When you’re lighting a fire with a flint and steel or other striker that makes fire from sparks, char cloth is your friend. Char cloth can make the difference between getting a fire started and just throwing sparks around. Char cloth is blackened fabric that catches a spark, starts burning, and won’t blow out until […]
Preparedness Quick Tip: Re-use School Backpacks
I don’t know about you, but my kids think they need a new backpack every school year whether the old one is worn out or not. My Jr High student actually wore his out last year, but most times we just end up with extra backpacks around the house, some still in excellent condition. If […]
Common and Not So Common Ways to Prepare for the Rest of This Hurricane Season
Guest post by Lee Flynn. September is National preparedness month and we are in the eye of hurricane season. Let’s talk about some common and not so common ways you can prepare your home and family in case a big storm starts to take aim at you. National Preparedness Month Every year the country celebrates […]
Finding Directions Using the Stars: Northern and Southern Hemisphere
Finding directions using the night sky is a valuable skill if you ever become disoriented long enough that you are stuck outside somewhere during the night. It could mean the difference between finding your way back to your camp/vehicle/etc. and becoming increasingly more lost. Northern Hemisphere: The North Star In the northern hemisphere, we’re kind […]
The Two Best Methods to Make Waterproof Matches
Regular matches that get wet turn into little wet sticks that do nothing in no time flat. To avoid having your matches become useless due to moisture, you’ll want some waterproof matches. You can purchase waterproof matches, or if you want to save a few bucks you can waterproof your own matches. There are a […]
How to Find Directions Using the Sun
Knowing which direction you are heading is very important, especially if you have lost your way in the wilderness. Thankfully, to find which way is north, south, east, and west, you only need a little sunshine and maybe a stick or two. Here’s how it’s done. 1. Pick a spot where the sun will be […]
13 Pioneer Skills You May Need
July 24th in Utah we celebrate Pioneer Day. Pioneer Day is a state holiday commemorating the arrival of the first band of Mormon Pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24th, 1847. So in honor of those great pioneers of the past, here are thirteen skills that were everyday to them that you may […]
Wonder Oven Thermal Cooker FAQ’s
I’ve received quite a few questions about the Wonderbox (or Wonder Oven) thermal cookers I have made. If you don’t know what a Wonderbox is, it is a fabric “box” in two pieces (bottom and lid) that acts as a heat retention cooker–like a big thermos. They are a great way to save on fuel, […]
Seven Times I Was Glad to Have an Emergency Kit Just Last Week
I took a short notice road trip with the kids last week. Approximately 1100 miles round trip to see some family for the holiday. Of course, my vehicle emergency kit was not removed when we packed our suitcases around it. And it’s a good thing, because even though we didn’t meet up with any zombies […]
6 Tips for Success if You’re Planting Your Garden Late
What if you haven’t planted a garden yet this year, but would still like to grow something? Is it too late to plant? Well, that all depends on your location and the number of frost free days you have left in your season, but the short answer is no, it’s not too late. For various […]
