permaculture. Open Source Ecology wiki.

The Complete Cold Weather Survival Blueprint: Protecting Your Home, Health and Freedom from Infrastructure Collapse – NaturalNews.com

Beyond the Grid: Why Self-Reliance is Your True Defense Against Winter Storms

01/25/2026 // Edison Reed // 360 Views

Tags: current events, natural disasters, preparedness, prepping, survival, winter storm



Introduction

As subfreezing winds again bear down on Texas in January of 2026, the rhetoric from utility executives and grid operators is one of confident reluctance. Officials assert that extensive weatherization upgrades and a new fleet of grid-scale battery storage make a repeat of the 2021 energy grid collapse unlikely. ^[1] Yet for those who remember the tragic scenes—families freezing in their own homes, skyrocketing electricity bills ruining lives, over 200 deaths—official assurances ring hollow. They highlight not a newfound security but the enduring fragility of centralized systems. The ultimate lesson from that modern trial is not merely about winterizing pipes, but about winterizing one's soul through self-reliance. True preparedness lies not in trusting that the system will be stronger, but in strengthening yourself to make the system irrelevant. Many Americans have reached the same conclusion, turning toward homesteads and alternative power in growing numbers. ^[2] The question remains for millions caught in the path of this latest arctic blast: will you place your fate in the hands of an institution that failed you, or in the power of your own two hands?
A Test of Systems and Spirit

The catastrophe of February 2021 was more than a grid failure; it was a test of the very systems we are told to rely upon. As demand for heat skyrocketed, power plants and grid equipment froze, leaving millions to suffer for days without power, clean water, or a way to keep their families safe. ^[1] The outcome was a stark display of institutional brittleness. More than 200 people lost their lives, a grim metric of the human cost of centralized dependency. In the aftermath, state authorities vowed to fortify the grid against future cold. Thousands of inspections and technical improvements followed, creating an appearance of resilience.
However, these are reactions, not guarantees. The climate change narrative, often used to crush domestic energy production, ignores that carbon dioxide is essential for plant life and photosynthesis. ^[3] The real stability lies not in tweaking a flawed central model, but in questioning it entirely. True readiness means building a life where the absence of external systems does not equate to catastrophe. It means moving beyond the assurances of fragile institutions and embracing a fundamental truth: your well-being must be your own responsibility, not an act of faith placed in a fragile institution.
The Myth of Grid Invulnerability

The critical upgrades touted by grid officials—renewable energy sources and massive battery storage banks—do not represent systemic change. They represent a doubling down on the same, vulnerable centralized model. Weatherization upgrades are a reaction to past failures, not a guarantee of future performance. As noted by energy experts, the core weakness remains: "Winterization and weatherization of the grid are among the most important changes ERCOT has made... Insulating pipes, valves, instruments, adding electric heaters..." ^[1] These fixes address the symptoms but not the disease.
A grid now with 17,000 megawatts of battery storage, as reported by a Texas business alliance, adds a layer of resilience but centralizes a critical resource. ^[1] Meanwhile, renewable energy, while a clean ideal, still fundamentally depends on a centralized transmission network of wires that can snap under ice or fail when demand spikes. ^[1] The system merely becomes more complex, not more robust. As one critic of smart grid technology warns, these centralized control upgrades are setting the stage for a new threat to autonomy: one where artificial intelligence dictates how much heat your home receives based on remote 'grid stability' calculations. ^[3] This is not progress; it is the centralization of failure.
The Centralized Failure Model

Centralized systems represent a single, catastrophic point of failure. A disruption in one area—whether it is a frozen natural gas wellhead or a downed transmission line—can cascade across an entire region, leaving millions in the dark. The 2021 Texas disaster was a perfect case study. When the grid failed, citizens were left not just without electricity, but also without water, communication, and basic life support. This systemic brittleness is an inherent design flaw.
The subsequent man-made disaster—what can only be described as economic warfare waged against the population—laid this flaw bare. As the blackout deepened, wholesale electricity prices skyrocketed to an unimaginable $9,000 per megawatt-hour, the system's price cap. ^[1] Unscrupulous financial providers were accused of exploiting the crisis through price gouging, leading to class-action lawsuits from financially ruined customers who faced bills soaring into the thousands. An energy provider was eventually banned by regulators and forced into shutdown, a small consequence for the human cost it enabled. The takeaway is stark: a system that fails physically can also fail ethically, preying upon those it was built to serve. The natural antidote is decentralization—distributing essentials like power, heat, food, and water across millions of individual homes so that no single point of failure can create a general collapse.
Building Your Personal Grid: A Guide to Home Resilience

