Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced prepper, prepper conventions are a great way to get more information. At the convention, you’ll find people who share in your lifestyle. You’ll also learn about new gear and tools that can make your life easier and increase your chance of survival.
Prepper conventions are a great way to learn and grow. You’ll find people with a wide range of skills, and you can gain valuable knowledge by spending time with other like minded people.
What You Need to Know About A Prepper Convention
Although most people think that living as a prepper means every man for himself, that’s isn’t the case for conventions. Many preppers enjoy coming together to learn new techniques and gain valuable knowledge about survival and other important life skills.
What Is a Prepper Convention?
Prepper conventions are large events that are held annually. They usually have respected experts who speak at the events so you can learn about new techniques and ideas to use. There are usually vendor tables with gear and equipment so you can learn what’s new. It’s a great way to see the equipment before you buy it, and sometimes you can get great deals.
However, the best part about attending a prepper convention is that you’ll meet like-minded people and families that you can learn from. Although you may not live close to each other and may have different goals and needs, you can still learn from each other and help each other grow.
Although you may be looking for a prepper convention that is specifically for preppers, there are only a few of these held in America. However, there are several conventions for emergency preparedness and homesteading that will have a lot of overlap with prepping.
The following are the larger conventions related to prepping, survival, and homesteading. These conventions often attract thousands of people from surrounding states and even all across the country. However, you can usually find small prepping conventions that may not have as many vendors and exhibitors, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t find valuable information there.
Great Lakes Emergency Preparedness Expo
The Great Lakes Emergency Preparedness Expo is held in Whitmore Lake, Michigan, in September each year. It’s not one of the most well-known prepper conventions, but it is a great one to attend.
This convention has information about communications, gardening, cooking, first aid, and more. It has a variety of topics that will appeal to preppers of all levels.
Although it is a smaller expo, there are several training classes and demonstrations available. There are also vendors so you can see new products and tools.
Prepper Camp
Prepper Camp offers peppers the full prepping experience in the Appalachian Mountains. . It features living off-grid, homesteading, camping, survival, and preparedness. It focuses on hands-on training with demos so you can learn more than you can at just a speech.
Other expos and conventions provide information from speakers, but Prepper Camp lets you do things. You’ll learn from the experts who not only tell you about it, but they also show you. You’ll also get to participate and gain valuable experience.
Lodging isn’t an issue because you can camp on site. You can also hike and boat while you’re there.
Survival, Gun, and Outdoor Show
The Survival, Gun, and Outdoor Show is held in Rock Island, Illinois. It’s a large convention with 100s of vendor tables. You’ll find gear and equipment for prepping, defense, fishing, outdoors, and more.
In addition to vendors, there are seminars and classes for attendees to learn more about preparedness.
PrepperCon
PrepperCon is held in Salt Lake City, Utah. It covers first aid, survival, prepping, gear, defensive training, and food storage. There are just under 100 presentations and classes offered. They have trusted experts who have extensive knowledge to share. This is a family-friendly convention, and many people bring their children.
Sustainable Preparedness Expo
The Sustainable Preparedness Expo is held in different locations around the country. It focuses on self-reliance and preparedness for natural disasters. Although the focus is on survival, it teaches valuable life skills for preppers and homesteaders.
Homesteading Life Conference
The Homesteading Life Conference in Missouri is geared towards homesteaders, but there’s a lot of overlap for preppers and survivalists. It focuses on day to day life rather than a disaster. You’ll learn how to grow food and how to preserve the food that you grow. It also has information on off grid living, herbal remedies, and how to protect your homestead from predators.
These prepper conventions are sprinkled throughout the country, so you may not find one close to you. However, there are several smaller shows in many areas of the country, so do a quick Internet search to see if there’s a smaller show near you.
If traveling isn’t an option, then you might consider looking at books and other resources for prepping. Although you won’t get to talk to other people like you do at a convention, you will be able to gain knowledge from home.
You may also want to read homesteading or prepping blogs. These blogs are written by people who are living this life, and they will have tips and tricks as well as general knowledge to help you learn and grow.
When you’re prepping, there’s always new information to learn. Attending a convention is a great way to learn from experts through talks or through hands-on demonstrations. In addition, you’ll also be able to browse vendor tables to see the latest tools and equipment available to purchase.
Attending an expo is also a great way to get to know like-minded people. Although these people may not live close to you, you can exchange information and keep learning from each other long after the convention is over.
Prepping Your Arsenal? We all know that we are vulnerable to crime in our day-to-day lives. Staying prepared with the necessary tools and knowledge is the key to successful personal protection. Stocking up a proper arsenal for personal and home protection can be complicated, but there are some basic guidelines you should follow when deciding what items will best suit your needs.
