Dirt Cheap Survival Recipes

Many preppers conclude the economy in the U.S. will collapse gradually, rather than overnight due to some cataclysmic event. Either way, your ability to find and secure meals for you and your family becomes the difference between life and death for your family. So, how do you prepare to survive in a world where food is scarce, and money is tight?

Following a SHTF event, the only certainty will be unpredictability. Depending on the event, your location, and how long it takes for the country to recover your options for cooking and food storage will change. Practice making a variety of different cheap survival recipes so that no matter what type of situation you find yourself in, you are ready to put a meal together that will satisfy your family. Below are several different ideas for your survival meal arsenal:

Lessons from the homeless:

Chicken livers come in a carton and cost around $1.00. Boil with salt and pepper in either water or chicken broth. The beneficial thing about chicken livers is just a small amount with some whole grain bread, and a cup of milk will stave off hunger for several hours.

Pouches of instant potatoes are relatively inexpensive, typically under $1.00 at the local Walmart. Ramen Noodles are another very inexpensive food; you can buy six to 12 packages for under $2.00. Both are simple to cook as they require only boiling water. For variety, mix the instant potatoes with the ramen noodles to create a high- energy food called “ramen-bombs.”

Pasta is a great food staple to have on hand, and it can be used to create a variety of meals. Cook pasta and drain. Fry several eggs over medium and sprinkle with salt and pepper if you have it. Combine the eggs with the pasta and throw in cooked veggies, cheese, or meat. You can also mix cooked pasta with any salad dressing on hand and add fresh vegetables for a great pasta salad that will fill you up.

DIY Survival Recipes

If you are lucky and are thinking ahead, you will have the time and resources to create dirt cheap survival recipes to have on hand when SHTF. Sometimes, survival is about preparing to think or in this case, cook, outside the box.

You’ve probably made toast in a toaster at some point in your lifetime, but have you ever thought to try grilled bread? Use your barbecue grill or even a campfire with a grate. Grill the bread till it’s golden brown. And if you have cheese on hand, you can melt it between two pieces of bread and make a really tasty grilled cheese sandwich.

If you correctly store cornbread mix, you can make delicious johnnycakes or cornmeal hoe cakes in a skillet of cast iron over a campfire or even on the hot rocks of a fire. Add some syrup or sprinkle with sugar for an extra treat. If you must stay on the go, put leftovers in a zip lock bag so you can carry them with you as a snack on the road.

Native Americans relocated their camp several times a year as they followed the animal herds. They carried Pimikan, typically made from dried powdered meat such as elk, bison, moose, or deer, it was a portable food adopted by fur traders in later centuries who called it. Pemmican. Practice making this cheap survival food and add it to your stockpile. It needs no refrigeration and when properly made, can last for decades.

Lessons from Redneck Campers

Include corn in your garden, or in a pinch scavenge ears of corn from a roadside field, wrap in aluminum foil with some butter and cook in the coals of a fire. If you prefer a grilled taste, soak ears of corn in water and cook on a grate over the fire to grill it. You can cook with the husks on or remove before cooking depending on your preference.

Stock up on those Pillsbury cinnamon rolls or biscuits in a can. When the power goes out, simply wrap the dough around a stick, and pinch the ends so that it won’t fall off. Hold the stick over your BBQ grill or campfire until the dough is a golden brown. Slather with butter and enjoy a tasty treat that you can carry as you eat it.

Include heavy duty aluminum foil in your stockpile of supplies. When SHTF, lay out a large section of foil and add chunks of potatoes, onions, or whatever vegetables you have on hand. Top with a chunk of butter and a little salt and pepper and then wrap it all up and cook over hot coals or the BBQ grill.

When SHTF, you may have food available that you can cook but will need to think outside the box a little when it comes to cooking without your traditional stove or oven. Planning ahead and knowing how to make some of these cheap survival recipes will help sustain you and your family whether you bug in or are forced to bug out.

