My First Hardcover: Basic Survival

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Basic Survival – A beginner’s guide is my first hardback book, It is larger than all my other titles, and the pictures make me feel like its a coffee table book, but when I wrote it I included all the basics I learned starting out as a prepper.

Don’t let the name fool you, this is not a wilderness survival handbook – it is a surviving emergencies handbook.  I believe in an all hazards approach to survival.  If you knew what kind of disaster would kill you a smart thing to do would just be to avoid that type of disaster.  Since no one knows what might happen to them, a smart person prepares to deal with all kinds of issues.

I take academic theory learned during my education as an Emergency Management Planner and add common sense skills learned by life as a prepper to bring you this book.

In my emergency management career, I have a lot of experience dealing with disasters of all kinds, I have worked in shelters and know what goes on behind the scenes.  That experience causes me to try to keep my family out of emergency shelters.

It makes me especially proud as James Wesley Rawles of SurvivalBlog wrote the introduction.  His site remains one of my favorite resources, and I have long been a reader of his blog and learn learn something new almost weekly.

I updated the David’s Books Page so check that page out as well.

Learning Survival from Books

Learning Survival from Books: 6 Best Books to Start

Learning Survival from BooksAre you making your first steps in the world of survivalism? If so, learning survival from books in the very beginning makes a lot of sense.

Books are essential to proper training.  The knowledge within them can guide your personal experiences and prevent mistakes.

Nothing beats practical experience with a good instructor, but that is not available to everyone.

Needless to say, survival books are not created equal. To learn from the best, you may want to consider a few of these titles.

The Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide

The list starts with the Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide. The book tops many charts in relevant forums and discussion boards. Published in 2014, this book is written by Jim Cobb – a trainer for a disaster preparedness company.

Cobb has long written articles about survival, disaster preparedness and budget-friendly preparation.

This book focuses predominantly on long-term survival in emergency situations. It doesn’t focus too much on surviving in nature.  Rather it addresses scenarios of chaos and turmoil (something that we could be facing in the near future?).

The book has a big number of positive reader reviews and most focus on the practical and actionable tips.

Cobb’s guide includes chapters on food, water, medicine and personal hygiene, security, tools and even how to survive the boredom that could be linked to living in a bunker for a prolonged period of time.

Wilderness Survival

 If you are specifically interested in wilderness survival, you will definitely fancy the second edition of Wilderness Survival by Gregory J. Davenport.

As the name suggests, this book will teach you how to make the best of your circumstances whenever you’re stranded in nature.

People who love the outdoor have to prepare for all kinds of extraordinary circumstances and the book provides a lot of valuable information.

The book is the result of the work and the experience of a former USAF survival instructor.

Davenport is also an escape specialist and a top survival expert worldwide.

Thus, learning from the best is possible with this title.

Some of the most important topics covered in Wilderness Survival include:

  • How to sustain health in the wilderness
  • Medical kits, gear and other essentials for survival
  • Personal protection
  • Sustenance
  • How to return home

The Survival Handbook

The name of this book by Collin Towell says it all. The Survival Handbook also comes with a pretty impressive cover design.  Not the most important characteristic of the book but certainly one that catches the eye.

Collin Towell is a prolific writer that specializes in the survival genre.

He’s published a number of books on the topic, including Essential Survival Skills, The Survival Handbook in Association with the Royal Marines Commandos and the Survival Handbook: Endurance Essentials for the Great Outdoors.

As the name suggests, the book offers a comprehensive look on everything pertaining to survival.

It doesn’t focus on one specific scenario as some of the previous entries in the list. Another great aspect of this publication is that it features a wide array of detailed illustrations that provide additional information on top of the text.

98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive

With such a cool title, 98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive by Cody Lundin deserves inclusion in the list.

