American Survival Guide Issue 5

FROM THE EDITORS OF GUN WORLD
ISSUE 5 / SUMMER 2013
U.S. $8.99
DISPLAY UNTIL: 8/27/13
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GW_ASG5_Cover 5/22/13 6:51 AM Page US_C1
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GW_ASG5_C2 5/16/13 11:42 PM Page C2
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GW_ASG5_3 5/16/13 11:02 PM Page 3
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BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE
EDITOR’S CHOICE ITEMS IN OUR
BUYER’S GUIDE SECTIONS ...
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5
HOMESTEADING
PREPAREDNESS
12 INTRO
14 WHEN THE GRID GOES DOWN
One of the world’s best experts explains home
water storage techniques and purification meth-
ods.
By Tony Nester
25 THE BUZZ ON HOME APICULTURE
From honey to antiseptics to miscellaneous
products, bees can produce a number of
products for home survival.
By Erin Hatfield
30 LIVING OFF THE LAND
Your guide to successful homesteading.
By Torrey Kim
40 PEDAL POWER
Days and weeks without electricity doesn’t
sound like much fun. Here’s how to avoid that
problem.
By Mimi Kim
URBAN
PREPAREDNESS
44 INTRODUCTION
46 THE GREAT ESCAPE
Underground rooms with appliances, communi-
cation systems and air filtration. It only sounds
like something from Hollywood, but it’s all about
survival.
By Torrey Kim
52 GIMME SHELTER
Find out how the ingenious way a pro
controls the temperature of his home.
By Cody Lundin
56 ULTIMATE OFF-ROAD
SURVIVAL CAMPER
A solar survival truck that will get
you through any disaster.
By Sean Cooper
GENERAL
PREPAREDNESS
63 INTRODUCTION
64 SURVIVE ANYTHING
Five tips that can mean the difference
between living and dying.
By Sean Cooper
68 DEFUSE BOMB THREATS
The tragedy at the Boston Marathon is a sad
reminder that terrorism can hit anywhere and
anytime. Find out how to recognize terrorism
threats and respond safely.
By Alon Stivi
78 MAXIMIZE THE MINIMUM
A gallon-sized plastic bag can hold the critical
items you need during a survival situation.
By Jason Lockamy
83 SURVIVAL SANITATION
The easy answers to the hard questions
of personal hygiene during a disaster.
By Torrey Kim
88 BE YOUR OWN ER DOCTOR
Accidents happen. When they do, will you be
prepared to treat wounds?
By Michael Neiswender
SUMMER
PREPAREDNESS
94 INTRODUCTION
95 PLENTIFUL PANTRY
Location, location, location. Your summer
garden relies on this … and a lot more.
By Michele Doele
106 FINDING YOUR WAY
Stay on track and reach your destination with
these simple navigation tips.
By Larry Schwartz
110 TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL
A complete guide to making homeschooling
successful.
By Kristin Webb-Hollering
FEATURES
WILDERNESS
PREPAREDNESS
120 INTRODUCTION
121 THE ULTIMATE MEAL ON-THE-GO
Edible plants are everywhere … if you know
what to look for.
By Tim MacWelch
124 1ST LINE OF DEFENSE
Battle the elements with these tips on
how to dress properly for any conditions.
By Abe Elias
BUYER’S GUIDES
73 99 115
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20 GENERATORS
36 ALTERNATIVE POWER
60 KNIVES
73 FOOD
99 TOOLS
115 GUNS
THE COVER
Photo taken at Klicktat County River, Washington
Model: Aaron Kreps
Designer: Eric Knagg
Provided by 5.11 Tactical
COLUMNS
6 FIRST WORDS
8 NEWS BITES
130 CLOSING WORDS
GW_ASG5_TOC.CX 5/23/13 5:03 AM Page 5
6
FIRST WORDS
MAGINE.
IT’S YOUR FIRST GAME AS
MANAGER, AND YOU’RE
ABOUT TO FILL OUT THE
LINE-UP CARD. A SMILE CREEPS
ACROSS YOUR FACE AS YOU
PENCIL IN THE NAMES … CODY
LUNDIN, TONY NESTER, LARRY
SCHWARTZ, TIM MACWELCH, SAM
SHERIDAN, ANNA HESS. STARING
AT THE CARD, YOU CAN’T HELP
BUT SHAKE YOUR HEAD.
Sliding the pencil into your back pocket,
you head up the stairs toward the field.
Your right foot is about to hit the dirt when
a zephyr blows in from the west, picks you
up and gently sets you down next to the
umpires … or was that your emotions that
carried you?
HEAVY HITTERS
Combined, this “line-up” probably has
close to 100 years of survival experience.
And longevity speaks volumes. It means
credibility, ideas and success. So, you can
understand why we’re excited to bring you
this issue of American Survival Guide.
In our quest to bring you the very best
information, we will continue to go to the
very best sources. Each and every issue will
feature survival’s heavy hitters. Count on it.
BE READY
Going with the best line-up is imperative,
as we need the firepower to prepare for the
most formidable and ruthless opponent on
the planet … Mother Nature.
So read carefully. Be prepared.
Don’t take anything for granted.
Live strong.
ISSUE 5 / SUMMER 2013
EDITORIAL
Editor: Doug Jeffrey
Contributing Editor: Torrey Kim
Managing Editor: Jeffrey Rick
Art Director: Eric Knagg
Designer: Jesse Cao
CONTRIBUTORS
Sean Cooper, Michele Doele, Abe Elias, Erin Hatfield,
Mimi Kim, Jason Lockamy, Cody Lundin, Tim MacWelch,
Michael Neiswender, Tony Nester, Larry Schwartz, Barri
Segal, Alon Stivi, Kristin Webb-Hollering
ADVERTISING
Gabe Frimmel - Ad Sales Director
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Gennifer Merriday - Ad Traffic Coordinator
OPERATIONS
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Celia Merriday: Newsstand Analyst
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Mohit Patel: Newsstand and Production Analyst
Alberto Chavez: Senior Logistics & Facilities Manager
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AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE © 2013 by Beckett Media,
LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from
this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
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completeness or technical accuracy.
Murderer’s Row
“… longevity
speaks volumes.
It means credibility,
ideas and success.”