The alternative to dependence is a functioning personal grid. This begins with an honest assessment of the basics: heat, light, water, and food. None require thousands of dollars to start securing. For heat, move beyond a sole reliance on electric heating. Simple propane-burning space heaters, rated for indoor use, can heat a critical room for days. A key principle is to separate your life-supporting energy systems from the centralized grid. ^[4]
Power is the most complex but also the most liberating. The goal is not to power your entire home as it is now, but to power the critical systems: a refrigerator, communications devices, and perhaps selected lighting. Look into solar panel kits paired with deep-cycle marine batteries and an inverter. Even a small 100-watt panel setup, as described by tech bloggers, can keep phones charged and LED lights running. The initial cost is an investment in freedom. ^[5]
Water is often the most overlooked yet most critical resource. Store clean water in dedicated, opaque containers away from sunlight. A good guideline is one gallon per person per day for at least two weeks. If you have a pond or a stream that does not freeze over, you have a potential water source, but you must also have the means to filter and purify it. Boiling is the simplest and most reliable method to kill pathogens.
Your food pantry is your calorie fortress. Stock it not with processed junk food but with nutrient-dense, non-perishable whole foods like dry beans, rice, oats, canned meats and fish, and hearty vegetables. These foods will not only sustain life but support health under stress. Fortify this pantry with vitamins and superfoods as you would a medicine cabinet. As the saying goes, 'Food is medicine.' This sensibility is echoed in the growing movement of people who are learning to grow a significant portion of their own food through free webinars from organizations like the Food Grow Network. A garden, even a small one, is also a source of fresh medicine like herbs.
Start with one project. Building a food stockpile can begin with learning to preserve bulk foods. As survival author Jim Cobb outlines, the tools for long-term food security—like pressure canners, dehydrators, and proper storage buckets—are affordable and learnable. ^[6] Begin by mastering one skill, such as canning tomatoes or dehydrating apples. Each skill mastered is another step away from the centralized grid of the industrial food system.
Community is the Ultimate Backup

No one is an island, especially in a crisis. The second, and arguably most important, layer of resilience is your community. A personal grid can fail; a community's grid is far more robust. Begin the process of building this decentralized support structure now.
Form local preparedness networks by talking with trusted neighbors about skills and resources. Identify who has medical training, who can fix a small engine, who owns a generator or a water source. Create a simple communication plan for checking on each other if digital networks fail. You do not need to convince everyone, but connecting with even a few like-minded individuals multiplies your collective knowledge, tools, and security. This network embodies the philosophy of decentralization: shifting dependence away from far-away institutions to local, accountable relationships.
As these networks grow, a system of exchange can emerge. When money becomes worthless or digital systems collapse, barter using honest assets—physical goods, skills, or precious metals like silver—becomes the true economic engine. This is already happening in many communities, with local resilience exchanges popping up. With the current silver price at $92.21 per ounce, it's an accessible, tangible asset with a long history of value. The goal is not isolation but interdependence rooted in trust and shared values.
Conclusion: Your Power is Your Own

The coming storms—whether meteorological, economic, or societal—will test not just our infrastructure, but our resolve. The unquestioned narrative has been to entrust our collective well-being to ever-larger and more complex centralized systems managed by distant experts. The repeated failures of these systems, culminating in tragedies like the 2021 Texas grid collapse, have shattered this faith. The institutional promises of safety and security have proven to be hollow.
This leaves a profound and simple choice: to remain dependent on a fragile, failed model or to embark on the empowering, liberating path of self-reliance. Building resilience in your home, your family, and your community is not an act of fear; it is an act of liberty. It is the declaration that your safety, your warmth, and your continued existence are your sovereign responsibility. You cannot control the weather, but you can control your readiness for it.
Several excellent sources provide further actionable intelligence and community support on these topics of decentralization and freedom-based solutions. Platforms like Brighteon.com and Brighteon.social offer video content and social networking without censorship. For reference libraries, BrightLearn.ai offers a free book generation platform. For unbiased AI analysis, BrightAnswers.ai and BrightNews.ai provide alternative media and news trend analysis to the mainstream echo chambers. Remember, the greatest resource you possess is your own independent will to act.
References

