How To Build A Fire Pit

How To Build A Fire Pit is courtesy of http://totalsurvival.net/

Take on this easy tutorial on how to build a fire pit and enjoy a warm fire outdoors as the season turns colder.

RELATED: Why Every Survivalist Should Have A Fire Pit In Their Backyard

In this article:

1. Build a Fire Pit for Great and Fun Time Outdoors
2. Supplies
3. Instructions

How to Build a Fire Pit: Steps, Tips, and Ideas

Build a Fire Pit for Great and Fun Time Outdoors

If you live somewhere way up North, you know a good fire outside your home makes for a relaxing evening while you observe the night sky or the Northern lights. A fire pit project is perfect though, wherever you live with the colder months peeping round the corner.

Fire pits can be a fun and convenient way to cook outdoors, or a great place to hang out. With our fire pit design, it can even be the focal point boosting your cozy backyard setup and ambiance.

There are different fire pit ideas but we like the circular ones which are more practical with less expense and effort. This DIY fire pit project, in particular, is pretty straightforward, thus inexpensive.

Anyone with a knack for DIY can do this project in a day or two so, let's get this project started in time for your next outdoor cookout. Here's how to build a circular fire pit, quick and easy!

Supplies

• Basic gray retaining wall blocks or any material of your choice (bricks, cinder blocks, or stone pavers)
• Medium grade gravel
• Caulk
• Level
• Long plank of wood
• Spray paint
• Shovel
• Rake

Instructions

Step 1. Pick the Perfect Spot, Measure, and Mark Your Shape

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To pick the perfect spot for a fire pit in your backyard, consider safety in your placement. An ideal fire pit should be at least 10 feet away from any building structure and trees.

Remember, a fire pit can generate heat which may affect your plants and surrounding structures too close to a fire. Checking with your local building codes would be best to be safe.

Ideally, a fire pit would be somewhere between 36 and 48 inches wide in diameter. You can first, layout your bricks or material of your choice to get a picture of how big your fire pit is going to be.

Pick a location which is mostly flat because this will make your life way easier when creating your pit. Now, after you layout your bricks into the shape and size you would like for your fire pit, use your spray paint to mark the ground.

Step 2. Dig the Fire Pit Base

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Dig straight down about five or six inches, or the depth of your bricks, then level the ground off at the bottom. Lay your level on top of a wooden plank to check the level of the entire bottom of the pit.

RELATED: How To Properly Build A Fire: A Step By Step Guide With Safety Tips

Step 3. Spread Gravel on Your Fire Pit Base

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Spread gravel to the bottom of your pit, using a rake to even it out and make it level. Again, use your level and plank to check the levelness of the pit.

Spreading gravel is crucial to your fire pit for drainage when it rains.

Step 4. Lay and Stack Blocks or Bricks

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Personally, I prefer the basic gray retaining wall blocks because they are easy to work with, especially with circular structures like our DIY fire pit.

To get started, lay your first layer of bricks on top of the gravel, creating your circle. Next, use your level and plank to check.

Continue stacking, using the same shape as your first layer and checking for levelness. Place bricks between the joints of the layer below and ss you build up, add adhesive between layers underneath each brick.

Step 5. Keep Stacking to Your Desired Height

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You can go as high as you like, but it's advisable to keep you wall pretty low profile for easy access to your fire pit. A good three layers from the ground level would be ideal but it's up to you to add one or two more layers.

And that's it! Your outdoor fire pit is good to go!

Excited to start a fire on your newly built fire pit? Watch this video from REI on how to build a fire on a fire pit:

Keep warm or chill out with your family and friends well into the wee hours of the night with a crackling fire by your homemade fire pit. Gather the brood, roast marshmallows, and share stories around a warm fire near the comfort of your home.

Would you prefer bricks to cinder blocks or stone pavers for your fire pit? Tell us your choice of materials for the fire pit you're planning to build in the comments section below!

Up Next:

• How To Build A Pyramid Fire | Survival Life
• Campfire Infographic | How To Build The Perfect Campfire
• Winter Survival Kit: The Prepper’s Guide To Winter Survival

Go to our Survival Life Store to shop some of our favorites self-defense tools and gear!

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on May 14, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

Original Post Here: How To Build A Fire Pit

How to Make Yogurt Starter

How to Make Yogurt Starter Find more on: http://www.totalsurvival.net/

How to Make Yogurt Starter

Making your own yogurt is a wonderful, healthful way to incorporate dairy into your diet. In order to make homemade yogurt, you will first need a yogurt starter. You can buy yeast cultures, but why go through the trouble when making your own starter is so easy? Here’s an easy recipe to use when you make your next batch of homemade yogurt.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Raw Cow’s Milk
• Cardamom Pods
• Thermometer
• Glass Measuring Cup
• Glass Bottle for storing starter

Step One

Heat the milk to 120 degrees. Pour milk into clean container.

Step Two

Break one large cardamom pod in half and place both halves in milk until completely submerged. If you have trouble finding pods (as I did), use 20 cardamom seeds instead.

Step Three

Use a whisk or spoon to push the seeds or pods under milk until completely submerged. Do NOT stir the mix as this may hinder the curdling process.

Step Four

Cover with cheesecloth or towel. Keep in a warm place (on the counter is fine as long as your home is around 70 degrees. Wait for it to curdle in 10-14 hours (I usually just wait overnight).

Step Five

Check the yogurt starter to ensure it has curdled properly. The smell should not be sour or pungent, but sweet. It should have thick curdles as well.

