Knowledge is Power in today’s world both now and after SHTF hits. As Preppers, we seem to concentrate on storing up supplies and sometimes we forget that we should also be concentrating on storing up knowledge as well. Whether it is something as simple as storing up books on how to do things without electricity or actually learning new survival skills, knowledge is power and should be among your top prepping priorities. Let’s take a look at some of the subjects you should be stocking up on for TEOTWAWKI.
Survival Skills (How to) – It seems pretty obvious that we all need to learn as much as we can on this subject. Everything from how to start a fire, to how to build a shelter, these are skills that can save your life one day and should not be over looked. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is allowing themselves to believe that they have skills and know how to do things that they really don’t. I mean just because you built a fire by rubbing 2 sticks together when you were 12 doesn’t mean that you could do it today. That fort shelter you have built in the woods behind your house when you were a kid, probably would not keep out much wind and rain if it came down to it today. Take the time to learn to do it right and then practice what you learn. Many skills are perishable and should be practiced regularly to keep them viable.
Hunting Skills – Many of us try to hunt regularly when we can, but do you do more than just sit in a hunting blind and wait for some unsuspecting prey to come walking by? Do you know and can recognize all of the different tracks you see on the ground? Do you know how to set a snare to catch a squirrel or rabbit? Do you know how to clean what you kill, without wasting meat? These are all good questions that you should ask yourself now, not latter. Hunting and tracking is definitely one of those perishable skills I was talking about earlier. Buy books that you can add to your preps that contain this information, so you can pass on the knowledge that you have learned to others who don’t have the skills to do it. Like maybe your wife, or your son that is too small to learn right now. This knowledge will be invaluable when SHTF hits and food is scarce. Learn as much as you can and keep learning. Learn how to track a deer through the wood and stalk it. Be proactive in developing these skills and keep on practicing every chance you get.
Medical skills – OK, so you know how to do first aid, that’s great, but what about something more serious? What would you do then? Having access to books in a personal library, that you could use to look up symptoms of an illness and recommended treatment for it, could save your life or the life of someone you love. When SHTF hits, you never know what you might face and what you might need in an emergency. Buy the books, watch videos, do whatever it takes to get the knowledge now so you will have it when you need it. Get books on Survival medicine and books on how to deliver a baby and do minor surgery. Also look for information on herbal medicine as well. There are tons of natural remedies that can be made from the wild plants wherever you live. Learn about all of them and how to use them. When the time comes, you will be glad that you did.
Cooking and Farming – Sure, most of us know how to cook at least a little, but do you know how to clean and cook wild game? Do you know how to plant and harvest wheat? What about potatoes? My point here is that there are literally tons of books out there that can teach you how to do these things. There is a saying that if you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day but if you teach him how to fish he will eat for a lifetime. The same is true here with Farming and Cooking. Only a fool would rely only on manufactured food, with the hope of simply acquiring more after SHTF. Stock the seeds and learn how and when to plant them as well as how and when to harvest them and you will be on your way to a sustainable future when it comes to food. There are also a lot of books out there that cover how to clean and cook wild game. Take the time to learn how to do it because it will be a requirement of surviving in a SHTF world.
Well, I hope you get my point and understand what I mean by knowledge is power and the importance of learning everything you can as well as creating a personal library of these essential skills. I will place a list below the post on some of the things I think every prepper should study up on for when it hits the fan. Well until next time, I hope you have maybe gotten a few new ideas on prepping by adding books to a personal library. Until then, just keep on Prepping!
Books every Prepper should own:
