Hello, my friend and welcome back! I often receive letters from new Preppers looking for advice on getting started. I received this one the other day I’ll address it in today’s post, so grab a cup of coffee my friend and have a seat while we visit.
The true answer to this question would be based on just what caused SHTF, and what you have left to work with. I however, believe that we should prep for the worst and hope for the best. All of my preps are based on worst case scenarios. The way I see it, if you can survive when you have nothing at all, then you can survive when you have more to work with. It is this philosophy that is behind the information I’m going to share with you today.
“An ounce of prevention is pound of cure”, as they say, so having what you need to survive is the first step in preparing. By this I mean things such as power sources and rain collection systems, just as examples. Then knowing how to use them is very important, as well as knowing how to fix them when they break. Learn all you can about basic electricity and electronics repair. These skills will be worth their weight in gold when there is no power or repairman to be found.
Some of the most important skills you can have are to be a good hunter, trapper and be able to fish. Knowing how and when to plant a garden, as well as how to care for it, is another skill that’s a must have. Eventually your food supplies will run out and you will have to become a hunter gatherer in the forest. If you don’t have those skills then you are just prolonging the inevitable. There is tons of information about it on the internet, and finding someone to take you hunting with them should be easy. Most would gladly show off their skills.
How to filter water with what you can find in nature, as well as knowing how to build a fire is a must. Without these two skills, you will not last long once its past and you are forced to survive on your own. You die of thirst in just 3 days, and if you can’t get warm then you may die of exposure in much less time than that. These are critical skills to have when you are forced to survive on your own.
Your cloths will eventually rot and if you don’t know how to skin and tan deer and other hides, you may find yourself wearing fig leaves. Tanning a hide is not easy, but knowing how could save you from the elements and prolong your life greatly.
Other critical skills to know are how to cut up and preserve meat and other foods for long term storage without electricity. Without this skill, you could starve in the winters when food is not easily accessible. In a world where there is no medicine and no Dr., a simple infection can kill you as dead as a bullet; you will need to know Herbal Medicine, so the ability to identify wild plants that can be used as medicine, as well as a basic understanding of medical skills for taking care of yourself and others.
One more critical skill is the ability to build a shelter in the forest with nothing. If you become stuck in the forest with nothing, and you can’t build a shelter to get out of the weather, then you could easily die as well. Take the time now to not only learn how, but to practice these skills and work out any things you’re not clear about. Just remember that knowledge without the ability to implement it will be useless when SHTF hits.
These are basic skills that every prepper must have. While the list goes on and on, and you will always be learning if you want to not just survive, but thrive in a post SHTF world. It will take time and you don’t need to be a master at all of these skills, but rather have a good working knowledge of them. Learn and practice every chance you get.
Well that’s it for today and I hope I have answered your question Nancy. Until next time my friend, stay safe, stay strong and stay prepared. God Bless America!
-Sarge-
Great info as always Sarge!!! I consider myself a “good” hunter, not as good as my uncle who is Scary good.. but good none the less. My fishing skills are probably better than most, so there is two skills I have going for me… I’m a former EMT and have kept “most” of my skills up and can build shelters easily.. have done this since my childhood days…so there are two more.. I clearly need to learn more about tanning hides, smoking meats etc…all in all.. I “think” I’ll be okay….until nature hands me my butt on a plate that is…
One more important skill preppers and all people need to learn and practice is how to start a fire. Matches and lighters may not be around. Learning the proper technique to start a fire (which is needed for boiling water of its impurities, for cooking, cleaning and for warmth) is difficult even with a match or lighter let alone having to create friction for spark or even a piece of glass to magnify the sun’s rays.