Step Six

Once the starter has curdled properly pour the mixture into a bowl and remove the pods and/or seeds.

Step Seven

Pour the yogurt starter into a clean container with a screw-tight top. Store in a refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

That’s all, fellow homesteaders! Did you enjoy my homemade yogurt starter recipe? Let us know in the comments section below what you thought of this yogurt starter. Do you have a favorite yogurt starter recipe that’s a staple on your homestead? Share it with us and we’ll give it a shot. We love doing DIY homesteading projects and becoming more self-reliant by learning more about how everything works around the homestead. That’s why Homesteading was created. We want all folks looking to lead a self-sufficient life, either on a homestead or in an urban environment, to come together and learn from each other! Of course, we welcome your help in creating a community of homesteaders. Come and share your homesteading tips and ideas, recipes and expect the best advice on self-reliance and homesteading trials from our team of long-time homesteaders, self-reliant wilderness, and preparedness experts. Want to write for Homesteading? Shoot us an e mail and make sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Do you have Instagram? Don’t forget to join us @HomesteadingUSA.

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What Is The Single Most Important Survival Item?

What Is The Single Most Important Survival Item? is republished from http://totalsurvival.net

What is the most important survival item? I regularly see this question on forums and social media sites, both in text and meme form. One of the more common answers is: knowledge and/or your brain. This answer annoys me because it feels like a cop-out. Obviously, you need knowledge and skills to make it through a survival scenario. Which is why “a survival guide” is also a cop-out.

The real question is: If you could only have one survival item (other than knowledge), which one would you choose? One of the most common answers is: a good knife. I tend to agree, but there are other good answers such as: axe, gun, rope, tarp, matches, multitool, metal pot, sleeping bag, water purifier, etc. My favorite answer comes from Ray Mears, who suggested a satellite phone.

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Anyway, when I came across this video by Sensible Prepper, I was expecting him to talk about one of the items I mentioned above. Instead, he talked about something I didn’t expect. But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense!

Watch the video below to hear his opinion on the most important survival item and why.

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Beekeeping [Benefits And A How-To Guide]

Beekeeping [Benefits And A How-To Guide] was originally published to http://totalsurvival.net/

There’s nothing like the sweetness of honey, and when SHTF you can sustain yourself with a supply of it. Beekeeping gives us many useful products and food, including honey and beeswax. Beeswax is used for both candles and soap, and honey has dozens of uses.

Bees are the Livestock for Serious Preppers

While bees are much smaller than the animal livestock that come to mind, they produce many products that are useful and can be kept in storage for years.

1. Hives do not take up much space. This makes it sustainable as far as land use. Bees pollinate all flowering plants. If you have a hive and a garden, the garden has nearby pollinators to keep vegetables growing throughout the growing season.
2. Honey is the perfect food and can last for centuries. A good, healthy hive can produce 50 pounds of honey. When supermarkets close, and sugar and sweeteners are hard to come by, a reliable source of honey will be valuable. Honey is a great source of calories if you are ever in a situation where food is scarce. It boosts the immune system and can be used in canning and baking.
   There are primarily two different kinds of honey that beekeepers harvest from their hives. The most common type of honey is liquid honey extracted from the comb. This is easily extracted with centrifuge equipment called an extractor. Most beekeepers use ready-made extractors, but some make their own.
   The second form of honey produced is known as comb honey. This is when the honey is left within the original wax combs. Comb honey is a lot less common than liquid honey, but many people prefer the more natural flavor.
3. Beeswax provides light and soap. This can be used to make slow burning candles perfect for grid down situations. Beeswax can also be used in soaps and this soap lasts longer. Beeswax helps to waterproof leather and other textures that have to be out in weather.

Bees For Healing

There are medicinal properties to honey that go far beyond allergy prevention. Propolis is the glue that bees make to repair and weatherproof their hives. This has antibiotic properties that can be used to fight infection. And some research indicates that propolis also has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and wound healing properties. Propolis can be collected from hives and needed when pharmacy shelves are bare.

Bee pollen is one of the most complete and compact foods in nature. It is loaded with vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes. It’s been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to boost energy, fight acne, fight depression, improve blood pressure and aid in digestion. Install pollen traps on your hives to collect the left-over pollen.

How to Start a Beehive

1. Bees can usually be kept anywhere, but be sure to check with local county regulations. Rural preppers will have less trouble finding a convenient spot for a hive. Suburban preppers can keep a hive in the backyard. A small fence is recommended as a precaution to keep kids and pets away. You want bees to fly higher past an obstacle such as a fence, so a stream of bees won’t go into your neighbor’s face.
2. Check with surrounding neighbors before getting started. If anyone has a big problem with your plan, this is the time to resolve issues. Some people are deathly allergic to bees, so you may have to reconsider. Set up in another location with a friend or family member, and offer to share the benefits.
3. Buy or build the beehive. Beehives are available on Amazon or your local beekeepers organization can help you. Beehives can be made from a variety of materials.
4. Buy necessary equipment. This includes a queen catcher, bee smoker, bee feeders, and other accessories that you will learn more about as you get into beekeeping.
5. Purchase safety gear such as a beekeeper suit. This will include a hat, veil, safety footwear and gloves.
6. Purchase bees for the new colony. Make sure you buy these bees are from a reputable source. Your orders should be placed by February at the latest. Apiaries will begin shipping orders in March and April, depending on your location. Most will ship with the United States Postal Service. The queen bee will come in a separate container. The rest of the bees will be feeding on a sugar solution while they are being shipped.