When the SHTF, you will be more than happy that you have taken a few measures to prep your arsenal so you can protect not only your loved ones but everything else that you have prepped.
Stocking Up a Proper Arsenal
I’ve broken this down to five separate tips to try and keep it simple for you. Bear with me as some of these seem like more than one actual item.
Choose Guns with Common Calibers
Picking guns with commonly available ammo is a much better choice than choosing something obscure because you may not be able to find more of it around if you run out. Why is this important? Having a gun that you can use to protect yourself is important but being able to actually find ammunition for that gun if need be will make all the difference.
Even it if gets to the point where you have to swap with people to get more ammo – having a rare kind of caliber will make it difficult.
The last thing you want to do is to advertise that you have guns, have ammo, or even worse, that you are out of ammo and can’t protect your home.
Buy Sturdy, Quality Guns
If this is a hobby or something that you really want in order to protect yourself from day-to-day crime, then buy guns that will last for years and not need to be replaced every few months.
Try to buy guns that are made from quality materials and not cheap plastic or other breakable components. Your life may depend on it in the future, so you want a gun that is going to work when needed without breaking down easily.
Get Some Diversity in Your Arsenal
One gun won’t always do everything you need, preferably you’ll have at least three: a shotgun for hunting and defense, a rifle for ranged defense and larger game hunting, and a pistol for times you can’t carry a long gun.
The shotgun is the one weapon that you should have in your arsenal if possible.
Shotguns are great for self-defense because they can go through doors, locks, and other obstacles with ease – but also because of their widespread shot and how easy it is to hit someone at close range with them.
The rifle would be a perfect choice too as it can take out most of the smaller games and then have enough ammunition to be used for self-defense.
The pistol is a good weapon if you’re going into areas where long guns are not allowed, but it should never be your only choice because they don’t do as much damage as other weapons like shotguns or rifles would.
Don’t Choose Something Underpowered
Trying to fight off attackers with birdshot or a .22 rifle isn’t impossible, but using something like buckshot and a 5.56mm is much easier.
The first shot you take should do enough damage, and the criminals will know this as well. They’ll also know that they can’t get away with stealing your belongings because if it comes down to it, you would be ready to fight back or make a last stand.
Get Plenty of Practice
All that firepower is wasted if you can’t hit your targets. If you have no experience shooting, start off on a .22 and work your way up, then practice plenty with the guns you own to get a feel for them.
You should also practice regularly to make sure you are still on target and can use your firearms when needed to protect yourself.
If you don’t know where to practice, find a range or shooting club near you – some are even open to the public. A good place to start is to ask the gun shop that is selling you the weapon.
Often those places have someone who can give you hints and tips on how to use, clean, and shoot that weapon.
Proper Arsenal Maintenance is Key
Storing firearms and ammo improperly can result in them malfunctioning more often or even not working at all, which would be deadly in a sudden defense situation.
To prevent rust or even worse, you’ll want to make sure the guns are stored in a dry and cool place. Storing them inside of safes is also a good idea as it will keep children out of them more easily without needing an alarm system. Make sure that all your ammo storage containers are locked up if they have keys so that children can’t get into them.
If you don’t want to be tempted by the gun, then store it away from where you sleep. Storing guns and ammo together is never a good idea because that way they are more likely to get stolen or taken as well.
This should be your first step in preparing for personal and home protection – but you need to do more than just that! Stocking up on other weapons, ammunition, food supplies, medical equipment is all important too so make sure you take care of those as well!
If you follow these steps, you’ll have a proper arsenal for personal and home protection.
Other articles you might find helpful for protection and preparation if you liked prepping your arsenal:
Are you a Dollar Store Prepper? If not, then it is time to get your act together and start building that stockpile! We learned with Covid-19 that the world as we know it can end at any moment, so it is important to be prepared for anything. Whether there’s an emergency, natural disaster or just the momentary shit hitting the proverbial fan- with our Extreme Dollar Store Prepping List you’ll always be ready for what comes next.
The worst thing about the early COVID pandemic was the panic buying. While FEMA says to have at least 3 days of emergency supplies like food and water on hand, it really should be 3 months – or more!
Why Dollar Store Prepping Rocks…
What if I told you that for just ten bucks a week, you could have 520 incredibly value-worthy shelf-stable items in your stockpile.
Now, more than ever, this is an important thing to consider. Have no fear – the best thing about our list is that you are shopping at your local Dollar Tree – so even someone with the tightest budget can pull out success with this list and build up their preps!
Is it really a bargain?
The key thing to remember when stocking up on food is that if it is something that you or your family doesn’t like? Don’t buy it. Why make yourself eat stuff you absolutely hate when things are already stressful? It isn’t a bargain if it isn’t something that you would like to actually eat. It just wastes your time, money, and space to add it to your inventory.