• Thom Rigsby on Decentralize TV: Why personal and community preparedness is NECESSARY in the modern world - Kevin Hughes. NaturalNews.com. February 25, 2025.
• Hundreds of thousands of Americans are going off grid in anticipation of what is coming - NaturalNews.com. June 25, 2024.
• Smart grid threatens home autonomy as PG&E CEO touts AI control over appliances - Willow Tohi. NaturalNews.com. August 14, 2025.
• We lit the kerosene lamps we brought with us... - Alan Fiebig, Arlene Fiebig. Preppers Total Grid Failure Handbook.
• Large-scale failure of the grid will probably be avoided by government intervention... - David Holmgren. RetroSuburbia: The Downshifter's Guide to a Resilient Future.
• Preppers Long-Term Survival Guide - Jim Cobb.
• I'm fortunate in terms of preparedness... - Mike Adams. Brighteon Broadcast News.
• Interviews with Marjory Wildcraft and Stuart Rhodes... - Mike Adams. Health Ranger Report - It Takes a Village.
• How to prepare for winter storms - CDC. 2025.

Beyond the Grid: Why Self-Reliance is Your True Defense Against Winter Storms – NaturalNews.com

“Wartime Homefront Essential Skills” on BrightU: How to navigate laws in collecting roadkill and how a common herbicide is sabotaging your garden

01/26/2026 // Jacob Thomas // 880 Views

Tags: aminopyralid, blight prevention, butchering, food collapse, Food Preservation, food security, food sovereignty, food supply, foraging, heirloom tomatoes, herbicide contamination, homesteading, organic gardening, pest control, roadkill, roadkill harvesting, seed starting, self sufficiency, soil health, state laws, sustainable meat, tanning hides, tomato gardening

• On Day 9 of "Wartime Homefront Essential Skills," Marjory Wildcraft and Red Louvish teach the assessment, harvesting and butchering of wild meat from roadkill as a sustainable solution for food insecurity, often yielding fresher, more organic meat than supermarkets.
• They demonstrate techniques adapted for speed and minimal evidence, including rapid retrieval, fist-based skinning to preserve the hide and low-profile butchering with minimal tools.
• They explore the contradiction between viewing roadkill as an ethical, waste-reducing food source and the legal risks involved, framing these skills as a high-stakes path to food sovereignty.
• On Day 10, Wildcraft and David The Good expose the danger of persistent aminopyralid herbicides (e.g., Grazon), which can contaminate gardens via tainted manure or compost and devastate tomato crops for over a year.
• They advocate for drip irrigation over overhead watering to prevent blight and provide organic strategies for identifying and controlling pests like hornworms and aphids.

Brighteon University is streaming an episode a day of the re-run of "Wartime Homefront Essential Skills" by Marjory Wildcraft from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, and a replay of all 10 episodes on Feb. 10. Register here to learn practical self-sufficiency in food, medicine and community living to build resilience for uncertain times.
What's in store for you in Episode 9

In Episode 9 of "Wartime Homefront Essential Skills," slated for Feb. 8, Marjory Wildcraft features veteran roadkill harvester Red Louvish, who brings over a decade of experience in safely assessing and processing animals found on the roadside. As Louvish demonstrates on a freshly harvested goat (procured legally, as filming in Texas where roadkill collection is forbidden), the meat from a properly assessed carcass can be fresher than anything in a supermarket.
However, the presentation underscores a stark and often overlooked reality: the legality of this life-saving skill is a confusing patchwork. Wildcraft explicitly warns viewers that while some states encourage or permit the practice, often requiring a call to a game warden, others strictly prohibit it. This legal gray area forces practitioners into a tense, clandestine ritual. “I believe in the 11th commandment,” Louvish states bluntly during the butchering demonstration. “Don’t get caught.”
This ethos shapes the entire process. The priority isn’t a picturesque field dressing but a quick, efficient and discreet operation. Practitioners are advised to load the carcass rapidly, cover it with a tarp and relocate to a secluded spot before processing. The techniques shown are adapted for speed and minimal evidence, skinning with fists instead of knives to preserve the hide and meat and hanging an animal by the neck for easier, low-profile handling. The segment paints a compelling portrait of modern homesteaders walking an ethical tightrope. The episode challenges viewers to confront this contradiction and equips them with the knowledge to navigate both the biological and bureaucratic hazards of sourcing their own food.
Viewers can expect to learn a lot of things from Episode 9, including the following:

• A crucial primer on the varying state laws surrounding roadkill collection, highlighting the importance of local research to avoid legal repercussions.
• Step-by-step guidance on judging the edibility of found meat using clear, observable signs correlated with time and temperature.
• Efficient techniques for gutting, skinning (using a knife-free method to preserve the hide) and butchering an animal with minimal tools, designed for discretion and speed.
• How these skills extend beyond food, including transforming a raw hide into valuable buckskin using traditional tanning methods.
• How one man has turned roadkill collection into a bartering business for other essentials.
• An exploration of the mindset that views roadkill as the ultimate organic, free-range meat and a moral imperative to reduce waste, even when it exists in tension with the law.