Installing Bees into the New Hive

Step 1 – Meet your bees
Before opening the package, spray some sugar syrup outside of the box to prevent the bees from flying around. Make sure your smoker is lit and smoking nicely. You may not need it as the bees will be docile from transportation, but you want to be safe just in case. Pry open the box with your hive tool and dislodge the bees by vigorously shaking the package.

Step 2 – Remove the queen
If your bee package has the queen in a separate cage, leave the queen until after all bees have been installed in the hive.

Step 3 – Remove hive frames
Remove some frames from the top of the hive. The number of frames to remove and the placement for the false bottom will depend on the size of your new colony.

Usually, it is recommended to place the false bar about 10 bars from the front of the hive. This way you can establish a brood nest right in front of the hive.

Step 4 – Put the bees in the hive
Empty the package into the hive through the opening. This is where your bee brush or feather will come in handy. Scatter any clusters around the bee cage and ensure that all bees are transferred from the package into the hive.

Additional Notes after Installing Bees

• Don’t touch the hive for at least a week. The bees need time to accept the queen. If the queen has been released from her cage, then she has been fully accepted by the colony. If not, you may need to give the hive a helping hand.
• Keep the feeder full during this time.
• Bees will be very confused and fly haphazardly. In no time they will adjust and become more coordinated.
• When you notice undertaker bees taking out the dead bees, then you’ll know that the colony is doing well. Also, look out for bees gathering pollen, this is another sign that the colony is thriving.

After a successful installation, you’ll need to give the bees time to adapt to their surroundings. Inspect the hive and ensure that they have started gathering pollen and nectar. They should begin to build the comb.

Starting a Hive without Buying Bees

If you are going to catch bees in the wild to start your own hive, the easiest swarms to collect are bees on tree branches. All you really need to do is cut the branch and gently place or shake the branch inside a container.

Bees on a fence post or flat surface are not that easy to collect. You will need to guide the bees into the box by brushing them gently with a bee brush or cardboard. They can also be guided to the container by using a smoker to direct and encourage them to move in the opposite direction.

Using a smoker will entail spraying the box with a sugar and water solution to attract the bees and keep them in the container. Then placing the smoker in the direction that you DON’T want the bees to go. Sometimes using more than one smoker may be necessary to get the swarm where you want them.

To transfer the bees from the container to your hive, gently shake the container and give them a nudge. Make sure the hive is ready to receive the new bees.

Don’t forget to wear safety clothing. Also, it’s a good idea to take a smoker on your bee collection adventure so that you can calm any ill-tempered bees down. Basically, follow the rest of the steps the same way to get the bees and the queen used to your hive.

Bees are not as aggressive as their reputation often lends them to be. Bees tend to focus on their roles in their colony. Beekeeping does require a bit of work and a new skill set. But, if it fits your lifestyle, this could one day prove to be one of your most valuable preps.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

Article Source Here: Beekeeping [Benefits And A How-To Guide]

Root Vegetable Gratin Recipe

Root Vegetable Gratin Recipe is available on http://www.totalsurvival.net/

This is a great vegetable side dish recipe for Thanksgiving, and has a delicious, cheesy taste that appeals to everyone. It is made with root vegetables and works as a fantastic side dish to add to your Thanksgiving menu.

Root Vegetable Gratin Recipe

This recipe is sufficient for an 8” round pyrex casserole dish, and serves 4-6 people as a side, but you can double it, or more, to make extra.

Ingredients

1 small onion, chopped
1 small turnip, thinly sliced
1/4 medium rutabaga, chopped into 1/2” cubes 1 small sweet potato, thinly sliced
1 5oz tub of crumbled blue cheese
1 1/2 cups fresh bone broth
Salt and pepper to taste

Step One

Prepare all your vegetables and put into bowls.

Step Two

Beginning with sweet potato, start to layer the vegetables in your dish (I use a round pyrex casserole dish with a lid), alternating each of the vegetables layers with a sprinkling of blue cheese and some salt and pepper.

Step Three

When the vegetables are layered, pour over the bone broth.

Step Four

Bake in a 425F oven for 1 hour, or until the vegetables are soft.

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That’s all, fellow homesteaders! Did you enjoy this root vegetable gratin recipe? Let us know in the comments section below what you thought of the tutorial for how to vegetable gratin. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving veggie side recipe that’s a staple on your homestead? Share it with us and we’ll give it a shot. We love doing DIY homesteading projects and becoming more self-reliant by learning more about how everything works around the homestead. That’s why Homesteading was created. We want all folks looking to lead a self-sufficient life, either on a homestead or in an urban environment, to come together and learn from each other! Of course, we welcome your help in creating a community of homesteaders. Come and share your homesteading tips and ideas, recipes and expect the best advice on self-reliance and homesteading trials from our team of long-time homesteaders, self-reliant wilderness, and preparedness experts. Want to write for Homesteading? Shoot us an e mail and make sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Do you have Instagram? Don’t forget to join us @HomesteadingUSA.

Click here to Like Us on Facebook.

Click here to Follow Homesteading on Pinterest.

Katy Light has a 44 acre homestead in North Georgia, where she raises goats, rabbits, sheep and chickens. She is passionate about self-sufficiency, natural ways to live, and fiber. Find her blog at www.poppycreekfarm.com. She can be reached at katy@poppycreekfarm.com.

Originally posted on November 26, 2014 @ 8:59 AM

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29 YouTube Survival Skills That Could Save Your Life

29 YouTube Survival Skills That Could Save Your Life was first published to http://totalsurvival.net/

YouTube is a great resource for preppers and survivalists looking to brush up on their skills. Check out these YouTube survival skills videos and keep yours sharp, too.

RELATED: 29 YouTube Survival Skills Videos You Can Learn At Home

In this article:

1. How Not to Get Lost in the Woods
2. Stay Hydrated While Hiking
3. Looking at the Lighter Side | How to Survive the Dessert
4. Find and Cook Food Along the Beach
5. DIY Fire Starters
6. Packing Your Backpack
7. Make a DIY Sling Shot
8. Make a Belt from Paracord
9. How to Baton Wood with a Survival Knife
10. Make a Bow from a Pen
11. Make a Paracord Bracelet
12. Start a Fire with a Bottle
13. Backpack Camping in the Rain
14. Keeping Clean Even in the Wilderness
15. Learn Life-Saving Hacks
16. Shemagh Tricks
17. Tying Knots for Survival
18. Make a DIY Pocket Walter Filter
19. Make a Swedish Torch
20. Using a Guitar Pick to Start a Fire
21. Bugout Camping Tricks
22. Basic Firestarting
23. Fighting Smart
24. Proper Archery Form
25. Self-Defense Hacks
26. Shoveling Snow the Easy Way
27. Learn More Self-Defense Techniques
28. Flood Survival
29. Start a Fire with Gum Wrapper

YouTube Survival Skills Everyone Should Know

1. How Not to Get Lost in the Woods

People getting lost and meeting their demise out in the wilderness is a well-documented mishap. Check out the video from Kenneth Kramm and learn how you can avoid getting lost in the woods and what you need to do if you do get lost with these tips.

2. Stay Hydrated While Hiking

Dehydration can actually lead to serious troubles–even death. This video from Between the Blazes walks you through the steps you need to take to keep hydrated while you're on a hike.

3. Looking at the Lighter Side | How to Survive the Dessert

In a tight situation, it's important to keep your head and be decisive. Your ability to think outside the box will come into play when things go wrong.

Laughter or the ability to see the humor in the face of difficulty can reduce stress and keep you fighting. While you'll bust out laughing with this goofy how-to survival video from Nigahiga, you'll also pick a thing or two about desert survival here.

4. Find and Cook Food Along the Beach

Fish isn't the only food item you can find in the sea or other bodies of water. Amazingly, people getting stranded on the beach are immediately set on fishing.

This video from Ultimate Bushcraft will show you how to hit the beaches, rocks, and tide pools for other kinds of seafood you can easily pick for you to eat.

5. DIY Fire Starters

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Fire is one of the pillars of survival and without fire, your chances of survival will drop down fast. We have here a collection of DIY fire starter videos and unique ways to create a fire which may help save your life out in the elements.

6. Packing Your Backpack

You must find the balance between bringing all you need and the weight of the items when packing your backpack. This video from REI will show how it's done, so whether you're traveling, hiking, or camping, you only bring what you need.

7. Make a DIY Sling Shot

A weapon is a survival essential for self-defense and hunting food. This homemade slingshot from our very own channel is quite effective in hunting small game.

8. Make a Belt from Paracord

Every survivalist must have a good number of multipurpose items and this paracord belt has to be on the list. So how can a paracord belt save your life?

This DIY video from Paracord Guild will tell you why and how you can make a paracord belt, step-by-step.

9. How to Baton Wood with a Survival Knife

First, this Youtube video from Innerbark Outdoors will show you the need for a good survival knife for survival. Next, it will show you the proper and safe way to split wood for your fire and other survival needs.

To make fire out in the wilderness, you will need fuel. Wood is the first choice because it is readily available.

10. Make a Bow from a Pen

We've already stated the importance of a weapon, especially a homemade one for survival, so we have here another DIY survival weapon video tutorial from Taras Kul.

You need to know how to make weapons even from the small and unsuspecting objects.

11. Make a Paracord Bracelet

Imagine having a strong, long and very versatile cordage around your wrist. Once you learn this skill, you'll be able to make a paracord watch strap, too.

Make sure to check out our video tutorial also on how to make your own paracord bracelet.

12. Start a Fire with a Bottle

You will perhaps have a water bottle with you most times, and this is a good thing both for your hydration and for fire-starting. You read the latter part right, and this is how you do it.

13. Backpack Camping in the Rain

Camp in the rain properly and you will learn a valuable skill you can use to survive calamities like flooding and hurricane. We have here another YouTube video from Kenneth Kramm which will show you how it's done with a high success rate.

14. Keeping Clean Even in the Wilderness

Proper disposal of your waste will actually save your life in the long run. We all know improper disposal of waste can lead to diseases affecting not only you but also animal exposed to the waste.

15. Learn Life-Saving Hacks

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There are other ways to do things you may never have considered. Here are some of these life hacks which are actually useful.

RELATED: 10 Essential Items For New Preppers [Video]

16. Shemagh Tricks

The weather can be unforgiving especially when you have decided to bug out. Check out the many ways you can use a shemagh for survival.

17. Tying Knots for Survival

A loose knot can lead to your demise, thus properly tying a knot will help save your life. Learn how to lasso knot, plus other knot tutorials from our Survival Life channel.

18. Make a DIY Pocket Walter Filter

Earlier, we shared a YouTube video on how to stay hydrated which essentially stressed the importance of water–safe drinking water. Now, this featured video will show you how you can make a DIY pocket water filter so you can secure safe drinking water wherever you are.

19. Make a Swedish Torch

You can make a fire with a single log. It's also easy to ignite and great for cooking.