By Doug Jeffrey
I
PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY NESTER
Tony Nester has been
involved in survivalism
for more than 25 years.
GW_ASG5_6_EDIT 5/17/13 1:57 AM Page 6
Technology is changing and so are your
needs. DSG Arms specializes in a broad
selection of high-end brand name M4 /
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difference between this level and the next is
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GW_ASG5_7 5/16/13 11:20 PM Page 7
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NEWS BITES
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ERCENTAGES, PREPARATION AND PLANS IN THE WAKE OF DISASTER
You know it’s coming. It’s when. Not if.
And you’re ready for it.
But not everyone is, as you’re about to see. As we explore the unknown, you’ll see what your neighbors anticipate.
— Editor
P
Exploring The Unknown
Within 25
WHAT PEOPLE THINK WILL
HAPPEN IN THE U.S. IN THE
NEXT QUARTER-CENTURY
Does Art
Imitate
Life?
PARTICIPANTS
WERE ASKED IF
THE MOVIES
BELOW
DEPICTED
EVENTS TO COME
IN THE NEXT 25
YEARS.
• The Day After
Tomorrow: 37%
• Independence
Day: 19%
• The Stand: 10%
• Armageddon:
31%
• The Day The
Earth Stood Still:
19%
• Waterworld: 9%
• 2012: 30%
• I Am Legend:
15%
• Planet Of The
Apes: 7%
Intimacy
Tops The
List
Q: IF YOU THOUGHT
THE WORLD WERE
GOING TO END,
WHAT WOULD YOU
DO THE NIGHT
BEFORE?
• Resolve feuds or
disagreements with
a loved one: 27%
• Stock up on
resources such as
canned food and
water: 20%
• Participate in an
extreme sport like
skydiving: 3%
• Have sex: 42%
• Eat an expensive
meal at a fancy
restaurant: 6%
• Other: 20%
Planning For Disaster
• Collect or store canned
food: 45%
• Stock up on batteries:
42%
• Prepare a to-go bag (bug-
out bag) with supplies:
33%
• Own at least one weapon:
26%
• Grow own food: 20%
• Run bug-out practice
drills: 9%
• Develop own source of
power, like solar or
wind: 9%
• Keep own livestock: 6%
• Build a bomb shelter: 8%
• Develop own water
source: 9%
• Plan an escape route: 20%
• Keep substantial cash on
hand: 24%
• Learn basic survival skills
(how to start a fire or
stitch a wound): 30%
• Keep a full tank of gas in
the car: 34%
• Collect or store water:
43%
• Other: 3%
64
The percentage
of people who
anticipate a
significant
earthquake
63
Significant
hurricane
55
Terrorist attack
51
Financial collapse
37
Significant
blackout
29
Pandemic
14
Nuclear fallout
13
Nothing
NOTE:
All numbers represent
percentages
WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE TO PREPARE FOR A
POTENTIAL CATASTROPHE
GW_ASG5_NEWS.CX 5/23/13 5:06 AM Page 8
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on the cover
GEAR FOR SURVIVAL
5.11 TACTICAL
COOL. CUTTING EDGE. QUALITY.
PREPARATION. SURVIVAL.
These are just some of the words that come to
mind when chatting up this Irvine, California-based
company, which is why Aaron Kreps, the cover model,
is donning their gear.
To give you a little insight into what he’s wearing,
and what you should seriously consider for a survival
situation, keep reading.
5.11 Tactical. One hot company.
MULTICAM TAC DRY RAIN SHELL
$209.99
The MultiCamTacDry Rain Shell is a 100-percent nylon lightweight shell that
serves as a waterproof hunting jacket for those wet, cold mornings or as a con-
cealed carry camouflage covering detailed with their proprietary QUIXIP for quick
side access to a sidearm.
RUSH 24
TACTICAL
BACKPACK
$139.99
This is their most pop-
ular tactical MOLLE back-
pack. Dimensions are
20x12x7, supplying
ample storage space for
tactical gear. This baby
also has flexible main
storage compartments,
internal dividers and a
MOLLE web platform
throughout the bag.
TACLITE 6-INCH
COYOTE BOOT
$129.99
The Taclite 6-inch Coyote Boot is
designed for desert or dry mountainous
conditions with an extremely lightweight
and breathable foundation. This, says
5.11, provides for superior comfort in
warm weather.
TRAVERSE
TACTICAL
PANTS
$94.99
Tactical Traverse
Pants are designed
for extreme mobility,
says 5.11. Featuring
a quick-drying four-
way stretch fabric,
contoured, high-back
stretch waist band,
articulated knees and
a full-running gusset
from hem to hem,
Traverse Pants pro-
vide “superior range
of motion,” regard-
less of where you
may be.
GW_ASG5_NEWS.CX 5/23/13 5:06 AM Page 9
GW_ASG5_10 5/16/13 11:32 PM Page 10
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GW_ASG5_INCOVER 5/17/13 2:24 AM Page 12
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C
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LIGHTS, SWITCHES, WATER FAUCETS, HEATERS, AC.
These elements are entwined into our lives, and our world tumbles into chaos if we lose
any of them … which is exactly why you’re about to enter the realm of living off the grid.
In the following pages, you’ll reap the benefits of homesteading and living off the grid from
some of the best survivalists in the country.
No grid? No problem.
In This Section…
• Water Purification Methods
• Products From Bees
• Succeed At Homesteading
• Buyer’s Guide
• Cycling To Generate Power
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No Problem
GW_ASG5_INCOVER 5/17/13 2:24 AM Page 13
ESPITE WHAT THEY
SHOW IN THE
HEAVILY SCRIPTED
REALITY SHOWS
ON SURVIVAL, YOU
CAN’T LIVE LONG WITHOUT
WATER AND ALSO CAN’T
MAGICALLY EXTRACT IT
FROM THE GROUND USING A
SOLAR STILL.
Water is at the top of the survival
list for the simple fact that we humans
must stay hydrated in order to survive.
Whether you’re a triathlete, Green
Beret or live in a desert cave, you can’t
condition your body to go without this
precious substance.