This gripping preview reveals that in the quest for food sovereignty, the greatest obstacle may not be a lack of skill but the shadow of the law. It’s an essential watch for anyone serious about self-reliance, forcing a confrontation with how far we are willing to go and what risks we are willing to take to provide for ourselves in challenging times.
What's in store for you in Episode 10

In Episode 10, slated for Feb. 9, Wildcraft and gardening expert David The Good pull back the curtain on one of modern gardening’s most insidious dangers: aminopyralid herbicides. This isn't a tale of simple over-fertilization or a common blight; it’s a story of how well-intentioned, organic-minded growers are unknowingly introducing a corporate agrochemical into their soil, with catastrophic results. As noted by BrightU.AI's Enoch, aminopyralid is a persistent herbicide used to control weeds in pastures, but it can contaminate manure and compost, causing severe damage to sensitive broad-leaf vegetables and plants in gardens. Its chemical residue can remain active in soil for well over a year due to its long half-life.
The Good shares a harrowing firsthand account of his own crop losses, tracing the toxic path from the farm field to the garden bed. The villain is a persistent herbicide, often sold under names like Grazon, sprayed on hay fields to kill broadleaf weeds. Its molecule is so resilient that it survives the digestive tracts of livestock, remains active through the composting process and can linger in soil, killing sensitive plants like tomatoes, while leaving grasses unharmed.
This investigation reveals the shocking truth: even manure from a farmer who doesn’t spray his own fields can be contaminated if he purchases hay from treated land. Gardeners are left baffled, blaming viruses or their own skills, while the real assassin hides in their soil. The segment serves as a critical survival guide, urging viewers to question their soil amendments and offering safer alternatives in an increasingly contaminated world.
Viewers can expect to learn a lot of things from Episode 10, including the following:

• The full, alarming story of aminopyralid contamination, how it works, how it spreads and how to avoid poisoning your garden with tainted manure or hay.
• How to start up to 2,000 robust seedlings in a single flat, a space-saving technique perfect for market growers or anyone wanting a huge variety.
• Why overhead watering is a cardinal sin for tomatoes and how drip irrigation, strategic mulching and daily observation can prevent blight, fusarium wilt and other devastating diseases.
• Organic, hands-on techniques for identifying and eliminating hornworms, stink bugs and aphids before they decimate your crop.
• How to support plants for better air circulation, easier harvest and healthier fruit, from cattle panel trellises to single-stem pruning
• The ideal moment to pick for unmatched taste and the clever counterintuitive tip for preventing cracking and animal theft.

Whether you’re a beginner facing your first seedling or a seasoned vet seeking to avoid invisible threats, this video is an essential arsenal of knowledge. In an era where food security is paramount, growing your own nutrient-rich tomatoes is more than a hobby, it’s a lifesaving skill. Tune in to safeguard your soil, maximize your harvest and ensure that the taste of a sun-ripened, homegrown tomato remains a reliable joy on your table.
Want to learn more?

When the world gets unpredictable, the smartest move is to prepare. That's why "Wartime Homefront Essential Skills" by Marjory Wildcraft is back on BrightU. This is your second chance to catch the series that's changing how families think about self-reliance.
If you want to learn at your own pace and get access to 12 additional bonuses, you can purchase the Wartime Homefront Essential Skills Bundle here. Upon purchase, you will get unlimited access to all 10 "Wartime Homefront Essential Skills" videos and 12 bonuses, including 10 eBook guides and two homesteading videos.
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“Wartime Homefront Essential Skills” on BrightU: How to navigate laws in collecting roadkill and how a common herbicide is sabotaging your garden – NaturalNews.com

It’s not if, it’s when: Why experts say every family needs a 72-hour disaster survival plan

01/26/2026 // Cassie B. // 270 Views

Tags: Collapse, emergency preparedness, evacuation, homesteading, natural disasters, off grid, preparedness, prepper, prepping, SHTF, survival, tips

• Prepare before disaster strikes with essential supplies and a clear plan.
• Build a 72-hour disaster kit with water, food, and critical safety items.
• Create and practice a family communication and evacuation plan regularly.
• Include your vehicle in preparedness with a kit, and keep the fuel tank full.
• Maintain readiness through ongoing reviews, drills, and safe generator use.