A few of the essential topics that the book focuses on include the following:

  • Different survival situations and how they start
  • Survival psychology
  • Overcoming fear
  • Adaptation
  • Surviving in the outdoors
  • Your first line of defense
  • How to come in contact with rescuers
  • Survival kits

As you can see, the book discusses both actionable tips and somewhat philosophical aspects of staying alive. If you are interested in a comprehensive look at survival that’s delivered with a nice sense of humor, the book will be the right option for you.

98.6 Degrees is based on the experience and knowledge of Cody Lundin – the finder of Aboriginal Living Skills School. Another fun fact you may want to know is that Lundin is the only person in Arizona to hold a license for catching fish with his hands.

US Army Survival Manual

When learning, it’s a good idea to learn from the best.

Army personnel are professionally trained to survive all kinds of situations, which is why you may want to take a look at the US Army Survival Manual by the Department of Defense.

The US Army has training for survival in all kinds of climates and under any circumstances.

All of the information in this book has been field-tested, which adds to the practical application points of the publication.

The book features both step-by-step instructions and illustrations to ensure outdoor survival in any scenario.

There are actionable suggestions for hikers, hunters, athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who could face potentially dangerous situations.

Field Guide to North American Edible Plants

The final entry in the list is a slightly more specialized publication that can prove to be very beneficial for survival enthusiasts.

Field Guide to North American Edible Plants by Thomas Elias covers more than 200 edible plant species and there are detailed illustrations to make the identification of each easier. There is also information about the distribution of the species, their seasonality, the ways to harvest and to prepare each one.

This book isn’t the most imaginative survival guide out there but it can prove to be life-saving. Some wild plants are potently toxic and they can lead to serious issues. Thus, consuming plants to stay alive isn’t something simple or safe. The book is an ideal read for hikers and other individuals who like to spend a lot of time in nature.

 

 

From the Owner of this Website:

The Prepper’s Guide to Foraging is not a plant identification guide in the traditional sense. It is instead a guide to using plants to supplement other means of food production and subsistence living. Author David Nash believes that there is not enough land available for to support a large-scale return to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle in the event of a large-scale disaster, but that botanical knowledge does provide an edge to the well prepared.

This book advocates the acquisition of knowledge to allow its reader to safely identify, harvest, and use common North American plants. Wild plants can provide shelter, material, medicine, and food to help the reader extend stored food as well as to create items that may be otherwise unavailable during a crisis.

 

5 Main Health Benefits of Fishing

Health Benefits of Fishing Fishing is one of the all-time favorite hobbies all over the world. It is a favored outdoor activity by many people of all ages: children, adolescents, granny, all of them like fishing. Regarded oftentimes as a sluggish hobby, but the idea that many people engaged in fishing is beguiling.

Aside from being popular and accessible, it is also preferred because of the challenge and satisfaction therein, especially how many fish are obtained. Although fishing is a bit demanding hobby, you can actually get a lot of benefits not only recreation but most importantly is one’s well-being.

When you give a man a fish, you have fed him for a day. But when you teach a man how to fish, then he will be healthy for life! Read the 5 main health benefits of fishing below to learn why this all-time favorite hobby is also a great way to improve individual’s health.

 

Fishing keeps you physically fit.

Health Benefits of Fishing

As mentioned, fishing is a bit demanding plus a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Yes, fishing will give you fairly a heavy physical activity such as casting your rod, pulling the reel, lifting the fish, you might consider paddling, and other physical activities that you will keep you physically fit. Through these basic ways to catch a fish, it can surely burn calories, strengthen muscle tone and develop overall fitness.

Choosing a fishing spot is important to keep you physically fit. A long trek from your car can obviously boost your lower body, and setting up the equipment, casting off and winding in all would lead to physical exertion.  Also, there are a lot of fishing spots that require paddling and hiking which have been proven to improve cardiovascular functions. You can improve your dexterity and reflexes since your fingers and forearms are generally exercised. To simply put, you can make your fishing excursion physically engaging as you want.

Fishing soothes your mind.