Having spoken with many survivors
who were struck by disasters while liv-
ing abroad in Japan, Thailand and India,
as well as the debacle of Katrina, all of
them recounted stories about the lack
of fresh drinking water and mile-long
resupply lines at aid stations. Most
spoke about how they could handle the
other priorities such as improvising
shelter items from scavenged materials
(clothes, blankets, furniture) and many
banding together to provide medical
assistance and share food. However,
fresh water was scarce and dehydration
endlessly tugged at their bodies and
minds.
PRECIOUS
WATER
You can’t live long without this
precious substance.
Humans have gone weeks without
food under survival conditions but
without water, your shelf life is limited
to days and possibly even hours if the
heat is extreme.
Consider for a moment what
would happen to residents in Phoenix
or Las Vegas if there was a blackout
lasting several weeks due to an incident
that cripples the grid. During the sum-
mer, it can spike past 115 degrees F in
the afternoon. Working and living in a
post-disaster setting like this would
cause a person to consume two or
more gallons of water per day. Life
without water in these unforgiving city-
ovens can be limited to hours if the
14
WHEN
THE GRID
GOESDOWN
By Tony Nester
D
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EXCERPTS FROM WHEN THE GRID GOES
DOWN BY TONY NESTER
FIRST NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS
Water Storage and Purification Methods
GW_ASG5_NESTER 5/17/13 2:35 AM Page 14
15
N
“Despite what they
show in the heavily
scripted reality
shows on survival,
you can’t live long
without water …” —
Tony Nester, survival expert
GW_ASG5_NESTER 5/17/13 2:35 AM Page 15
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WATER
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PRIORITIES
FOR CREATING
A SELF-RELIANT
HOME
1. Water
2. Food
3. First-aid
4. Home security and
personal defense
5. Heating, cooling and
energy needs
6. Hygiene and sanitation
6
GW_ASG5_NESTER.CX 5/23/13 5:09 AM Page 16
17
proper precautions and water planning
aren’t in place.
The general rule I recommend, and
that we have found useful at our house, is
to have 2 gallons of water per person, per
day on hand. This is just for consumption
and cooking, not for dishwashing, laundry,
livestock or the garden. For a family of
four, this will come out to 8 gallons per
day and 240 gallons a month. That’s a lot
of water bottles to buy up in pallets, eh?
I’m a real fan of layering your critical sur-
vival items so that your water is broken
down into several storage systems from
large to small.
WATER STORAGE
OPTIONS
Here’s what we’ve done.
We have a 210-gallon water tanker that
collects rainwater off our roof. This is the
main vein for general use like dishwashing,
animals and the garden along with just being
an emergency back-up system.
The next step down are two, 55-gallon
poly-barrels (see photo) with accompanying
hand-siphons. These blue barrels can be
found at feed stores and some big-box pet
stores for around $25. Some of these come
from the commercial restaurant industry, so
be sure to get the ones other than those
used for storing garlic or olive oil—some-
thing I discovered the hard way.
Next, we have six of the blue 7-gallon
cubes behind our shed (north-facing). These
can be found in camping stores or at Wal-
Mart. I use these on my field courses, and
they last for about eight months of punish-
ment before the corners crack from the
constant exposure to UV rays (at 7,000 feet
where I live that’s a lot) and daily handling. If
you’re storing these in your garage or base-
ment out of the sunlight, then you should be
fine. At the bare minimum, get two of these
blue cubes and you will have 14 gallons of
water, which will last one person seven days
or a family of four for three days. Consider
this a place to start and then you can build
your water stores up from there.
Lastly, we have 1-gallon containers in
the form of iced-tea bottles. We have a few
of these on hand around the property and
one in each vehicle, as this is a convenient
size to tote around.
One of my students in New York City
has 30 of these 1-gallon jugs of water
stowed in his small apartment (he’s a hard-
core apple cider addict). At 2 gallons per
person, per day, he has enough for nearly
two weeks. He cycles through these each
month, which is what I recommend with all
stored water.
We’ve used all of the previously men-
tioned water storage systems long-term and
have never had any bacteria build-up as long
as we are constantly rotating the water.
Keeping containers out of the sun is helpful.
Every three months after draining a water
cube or the big barrels, I will completely
bleach out the innards, rinse and refill.
Bleach is a must-have item for maintaining
your water barrels long-term and for water
purification, as I’ll discuss next.
WATER PURIFICA-
TION METHODS
In a crisis, waterborne diseases are
going to be a major concern so avoid the
reality-TV theatrics of gritting-your-teeth-
to-strain-out-the-big-stuff and equip your
home with some of the following low-tech
items. These four methods of purifying
water can be used for treating contami-
nated sources in both urban and wilder-
ness settings.
BOILING
Boiling kills both viruses and bacteria
but does not remove chemicals such as fuel,
lead or other toxins that may have leached
into the city’s water lines when infrastruc-
ture damage occurs. According to a CDC
researcher I spoke with, you need to boil
water for only one minute to kill the
microorganisms that are present. Actually,
it’s 160 degrees F to be precise, but since
we humans can’t tell when water is at that
temperature on the stove or campfire, the
CDC recommends the visual of the rolling
boil to know you have exceeded the neces-
sary temperature.
“As we’ve
found on
our desert
survival
courses,
if you don’t
stay hydrated
you’ll become
like beef
jerky.”
— Tony Nester
LOOK HERE FOR MORE
For more information, visit
www.apathways.com
IN FUTURE ISSUES
Watch for Tony Nester’s recommendations
and guidelines for the other categories.
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WATER
UV TREATMENT
A SteriPen zaps the water with UV rays and
kills both bacteria and viruses. Insert the tip of the
pen into a liter of clear water and turn on the
switch for 60 seconds. The drawback is that you
need clear water to begin with. In murky or silty
water, the UV rays won’t penetrate to the depth of
the bottle and treatment will be incomplete.
SteriPens are great for an urban survival home kit,
but they do require four AA batteries, won’t func-
tion in extreme cold and are delicate. I keep mine
in a bubble-wrap sheath when not in use. The com-
pany also makes a version that has a solar charger. I
use a SteriPen when I travel internationally for
treating water in hotels and remote villages. Again,
it has to be clear water to begin with and the
SteriPen only kills bacteria and viruses and does
nothing to remove chemical contaminants.