20. Using a Guitar Pick to Start a Fire

It's hard to believe a guitar pick can become a firestarter but watch the video and learn.

21. Bugout Camping Tricks

Camping is the perfect way to practice and fine-tune those survival skills you learn here. Keep learning with these five camping tips and tricks.

22. Basic Firestarting

It's primitive but using a flint is still one of the most effective ways to start a fire as shown in this featured video.

23. Fighting Smart

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When you have no choice but to fight, all you have to do is hit the attacker's throat in the right spot and he's immobilized.

24. Proper Archery Form

Archery is getting quite popular as a survival weapon and getting the archery stance right is the key to level up your skills.

25. Self-Defense Hacks

Learn these three self-defense techniques to become more confident you'll know what to do when you're attacked.

26. Shoveling Snow the Easy Way

Snow unchecked and unshovelled can bury you deep, so get the job done before it does any harm. You get tired easily from shoveling so why not just roll the snow as the video demonstrates?

27. Learn More Self-Defense Techniques

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We cannot stress enough how self-defense is crucial in many survival situations. Thus, learning more self-defense techniques will at least give you the fighting chance if not the edge to overpower your attackers.

28. Flood Survival

Floods are one of the most destructive calamities which destroyed both lives and properties worldwide. It's essential to know what to do when the water rises, so you can save your loved ones as well as yourself.

29. Start a Fire with Gum Wrapper

Again, fire is essential, so we have here another fire-starting trick you can learn. With a battery and a cutting tool, the gum in your pocket can become a fire-starter or lighter.

Of course, don't forget to check out our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel, Survival Life!

Here's another video from Survival Life on the survival uses for duct tape which may save your life:

There are plenty of sources when it comes to survival tips and tricks, but when it comes to finding free survival video tutorials, it's hard to beat YouTube. Most of us are visual learners, so learning a new survival skill by watching a video is much easier than reading about it.

Perhaps the greatest thing about YouTube survival skills is you can watch them over and over until you master the skill, for free! What's not to like about that?

Do you have your favorite YouTube survival skills show we missed? Share it with us in the comments!

Up Next:

• This Survival Training Course Might Just Save Your Life
• Escape A Sinking Car: What To Do When You’re Submerged
• 19 “Old World” Primitive Survival Skills You’ll WISH You Knew Before SHTF

Go to our Survival Life Store to shop some of our favorites self-defense tools and gear!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on July 7, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

See More Here: 29 YouTube Survival Skills That Could Save Your Life

14 Tasty Homemade Yogurt Recipes and Ideas

How To Make A DIY Pocket Water Filter [Video]

The following post How To Make A DIY Pocket Water Filter [Video] See more on: http://totalsurvival.net/

Learn how to make a DIY pocket water filter to have clean, safe drinking water no matter where you are. Watch the video tutorial here.

RELATED: Drinking Water for Survival | 8 Reasons Why It’s Important

How to Make a DIY Pocket Water Filter

Why Safe Drinking Water is Essential

Water is undeniably a fundamental human need which becomes the most important element in life. Every day, each human being needs 20 to 50 liters of safe clean water for drinking and utility.

Safe drinking water is essential because it generally encourages people to live a healthy lifestyle. Contaminated water is not only dangerous, but it is also deadly.

More than one million people die every year due to water-related ailments such as diarrhea and cholera. These health issues often occur in poor communities where water shortage is a common scenario.

This is also true when you are in the woods bugging out or in the aftermath of the apocalypse. Safe clean drinking water promotes overall wellness.

Hydration is necessary in order for the organs of the body to function normally. The absence of water results in various diseases which causes a chain reaction in the cycle of life.

Because of this, children won’t be able to go to school while parents won’t be able to go to work. Getting sick when you are trying to survive is an absolute no-no.

Obviously, safe drinking water makes life more productive. Finally, safe drinking water is essential for food preparation and sanitation.

Feeding the family with clean food requires the use of clean water. Vegetables, fruits, meat and all types of food products need to be washed first before consumption.

Sanitation pertains to personal hygiene which should be considered a lifetime practice. Improper hygiene breeds various diseases and can also be the cause of a person’s loss of human dignity.

Thus, clean supply of water is what people need in order to combat diseases and at the same time ensure the health and ultimately the survival of an individual.

RELATED: 25 Ways To Get Clean Drinking Water In An Emergency

Make a DIY Pocket Water Filter from Natural Materials

You can find different water sources in the wild. From the rain and rivers to streams and ponds, water is widely available.

Only there's the question of the water's potability or even its safety for utility. This is where the process of purification comes into play and we have different methods for decontamination.

In terms of the immediate need to drink safe water, we now have the convenience of commercial water filters, but what if it's unavailable? We now go to our reliable skill in self-sufficiency–our skill to find ways where there seem to be none.

There are many videos to make DIY water filters, but we picked this homemade water filter. This is simply because the water filter materials are common and ones you find in nature.

It is also very straightforward with a simple process you can easily recall.

Watch this video from Survival Lilly and learn how to make a water filter from bamboo and other simple and natural materials:

Without water, we die–this is how important water is, especially clean drinking water. The chances of you, finding water in the wild is pretty high though, compared to finding clean drinking water you can drink outright.

With this practical DIY pocket water filter video tutorial, getting clean drinking water out in the wild will be the least of your concerns out in the elements.

Do you have other ideas for a DIY pocket water filter you might want to add? Let us know about it in the comments section below!

