Being ready for a crisis or disaster by stockpiling food is smart - but, stashed food does run out.  For long-term survival, knowing how to grow your own vegetables and herbs is prepping in a way that will give you food, for a long as you need it. Gardening takes you from being a consumer to someone who produces what they need. You don't have to have a multi-acre farm - you can easily grow food in raised beds, on your balcony or porch, in containers and even on your windowsills.  If you are new to gardening, start with easy to grow, high-yield plants like; lettuce tomatoes radishes beans potatoes Learn what grows best in your climate and soil type. Study how to compost your food scraps, which plants to grow near each other and natural pest control. Growing your own food helps you learn about the rhythms of nature. It teaches you what it takes to sow, hoe to know when food is ripe, harvest time and and how to preserve the excess bounty.  Gardening builds patience and self...

It is almost certain that all of us will, one day, be faced with a life-changing disaster or situation. If you have real concerns, you have taken the first step - not toward panic, but toward being prepared for what is to come.  Prepping isn’t about living in fear of what if,  it’s about being confident that you know you can handle whatever the situation turns out to be. You have to be ready and these tips about; food water shelter security medical care communication tools mindset and more will help you prepare But remember, prepping isn't a race - but, it does have a starting line. Don’t try to gather everything you need, all at once - this will lead to food spoilage and confusion.  When you start as a prepper, focus on the essential supplies that are for basic survival. Here are the important items to start with:  Food - Water Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days Non-perishable food items like canned goods, rice, and be...

When you are in a bad situation and you stored water runs out or becomes contaminated, water purification tablets can quickly and easily make water safe to drink.  These lifesavers are small, inexpensive tablets, that are lightweight, portable and incredibly effective against bacteria, viruses and protozoa like Giardia.  Most contain iodine or chlorine dioxide and a single tablet can purify up to a liter of water. They’re ideal to pack in your bug-out bags, emergency kits, and they can be used in situation where boiling contaminated water isn’t an option.  Using water purification tablets is simple:  Drop the tablet into the water Wait 30 minutes to 4 hours - according to instructions and your water is safe to drink. Keep several packs and always be sure of expiration dates.  Be aware : These tablets may slightly alter the taste of water. That’s a small price to pay for safety. If you’re prepping for long-term survival, don't make this artificial method of purif...

Water is the most important resource you need, in life and in any survival situation. The human body can survive several weeks without food, but only a few days without water.  That is why a non-negotiable prepping rule is to store at least one gallon of water, per person, per day.  Half of that is for drinking, the other is for cooking and personal hygiene.  If you’re prepping for a family of four for two weeks, you will need 56 gallons - minimum.  Sounds like a lot? It is a lot because, it's best to have to much, than not enough.  Water is heavy, bulky, but it is necessary, if you want to make it through. Use clean, food grade containers, stored in a cool, dark place. Avoid direct sunlight and heat, which can degrade plastic and cause contamination.  Use 5-gallon jugs, stackable water bricks or even repurposed soda bottles.  The Right Way to Store Water For Emergencies Label each container with the date and rotate the containers every six months, if ...

Here are three tips to help you make your backpacking trip less stressful when it is time to eat. Save the powered, packaged mixes from mac and cheese, ramen noodles and salad kits and pack them in food baggies. These flavor packets can be used later to add pizzaz to different dishes.  When you buy the boxed food with the separate flavor packets, do not use the entire packet at one time. A little bit  of that seasoning goes a long way.  You can save and store some of the unopened packets and use an opened packet two or three times.   Take powdered milk in baggies. Use it in your coffee, cereal, instant potatoes and in your cooked dishes. Margarine, even though it is not good for you, will travel well. Just make sure it is tightly paced in a leak-proof container. As an alternative, you can make your own butter, on the trip.  How to Make Butter Using Powdered Milk Freeze-Dried Backpacking Meals