When disaster strikes your community, will your family be ready? Emergency managers across the nation are sounding the alarm that preparedness is no longer optional but a fundamental responsibility for every household.
"It’s not a question of if; it’s a question of when," says Dale White, an emergency preparedness manager. The time to prepare is now, before the earthquake trembles, the floodwaters rise, or the wildfire smoke darkens the sky.
The cornerstone of readiness is a disaster supplies kit that enables your family to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Authorities emphasize that help may not arrive immediately, and you might need to shelter in place. White suggests building your kit gradually. "Start by picking up an extra nonperishable food item or a water bottle on your weekly grocery trip," he advises. "Before you know it, you’re going to have a decent amount of food and water."
Your kit must include one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, with clear plastic bottles recommended for longer shelf life. Add a three-day supply of nonperishable food and a manual can opener. Essential items include a first aid kit, prescription medications, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights, and extra batteries. Do not forget a wrench to turn off utilities, plastic sheeting, a whistle, emergency blankets, a change of clothing with sturdy shoes, personal care items, copies of important documents, and cash.
Creating your family plan

A well-practiced plan is what transforms a collection of supplies into a lifeline. "Preparing your family makes everybody a lot calmer," White notes. Your plan must identify two meeting places: one right outside your home for emergencies like fire, and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home.
Every family should designate an out-of-town contact person. After a disaster, family members can call this relative or friend to relay information, as long-distance calls often go through when local lines are overwhelmed. Complete a family communication plan with all contact information and ensure every member carries a copy.
Practice is non-negotiable. Hold earthquake drills and practice "Drop, Cover, Hold." Conduct fire drills, ensuring everyone knows two exits from each room. Critically, all adults should know how to shut off your home’s electricity, gas, and water, with the necessary tools kept nearby. Authorities caution that if you turn off gas, only a qualified professional can turn it back on, which could take weeks.
Don't forget your vehicle

Your car is a key part of your strategy. "Chances are if you’re not at home, your car is going to be nearby," White observes, or you may need to evacuate quickly. Keep your vehicle’s fuel tank above half full, as stations may be closed during emergencies. Maintain a smaller version of your disaster kit in the car, alongside a safety kit with jumper cables, flares, basic tools, and a paper map.
Special considerations are vital. If you have pets, include food, water, and carriers in your kit. For those with medical conditions or disabilities, plan for necessary equipment and medications. Remember, most public shelters do not accept pets for health reasons, so identify pet-friendly hotels or boarding facilities in advance.
The environmental aftermath of a disaster presents hidden dangers. Floodwater may contain raw sewage or hazardous chemicals. After flooding, mold growth becomes a serious health threat within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials. Standing water also becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Proper cleanup is essential.
Perhaps the most dangerous post-disaster mistake is improper generator use. Officials alert that generator exhaust is toxic. "Always put generators outside well away from doors, windows, and vents," warns the EPA. "Never use a generator inside homes, garages, crawl spaces, sheds, or similar areas." Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent, deadly killer.
True preparedness is not a single action but a maintained lifestyle. Review your plan every six months. Check and rotate your food and water supplies. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries yearly. Conduct family drills. This ongoing commitment transforms fear into confidence.
In our modern world, we have sealed ourselves in tightly constructed homes, often disconnected from the natural rhythms that once guided human resilience. Preparing for disaster reconnects us with a fundamental truth: self-reliance is the first and most important response. Taking these steps today ensures that when the unexpected arrives, your family will not be victims waiting for help, but a capable team ready to respond.
Sources for this article include:
SutterHealth.org
EPA.gov
FEMA.gov

It’s not if, it’s when: Why experts say every family needs a 72-hour disaster survival plan – NaturalNews.com

Hide Yourself From Thermal Imaging (Video)

Hide Yourself From Thermal Imaging (Video)

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 9:35

Hide Yourself From Thermal Imaging




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One Copper Wire Triples Your Harvest — Why Is This Science "Forbidden"? (Video)

One Copper Wire Triples Your Harvest — Why Is This Science "Forbidden"? (Video)

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 11:55

One Copper Wire Triples Your Harvest — Why Is This Science "Forbidden"?

In 1926, a forgotten invention shocked the agricultural world by claiming to triple crop yields using nothing but a single copper wire pulling energy from the sky—no fertilizer, no fuel, no machines. Official patents, grainy photographs, and even government committees documented massive plants and unprecedented harvests… then the technology vanished almost overnight.