Techy Survival: 4 Technologies Every Prepper Should Invest in

Preppers believe in planning for the worst scenarios. No challenge is too much with the right supplies and some ingenuity. Preppers are family-oriented but wise enough to understand that leisure and luxury mean nothing compared to preserving their loved ones and a certain quality of life. They intend to persevere, no matter the circumstance. Here are some essential technologies that can make that much easier:

1. Get Portable GPS

A stand-alone device is much better than a mobile phone that can be monitored and tracked to locate you wherever you are. If you’re willing to invest in quality, you can get a model that provides stunning 3-D maps of areas all across North America. Many of them allow you zoom in, search for various landmarks, and mark and plot your own locations. You can also take photos, making it easier to find and navigate to what matters for your family.

2. Carry a Satellite Phone

For the reasons mentioned above, you’re probably better off without the cell phone. A satellite phone can allow you to stay in touch from almost anywhere on the planet. The military uses the same satellite technology so the service isn’t going anywhere. The ability to reach out to compatriots for assistance or advice could make all the difference.

3. Buy a Solar Charger

Carrying a big supply of batteries is out of the question, so you need a way to power these devices for the foreseeable future. You never know where or when the electricity will fail, so your best options is a solar charger that’s compatible with your other devices. On a sunny day, you may be able to recharge your electronics in a single hour. Many are waterproof, dustproof, and light enough to carry in a backpack with no trouble.

4. Use Infrared Cameras

These devices can detect a wide spectrum of heat signatures in even perfect darkness. Moving bodies, whether vehicles, human, or animal, can be detected instantly to give advanced warning or spot food sources. Varying heat indications can also give you a good idea of when equipment was last used. A company, like Infrared Cameras Inc, who specializes in infrared technology can provide you with just the right imaging device for your needs.

Bowfishing for Survival

Outdoor Life

Planning to bug out along the waterways, rivers, or coastal areas?

Great! You’re in the right hands.

In this post, I’ll teach you a new skill (and an effective way of gathering food while out there) – bowfishing for survival.

Also referred to as archery fishing, this practice involves using your bow to catch the fish. And you can easily do it in shallow water or from your little boat- making it one of the most flexible adventures on planet Earth.

Sounds interesting, right?

You’ll discover even more exciting details as you read our full bowfishing guide which I’ll walk you through in a few moments…

WAIT…if you think that archery fishing isn’t practical or you can’t do it, just think of the Indians who reside by the Amazon River and rely on bowfishing to catch their daily bread.

Bowfishing for Survival – How To Catch Fish With Your Bow:

Arm Yourself With the Right Bowfishing Equipment

via bowhunting.com

Just like any other job, bowfishing requires you to equip yourself with the right equipment.

If you’re a serious hunter, I believe that you have most of these tools, so you’ll just need to pack them into your backpack and head to the waters.

If you don’t have them, don’t worry. You can get them anytime you want…they’re readily available on the market at reasonable prices.

These equipment include:

– A bow: yes, this is bowfishing, and you’ll need a bow to make it work. But which bow should you use? I’d suggest that you go for the compound or recurve bows. Clearly, these will give you the best results.

Both bows share a number of aspects and will offer sufficient drive force to send an arrow right into the heart of the fish…plus they consume less space in your boat.

– You’ll need a set of arrows in your bowfishing endeavors. But don’t make the mistake of picking just any other type of arrow. The perfect set should comprise of arrow made using light wood or fiberglass material. They should also have a sharp pointer that easily pierces through the fish.

– Hey, you’ll also need some bowfishing reel…and I mean the best bowfishing reel, not any reel.

(Optional, depending on the fishing situation) bowfishing gear includes gloves, rubber hip waders, and sunglasses with polarized lenses.

I assume you’ve the above “tools of work” with you right now, right?

Let the fun begin!!

#1. Pick a suitable water body

Choose a water body that will enable you to catch fish and give you the desired results easily. If you prefer a shallow after body, be sure to fish around your target fish- particularly close to the grasses and weeds that provide cover. And, of course, make sure the environment is clean so that you can see beneath the water surface.