SODIS METHOD
This method for water purification is some-
thing that would be useful in an urban environment
where chemical contamination is not an issue.
SODIS was invented by a Swiss humanitarian group
and it’s now used throughout third world countries
to provide safe drinking water for thousands of
people.
The method involves filling a clear plastic water
bottle and then placing it in the sun for six hours.
This allows the UV rays to kill the bacteria, viruses
and critters. Very low-tech and simple and it will
even work on a semi-cloudy day.
Some things to remember: it only works with
PET plastic bottles and clear glass bottles; water on
the cap and bottle threads won’t be purified and a
straw is recommended to extract the water safely
from the bottle when drinking. Like the SteriPen
method, you also need clear water to begin with,
otherwise the turbidity will prevent the UV rays
from penetrating. Still, this would be a good
method to file away for an urban setting as 1- and
2-liter bottles are plentiful. SODIS has its research
and methods detailed on its website including infor-
mation on how it can be used even in cloud-cov-
ered cities like Seattle. For further information,
check out www.sodis.ch.
MECHANICAL
You can use a modern (hand pump) filter like
an MSR or Katadyn to treat water and remove any
bacteria. These work best if you pre-filter the
water through a coffee filter or bandanna. I like the
NESTER’S CREDENTIALS
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“The general rule I
recommend … is to have
2 gallons of water per
person, per day …”
— Tony Nester
CALCULATE
THESE NUMBERS
2
The number of gallons of water
per person, per day
4
For a family of four, this formula
works out to 8 gallons per day and
240 gallons a month.
• Tony Nester is the
founder of the
survival school
Ancient Pathways
in Flagstaff,
Arizona.
• His company is the
primary provider of
desert survival
training for Military
Special Operations
units from around
the world, and he
has instructed the
National Trans-
portation & Safety
Board (NTSB), FAA
and served as a
technical consul-
tant for the film
Into The Wild.
• Tony is the author
of four previous
books and three
survival DVDs.
• He and his family
live in a passive-
solar, strawbale
house in northern
Arizona.
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MSR and use it on personal wilderness trips. The
advantage with the MSR is that you can strip the
unit apart and clean the (ceramic) filter. Most of
the other models have pleated filters that must
be replaced frequently. Some mechanical filters
will also remove chemical contaminants.
Another excellent water filter system that’s
been used for years in the self-reliance and
homesteading community is made by Berkey.
These are not intended as portable units for a
bail-out kit but for the home. The Berkey filters
come in six models and range in size from 1.5-
gallon to 6-gallon models and the internal filters
can be cleaned. Just keep in mind that these are
gravity-fed systems so it’s not like turning on the
tap but, hey, in a grid-down situation you will
become time-rich anyway.
CHEMICAL
There are three chemical treatment meth-
ods available: bleach, iodine—in either tablet,
crystal or tincture form—and chlorine dioxide.
Keep in mind that chemical treatment is sim-
ilar to boiling water. It’s only going to kill viruses
and bacteria and does nothing to neutralize
other chemical toxins that may be present in an
urban disaster when fuel, oil or other hazardous
substances leach into the water table.
Bleach is my preferred method for an urban
setting as it’s cheap, easy to use, kids can handle
the taste compared to iodine, and it’s good for
household sanitation. I have several friends who
have hiked the Pacific Crest Trail over a five-
month period while using bleach for water
purification on a daily basis.
On our fieldcourses, we use six drops of
plain bleach per quart of water. Make sure you
use plain bleach as the scented variety has a
detergent additive that will make you sick. One
of my students, who is a chemist, recommends
adding a few drops of food coloring into the
bleach solution, so you can monitor its spread
throughout the water being treated.
Iodine has been used for years by the mili-
tary as well as the backpacking community. It can
have a gag factor. The key with iodine treatment
is to follow the manufacturer’s directions as
company specs vary. I use the Potable Aqua
brand, which has 50 tablets per bottle and a shelf
life of one year after it’s opened. Two tablets per
quart of water is the recommended treatment.
The only drawbacks: iodine is not good for preg-
nant women or those with thyroid problems
and is not effective in killing cryptosporidium.
You also won’t get any kid to down water
treated with iodine, which is why I don’t recom-
mend it for a family survival kit. A more palatable
alternative to iodine is Potable Aqua’s Chlorine
Dioxide tablets. This will give the water a taste
similar to bleach (or a swimming pool; and who
doesn’t like the taste of a swimming pool…?).
The treatment time is longer with these tablets
but the taste is better than iodine.
TRY VARIETY
Try out a few different brands at home to
sample the taste and to make sure there are no
side effects before you and your family rely on
them in a crisis. Out of these four methods, I
would recommend purchasing a water filter like
the MSR which will handle chemical contami-
nants and then getting a couple bottles of bleach
for handling bacteria and viruses. Along with
boiling water on your stove (assuming there’s
power), you will have three means of purifying
water and staying hydrated. As we’ve found on
our desert survival courses, if you don’t stay
hydrated you’ll become like beef jerky.





NESTER’S
WATER
FORMULA
A 210-gallon water tank
that collects rainwater off
the roof
Two 55-gallon poly-bar-
rels with accompanying
hand-siphons
Six 7-gallon cubes behind
a shed (north-facing). At
the bare minimum, get
two of these blue cubes,
and you will have 14 gal-
lons of water which will
last one person seven
days or a family of four
for three days.
A number of 1-gallon
containers in the form of
iced tea bottles. We have
a few of these on hand
around the property and
one in each vehicle.
THIS ROUTE TO FRESH WATER
Water Purification Methods
• Boiling
• UV treatment
• SODIS method
• Mechanical
• Chemical
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2
3
4
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Ge ne rat e
P owe r
Don’t Let a Disaster Shut Off Essentials
Like Electricity By Sean Cooper
GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES.
ALTHOUGH GENERATORS ARE HANDY AND EFFECTIVE, OFTEN-
TIMES THEY’RE HEAVY AND INCONVENIENT TO LUG AROUND –
UNLESS YOU FIND ONE THAT’S BOTH POWERFUL AND
PORTABLE.