Personally, I find that thinking of what you DO like is a great way to start. Do you like spaghetti with red sauce? Tacos? Fritattas? Pancakes? Make a quick list of 7 to 10 meals that you DO like and that can be your “hit list” of items to stock up on.
I roughly did that with this list – these 21 items are bargain-priced for basic items that help build pasta, rice, or bean meals, and even soups. They are all at a better price than the local grocery stores.
But it gets better…
Dollar Tree Takes Coupons!
Dollar Tree does accept manufacturer coupons. They do not accept competitor store coupons, such as those for Walmart, Target, or Dollar General.
Coupons used at Dollar Tree must always be originals and cannot be photocopied. They must be completely intact and not altered or modified in any way.
Coupons can not be over $1 in value.
Dollar Tree accepts one manufacturer coupon per single item purchased and has a maximum of four of the same manufacturer coupons accepted for each customer per day. For printable coupons from the internet, Dollar Tree will accept up to two printed coupons per customer per day.
When coupons are used on a purchase, Dollar Tree requires that the item purchased does exactly match the product listed in the coupon’s description including the appropriate brand, size, quantity and etc. in order to be accepted by the cashier.
Whew.
But — some of what I am going to talk about are name-brand items – so you could get them for less than a buck – or possibly FREE – just by adding a coupon to your transaction!
Another thing to consider
You can order online and have items shipped either to your home or your store! Yes, you might have to buy a full case – but most items come in a case of 12. So…that week you spend $12 instead of 10. oops!
On the other hand, you can get as few as 4 items on select items in their “Smaller Quantities” lines!
21 Hot Dollar Store Prepping items
Let’s get started with my list of 21 Amazing Dollar Store Prepper Items to add to your stockpile!
1) Pasta
Take your pick – macaroni noodles, spaghetti noodles, even penne pasta has been spotted at my local Dollar Tree. One-pound boxes for a buck – and with name brands like Barilla? You know there are coupons out there!
Compare that to my local grocery store that is sliding down into 12-ounce boxes and, if you are lucky, the sale is 4 boxes for $5. (sigh)
2) Dried beans
This was a hard-to-find item in the early COVID days as there is no easier meal than a quick bean or lentil soup. On our Operation $40K site, I whipped up a list of lentil recipes for everything from sloppy Joes to pasta sauce. (see it here). Bean soups – bean burritos – so many options that you can simply toss in the crockpot and leave cooking all day to whip up a great, and simple meal.
Dried Northern Beans make a killer soup with a can of diced tomatoes and a can of sliced carrots added – just add onion and a little chicken broth!
Seriously, I could go on and on about how well these keep and how many uses you could get.
3) Rice
This is a 2-pound bag. Keep in mind that In the Egyptian pyramids, they found pasta and rice that we could still eat today. It keeps almost indefinitely in a cool storage location.
Fried rice, rice pudding or custard, even as a filler for a casserole – it is a great way to help keep a belly full.
4) Knorr Rice Mixes.
OK – don’t call the health police on me. Knorr is a name brand (coupons!) and it is easy to add that can of chicken or tuna to it to stretch it out to a full meal. When you are comparing this to “disaster prep food” you have about the same portions and are getting it for a lot less than $8-10 a package.
Yes, there is sodium. This is EMERGENCY food – not your average weekly meal.
5) Shelf-stable boxed milk.
Places like Walmart price gouged in 2020 and we saw gallons of milk top $5 – IF you could actually find it. Boxed milk is shelf-stable, comes in quarts, and will do with cereal or cooking. You have choices of whole milk, 1%, 2%, and even Almond milk quarts!
6) Pasta Sauce
Canned is better than glass for longer storage – again, there are name brands like Prego and Hunts. Red sauce or white sauce, make sure you have enough for each box of dried pasta you stock up on.
7) Coconut Oil
If you have never used coconut oil before – this is the time to start. Coconut oil can be used for cooking, baking, as a substitute in lotions and hair products, or even as fuel for your emergency stove!
You can use it for cooking – just use it in place of butter or olive oil.
You can add coconut oil to your coffee, cereal, oatmeal, and other foods for a healthy boost!
It’s an effective moisturizer that you can either buy pre-made or make at home with special recipes:
– Coconut Oil + Honey (or sugar) mixed together
– Coconut Oil + Lemon Juice mixture rubbed on the face before bedtime
Don’t forget about using coconut oil as a hair product while SHTF too! It will help keep your scalp from itching when there are no more products left on shelves…
Coconut oil is also great as fuel for emergency stoves because it has such a high smoke point.