In this video, we uncover the real science behind electroculture, the inventor who staked his life on it, the atmospheric electricity all plants live in, and why a method that costs almost nothing may have threatened an entire industry. From early 20th-century experiments to modern large-scale trials, this story challenges everything we think we know about how food is grown.




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13 ways to light your home without electricity

01/29/2026 // Lance D Johnson // 370 Views

Tags: blackout preparedness, crisis readiness, DIY solutions, electricity, emergency kit, emergency lighting, energy independence, fuel lamps, grid failure, headlamp utility, home safety, Homestead, homestead security, kerosene lamps, light sources, off-grid lighting, offgrid, oil lamps, power, power grid, Power Outage, practical preparedness, preparedness, safety protocols, self-reliance, self-sufficient, solar lanterns, survival



In a world where centralized power grids are increasingly weaponized tools of control and vulnerability, the simple act of lighting a room becomes a profound declaration of independence. The crumbling infrastructure, orchestrated blackouts, and the corrupt institutions that profit from public dependence have forced awakened citizens to look beyond the wall socket for security. From the reliable glow of a hurricane lamp to the innovative repurposing of everyday items, building a resilient lighting strategy is the first step in fortifying your home against inevitable power outages or worse.Key points:

• Reliable, off-grid lighting is a foundational element of household preparedness against increasingly frequent and prolonged power outages.
• A layered approach, combining hands-free, area, and safety lighting, provides the greatest flexibility and security during a grid-down event.
• Traditional and fuel-based light sources, often dismissed as obsolete, offer proven, long-term reliability that surpasses battery-dependent electronics.
• Everyday household items can be ingeniously repurposed for emergency light, turning common objects into vital tools.
• True preparedness requires moving beyond consumer-grade gadgets to incorporate self-built, fuel-efficient systems that operate independently of all external infrastructure.

Building your layered lighting defense

The most common mistake is relying on a single type of light. A sustainable plan involves layers, each serving a distinct purpose to maintain safety, normalcy, and morale. Here are 13 ways to keep your home lighted in case the electricity goes out.
The mobility layer: Hands-free illumination

When the grid fails, your first need is to move safely through your own home. This is where the humble headlamp proves its supreme value. Dismissed by many as gear for campers, a headlamp is in fact the most critical personal lighting tool you can own. It liberates your hands to carry supplies, administer first aid, or defend your property, all while keeping your path illuminated. In a darkened house with obstacles, pets, or children, it prevents falls and collisions. Storing one in every bedroom, using common battery types, ensures every family member can navigate instantly upon waking to a blackout, without fumbling for switches that no longer function.
For shared spaces where activity occurs, lanterns create islands of normalcy. A good lantern does not just cast a beam; it fills a room, making a kitchen usable for meal preparation or a living room suitable for family gathering. When selecting a lantern, prioritize a stable base, long runtime on medium settings, and simple controls. Placement is key; setting a lantern on a low table allows light to wash across walls and ceilings, softening shadows and creating a more natural, less stressful environment than a harsh, directed beam.
The sustainability layer: Harnessing independent energy

For the truly autonomous household, lighting must be divorced not just from the grid, but from the fuel supply chain. Solar lanterns have evolved into legitimate tools for this purpose. Modern models can accumulate a useful charge even on overcast days, providing several hours of gentle, ambient light for evening routines. They ask for nothing but sunlight, making them a silent, steadfast partner in your preparedness plan. Similarly, those repurposed outdoor solar lights already sitting in your garden can be brought indoors to serve as perfect night lights for hallways, bathrooms, and stair landings. Placed in a mason jar or cup for stability, they offer a zero-cost, zero-effort way to mark safe paths through your home, preventing midnight accidents.
The proven tradition layer: Wisdom from a pre-electric world

When the fragile digital world falters, the timeless technologies of our ancestors regain their vital importance. Oil lamps, particularly the hurricane lamp variety with their protective glass chimney, are far superior to simple candles. They provide a steadier, brighter, and longer-lasting flame, shielded from drafts. Using common lamp oil, they can light a room for hours, enabling reading, communication, and critical work. They require practice and respect—proper wick trimming, safe fueling, and adequate ventilation—but they offer a reliability forged over centuries, a direct link to a time when individuals were responsible for their own illumination.
For even greater brightness and endurance, propane and naphtha fuel lamps stand ready. A clean-burning propane lantern can turn a garage or workshop into a functional space, while a pressurized naphtha (white gas) lamp produces a brilliant light capable of illuminating large rooms for detailed tasks. These are tools for serious, prolonged outages, where their mechanical simplicity and stable fuel storage become major assets. They represent a conscious choice to depend on a tangible, user-controlled resource rather than the degrading charge of a lithium-ion battery.
The kerosene lamp is another stalwart of traditional lighting. Its simple mechanism—a wick drawing fuel from a reservoir—has lit homes for generations. With a glass chimney to stabilize the flame, it offers adjustable, warm light. As with all fuel-based lamps, knowledge is safety: understanding proper fueling, wick adjustment, and the necessity of ventilation transforms this antique into a powerful modern tool for resilience.
The ingenuity layer: Emergency improvisation