Health Benefits of Fishing

Whether you fish in the freshwater or saltwater, both can actually make your mind calm and improve one’s mental state. Being out in nature, constantly face-to-face with your computer, I bet your brain wants to relax and fishing can help you clear your mind. When you are bored or exhausted, don’t doubt to go fishing, it will help your mind refreshed. Fishing has numbers of health benefits for your mind. How could fishing help you to have a healthy mind?

Fishing does not require mental abilities. It mainly relies on your skills. This is the reason why fishing impacts the mind a lot. Spending long hours in nature is not exhausting, in fact, it can help your mind unwind, loosen up from pressure and decrease anxiety. In short, fishing improves one’s level of concentration, peacefulness, and brainpower.

Fishing bestows patience.

Health Benefits of Fishing

It’s true, fishing has a great deal of patience. If you constantly practice, your patience sharpens and that’s a rewarding fishing offers you. You may have to spend hours or up until you get desperate before a fish will grab the bait. In this kind of struggle, being impatient will aggravate the condition and you will eventually find it difficult and frustrating to get fish.

Impatience causes a person to develop stress, weakening of immune system and raising of blood pressure. Patience, meanwhile, can soothe you and make you more content, and fishing impacts on learning patience which greatly benefits health. Persistence in fishing makes you more a patient person, accepting of loss but unwilling to quit. Ergo, fishing puts your patience to practice in this world of over-stimulation and instant gratification.

Fishing teaches Self-Reliance.

Health Benefits of Fishing

It is important to learn how to perform on your own and fishing teaches children to keep trying when they don’t succeed. That is how to be healthy in young minds’ social disposition. Children who are fond of fishing, shaped their confidence as they build their skills. This helps to lead to a greater work ethic which is necessary to be successful in their studies and future career.

As children build their skills in fishing, they become more confident which leads to greater independence. Once children understand the safety measures in fishing, they can engage with little to no help from their parents or guardians. Fishing is all about personal goals, and attaining those goals is a sure way to improve self-esteem.

Fishing promotes fun and bonding.

 

Health Benefits of Fishing

Fishing brings people together to have fun, bond and learn. Fishing as a hobby serves recreation and camaraderie between families, friends and even the community. Spending time with your family promotes feelings of security and well-being, the sense of belongingness and oneness.

Simply having fun, enjoying yourself is surely a huge health benefit. Your emotions towards your family, peers/colleagues, people in the community have greatly impacted your social being, thus feeling of happiness is vital and taking time out of life and spend it in fishing can wonderfully work in every area of your life.

Because of the memories, you shared together while preparing to get a fish, getting the fish will forever be remembered. These memories will pass through generations, your child’s children, perhaps your grandchildren’s grandchildren. Fishing is very great experience, isn’t it?

In A Nutshell

Health Benefits of Fishing

Fishing is an activity that upkeeps wellness. Being active like doing outdoors helps to make you feel better and increases a healthier lifestyle. There is no need to convince the millions of people and fishing enthusiasts, because fishing definitely promotes clear thinking, rebuild personal reserves like interacting with nature, enhance social interaction, provides the active learning opportunities and will advance your strength and mobility. Therefore, fishing is extremely good for your health. I hope these 5 health benefits of fishing are helpful to you.

 

About the Author

Karen Dean is the author for FishingSun.com.  She has been working and passionate with writing for over three years. She spends most of her off-work time reading books, practicing dance, and catching up with the new TV shows she’s been missing.

You can reach her at karen (at) fishingsun (dot) com

www.fishingsun.com

Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/Fishing-Sun-605375712966582/

 

Easy solutions for common camping problems

Easy solutions for common camping problems
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Minor issues may seem important when you are isolated and unprepared at your campsite. In collaboration with Smores and Snores you should be prepared for any malfunctions related to camping with the tips and tricks below.

My gas stove does not turn on

Make sure the gas supply is intact

When your camping stove does not turn, you must first check that you have not run out of gas. Shake the gas cartridge; the more noise it makes, the lighter it is and the less gas inside.