OK, I could go on and on but this isn’t an article about coconut oil. Normally it is pretty darned pricey so I was beyond tickled to find coconut oil at the Dollar Tree!
8) Ramen 5-packs.
Ignore all the rumors about the plastic in the noodles, etc. Yes, there is a lot of sodium. You can stretch this into a soup that feeds an entire family by cooking up 2 packs and adding a few cans of veggies along with a can of cooked chicken breast.
9) Canned veggies.
Name brands y’all! With the metal shortage currently driving up prices – canned goods are rapidly jumping in price at the grocery stores. You can get all of your favorites for a buck!
10) Canned fruit
It is important to have a little balance and fruit adds that nice sweetness we tend to crave after a few days. It can be used as a dessert or topping to dress up oatmeal.
11) Canned soup
Name brands again y’all! Campbell’s and Healthy Choice – perfect for those who like to just heat and eat. I’m a fan of the beef barley! Even cream of mushroom or cream of chicken for those pasta or rice casserole dishes – the Dollar Tree has you covered.
12) Spices.
Talk about expensive – your grocery store can charge up to $15 for the SAME-sized container. Get a nice-sized container for your most common spices for just a buck. Try adding a little ginger to that Ramen soup for an Asian flair or even Cinnamon for that rice pudding.
13) Juice boxes.
Name brand, single serving, a variety of flavors. This is good for the kids and also the diabetics – a four-pack for a buck makes a great bargain.
14) 32 oz bottle of Lemon Juice.
You can get a quart of lemon juice for a buck. Add a one-dollar sugar package and you are all set for that refreshing lemonade! All you need is 6 1/2 cups of water, 1 cup lemon juice, and 1 cup sugar in your 2-quart pitcher, and a little ice in your glass to pour it over. It helps that tough time seem a little more normal.
15) Canned pie filling.
Whether it’s apple, cherry, or blueberry pie filling – just one buck. It is good to have on hand for wrapping pancakes around for a fancier breakfast – or even to turn into pudgy pies over your open fire. Musselman’s is a GREAT brand of pie filling and roughly $4 at the grocery store
16) Pancake mix
A box of pancake mix for a dollar? You can’t beat that! And it’s the perfect breakfast on those mornings when you need to hurry back out the door and don’t have time to make them from scratch. I have found the “just add water” version 16.5 oz boxes that literally ANYONE can make without screwing it up.
17) Hungry Jack Hashbrowns.
This dehydrated 3.2-ounce box only needs a little water to come to life. You can play “Waffle House” and add onions, cheese, diced ham, and more to make a meal or use them as a base for a family frittata with some scrambled eggs and a few veggies.
18) Condiments
Ketchup, Mustard, even Salsa, and Hot Sauce! You might not think of these things when you are prepping, but they really come in handy. Your food will need FLAVOR.
19) Pancake syrup
Who cares if Aunt Jemima is on your bottle of pancake syrup or not? For a buck you can save two to three bucks that the grocery store charges! Why not pick up a bottle for the camper AND the house at that price?
This is also a great way to sweeten everything from oatmeal to rice custard.
20) Baking mixes.
Muffins, Cookies, Cake, and even brownies. Baking mixes are a must-have for anyone in your family. Did you know you can even make pancakes from muffin mixes? (more about that later…)
21) Chocolate bars
It is important to have mood elevators too. When things look bleak – you need a pick-me-up. They have name-brand chocolatey goodness like Godiva. Make sure you pamper yourself a bit – even in an emergency. It really can help you with your sanity.
I know there are a lot more great things you can find when just walking around your store or when you are combing over their website. These are just the top 21 items that I found that are a total bargain and PERFECT for anyone who is prepping on a budget.
That makes this is a MUST-HAVE list for any prepper, whether they’re new to the game or have been at it for years. When you start shopping from your local Dollar Tree store, you’ll be amazed by all of the deals!
There is a lot of good food out there. Yes, you can take some with you to survive. Keep reading this to learn how to make good tasting survival food!
Are you trying to build a stockpile of survival food? You probably want to make sure you have plenty of food to eat in case of an emergency that would prevent you from getting more food from the grocery store.
How to Make Good Tasting Survival Food
If you’re fully prepared with a pantry full of items that don’t expire quickly, you won’t have to worry about you or your loved ones starving for food at any point. Before you start prepping any food, follow these tips to learn how to make good tasting survival food that your family can eat and enjoy.
1. Choose the Right Ingredients
The first thing you’ll need to do to make good-tasting survival food is to choose the right ingredients to use. Don’t use bland ingredients that aren’t going to give your food a great taste. If the food doesn’t taste good, you’re not going to enjoy it, even if you need to eat it to survive. The least you can do is make food that will taste good to you and your loved ones during difficult times.