This month, we take a look at smaller generators. Not only are these
generators portable, they come with inverter technology so you can power
your computer, TV and microwave.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
POWERHOUSE
GENERATORS
Model: 500Wi
www.powerhouse-products.com
Key Features: 500-watt surge, 3.4
hours of continuous run time at full
load, lightweight
MSRP: $346.95
BY TORREY KIM
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POWERHOUSE
GENERATORS
Model: 500Wi
Key features: 500-watt surge, 3.4 hours
of continuous run time at full load,
lightweight
www.powerhouse-products.com
MRSP: $346.95
Description:
The handiest generator on the market
today, the 500Wi is ideal for powering a
laptop, television, game console or keep-
ing cell phones charged. Weighing in at
just 21 pounds, the 500Wi has a built-in
carry handle for easy portability.
The 500Wi features a 0.9-horsepower
engine with a maximum output of 500
watts and can be set to run at variable
speed for fuel economy or at constant
speed for full power. It also carries all of
the primary features of larger Power-
house generators and operates quietly
enough to meet National Park Service
guidelines for campground use. Transla-
tion? Firing up this generator won’t scare
off deer that happen to make their way
toward you.
SUBARU
Model: R1700i
Key features: 1,400-watt inverter, very
quiet 59 decibels, small enough for
camping
www.robinamerica.com
MRSP: $1,141
Description:
Looking for a worry-free camping expedi-
tion out in the wilderness? Whether
you’re hiking, canoeing or fishing, R1700i
has you covered. Although it may not be
the lightest generator on the market – it
weighs 45.2 pounds – it delivers an
impressive 1,400 watts of power, perfect
for powering your essentials like lights,
televisions, radios and fans.
Not only is it powerful, but the R1700i is
as quiet as a mouse. It produces 59 deci-
bels when operating – you’ll forget it’s
even turned on.
1
buyer’s
Guide GENERATORS
2
1
$346.95
POWERHOUSE GENERATORS
2
$1,141
SUBARU



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buyer’s
Guide GENERATORS
GENERAC
Model: 5792 iX1600
Key features: 1,600 watts of clean power, runs up
to 10 hours, able to power electronics
www.generac.com
MSRP: $585.00
Description:
Are you looking for a generator with a bit more
power? A few months ago, American Survival Guide
reviewed the iX1800 – this is its bigger brother, the
iX1600. The inverter technology of the Generac iX
1,600-watt gasoline-powered inverter generator
takes the raw power the generator produces and
passes it through an electronic microprocessor to
provide stable, clean power with less than three per-
cent total harmonic distortion, making it safe for
computers and other sensitive electronic equipment.
Ideal for use on the road, this lightweight, compact
generator offers portable power for camping, tailgat-
ing and recreational use.
SUMMIT RACING
EQUIPMENT
Model: COA-PI15000X
Key features: 1,500 watts continuous power, con-
venient digital display, powered by the sun
www.summitracing.com
MRSP: $282.95
Description:
Don’t want to haul gasoline around with you on your
travels? Solar Power Inverters produce a proprietary
modified sine wave to provide stable, clean and reli-
able power for electronics and equipment. This
model has three AC outlets, remote switch and junc-
tion block output for hardwired installations. And to
conserve your battery, the heat-dissipating fans turn
on only when needed--smart, huh?
“Solar Power Inverters will come in handy when
you’re on the trail or camping,” says Alan Rebescher
of Summit Racing Equipment. “They can power
tools, lighting, small appliances and personal elec-
tronics, bringing a bit of civilization to the middle of
nowhere.”
“They can power tools,
lighting, small appli-
ances and personal
electronics, bringing a
bit of civilization to the
middle of nowhere.”
— Alan Rebescher of Summit
Racing Equipment
3
4
3
$585.00
GENERAC
STARTING WATTS VS. RUNNING WATTS
When you’re shopping for a generator, it can get confusing to read the
various technical specs – especially when you’re pondering how starting
watts differ from running watts.
As the name suggests, starting watts are only needed for the first few seconds to
jumpstart and power up your electronics. It’s important for your generator to have
enough starting watts to power your electronics or else you won’t be able to turn
them on in the first place. Before buying a generator, make sure it has enough power
to start your most powerful electronic, such as your refrigerator. If it can start it, it
should be fine for everything else.
Running watts, also known as continuous watts, refers to the power that keeps
your electronics running for the hours to come. It’s important to look at the electron-
ics you’ll be running and the power they require. The last thing you want is to be left
in the dark after only a couple of hours.
Some electronics or appliances don’t list their running watts, so you’ll have to
estimate yourself. To estimate, you can use the following formula: Watts = Volts X
Amps. A good rule of thumb to remember is that starting watts typically require three
to five times more power than running watts.
4
$282.95
SUMMIT RACING
EQUIPMENT
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RYOBI TOOLS
Model: 2200
Key features: Gasoline powered, very quiet, 8.75
hours of runtime
www.ryobitools.com
MRSP: $599
Description:
Are you tired of sacrificing power for noise? The
Ryobi inverter generator offers extremely quiet
power -- quieter than a conversation. “The Ryobi
inverter generator is the perfect product for camp-
ing,” says Jessica Hipp of Ryobi Outdoor Products.
The Ryobi inverter generator offers the same great
features as its competitors, as well as additional
perks, while still retailing at a fraction of the cost.
While similar generators sell for upwards of $900,
this model offers an impressive 2,000 starting
watts for under $600. It generates clean power,
allowing even the most sensitive electronics to
safely run off of it.
HONDA
Model: EU1000iKC2
Key features: Lightweight, 1,000 watts of power,
3.9 hours of continuous operation
www.powerequipment.honda.com
MRSP: $1,099
Description:
The EU1000iKC2 is perfect for camping, boating,
street vendors or just operating lights. It's powered
by the reliable Honda GXH50, OHV, four-stroke
engine that utilizes patented exhaust and muffler
technology to make this generator one of the -- if
not the -- quietest gas-powered generators on the
market today.
Like the rest of the Honda EU Series, its inverter
technology provides ultraclean electricity to power
even the most sensitive electronic equipment. In
addition, the Eco-Throttle feature offers excellent
efficiency of up to eight hours continuous running
time on 0.6 gallons of fuel, with reduced noise and
vibration levels.