Up Next:

• Lost In The Woods 101: What To Do When Lost In The Woods
• Weird Trick To Effectively And Efficiently Conserve Water In A Crisis
• Berkey Water Filter Review | Alternate Drinking Water Sources At Home

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on December 15, 2015, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

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Article Source Here: How To Make A DIY Pocket Water Filter [Video]

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Build Your Own House

The following post Build Your Own House was originally seen on http://www.totalsurvival.net/

Learn how to build your own house with this tutorial. You’ll learn all the steps you’ll need when building your own house and how to pass home inspections.

Build Your Own House

One of the joys of owning a homestead is being able to start building your life from the ground up (literally). This includes the ability to build your own house that is custom tailored to your family’s needs! While building your own home is an exciting adventure, I wish I’d had a clear step-by-step process of what I needed to consider before construction began. That’s why I’ve compiled this quick step-by-step for how to build your own house.

Step 1. Find and prepare the house site

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Find a suitable location on which to build your home. Buy a piece of land if you don’t have one yet. Consider factors like climate, ground stability, availability of utilities and community infrastructure.

Do complete site clearing, down to the ground and 25 feet around intended house perimeter.

Step 2. Construct the house footing and foundation

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Dig for footers around your home site and let inspectors check footer trenches. Pour concrete for footers.

Construct footing drain; this will drain water away from the footers and protect them. Construct foundation over the footers. You can use either concrete or blocks. Then, waterproof the foundation all the way up to the finish grade level. Dig holes in the foundation wall for water supply and drainage.

Step 3. Start the plumbing

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Call in some plumbers to lay out the basic plumbing lines. For concrete slabs, pipes are laid down that will eventually get covered with concrete.

Step 4. Pour concrete

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For concrete slab, install slab foam board insulation and make sure to lay down a 4 inch minimum gravel base for your slab pour.

Install plastic vapor barrier and back it up with wire mesh reinforcement. Pour the concrete slab.

Step 5. Build the framing, siding and roofing

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It’s best to bring in carpenters to frame out your house because framing is the basic “shell” of the house, minus siding and roof.

Once you have the house frame in place, install windows and skylights, and then the sheathing and siding.

Complete the roof.

Step 6. Start the interior work

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Interior work include having electricians lay out electrical and HVAC (heating and cooling) systems and installing insulations on walls and attic.

Step 7. Working on the flooring, drywall, priming, trim

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Now is the time to install unfinished hardwood around your house. If your choice is pre-finished hardwood, then you’ll wait on this until after the drywall is hung.

Hang drywall throughout the house. This drywall will then be mudded, sanded, re-mudded, and finish-sanded. Prime interior walls and place trim, such as crown molding, door casing, etc. Hang cabinets where you want them to be.

Step 8. Painting and finishing the house

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Once all the messy work of priming and drywalling is done, it’s time to start painting the house. Paint all the walls and install finishing touches such as pre-finished hardwood and floor tiles. Fix the kitchen and bathroom counters in place.

Complete all plumbing, electrical, and HVAC lines.

Step 9. After construction cleaning and more finishing touches

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Now it’s time to do some massive cleaning up after all the construction work you’ve done in your home. Install more finishing touches such as carpeting and/or finishing the as-yet-unfinished hardwood floors.

Step 10. Exterior work and inspections

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Exterior work include landscaping. Inspection is a bit of a red tape to your DIY house-building project so call in the appropriate personnels to do this final step.

That’s all, fellow homesteaders! Did you enjoy our tutorial on how to build you own house? Let us know in the comments section below what troubles you had with building your own house. Do you have helpful experience building your own home? Share it with us and we’ll pass it along. We love doing DIY homesteading projects and becoming more self-reliant by learning more about how everything works around the homestead. That’s why Homesteading was created. We want all folks looking to lead a self-sufficient life, either on a homestead or in an urban environment, to come together and learn from each other! Of course, we welcome your help in creating a community of homesteaders. Come and share your homesteading tips and ideas, recipes and expect the best advice on self-reliance and homesteading trials from our team of long-time homesteaders, self-reliant wilderness, and preparedness experts. Want to write for Homesteading? Shoot us an e mail and make sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

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Originally posted on November 27, 2014 @ 8:16 AM

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War Survival Tips: How To Survive A War

The following post War Survival Tips: How To Survive A War Read more on: http://totalsurvival.net

Arm yourself with the proper knowledge and these war survival tips before the inevitable occurs.

RELATED: 7 Military Disaster Survival Tips | Survival Life

In this article:

1. War Survival Tips You Need to Keep Today
   1. Learn to Shoot for War Survival and Self-Defense
   2. Stay Fit for War Survival
   3. Prepare a Survival Kit
   4. Undergo Survival and Basic Military Training
   5. Fortify Your Home for War Survival
   6. Have a Bug-Out Vehicle Ready at All Times
   7. Make An Exit Plan for Long-term War Survival
   8. Prepare A Bug Out Location

War Survival Tips: Through the Citizen's Eyes

War Survival Tips You Need to Keep Today

Wars are a sad and terrible part of history–a cruel facet of humankind, and it can happen again. The intent to expand territory and take resources by force are often the reasons for such conflict where thousands or millions of human lives are lost.

If you’re not a soldier, it is best you evacuate the area as soon as possible. Watching current events on televisions, radio, or the internet can also help you anticipate and prepare for the worst.

More often than not, everyone will see and feel the tension build-up prior to an eventual war. People will definitely be talking about it but no one knows the exact time it will strike.

Here are some war survival tips you'll be glad to have come across if ever the unthinkable happens in the near or foreseeable future. You will learn what to do in case of war or what to do during war times.