So, which ingredients are the right ones to use? With plenty of ingredients to use to make meals, you might not know which ones are best to buy and use. Consider these important things when buying the ingredients for your survival food:
Can you enjoy them at any temperature? Choose ingredients that will taste good at any temperature, whether hot, cold, or room temperature.
Do you have to cook them? It’s better to choose ingredients that you don’t necessarily need to cook. While these ingredients may taste better when cooked, it’s not about preference during difficult times. As long as the ingredients will still taste good, that’s all that matters.
Will the ingredients last long? Always choose ingredients with an extended shelf life. Don’t choose anything that can spoil quickly. If it can spoil too soon, it’s not good to use for survival food because you might need it weeks, months, or even years later.
You can choose the ingredients after asking yourself these critical questions. Choosing long-lasting ingredients that taste good is more important than anything else.
2. Add Some Variety to Your Survival Food
Always add some variety to what you’re going to prepare and store as survival food. Even in an emergency, you won’t want to eat the same thing all the time. It gets boring and bland. Try to mix things up by using various ingredients to prepare different meals that you and your family can consume throughout the day.
Change things up from time to time
If you’re switching it up with multiple ingredients and different meals made using those ingredients, you won’t get tired of what you’re eating. It’s also good to have a variety for your loved ones. Not everyone has the same taste buds. You want to make sure you have a variety to satisfy each person’s preferences in your household.
3. Seasoning Can Make a Big Difference
Unseasoned foods are bland and boring. You’ll get tired of them fast. If you don’t want to eat unseasoned chicken and other meats all the time during an emergency, use seasonings because they can make such a massive difference.
Seasoning food will make it more enjoyable
The seasonings that you decide to use will depend on your preferences. However, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, lemon pepper, and garlic salt are a few of the seasonings that will give your food more flavor. Look up recipes for different meals that you can prepare, season, and store to eat during emergencies.
4. Store the Survival Food Properly
If you don’t intend to eat everything you’re making at once, you need to know how to store the food you’re preparing correctly. Sealing and storing food correctly is a must. If it doesn’t get done correctly, dust, dirt, and germs can get into the containers full of food and cause them to spoil, making them unusable. You don’t want to waste your time prepping only to realize that you can’t eat anything you made because it’s gone bad.
Know how to store your food properly
Use different methods to store and save your survival food. Canning is just one method that most people use. You can follow the simple canning process to begin preserving different foods, including meats, fruits, and vegetables, that will come in handy in an emergency. Once you’ve sealed those foods in their jars with airtight lids, you can place them on shelves or in the pantry and save them until you’re ready to use them.
5. Utilize Some Store Bought Items
While making food from scratch is always a good idea, you don’t need to make everything from scratch. You can still head over to the store and buy different items that will get put to good use in an emergency. You might want to buy canned goods from the grocery store instead of canning vegetables, fruits, and meats. It’s even better to find these items at discounted rates when the stores offer special deals and discounts.
Stock up on canned goods
So, if you see a sale, it won’t hurt to stock up on those canned goods. You can get the canned goods and put them on shelving units in your basement to save them. Canned goods tend to have such a long shelf life, making them worth every penny spent on them. Of course, you can still complete the canning process for anything that you’d prefer to make from scratch. Buying canned goods is a simple way to make things even easier for you.
Purchase bags of candy
One thing you can buy at the store that not a lot of people think of is bagged candy. Those bags of candy will last a long time, even beyond their expiration date.
Make Survival Food That Tastes Great
If you want to prepare for an emergency by having plenty of survival food available for each person in your household, follow these simple yet practical tips. While you want to have an impressive inventory of food to eat in an emergency, you’re also going to want to make sure that food tastes good.
If it’s practically inedible, it’ll be hard for you and your loved ones to eat the food, even if it’s all you have available. Now that you know what steps you’ll need to take to make good tasting survival food, what do you plan on doing first?
What good-tasting survival food would you add to this list? Learning how to make good food, no matter what, it is a great life skill to have. These tips should help get you on the right path!
Like How to Make Good Tasting Survival Food? Try these articles:
The best guns for any SHTF situation are the ones that you can rely on to perform when chaos is all around. This means that firearms with low recoil, high magazine capacity, and good accuracy are going to be your best bet.
We’ve compiled some of the best guns for this type of emergency below. Read on to discover which gun will work best for you!
A 12 Gauge Shotgun
The 12 Gauge Shotgun is a standard staple. This is a great all-around gun because it can fire pellets of different sizes and types depending on the situation. These shotguns are also very easy to use, which means that even beginners will be able to pick one up quickly in an emergency situation or SHTF event.