  • If there is a lot of gas in the cartridge but it does not reach the burner, tighten all hose connections to eliminate any leaks.
  • Still no luck? Disconnect the hose between the cartridge and the burner and check each junction for blockages. Blow strongly through the pipe to remove anything that could block the gas supply. Connect the hose to the connectors and try turning it on again.

I can not light the campfire

Use an improvised fire starter

Unless your firewood is completely dry and you can make your fire out of the wind, it can be very difficult to start a fire. There is a range of materials that you can use to make small wood and thus light the fire:

  • Sawdust dipped in candle wax melted and rolled into a ball.
  • Plush from the pockets of your clothes.
  • Cardboard waxed milk or fruit juice, cut into slices.
  • Crumpled pages of an old guide.
  • Dry wood chips cut from the core of a stick or branch.

Another working tool is the Firesteel:

  • A Firesteel is the most reliable way to light a fire. Unlike matches or a lighter, these metal bars are unaffected by water and can be used to hit an intensely hot spark on your kindling.

There is mold on my camping chair

Refresh it with a stiff brush

If your camping chair was wet when it was stored during the winter, mold could have developed there. This is unsightly and can also destroy the fabric of the chair.

  • Use a stiff brush to remove the mildew from the surface, then rub the black stains on the fabric with warm water solution and bleach.
  • Allow the bleach solution to soak in the tissue so that all mold spores in the material are destroyed. Rinse with water, then let it air and sun dry.

The needle of my compass is stuck

Remove the static effect

The movement of a compass needle can be affected by static electricity in your clothing. Rub some water on the case of the compass to disperse the electric charge. This should release the needle.

My binoculars are foggy

Dry them to remove condensation

The condensation inside your binocular lenses can not be wiped off and, if ignored, it can lead to mold – a problem much more difficult to solve.

  • Put your binoculars in a warm, dry place for a day or two. This should evaporate any condensation.
  • Alternatively, put the binoculars in a large sealed storage food container or in a freezer bag with a few cups of rice or a desiccant such as silica gel crystals (available at photo shops).

Make your binoculars last

Delicate fingering and appropriate treatment

  • Put lens caps on your binoculars when you’re not using them. This keeps the dust out of the lenses and protects them from scratches.
  • Avoid touching lenses because your fingers will leave greasy prints difficult to clean. To remove fingerprints, rub the lenses very gently with a special optical cleaning solution and lens cleaning paper.
  • Use a camera cleaner with a soft brush and an air blower to blow off lens dust – never wipe with a tissue because you may scratch the surface.

Roadside Emergency Kit Review

 

Roadside Emergency Kit
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Roadside Emergency Kits are a go to of mine to give as gifts for those in my life that question the need to be prepared. They don’t cost very much (this one from SurvivalHax is only $49.99) and if they are ever needed they can make life easier, safer, and open the door to a good conversation about why be prepared (just don’t get too preachy).

I like this one because it is well organized, has good items, and is of good quality.

One thing I particularly like about this kit is the flashlight.  It is a hand dynamo powered light so it does not have batteries to corrode or die.

This is something that has been a problem in other kits I have bought over the years.  Few things are worse then needing a light and when you open your kit you find the batteries have leaked and destroyed your emergency gear.

This is a great roadside emergency kit and you can find it and many other good gifts at survivalhax.com

BONUS $25.00 Discount Code*

The great guys at Survival Hax also are offering a $25.00 discount code for the readers of Dave’s Homestead
It’s a $25 OFF discount code, it is OFROAD50 and here’s how you can use it:

  1. Click the link to Go to Amazon.com for the SurvivalHax Roadside Kit
  2. Add the ‘Roadside Emergency Kit with Jumper Cables’ to your shopping cart and then checkout.
  3. On the last screen where it says “enter a discount or promo code” use discount code OFROAD50

* The code is was just reissued March 11, 2018