1. Learn to Shoot for War Survival and Self-Defense

Investing in guns is a must in order to survive the war. Your local military should come to your aid but it may take some time.

If evacuation is not yet a possible option, defending yourself and keeping the enemy at bay should be your top priority.

Learn how to choose your guns, clean, maintain, and shoot your weapons on a regular basis. Don’t forget to also learn about gun safety.

2. Stay Fit for War Survival

If rubble would be everywhere then using a vehicle may become utterly useless so you will have to avoid the enemy on foot with a lot of gear on you. That's why you must be fit to keep from getting caught in the enemy’s cross sights.

3. Prepare a Survival Kit

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In the event of a nuclear war, the contents of your survival kit must fit the impending danger.

Keep chemical masks, protective coveralls, gloves, and other items to protect you from radiation. You can also learn how to create your own survival kit.

4. Undergo Survival and Basic Military Training

Learning a few survival skills such as stealth, covert, and radio communications training can get you places without even being detected. If the enemy is within your city areas, this means your local or national military is still not able to defend its citizens.

With aircraft and military drones made available by technology, you must be on your toes at all times. Move from cover to cover and use the cover of darkness to move about.

RELATED: Military Disaster Survival Skills | Survival Life

5. Fortify Your Home for War Survival

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At initial attacks without warning, it is best to stay indoors and fortify it with window and door metal shutters. You can also place sandbags on the lower sides of the walls for added protection.

You might have to evacuate but wait until the dust settles before bugging out. The enemy would most likely bombard your area prior to moving in.

If you have a cellar or fortified shelter it would greatly increase your chances of survival, too.

6. Have a Bug-Out Vehicle Ready at All Times

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Other than the car you use on an ordinary day, you must have another vehicle hidden away for emergency use. If you can fortify it and include weapon attachments, the better it will be for you.

It should also have a 4-wheel drive to ensure it can go off-road should you need to avoid enemy encounters. Don’t forget to stash your bug out vehicle with supplies such as food, water, and ammo.

7. Make An Exit Plan for Long-term War Survival

Map out multiple exit points from your home or office. In case your main route is barricaded or full of fleeing people then you have other options left to get where you need to go.

8. Prepare A Bug Out Location

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A bug out location well away from major cities, on a mountain or hilltop, if possible, is a good place to make a stand. Fortify it and have multiple exit points prepared.

It should also be stacked with food and water supplies to last you months or even years. The first thing to do if you’re not a soldier is to evacuate if you can.

Ultimately, this is what your government would want to keep its citizens safe and this is what your main objective should be. As for the enemy, they would want to annihilate every living soul who is not their own.

Watch this video on how to survive a nuclear war posted by Greg and Mitch:

The best way to survive a war as a civilian is to flee the area of conflict as soon as you can. Think of the safety of your family before anything else.

Should you wish to fight the enemy to protect your homeland, it is best you sign up with the military. Through this, you will have more equipment and comrades to fight by your side.

Do you have any more suggestions or comments about war survival you might want to add? Please add them in the comments section below!

Up Next:

• Survival Life’s Comprehensive Checklist For A 72 Hour Survival Kit
• Want To Survive the Apocalypse? Ditch These 10 Bad Habits NOW
• How To Survive A Nuclear War

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***Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.***

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 15, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

check out the full article Here: War Survival Tips: How To Survive A War

How To Make Homemade Granola

How To Make Homemade Granola Read more on: http://www.totalsurvival.net/

Learn how to make your own homemade granola. Making granola is better than buying granola for many reasons, such as you have control of what goes into it, it’s cheaper, and it’s healthier and fresher. Keep reading to learn how to make your own!

Homemade Granola Recipe For A Healthier Homestead

We all get the munchies from time to time, and when that time comes, we should be prepared with healthy recipes for all our snacking needs. That’s why I’m sharing this recipe from The Casual Craflete on how to make homemade granola from scratch. Use this simple granola recipe to make a nutritious filling snack the whole family can enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 18 oz container of old fashion oats
• ½ cup chopped almonds
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• ½ cup chopped pine nuts
• ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• ¼ cup flax seed
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup dried blueberries

How To Make Homemade Granola:

Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients

Combine, oats, nuts, coconut, flax seed, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir until well-combined.

Step 2: Whisk Liquid Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk together syrup and oil. Pour the mixture into the large bowl of dry ingredients. Combine thoroughly.

Step 3: Bake It

Pour the mixture into two baking sheets with sides and spread evenly in a single layer. Bake granola mixture at 300 degrees for 30 to 45 mins or until the granola is golden brown. Stir every 10 mins.

Step 4: Remove From Oven

Remove granola from the oven and let it cool completely. Add the blueberries and store in an air-tight container.

Want more homemade granola recipes for a healthy breakfast? Check out this video from a Wildflower Life – Healthy Food & Lifestyle:

That’s all, fellow homesteaders! A quick and easy to prepare homemade granola recipe for the whole family to enjoy. This recipe is guaranteed to give your family a healthy snack to savor any time of the day. So, forget everything about store-bought snacks!

Did you enjoy our tutorial on how to make homemade granola? Let us know in the comments section below what you thought of our homemade granola recipe.

Want another healthy snack for your homestead kitchen? Check out here Healthy Blueberry Muffin Recipe!

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This post was originally published in September 2015 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Originally posted on September 15, 2015 @ 1:00 AM

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5 Ways To Start A Fire Without Matches

The article 5 Ways To Start A Fire Without Matches See more on: http://totalsurvival.net

Try these amazing ways to start a fire without matches or a lighter and secure food, water, warmth, and safety if you find yourself in a survival setup.