This makes it extremely versatile, inexpensive, and often very reliable.
The 12 Gauge Shotgun can be used to hunt anything from rabbits and birds to deer and even defend against bears just by using different rounds.
Here is the bonus: ammo is extremely common.
If you are looking for a reliable, versatile gun that is easy to use and won’t break the bank then this shotgun will be perfect.
Mossberg 500 12 Gauge Pump
The Mossberg 500 12 Gauge pump-action shotgun can also work well in an emergency situation or SHTF event because it has a higher firing rate than other shotguns – which means more pellets hitting your target. It also has a safety mechanism so it can be stored and used easily without accidentally shooting someone,
The Mossberg 500 12 Gauge pump-action shotgun is also lightweight – which means that you won’t have to worry about the gun weighing down your pack or bag when carrying it in an emergency situation or SHTF event.
9mm Pistol
A 9mm Pistol should be your second item to stock. Again, it uses a very common round, so you should be able to stockpile your ammo. It is also small enough to carry on you at all times.
That means it can easily be used against most attackers, assuming they’re not large animals like bears.
You will find a wide variety of prices on these guns ranging from high-end competition to bargain-bin pricing, yet functioning should all be roughly all be the same.
The Glock 19
The Glock 19 has a good reputation for reliability and is available in most areas.
It also comes with the added bonus of being lightweight, so it won’t slow you down when carrying it around during an emergency situation or SHTF event. There has got to be a reason the police use it.
“Finding one gun that can do everything may not be possible – but finding a few guns that can do most things is.”
The AR-15
If you have the funds for it, we recommend investing in an AR-15 or Similar Rifle. This rifle has many uses and will be reliable as long as it’s kept clean. It also comes with a variety of optics available to suit your needs, which makes it handy to be used against attackers at a longer distance.
The AR-15 is also good for hunting, as it can be used to take down a deer or other large game with ease.
Again, 5.56/.223 is widely available all over the US, so stocking up on ammo should be fairly easy.
Bolt-Action Rifles
If you’re looking for more of an all-around gun in the best shtf guns list: we recommend having two bolt action rifles on hand and plenty of shells (preferably .308).
The bolt action rifle is a great weapon for long-distance shots, as it will be able to take down most targets with one well-placed shot. It also requires less ammo and can fire off more rounds before needing to reload.
And if you’re in need of defense at closer ranges: the pump shotgun.
These are common for hunting, usually well built and suited for outdoor environments. They should be able to take some abuse from a survival situation and still work well.
Where can you hide your guns?
If you don’t have a gun safe but want your weapons stashed around your home? Get our FREE Printable list of places that will work for any SHTF situation. Please make sure ALL family members know the locations as well as how to handle the weapons safely.
Last, but not least, I want to mention a .22 Breakdown Rifle.
While a .22 isn’t particularly powerful and shouldn’t be your first choice when looking at the best guns for survival, but the ammo is very cheap, meaning you can get a lot of practice with it. The rifles can be used by the whole family due to low recoil, and the breakdown versions allow them to be easily stored.
These are great for small game hunting, and a good choice if you’re not going to be shooting at anything farther than 100 yards. They can take down lots of small game up to coyotes and can kill people if really needed in a split decision situation.
It’s also less expensive than other rifles due to the weapon being made of fewer parts, making it easier on your wallet in a SHTF situation or survival scenario.
If you’re looking for a rifle but have to keep a low profile in public, the Ruger Mini-14 is perfect for you. It can be discreetly carried and quickly drawn when needed without drawing attention as an AR-style weapon might.
Which one is the best gun for a prepper?
The best guns for any survivalist or prepper?
I always recommend trying out different firearms until one clicks with you so that you can make your own decision.
For some people, the feel and weight of a gun will be more comfortable than others.
What might suit someone with smaller hands better may not work for an individual with larger hands, so it’s important to try out different weapons until one clicks for you personally!
Setting Up Your Survival Seed Bank? Some people avoid reading or watching the news because they don’t like what’s going on globally. But avoidance can’t stop what’s coming because you can’t control the things that affect the world’s food supply.
There’s an impending sense that a major food crisis is on the way, and the government is trying to prepare right now for that crisis.
Setting Up Your Survival Seed Bank
But if you know anything about how the world is run, then you know that if you’re not the one in charge of your family’s food supply, you and your loved ones could very well end up standing in a ration line or worse – going hungry.
Why You Need to Have a Survival Seed Bank
Far too many people have the mistaken belief that if something terrible does happen that interrupts their access to food supplies, the government will have a backup plan to save their family.
When millions upon millions of people rely on the same belief that there will be enough to go around, they’re going to end up disillusioned. There won’t be. The government isn’t going to be prepared for any major food crisis.