6
5
$599
RYOBI TOOLS 5
$1,099
HONDA 6
buyer’s
Guide GENERATORS
FOUR ESSENTIALS YOUR
GENERATOR MUST HAVE
Although all generators create power, not all generators are cre-
ated equal. Let’s take a look at some key features to look for when
you’re in the market for a portable generator.
• Automatic Voltage Regulation: You know how you should
turn off sensitive electronics during a thunderstorm like your com-
puter and TV? The automatic voltage regulation stops voltage fluc-
tuations during storms that may harm your device.
• Automatic Safety Shutdown: You don’t want to drive your
car when it’s out of oil. The same can be said for your generator. As
the name suggests, automatic safety shutdown powers down your
generator if it has low oil pressure, low oil level, low coolant level,
high coolant temperature and other conditions that can ruin it.
• Circuit Breakers: Similar to your house, generators come
with built-in circuit breakers. Not only do circuit breakers regulate
the flow of power, they help protect connected electronics by turn-
ing them off in the event there’s too much current passing through
them.
• Wheel Kit: Who wants to carry around a heavy 50-pound
generator on their back when they don’t have to? Wheel kits are a
must, especially on heavier, more powerful models.
Sources: http://www.homedepot.ca/know-how/buying-
guides/generators
GW_ASG5_BG_GENERATOR 5/17/13 2:55 AM Page 24
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EEKEEPING IS TAKING FLIGHT.
HONEYBEES ARE ESTIMATED TO POLLINATE 30
PERCENT OF THE FOOD WE EAT, MAKING BEES
A VITAL PART OF THE FOOD CHAIN. ACCORD-
ING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL-
TURE (USDA), THE U.S. BOASTED 2.62 MILLION COLONIES
PRODUCING HONEY IN 2012, UP FIVE PERCENT FROM 2011.
Beekeeping—or apiculture—may seem intimidating due to the fear of
being stung. But the odds of dying from a lightning strike are greater than
those of dying from a bee sting. The benefits of apiculture, which include
improving pollination for local agriculture and a number of products from the
hive, far outweigh the potential of a bee sting.
TO BEE OR NOT TO BE
Getting started in apiculture requires extensive research and exploring
resources, which can range from books to local classes. Many states have a
beekeeping association with county chapters that offer bee schools. While
books offer a great deal of insight into bees and apiculture, hands-on experi-
ence provides a confidence boost for first-time beekeepers.
“These classes are a great way to get started, as they cover everything
from basic honeybee biology to the diseases and pests that plague them,” says
Inge Kautzmann, vice president of the Person County Beekeeping Association
in North Carolina.
Many bee suppliers offer starter kits that include a single hive body, pro-
tective gear and tools. The bees and “supers,” or the hive box that holds hon-
eycomb frames, help complete the setup at an average cost of $300. For new
beekeepers, Kautzmann recommends maintaining two hives, which will enable
keepers to pull resources such as brood, pollen and honey from one hive to
help boost the other should something happen to it.
ANATOMY OF A HIVE
Beekeepers have a number of hive architectures to consider. One of the
most common designs is the Langstroth hive, which encourages the bees to
build honeycombs on removable frames. The frames are designed to prevent
bees from attaching honeycombs in between frames or to the walls of the
hive.
The Langstroth hive contains a bottom board on which the hive rests. This
is most commonly made of wood and can either be solid or have a screen that
would allow debris to fall through. The outer cover helps protect the hive
from the elements, and with an entrance reducer, beekeepers can partially
By Erin Hatfield
B
The
Buzz
On Home
Apiculture
Bees Produce a Number of Products that Contribute To
Your Subsistence
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BEES
close the hive entrances to prevent intruders such as
mice and other insects from entering the hive.
The hive body—or “brood chamber”—is a box
that holds the comb frames, normally either eight or
10 frames. This can also be called a “super” or “deep
super.” The wooden frames contain a beeswax foun-
dation imprinted with hexagonal shapes that are
commonly known as the honeycomb shape.
Says Kautzmann, “The foundation provides a
starting point for the bees when they build their wax
combs.”
Some of the frames in the hive are kept exclu-
sively for storing honey, a function that’s enabled by
beeswax’s ability to support 20 times its own weight.
BEE SOCIOLOGY
Honeybee colonies are complex social environ-
ments.
Bees live in large, well-organized social groups
designed to keep the hive buzzing along. Each bee has
a defined role that is dictated as soon as it completes
metamorphosis into an adult. The honeybee colony
consists of a single queen bee, several hundred
drones, and thousands of worker bees that must
work together and contribute to the success of the
hive.
The queen bee is the only sexually mature female
bee in the hive. As such, she lays nearly 1,500 eggs a
day during peak production, which runs from spring
to early summer. Over her two- to three-year life-
time, she can lay as many as a million eggs.
Queens lay both fertilized and unfertilized eggs.
The unfertilized eggs become male drones, and the
fertilized eggs become female worker bees.
“Queen bees and worker bees are genetically
identical,” says Kautzmann. “What makes a bee
become the queen is the diet of royal jelly she’s fed
as a larva.”
Worker bees are the most abundant in the hive,
and as the name implies, they perform a number of
tasks within the colony, including cleaning the hive,
feeding the brood, building beeswax combs and han-
dling incoming nectar. They also forage for nectar,
pollen, water and plant sap (propolis) as they mature.
A worker bee’s lifespan is only about six weeks dur-
ing the peak season and about six months in the late
fall and winter.
Drones are normally only present in a hive dur-
ing the late spring and summer. Their main function is
to fertilize the queen bee during her mating flight,
enabling her to lay eggs that will eventually become
worker bees.
HOW SWEET IT IS
Products Bees Produce
• Honey
Honey’s color and flavor vary depending on
the vegetation from which the pollen and
nectar is collected.
• Medicinal Benefits
Honey can treat conditions such as insomnia,
ulcers and constipation, as well as healing
simple cuts, scrapes and burns, and diabetic
ulcers.
• Miscellaneous Products
Soap, lotions, candles and sore throat med-
ications
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SWEET REWARDS
Beehives produce a number of products
that are beneficial to humans.
The most common and well-known out-
put is honey. Honey’s color and flavor vary
depending on the vegetation from which the
pollen and nectar is collected. Heat and mois-
ture also affect a honey’s quality, as both can
lower the grade and shelf life of the end prod-
uct.