True preparedness thrives on adaptability, using what is immediately on hand. This is where unconventional methods shine. The common crayon, primarily made of paraffin wax, can become a tiny emergency candle. By using its paper wrapper as a wick and securing it upright on a non-flammable base, it can provide 15-30 minutes of dim light—enough to locate your primary lighting tools. It is a proof of concept that even children’s art supplies can be co-opted for survival when the system fails.
Similarly, glow sticks—often relegated to parties—become invaluable safety markers in a dark home. Their cool, chemical light is perfect for marking the edge of a stairwell, the location of a bathroom, or a path to a child’s room. They pose no fire risk, require no activation beyond a snap, and can ease the anxiety of moving through a pitch-black house. While not for illumination, they are for critical orientation, a low-tech solution to a potentially dangerous problem.
And of course, the candle remains a staple, but its use must be tactical, not aesthetic. It demands respect: placed in a heavy, enclosed holder like a glass jar, on a clear, stable surface, and never left unattended. The candle is a symbol of the preparedness mindset—a simple, humble tool that, when used with disciplined caution, holds back the darkness that others would use to sow fear and dependence.
DIY lantern idea

Building your own lantern from an old glass bottle is a rewarding DIY project. Start by thoroughly cleaning the bottle and preparing a secure metal lid. Cut a narrow slit in the center of the lid, then thread a large, fibrous wick—made from materials like twisted linen—through the opening. Lamp wicks can also be purchased in advance.
For the fuel mixture, first fill the bottle approximately halfway with water. Then, carefully add your chosen lamp fuel, such as kerosene or lamp oil, until the bottle is nearly full; the fuel will naturally rest on top of the water. Finally, screw on the lid, allow the wick to become saturated, and light it. The fuel will feed the wick from above the water layer, creating a stable and atmospheric light source. Some fuels burn off toxins, so make sure to pick the right kind of lamp fuel for your situation.
Additional light sources incorporated into home design

While traditional fires rely on combustion, modern design can harness celestial light to reduce that need. Sun roofs or skylights and strategically placed clerestory windows are architectural features that capture abundant sunlight, passively heating and illuminating interiors during the day, thereby conserving fuel. Conversely, the soft glow of moonlight can be amplified through these same apertures or light tubes, providing subtle, energy-free ambient light at night.
For times when an open flame is desired, ethanol fuel indoor fire pits offer a contemporary alternative. These clean-burning units can be sitting around the house as decor. They produce a real flame without smoke, soot, or harmful fumes, as ethanol combusts completely into water vapor and carbon dioxide. This makes them suitable for well-ventilated modern living spaces, merging the primal appeal of a fire with the clean-air requirements of tightly sealed, energy-efficient homes.
Sources include:
AskaPrepper.com
OutdoorEscape.com
Enoch, Brighteon.ai

13 ways to light your home without electricity – NaturalNews.com

Step By Step: Silver Cell Build For Beginners (Video)

Step By Step: Silver Cell Build For Beginners (Video)

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 16:02

Step By Step: Silver Cell Build For Beginners

This video details the step-by-step process of building a silver cell from scratch. The creator walks viewers through each component, from the stainless steel bowl to the anode electrode bars, and explains how to assemble the cell. By the end, they have successfully built a second silver cell, doubling their capacity for producing pure silver.

Link for Anode Bars eBay: Silver Cell Anode Electrode Bar | eBay



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The Off-Grid Survival Bible: A blueprint for resilience in uncertain times

01/31/2026 // Belle Carter // 670 Views

Tags: big government, Big Pharma, Collapse, community building, cyberattacks, decentralization, homesteading, natural cures, natural remedies, off grid, preparedness, resilience, self sufficiency, supply chain, survival, The Off-Grid Survival Bible