Dehydrating food is one of the oldest preservation methods ever used and, for centuries, it was done without a food dehydrator and this is one of the most effective ways for preppers to make sure their food is safe to eat.  When you dehydrate food, the moisture is removed, which drastically reduces the chances of spoilage, while keeping those essential nutrients intact.  What Foods Can Be Dehydrated? The best foods to dehydrate without a dehydrator include: Fruits : Apples, bananas, grapes, orange slices and mangoes are excellent choices due to their high water content and natural sugars, which help preserve flavor and nutrients Vegetables : Carrots, zucchini and bell peppers work well as they have lower acidity and can be easily dried using alternative methods. Herbs : Fresh herbs like basil and parsley can be air-dried or oven-dried effectively Lean meats : Options like chicken or turkey can be dehydrated, but it's crucial to ensure they are low in fat. Foods to avoid includ...

Survive a Disaster When you store your food, it can become a waste of money if you allow it to be invaded by food destroyers. A mouse, ants, bugs, roaches, a little moisture, or a pantry moth can wipe out hundreds of dollars and months of food before you know it.  There is an Easy Way to Protect Your Investment Instead of just storing your goods and hoping for the best, you can make sure everything is as good as new when you get ready to cook it and eat it.   The best way to keep your goods safe from the invasive destroyers is by vacuum sealing all of your dry goods - like rice, beans, pasta, sugar, cereal, corn meal and flour. Removing all of the air means that you are also extending shelf life - by years. When you add oxygen absorbers with vacuum-sealing, that makes it even better.  Even better, store the sealed items in buckets or bins, with tight lids to guard against the other pests that like to contaminate food that is left out in the open.  Vacuum-sealed ...

When you are trying to survive, your should not expect to eat gourmet meals. Your main concern, when you prepare a meal, should be about boosting your energy and maintaining enough strength to help you make it through the tough times.  When you have to go into crisis mode—chopping wood, hauling water, walking long distances, preparing your meals—you burn a lot more calories, than you do when you go about your normal life. That is why your food storage should include a lot of high calorie, protein-rich items like peanut butter, canned meats, sardines, lentils, beans and nuts.  These foods will keep your stomach full longer and help you maintain muscle mass.  Focus on shelf-stable items with minimal prep required. Remember, every bite should work for you, not just fill your stomach.  Energy-rich food gives you a mental and physical edge Don’t purchase a lot of junk foods that contain a lot of useless carbs. Protein is what you will need the most because it is essential...

Prepping isn’t just buying a lot of food and shoving it in your pantry and storage boxes and waiting for the day you will need to use it. You have to develop a system so that you will not have a mess on your hands and a lot of wasted food.  The most critical part of your system is food rotation.  Use the FIFO method (first in, first out) Always eat the oldest items first and when you purchase more items, put them behind the items already there. This method keeps your food fresh and prevents wasting your time and money.  Keep a logbook of what you have and what you need to replace and purchase. Set calendar reminders to review your storage every few months.  Store foods in an organized way—canned goods in one section, separated, grains in another—so nothing gets lost.  If you don’t rotate, you risk letting the food expire and becoming an issue during an emergency, when fresh, nutritious food matters most.  Proper prepping is a habit, not a one-time even...

Do you know what to do if you are suddenly in the middle of a disaster? It could be from unemployment, illness, Nature or something else. But, no matter what, it's best to know what to do - if the time comes. Now is the time to learn how to be prepared for an emergency and how to survive a disaster. We never know when, or for what reason we may find ourselves without the basic necessities of life. 

Make Sure You Will Have Enough Food If there is ever a power outage, all over the Country, that lasts for many days or weeks, or if there is a supply-chain breaks down, both of these situations can empty store shelves in a matter of hours. That’s why you should make sure you have a good supply of food stored away, because your food supply becomes your lifeline. What Type of Food You Should Store for a Disaster   Focus on non-perishable staples like (brown) rice, beans, canned meats, pasta, oats and powdered milk. These items can last for years, when they are stored properly.  Make sure your food choices consist of items you and your family will actually eat—there’s no point storing 50 pounds of lentils if no one likes them. Aim for a minimum of three months’ worth of food per person and if the situation seems like it will last longer, expand from there.  Aim to store a variety of items in your pantry to avoid food fatigue. Label everything with the purchase and expiration...