Basic A-Frame Instructions

One of the easiest types of shelters to construct is the tent-like A-frame Shelter. This shelter can be made from a tarp, bivi-bag, ponchos or sticks and leaves (hence it is also sometimes called a 'debris shelter'). Additionally there are multiple variations to the A-frame shelter, but for this article, we will only discuss the traditional A-frame.

Before you begin building your shelter, make sure you check which way the wind is blowing, you don't want to put the opening of your shelter into the wind. Also, make sure you have ample materials around to build the shelter with and sufficient fuel to keep a fire. Keep in mind when you are planning out your shelter that you want the height of the shelter tall enough for you to sit upright inside of it without touching your head to the top. A good rule of thumb is that the top of the shelter should come roughly to your waste to accomplish this. You also want the sides of the tarp to come down as low as possible to protect you from the wind and trap body heat. If you have to choose between headroom and low sides, choose low sides. Next:

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10 of the Most Important Knots You Can Learn

One thing that often gets overlooked in a person's quest for preparedness is a working knowledge of basic knots. Knot tying is one of the most primitive tools (yes tools) that a man can use. Knowing how to tie knots not only increases the fun you can have in a wilderness situation, it can also mean the difference between life and death in a survival situation. Catching animals in a snare or on a fishing line can be hard enough. Imagine the disappointment you would feel if you managed to catch an animal, only to have your knot fail or the line break at the knot. What if you had to strap important gear to your back and travel quickly over rugged terrain but you kept losing items because you could not properly secure them? Like many survival tools, “you don't need them until you need them” but you should consider a knowledge of knots as fundamental as your knowledge of fire starting.

Solar power is a key component to any off the grid survival plan. It is important to know the basics of building your own solar power facility before you get too deep into your project. While there are many advantages, there are also some drawbacks to solar power that you need to be aware of.

The Basics of Solar Power

Solar power obviously comes from the sun, and the homeowner needs a way to collect and harness that energy into electricity in order to power lights and appliances. Because solar is also an "intermittent" power source, meaning it doesn't work all the time (due to nighttime), you need a way to store the energy that is collected.

Two different defense strategies every survivalist should think about

There are two different types of defense. The first type of defense would be a passive defense. Make your home more secure so people can’t get in and you won’t have to defend yourself. Create good hiding places for your supplies and you and your family. If people don’t think you are home and there are no supplies there to help them, they will more than likely move along. People will have to roam and forage if they can’t easily get the supplies they need where they are. You can also do things like put bars or shutters on your windows. God forbid we ever get to this point but you can always board or brick them up too. Those who have a hidden safe room will not only have a perfect place to keep their supplies but a perfect place to keep their family in event of an emergency. The best way to survive a confrontation is to avoid it. Remember when society breaks down it doesn’t have to be a big wound to eventually become fatal.

Four Ways to Purify and Clean Water

Now that you have found water the other half of the battle is purifying it to make sure it's safe for your and your family's consumption. The things you CAN'T see in water are the very things that can kill you. Below are four different and fairly simple ways to make sure your water is always safe for human consumption.

Soil Conditions And What To Do To Improve Them

Poor soil conditions can sabotage your organic gardening efforts before you even get started.  First you will have to go get a soil sample from your garden and take it some place to get tested. (There are several places that will do this for you for free.  make sure you take your soil sample correctly.)  Once you know what your soil is like, you can use the solutions below to fix the soil problems in your garden while keeping it organic.  Most of the materials needed are available all around you.

Here are some tips on what to do if your gardens ph, nitrogen or potassium levels are off.

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Predicting The Weather Using Nature

I have come across so many different saying that help to predict the weather.  These saying have been passed down for hundreds of years by our ancestors and b/c for the most part these saying are fairly accurate.  I'm sure Mother Nature gives us all the information we need to know to predict the weather.  It's just a matter of us understanding or being able to interpret these signals.  I wonder how many sayings didn't survive time only b/c we have become less reliant on predicting the weather when we lived off the land.

Below are some of my favorite ways mother nature tells us what she is going to do...