Typically, you should be within a range of 3-4.6 meters (10-15feet) from the fish you wish to bow down. Ensure you don’t cast a shadow over the fish as this might spook and frustrate your bowfishing efforts.

Also, consider approaching your target from the upwind location.

#2. AIM your Target fish

Get ready for the most important step of bowfishing- aiming your target.

“How exactly do I do that?”

Are you wondering already?

Well, all you have to do is point your bow at the target fish and shoot it…nothing new

But there’s one trick you need to learn to correctly shoot that fish you’re targeting:

That is, how to point your bow at the fish you wish to catch. See, the light traveling from one medium to next (air to water in this case) results in refractions. Thus, you’ll see the refracted image (the apparent fish) of the fish you’re targeting more clearly on the water surface.

And if you point at the apparent fish, your arrow might go high, and you’ll perfectly miss your target!

Many bow fishers have learned this lesson the hard way, and if you ask them, they’ll all give you this piece of advice:

Point your bow as low as possible!

#3. Don’t Forget this Important Bowfishing RULE:

via bowsite.comMake a closer observation of your target fish:

If it appears about 3m (10 feet) away and 30cm (1foot) underneath the water surface, then you MUST point your bow 10cm (4 inches) low.

What if the fish appears in a different location? For instance, let’s say the fish appears about 6m (20 feet) away and 60cm (2feet) underneath the water surface. In such scenario, it means the location has doubled…

…and you’ll have to double the 10cm as well. In other words, you’ll have to point 20cm (8inches) low.

It’s that simple!

If you utilize this 10-4 rule in all your bowfishing practices, I can guarantee you that you’ll bag more fish than you can imagine.

#4. Time To Make That Shot!

Congrats! You’re on the last step to catching your target fish with your bow.

But there’s a real problem here:

You have to hit your target such that it dies right away…and that means that you’ve to target the first half part of the body of the fish. Needless to explain, this section contains many vital organs such as the brain, meaning you’ll kill it on the spot.

We all know that fish can swim really FAST in water. So, you don’t have much time between pointing and shooting. I believe that your archery experience has taught you speed and accuracy which you’ll need to apply here.

What if you’re targeting the bigger fish- like alligator?

You’ll need to shoot them at least twice so that you can strike them down.

After a lucky shot, pull in the line quickly. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to catch fishes at a single stroke with bowfishing!

Which Self Defense Weapons You Need?

Self-defense weapons have become a necessity in today’s society where your personal and household self-defense is frequently threatened. If your prime concern is the safety of your loved ones and yourself, do not have second thoughts about being prepared. Just remember -– it is important to have the right self-defense weapon for your particular situation.

Yourself defense does matter. There are many ways you can prepare for the possibility of attack. Sometimes, preparation consists of nothing more than prevention. Knowing how to act, which situations to avoid, and moving with confidence can all help. But—-sooner or later—-you may be facing an assailant.

With the right self-defense weapons, you’ll have TIME to protect yourself and may even be able to bring your attacker down! Your attacker won’t know what hit him. Some weapons can even help you mark him, which will make him easy to apprehend.

Know that the safety and security of your family, home, office and property is assured because you’ve taken steps to protect yourself.

Have more peace of mind, sleep better at night, and walk the streets in confidence and control, because you have taken the time to learn about which self-defense weapons will best meet your needs. Your personal protection is at stake!

Here are a few weapons you might consider as you start to explore what’s available:

Rifles

Although bolt-action hunting rifles may be perfect for taking large game, they make a wrong choice for home-defense. These guns load slowly, fire slowly, and the high-power cartridges they shoot produce excessive muzzle flash, noise, and recoil and are very likely to over penetrate the target. If you want a rifle for home defense, then consider a tactical semi-auto or pistol-caliber carbine. Always try to keep a rifle scope for perfect shooting.

Telescopic Steel Baton

This is the self-defense weapon that most law enforcement and police agencies use today. Many of these organizations are replacing the old “Billy Club” style baton with the more technologically advanced telescopic baton.

Handcuffs

What could be better for keeping the attacker in place once he is subdued than handcuffs? You can also use leg cuffs or thumb cuffs to immobilize him.

