After discussing some of the intricacies of crafting The Walls of Freedom story, our conversation turned to the basics of prepping and tidbits we have picked up along the way. One of the first topics that we addressed was wilderness versus urban survival and the different tools that may be applicable to each but not necessarily both. A crescent wrench, for example, would be much more useful in a city environment than a wilderness one.  

Continuing on with the back to basics theme, we discusses fire starting. We decided the number one thing you should be doing right now is stocking Bic lighters in mass quantity. Regardless of how many lighters you store, you should also know how to use a ferro rod. One of the neat tips Dale has picked up is using a chemical known as Potassium permanganate. This nifty chemical is an antiseptic for wounds, will clean your water, and it can be used as a fire starter. It is also important to learn how to actually get a fire going. Your spark will have to be nurtured into a flame. It is harder than you think and it takes practice. Another good tool for fire starting starts with a cotton ball. You can take the ball of cotton, rub it in petroleum jelly and wrap it in squares of tin foil. Then when you want to start a fire, you cut a "x" pattern into one layer of the tinfoil and pull out a tiny bit of the cotton. Light the small amount you have pulled out and the cotton will burn for a while. Alternately you can use jute string that has been soaked in wax. It works like a wick and is water proof. 

 

The next topic we discussed was shelter building. Every go-bag should have a tarp in it. Take the time to practice different construction methods. Walking stick can be a useful tool on the trail and provide you with a tent post for the evening. Improve your knot tying skills, especially the ones you will be relying upon the most. This differs depending on geographical location. There is a big difference between building a shelter in an urban environment versus a wilderness one. In an urban environment you will have a much larger amount of useful supplies available. However, in an urban environment you need to be aware of the structural integrity of the buildings, depending on the type of disaster. In either case, you do not want a big shelter. You want one just big enough for your team to fit snugly. Look for an area where you can build a fire and reflect the heat back off of a concrete wall or rock outcropping. 

The basics of survival always involves water purification. There are many methods available but none of them will work for some types of chemical contamination. You have to know where your water has been. With any filter it is next to impossible to really know how well it is working. Distillation is the best method of removing contamination. It is still not effective for some types of chemical contamination. Once you learn the principles of how this process works, it is easy to build a distiller. Find creative ways to do it through practice. Basically, you are capturing the steam from the boiling process. Distilling does take a lot of work compared to some methods but it is the best. Individuals in an urban environment should begin thinking of areas that contain water: water heaters, pipes, hoses, swimming pools. That water will still be there when the grid goes down. 

It is essential that you are responsible for your food supply and starting to build an emergency stash now. Patriot Supply has some fantastic deals on emergency supply kits. Augason Farms also makes quality long term food. Canned goods substitute the long term food supply well. Remember though, it is important to eat what you store and store what you eat. Don't store something you don't normally use. Store what you normally use and rotate your products every time you add more.