Why? Because they can’t stockpile enough food to feed millions of people for a long-term situation. You might think that the hope for relief from a food crisis lies at the base of Mount Plateau in the depths of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which houses the world’s biggest seed storage.
But the seeds in this vault aren’t coming to your rescue, and you won’t be able to get to those seeds. Take a look in the mirror. You’re looking at the person who’s your best chance of survival.
It’s up to you to know what to do and to be prepared for any food emergency. That means that you’re going to need to understand how you can live off the grid. When every method of getting food is suddenly stripped away from you, it can’t be the catalyst that rocks your world.
You have to have a way to replenish your food supply long term. Even if you have some canned goods socked away in the event of a flood catastrophe, having goods that will last you a few years isn’t enough.
You have to be able to bring food back in. And if there’s no way to get food from a grocery store and the government’s hands are tied, then what are you going to do? You need to be able to have a survival garden that will take care of you and your family’s nutritional needs for many years to come.
You start this by having the seeds that you need to raise a survival garden – and you need to have enough of them to plant a few acres’ worth of food. This means that you need to have the kinds of seeds that can reproduce themselves.
They’ll keep on producing for you. And you also want to look for seeds that haven’t been modified. When you plant seeds from a seed bank, you can guarantee that you’ll have food year after year – regardless of what’s going on in the rest of the world.
Using seeds from the foods you grow (and replanting those once your crops come in), you’ll ensure that your food supply will continually produce. You want to make sure that you look for seeds that offer a lot of produce return and ones that are high in nutrition and are long-lasting.
What Seeds You Need to Have in Your Survival Seed Bank
To sustain life, certain seeds are a must-have, so the seeds you buy for your survival seed bank need to have these seeds in the container. It would be best if you had a variety of beans.
Some of the better varieties are bountiful beans, October beans, and stringless black Valentine beans. Beans can produce a crop in a time frame of 47 to 90 days, depending on the type of bean seed you choose to plant.
Beans are staples that provide you with protein as well as fiber. Beans are also very sturdy crops and can produce an abundant supply of food. Because of their protein and fiber content, they can give you plenty of energy.
Corn seeds are something that you also need in your survival seed bank. Corn is a staple food that can keep your family sustained for long term food survival. You’ll want corn that can grow quickly, in less than three months.
For that, look for seeds like Reid’s Yellow Dent Corn or Stowell’s Evergreen Corn. These usually grow in twin ears with an average length of between 8-10 inches, so they’re very hearty.
Cabbage seeds – like the Copenhagen Market ones – need to be in your seed bank. These heads usually grow to be a decent size and offer gardeners a little over 3 pounds of cabbage per head. They can reach maturity in just over two months.
When considering which seeds to get for your seed bank, you want to take a look at how those foods will help you maintain good health. You’ll want to look at whether they offer anti-inflammatory properties and other benefits.
If you choose beet seeds like Detroit Dark Red Beets, these are a food loaded with anti-inflammatory assistance for you. Plus, they promote some internal organ benefits, too. These seeds can reach maturity in about two months.
Remember when your mom told you to eat your greens because they’re good for you? She was right – especially when it comes to spinach grown from Bloomsdale spinach seed.
These will grow into tasty plants that are packed with nutrients, including the A and K vitamins. Plus, they’re rich in Vitamin C and folate. These seeds produce a fast crop, and you can usually have viable plants in about six weeks.
You’ll also want to get loose leaf lettuce such as Oakleaf or Red Salad Bowl for greens. Both of these seeds can reach maturity in less than two months. Other greens you’ll want to include in your diet are Green Arrow Peas. These can be harvested in about two months and produce an abundant crop.
Cucumbers like Bushy Cucumbers are also a great addition to your survival seed bank. These can be ready for harvest in about six weeks. Carrots are also part of a healthy diet. Seeds that produce Scarlet Nantes Carrots can be ready to eat in a little over two months. This kind can usually grow carrots of about 7″ in length.
Tomatoes can be eaten fresh, canned, or juiced, and ones that come from seeds like Brandywine Tomato. Not only will you get plenty of antioxidants, but these are loaded with vitamins as well.
Squash and Eggplant also add much-needed vitamins to your diet. Look for ones like Waltham Butternut Squash and Rossa Bianca Eggplant. Don’t forget to bank plenty of fruit seeds like cantaloupes and melons and other varieties.
You’re going to want to make sure that you have a wide selection of good choices to grow, not just for the vitamin and mineral content but also for each family member’s taste and preferences.
If you’re wondering where you can get the seeds, you can find them online at specialty companies or online shops. You can find significant savings by buying the seeds in bulk, as well.