RELATED: Essential Wilderness Survival Skill: How To Start A Friction Fire

In this article:

1. Flint and Steel Wool
2. Potassium Permanganate and Sugar
3. How to Start a Fire with a Water Bottle
4. How to Start a Fire with a Battery and Gum Wrappers
5. 9-Volt Battery and Steel Wool

Ways to Start a Fire with Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Flint and Steel Wool

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Hikers and campers can get into quite a lot of misadventures and in these misadventures, we can either lose or damage our matches. We can even lose or forget to bring one altogether.

Yet, you can count on hikers and campers to have multitool gear and gadgets with flint these days. Using flint is a bit tricky though, so take the instructions below to start a fire with flint and wool.

Supplies:

• 3 medium pieces of firewood
• Extra fine steel wool, grade #000
• Flint and steel striker
• Cotton ball
• Bundle of kindling
• Cotton ball

Directions:

1. Place pad of steel wool on a flat surface.
2. Surround the steel wool with two pieces of firewood.
3. Place a cotton ball on top of the steel wool, then surround the cotton ball with kindling.
4. Add more kindling to the top so the cotton ball is completely unclosed.
5. Use your flint and steel to strike sparks against the edges of the steel wool. Continue this motion around the edge of the steel wool, blowing on the sparks to ignite flames.
6. Add a third piece of firewood so the fire is fully contained.

2. Potassium Permanganate and Sugar

Amazingly, Potassium Permanganate has many survival uses when used properly. So if you ever have to pick a chemical to bring along with you, pick this one.

It has been used as a disinfectant, makes an antiseptic solution, anti-fungal, and one of the most effective fire-starting methods.

What Is Potassium Permanganate? It is a common chemical compound which is a combination of manganese oxide ore with potassium hydroxide. It is widely used in the water treatment industry.

Supplies:

• Sugar
• Potassium Permanganate
• Piece of wood or rock with a flat edge

Directions:

1. On a flat surface, combine a small pile of potassium permanganate with a small pile of sugar. Make sure there is an even 1:1 ratio.
2. Press a flat rock or piece of wood against the pile and begin rapid short strokes back and forth.
3. The chemical combination will begin to smoke and a flame will ignite almost immediately.

3. How to Start a Fire with a Water Bottle

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This fire-starting method follows the concept of the magnifying glass by creating the lens effect with water. Follow the steps below for a foolproof way to get a fire going while the sun is still up.

Supplies:

• Plastic water bottle, label removed
• Three sheets of paper (paper with black ink works best)

Directions:

1. Fold one piece of paper so the ink is facing outward.
2. Tear the other sheets of paper so you have four pieces, then fold each piece down the middle.
3. Remove the label from your water bottle. The edge of the bottle will serve as a make-shift magnifying glass to focus the sunlight.
4. Set your papers against a large rock (or something non-flammable).
5. Angle your water bottle against the paper until the paper begins to smoke and a hole burns through.
6. When the hole is about the size of a quarter, start adding more layers of paper to keep the fire growing.
7. Wave the paper around gently until a flame appears.

RELATED: How To Build A Pyramid Fire | Survival Life

4. How to Start a Fire with a Battery and Gum Wrappers

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Chances are you're carrying a battery-operated gadget and probably some gum on your adventure. So, if you run out of luck and you need fire, the battery and gum wrappers will do the trick.

Supplies:

• Foil-backed gum wrapper
• AA or AAA battery

Directions:

1. Start with a gum wrapper and a battery. (Note: This trick will only work with a foil-backed gum wrapper.
2. If you don’t have a loose battery on hand, remove one from your flashlight. (Don’t worry — you can put it back later.)
3. Cut the gum wrappers into hourglass-shaped strips.
4. Take one of your ignitors and hold the ends against the ends of the battery. After a few seconds, you will notice it starting to smoke.
5. After a few more seconds, you will see a flame emerge.

5. 9-Volt Battery and Steel Wool

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We take the battery trick to start a fire more seriously because as I've said, chances are high you'll have a battery with you. In an urban setting, they are also the easiest to find. So here's another way to start a fire with a battery.

Supplies:

• Extra fine steel wool, grade #000
• 9V Battery
• 3 medium pieces of firewood
• Bundle of kindling
• Cotton ball

Directions:

1. Place pad of steel wool on a flat surface.
2. Surround the steel wool with two pieces of firewood.
3. Place a densely-packed bundle of kindling on top of the steel wool.
4. Wedge the cotton ball underneath the kindling. (Pro tip: Soaking your cotton ball in petroleum jelly will make it burn much longer.)
5. Rub the protruding end of the 9V battery briskly against the steel wool. Continue applying friction to all of the edges until the steel wool begins to spark.
6. Add a third piece of wood so the fire is contained on all sides.

Check out the video below to see these ideas in action:

When we think of ways on how to start a fire without matches or a lighter, we immediately envision the tedious task of rubbing sticks together. Now you know there are several smart and less hassling ways to start a fire.

Try these tricks at home when making a campfire, lighting the firepit or the outdoor pizza oven so you know what to do in case the real need to make a fire without matches arise.

Which of these ways to start a fire have you tried? How did it go? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below!

Up Next:

• 10 Fire Starting Materials You Probably Have At Home
• Ways To Start A Fire | 17 Unconventional Tricks And Techniques
• Flint and Tinder | Fire Making Basics For Everyday Survivalists Like You

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***Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.***

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on December 2, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

See Full Article Here: 5 Ways To Start A Fire Without Matches