“Honey for consumption is available in
four basic types: extracted or liquid honey,
cut-comb honey, chunk honey and creamed
honey,” explains Kaufman.
Most beekeepers produce extracted
honey, which is the honey commonly found in
grocery stores and farmer’s markets. Bees
tend to produce more extracted honey than
honey in the comb, and by extracting the
honey, beekeepers can reuse the combs multi-
ple times. Extracted honey can be gathered by
cutting the combs from the hive and either
using gravity or specialized centrifugal equip-
ment to spin the honey from the cells.
Cut-comb honey involves cutting the
combs out of the frames and letting those sec-
tions drain overnight. Producing chunk honey
requires cutting the comb to fit a jar or other
storage container and letting it drain. The bee-
keeper then fills the open spaces in the con-
tainer with liquid honey. Creamed honey is
honey that is finely crystalized until it reaches
a consistency similar to that of butter.
In addition to sweetening food and drinks,
honey has a number of medicinal benefits.
“Honey has been used for thousands of
years to treat conditions such as insomnia,
ulcers and constipation,” explains Kautzmann.
“Used externally, it had antiseptic qualities
that make it ideal for healing simple cuts,
scrapes and burns, as well as diabetic ulcers.”
BUZZ AROUND THE “BOOKS”
Getting started in apiculture requires research and
resources, which can range from books to local
classes. Many states have a beekeeping association
that offer bee schools.
BEE
NUMBERS
30
Honeybees are estimated
to pollinate this percent of
the food we eat.
2.62
In millions, the number of
colonies producing honey
in 2012
5
In percentage points, the
increase in the number of
colonies from 2011
1,500
The queen bee lays nearly
1,500 eggs a day during
peak production.
1
In millions, the number of
eggs a queen lays in her
lifetime.
“Honey for consumption is available in four basic types:
extracted or liquid honey, cut-comb honey, chunk honey
and creamed honey.”
— Inge Kautzmann, vice president of the Person County Beekeeping Association
TAKE OFF
Bee suppliers offer
starter kits that
include a single
hive body,
protective gear and
tools. The average
cost is $300.
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GW_ASG5_BEES 5/21/13 10:50 PM Page 27
HONEY … DID
YOU KNOW?
EXTRACTED HONEY
Most beekeepers produce this
type, which is the honey com-
monly found in grocery stores
and farmer’s markets. Extracted
honey can be gathered by cut-
ting the combs from the hive.
CUT-COMB HONEY
Cut-comb honey involves cutting
the combs out of the frames and
letting those sections drain
overnight.
CHUNK HONEY
This requires cutting the comb to
fit a jar or other storage con-
tainer and letting it drain.
CREAMED HONEY
This is honey that is finely crys-
talized until it reaches a consis-
tency similar to that of butter.
BEES
INVESTIGATE THE RESOURCE “HIVE”
First-time beekeepers should look to a number of resources to become more
familiar with the practice prior to investing in a hive of his or her own. In addition
to taking classes through local beekeepers’ associations and colleges, the follow-
ing websites and books can help acquaint new and seasoned apiculturists with
the ins and outs of beekeeping and equipment.
• The American Apitherapy Society, Inc.: www.apitherapy.org
• The American Beekeeping Federation: www.abfnet.org
• Brushy Mountain Bee Farm: www.brushymountainbeefarm.com
• Dadant & Sons: www.dadant.com
• “First Lessons in Beekeeping” – Keith Delaplane
• “Backyard Beekeeping” – James E. Tew
• “Hive Management: A Seasonal Guide for Beekeepers” – Richard F. Bonney
• “Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping” – Dewey M. Caron
“Honeybees also produce beeswax, which is used in a number
of products including soap, lotions and candles.”
28
“Many bee suppliers offer starter kits that
PHOTO - INGE KAUTZMANN
GW_ASG5_BEES 5/21/13 10:50 PM Page 28
29
PRODUCTS FROM THE HIVE
But honey isn’t the only beneficial byproduct of apiculture.
Honeybees also produce beeswax, which is used in a number of
products including soap, lotions and candles. The cosmetic industry is
the number one consumer of beeswax, followed by candle-making. Bees
must consume 18.5 pounds of honey to create 2.2 pounds of beeswax.
Beeswax is also a vital ingredient for beekeepers to create the wax foun-
dations for their beehives.
Lesser-known products from beehives include the “brood.” Brood is
the collective term for all stages of honeybee development from egg to
pupae.
“While not popular in the U.S., brood is a high-protein food source
in other countries, particularly Asia and Africa,” says Kautzmann. “In fact,
honeybee pupae are 18.2 percent protein, compare to beef at 17.9 per-
cent.”
Royal jelly, the primary food source for queen bees, is well-known
throughout the world to treat skin conditions. The substance helps
decrease free radicals, making it an ideal anti-aging product according to
some experts. For the queen bee, royal jelly helps accelerate maturation
and ensure a longer lifecycle.
Propolis, a resinous mixture collected from tree buds, sap flows and
other botanical sources, is among the byproducts of beekeeping. Honey-
bees use propolis to seal and protect the hive, as well as prevent the
spread of bacteria and fungi in the hive. The antibacterial and antifungal
properties are also good for humans, and the substance has been proven
to effectively treat wounds, gingivitis, sore throats and acne among other
ailments. Propolis is also used in wood varnish.
Surprisingly, bee venom is a beneficial byproduct of beekeeping. Bees
use venom as a means of defense and a way to communicate, particularly
when the hive is threatened. Medically, bee venom therapy has been
used to treat joint pain associated with arthritis, as well as Multiple Scle-
rosis, Lyme disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.
FIGHT PESTICIDES
With a number of pesticides targeting other insects endangering
honeybee populations, engaging in apiculture can help ensure that bees
and their beneficial byproducts continue to sweeten our lives.
Erin Hatfield is a freelance writer based in North Carolina.
Honeybees need pollen and nectar from surrounding vegetation in order to live and
produce honey. Hives and bee colonies are most active in the spring and early
summer, gathering raw materials from a number of flowering plants and crops.