How to Store Your Survival Seed Bank
It would help if you had your survival seeds to start the garden that’s going to keep you and your family sustained for however long it takes. Right now, with food still being plentiful and most people able to get whatever they need from the grocery store, seeds aren’t considered all that valuable.
But when a crisis hits and gets food becomes a free-for-all frenzy, the seeds you have will have a high value. Think of these as your currency and amass as many of them as you possibly can because once the crisis is here, it’s too late, and there will be a run on survival seeds.
When you have these in your possession, you don’t want to go around talking about the fact that you have them. Keep your survival seed bank hidden away, out of sight from prying eyes, to keep the seeds from getting stolen.
Most survival seeds are shipped to you in packaging that makes them able to be kept viable in storage for a long time. Some of these are stored in such a way that you can even bury them to keep them safe.
Seeds need to be protected from bacteria, fungi, pests, fluctuating temperatures, and moisture. The most critical issue you need to know about storing seeds is that humidity is not your friend.
If moisture seeps into your seed storage, it can ruin it. And moisture isn’t the only culprit that can harm your seeds. If you keep the seeds stored in an area where the temperature is too high, it can cause some damage to the seeds.
You want to make sure that the moisture percentage is kept as low as possible. If you can get it to less than 4 percent, that’s considered a safe moisture percentage for the seeds.
The storage temperature needs to be kept around 40 degrees. By taking care of how you store the seeds, you can ensure their longevity. You also want to make sure that you don’t keep your seeds anywhere in the sun.
The sun’s heat can change the storage temperature, raising it above healthy seeds. If moisture and heat combined get to the seed, it kills the seed’s ability to grow plants.
When you get the seeds, if they’re not in containers that are said to be moisture-proof, then you need to be put them in ones that are. When you harvest the crops that you grow from your original survival seeds, you’ll want to save those seeds as well.
This is an essential step in banking seeds because you don’t know if you’ll have access to them anymore once your original supply has been planted. You’ll want to air dry the seeds from the crops you harvest and then securely store them in water-proof containers in a cool, dark place until it’s time for you to use them.
When and How to Use Your Survival Seed Bank
As you know, timing is everything. That includes learning when to use your survival seed bank. You don’t want to rush and use the seeds too early – but you don’t want to wait so long that you miss out on the right time.
You need to be aware of which climate zone you live in because you can’t just plant seeds and expect them to grow if the season that you’re currently in would only end up derailing your plans.
All of the seeds should be planted according to the hardiness zone of your state. This means that your area will have a certain level of temperatures that make growing a garden with your survival seeds a viable option.
Planting too soon or too late could not only diminish your crop yield, but you could end up not getting any produce at all – and you don’t want that kind of waste. Plus, counting on having a food supply and ending up not getting it could be a significant stressor for you.
Plant your garden during your climate zone using your survival seeds when you begin to notice that a food crisis is imminent. And make sure you plant it before the time is at hand to need it.
You can feasibly plant with your survival seeds and keep the garden producing for years. Remember to always aim for a garden that’s as carefree as you can make it. You’ll want to use your survival seeds to plant a garden that will sustain you and your family with as little fuss as possible.
This way, you won’t be using any physical labor or any other means, such as bringing in water or setting up a water system. You also want to make sure that you plant your seeds so that you won’t draw attention to whatever it is that you have grown.
If others see it, your garden could be a target. This means that you can forget about the kind of gardens you see that have perfectly uniform rows. Instead, plant a garden using your banked survival seeds and let nature help you grow that garden.
Nature is perfectly capable of maintaining crop growth with a minimal amount of effort from you. Layout the garden so that you’re using the ground wisely. This means that you’ll want to plant seeds where the crops can grow together in companionship.
You’ll also want to plant your seeds according to the height and sun ratio. That means that you need to plan out your garden so that each plant has access to the sun and the right amount of moisture.
Some seeds offer natural pesticide control. For example, marigold and lavender are both natural pest repellents. Put the taller plants around in a perimeter to help shade crops that need less sun than other plants.
Usually, this means you plant your bush-type crops. If you use crops that can benefit your pollination purposes, this can help your crops grow. Plants that are used for pollination purposes are seeds that produce fruit – like blueberries.
If you’re someone who doesn’t have any experience with growing food, then you’re going to want to know how to do it before the time arrives that you must have the knowledge, or else it puts your survival at risk.
Remember, in an emergency; you may not be able to log onto the Internet to find the answers you need. The best way to learn how to have a successful garden using survival seeds is by going ahead and getting some seeds and planting a garden.
This way, you’ll already know what to watch for, what didn’t work, and what does work in preparation for the time you need to have the food supply ready. You can also plant other vegetation to help you hide your crops.