Knives

There are many different types and styles of knives that you could use. You can read all about the many varieties of knives that are available, including butterfly knives, pen knives, and folding knives.

Metal Detectors

For security and law enforcement personnel, a hand held metal detector is an essential self-defense weapon. These small scanners can pick up almost any metal weapon, including pistols and knives.

And here are a few weapons that are not used as much for self-defense as for sporting and fun…

Cross Bows

A crossbow gives its user far more power and accuracy than a traditional bow. If you’ve never shot a crossbow, you can’t believe how powerful it is. This is more commonly used as a sporting weapon, but you never know when it might come in handy for self-defense too.

Blow Guns

Over 40,000 years ago, the first blowguns began to appear in many different parts of the world. In today’s world, blowguns, paintballs, and stun darts offer a wide variety of sporting activities.

Sling Shots

High-Velocity sling shots fold down to a compact size and have over a 100-yard range. They’re perfect for slinging insects, rocks or even bad guys Brings back memories of the good old days.

Air pistol:

This weapon is styled after some of the world’s most famous firearms. The air pistol maintenance free design and affordability make them an excellent entry level weapon for the hobby and recreational enthusiast.

Top 10 Tips for Survival Deer Hunting with A Compound Bow

Guns are overrated for survival. There’s denying that a firearm is superior to any other weapon for defense and hunting. That being said, you have to carry it, it’s ammunition, and you have to have everything that goes along with cleaning, maintaining and protecting that weapon as well.

You also have to pay a significant amount of money for all that equipment as well. There’s another compromise to make, plan on using a compound bow. It is certainly a good weapon for hunting and offers many distinct advantages over a firearm for a survival situation, here are the top 10 tips for survival hunting with the best compound bow.

When is it Survival?

Make sure when you’re tuning up and getting ready for the ultimate test of survival, do it legally. Don’t be tempted to poach deer on the outskirts of developments, that you don’t have permission to hunt on.

It’s going to be hard to practice hunting with your compound bow without a hunting license. Stay legal as you practice these skills and have either permission or a really good excuse in case you get caught.

Conserve Your Shots

Arrows only last so long. If you’re in a situation where a working bow can mean the difference between living and die, you need to be 100% you make that bow last as long as possible. Conserve a number of shots you take, during practice, during hunting, and do whatever you can to minimize the wear and tear on your arrows and the moving parts of your bow.

Hunt Close

You need to hunt as close to your game as possible. Mostly because the closer you are, the harder it is to miss. The better your shot is, the more likely you are to kill what you’re aiming at. That is the entire point and you should do everything you can to do to kill the game you need for food. The closer you the less likely you are to lose your arrows as well, ensuring you can continue to hunt.

Stay Clear of Branches & Debris

When you hunt make sure you know if there’s limbs or branches in the way of your bow’s limbs. When your bow fires, your limbs are going to violently shoot forward and slam against anything in their way. This is going to also skew your shot and most likely make you lose your arrow. An impact like this has the potential to destroy your bow.

Don’t Gamble

Don’t make a shot unless you know it’s worth it. You never know if you’re going to get that arrow back after you release it. Improvising arrows for a compound bow is tricky at best and you should do your best to always have your arrows after the shot.

Stay on top of Maintenance

Rust is hard to deal with, in the field but easy to prevent. Keep your bow clean, dry, and lubricated. Dirt and grime in the bearings of the cams is a kiss of death for the bow. Having a bow string caked with dirt and dust is going to kill your bow. Stay on top of your maintenance, your bow is a lifeline in the woods.

Use Quality Components

It may be tempting to buy the extremely cheap bows, arrows, and broad heads for your set up. The worst thing that can happen is when you need these components the most they fail on you. Buy gear that’s you’d consider hunting with, it doesn’t have to the name brand high end gear you’d use day in and day out but stay away from bargain basement equipment you can’t rely on.