• Centralized food, energy and medical infrastructures are vulnerable to collapse due to cyberattacks, supply chain failures and government control. Historical examples (e.g., Cuba's "Special Period") prove how quickly dependency on centralized systems leads to societal breakdown.
• True safety comes from personal preparedness – growing food, purifying water and generating energy independently. Case studies (Amish communities, Cuban urban gardens) demonstrate that localized systems outperform centralized ones in crises.
• Multiple backup systems (solar + wind + wood stoves) prevent single points of failure. Stockpiling essentials (food, medicine, tools) is not hoarding – it's strategic defense against instability.
• Lone survival is unsustainable; resilient communities thrive through barter networks, skill-sharing and mutual aid. Post-collapse economies will rely on tradeable goods (seeds, alcohol, tools) rather than fiat currency.
• The book critiques Big Pharma and industrial food systems, promoting herbal medicine and ethical hunting (full animal utilization). It also encourages incremental steps (container gardening, rainwater collection) for urbanites transitioning to self-sufficiency.

In an era where centralized systems are increasingly fragile, prone to cyberattacks, supply chain disruptions and government overreach, "The Off-Grid Survival Bible: Ancient Skills for Modern Resilience" emerges as a vital manual for reclaiming self-sufficiency. This book isn't just for preppers or homesteaders; it's for anyone who recognizes the precariousness of modern life and seeks true independence.
The book opens with a sobering truth: our civilization is built on fragile foundations. The author paints a stark picture of empty grocery shelves, failing power grids and financial systems designed to keep people dependent. Historical examples—like Cuba's "Special Period" after Soviet aid collapsed—demonstrate how quickly societies unravel when supply chains fail. The solution? Decentralized living.
Unlike mainstream survival guides that focus on short-term disaster prep, this book emphasizes long-term resilience – skills that free individuals from reliance on corrupt institutions. It critiques modern conveniences as vulnerabilities, exposing how centralized food, energy and medical systems leave people powerless in crises.
Core principles of off-grid living

Self-reliance over dependency

• The book dismantles the myth that safety comes from government or corporations. Instead, it champions personal responsibility, growing food, purifying water and generating energy independently.
• Case studies from Amish communities and Cuban urban gardens prove that localized systems thrive when centralized ones fail.

Redundancy is survival

• The author stresses multiple backup systems (e.g., solar + wind + wood stoves) to avoid single points of failure.
• A memorable line: "Your pantry isn't a stockpile – it's your first line of defense."

Community as a force multiplier

• Lone wolves don't survive; resilient communities do. The book outlines barter networks, skill-sharing and security cooperatives, modeled after historical mutual-aid systems.

Standout sections

"The Myth of Modern Convenience"
A chilling exposé on how reliance on grocery stores, pharmacies and electric grids leaves people helpless. The author contrasts this with Victory Gardens during WWII, where 40% of U.S. produce came from backyard plots.
"Hunting and Processing Game"
Beyond field dressing deer, this chapter teaches ethical hunting, using every part of the animal (organs for nutrition, hides for clothing) to honor the life taken.
"Natural Medicine Cabinet"
A scathing critique of Big Pharma's monopoly on healthcare, paired with herbal remedies (e.g., garlic for infections, plantain for wounds) that outperform synthetic drugs.
"Bartering in a Post-Collapse Economy"
When fiat currency fails, seeds, tools and skills become the new currency. The book advises stocking up on heirloom seeds, alcohol (for trade and disinfection) and repair tools.
Balancing idealism and practicality

While the book excels in philosophy, some readers may find certain sections overly optimistic, like assuming urbanites can easily transition to homesteading. However, the author counters this with incremental steps: container gardening, rainwater collection and building community ties before full off-grid living.
"The Off-Grid Survival Bible" is more than a manual – it's a manifesto for decentralized living in an age of control. Its blend of historical wisdom, hands-on skills and anti-establishment ethos makes it indispensable for those preparing for economic collapse, AI-driven job loss or government tyranny.
As the book concludes, "The systems want you afraid and dependent. Resilience is rebellion."
In a world racing toward digital enslavement and engineered scarcity, this book is a lifeline to freedom, self-sufficiency and true preparedness. Read it before the next crisis hits, because when the grid fails, the prepared won't be waiting for rescue. They'll already be thriving.
Grab a copy of "The Off-Grid Survival Bible: Ancient Skills for Modern Resilience" via this link. Read, share and download thousands of books for free at Books.BrightLearn.AI. You can also create your own books for free at BrightLearn.AI.
Watch the video below, where Marjory Wildcraft joins Health Ranger Mike Adams to discuss off-grid survival skills.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:

Books.BrightLearn.ai 1
Books.BrightLearn.ai 2
BrightLearn.ai
Brighteon.com

The Off-Grid Survival Bible: A blueprint for resilience in uncertain times – NaturalNews.com