CarrySpare Parts

Make sure you carry spare parts for your bow. You need to be able to have spares for parts of your bow set up. Extra bow wax, extra serving string, extra cord for your D loop, extra nocks, extra fiber optics for your sight …ect. You’ll need it eventually and murphy’s law says till happen at the worst time possible!

Consider lighted Nocks

Lighted nocks are great. Not only do they allow you to track your arrow in flight at dusk and dawn, they can be a huge help to finding your arrows after the shot. Seriously consider getting a set of lighted nocks for your survival set up. They’ll help you hunt longer and be a tool for finding your arrows after they’re shot. Make sure if you’re going to test them before hand, it’s legal in your state.

Don’t Expect Your Bow to Protect You

You aren’t in the huge games. Your bow is a bad self-defense weapon and you’re better off with a lance or a knife against a charging bear or moose. You should avoid hunting game, or get yourself into a situation where you may put yourself in a compromising situation. You simply won’t have time to nock, draw, aim, and fire accurately before a bear has its sights on you, or an attacker bum rushes you. Rely on other means of protection because the compound just isn’t fast enough.

Keep your bow Ready

Your bow should be at no more than an arm’s reach when it’s protecting your life by helping you gather food. If for no other reason, you can be absolutely sure it isn’t being damaged you need to keep it in a constant state of readiness.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to live off the land you’ll have a much easier time if you’ve already mastered hunting with a compound bow and have one at the ready. Get your hands on a good quality bow you can afford to keep stocked away just in case, pick upyour best hunting packs and get in the woods and hone your skills with a bow.

Even if you’re a dyed in the wool gun hunter, you might just start to love archery hunting!

How to Recognize Which Berries are Safe to Eat

Berries are a quick and easy way to feed yourself in the wild in case you’ve run out of supplies recently and aren’t really a good hunter. However, not all are created equal and not being aware of this simple fact can often cause you a lot of trouble. Certain berries can be non-edible, or they can be straight out poisonous, and learning to recognize them is the only way you’ll know if they’re safe to eat or not. In this short guide, I’m going to attempt to explain, very simply, how you can avoid this an issue like this by giving you some basic tips about the berries that you can eat, and those that you absolutely should not.

Don’t Risk It

First of all, I have to say that if you aren’t a hundred percent certain about a wild berry being edible/poisonous or not, you absolutely must not eat it. Your body is way too important to risk poisoning it just because it “might be fine”, and you don’t have to eat the first berry you stumble upon. I’ve seen dozens of people do this, and a large number of them regretted it a few hours later when the berry made its way through their organism.

The Colors

That being said, you can tell a lot about a berry just by looking at its color, because its color is a result of its chemical properties and it’s those that decide whether the berry is poisonous or not. For example, most white, green and yellow wild berries are absolutely poisonous and to be safe you should stay away from all of them no matter what. Red berries are another case entirely, as around 50% of them are perfectly edible. You do have to watch out for the other 50% though, so unless you have a good idea of what you’re eating you should still be very careful.

Berries that are black and blue in color are, ninety-five percent of the time, perfectly edible. Several of them are poisonous so you should still be careful, but most of the time you can eat a black berry with no concern at all.

Get a Berry Guide

There are dozens of quick guides on berries that you can pick up or find online, that will tell you all you need to know about the most commonly found berries in America, and having one of these on-hand can help you instantly recognize a berry and know all of its characteristics.

The Edible Berry Test

If all else fails, there’s actually a little trick you can do in order to make sure whether a berry is poisonous or not. Take one or two berries, smash them into a pulp and first rub just a little bit of it on your skin. Wait a couple of minutes. If any kind of irritation or skin reaction shows up then you probably shouldn’t be eating that berry. If not, try the same thing with your lips and tongue, just a dab of pulp on each and wait a few extra minutes. If there’s still nothing, the berry is almost certainly safe to eat.

Conclusion

As you can see, it’s not really that difficult to successfully stay away from poisoned berries in the wilderness, if you have the right know-how. Berries can really be a lifesaver during a true survival situation, so knowing your way around them can always be a big help. I wish you the best of luck on your next survival expedition, and remember to be wary around your berries!

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