BUSY BEES
• Alfalfa
• Aster
• Black locust
• Blueberry
• Brambles
(blackberry,
raspberry)
• Canola
• Clover (yellow
sweet, white
sweet)
• Corn (field, sweet)
• Crocus
• Dandelion
• Fruit trees (apple,
peach, pear,
cherry, plum)
• Goldenrod
• Holly
• Maple
• Soybean
• Thyme
• Tulip poplar
• Willow
t include a single hive body, protective gear and tools.”
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30
How To Get Started,
Succeed at Homesteading
“If I were a backyard homesteader just getting started,
I’d probably plant some leaf lettuce, zucchini, and
ever-bearing red raspberries, then add a couple of
chickens to provide protein in my diet.”
– Anna Hess, author of The Weekend Homesteader
TART SMALL AND THEN
DECIDE.
If you want to convert to the
homesteading lifestyle, you can start
with one small project at a time to
determine if the lifestyle is for you.
If you dream of living off of your land with
no outside job, you should know that this isn’t
an unreachable goal. Anna Hess and her hus-
band Mark have been happily homesteading for
years on their 58-acre property, where they
enjoy both the labors and the fruits of having a
self-sustaining farm. If you’re interested in fol-
lowing in their paths, they’ve got advice for
would-be homesteaders on how to get
started—and succeed.
Hess’s early childhood was filled with
amazing memories on her family’s farm, which
prompted her want to return to that lifestyle.
“I had dreamed of going back to the land
ever since my own back-to-the-lander par-
ents threw in the towel and dragged us into
town when I was in third grade,” she says.
“As soon as I got out of college, I started
saving, studying and planning, eventually
materializing a farm, which just about kicked my butt in
the first year.”
Before long, she met Mark, whose combination of
common sense and a strong back allowed her to more
comfortably transition to homesteading.
Living Off
By Torrey Kim
Anna’s book, The Weekend
Homesteader. She’s also the
author of Trailersteading, which
is about living simply in a
mobile home.
A
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GW_ASG5_HOME.CX 5/23/13 5:11 AM Page 30
31
f The Land
Strawberry season is
one of Anna’s favorite
times of the year, and
her farm produces
quite a few fruits.
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32
LAND
Although Mark hadn’t shared the lifelong goal
of becoming a homesteader, the couple helped
each other prepare for the life on the farm.
“It was tougher for him than for me since I’d
been training myself to live frugally since high
school, whereas Mark had been considering mov-
ing to Los Angeles or New York City,” she says.
“In the end, though, Mark taught me as much
about enjoying the process as I taught him about
simple living, and we both learned to love part-
nering with the farm.”
START SEVERAL
SMALL PROJECTS
If you’re interested in the homesteading
lifestyle, your best bet is to ensure that you
don’t jump in with both feet too quickly, which
is the biggest mistake that Hess sees new home-
steaders make.
“We all bite off more than we can chew in
the beginning, and unfortunately that causes many
homesteaders to burn out,” she says. “I grew up
“If you want to branch out beyond the basics (but still
in the realm of simple projects), mushroom logs and
rain barrels are also worth considering.” – Anna Hess
HOMESTEADING
BASICS
• Self-sufficient living: re-using, repairing, and
recycling items; homemade products.
• Food preservation including canning, drying,
freezing and fermenting.
• Community food-sourcing such as foraging
and trading.
• Resource reduction: using solar/alternative
energy sources, harvesting rainwater, using
graywater, using alternative transportation.
• Raising animals, including chickens, goats,
rabbits, fish, worms, and/or bees.
• Growing fruit, vegetables, culinary and med-
icinal plants; converting lawns into gardens.
• Natural building.
• Composting.
Chickens are one
of the Hess’s
favorite parts of
the farm.
GW_ASG5_HOME 5/17/13 4:30 AM Page 32
33
watching my parents struggle with a farm, one
full-time job, and three kids, but I still tried to
embark on projects beyond my energetic means
during the first few years on the farm. My hus-
band has helped me realize that homesteading is
all about the journey, and even if it takes a decade
(or two, or three) to reach your goals, you’ve
been successful as long as you keep making
progress and enjoy every minute.”
In her book, The Weekend Homesteader, Hess
suggests easy and rewarding projects that new
homesteaders can take on during the first year or
more. “Your best bet is to get your feet wet in a
lot of different areas, but to keep each endeavor
small,” she says.
For instance, planting one fruit tree and a
small vegetable garden will help you learn about
your soil without sinking too much cash and
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Many people picture homesteading as a peaceful life of sitting on the porch and enjoying cool natural
breezes, but keep in mind that the lifestyle also entails difficult—but rewarding—work. For Anna Hess
and her husband, that entails maintaining a careful timeline to ensure that everything gets done.
“Our daily schedule is remarkably rigid for a homesteading family with no
off-farm job, but we’ve found sticking to a schedule gets the work done while also giving us plenty of
guilt-free time to relax,” she says. “I’m the morning person, so I start my chores at 8:30—feeding the
chickens, checking on the chicks (in the spring), and then taking our dog on a training walk.”
By 9 a.m., Anna and her husband join forces for outdoor work, which ranges from planting vegetables
to building pastures. They take an hour-long lunch break, then work on indoor chores from 1 to 4 in the
afternoon.
“Next, we spend half an hour writing blog posts, Mark does the afternoon version of my morning
chores, and we finish the day with a leisurely supper and evening,” Anna says. After she cooks dinner, her
husband does the dishes, and during the peak harvest season she follows that by preserving her home-
grown fruits and vegetables.
“In the winter, we flip-flop the morning and afternoon activities so we can enjoy the sun on our backs
while we’re outdoors, and we occasionally break from the schedule if there’s an emergency that needs
more attention,” Anna says. “But otherwise, we stick to the timeline, which has done more than anything
to ensure marital bliss on the farm.”
Carrots often provide
more calories per acre
in the Hess’s garden
than potatoes. Both can
be stored all winter in
low-tech underground
structures like
a refrigerator root cellar.
GW_ASG5_HOME 5/17/13 4:30 AM Page 33
34
LAND
heartache into the project, she suggests. “If you’re itching
for animals, I recommend starting small there, too — com-
post worms are easy and chickens or honeybees are worth
considering if you’re willing to make them your top priority
for the year.”
In addition, Hess adds, learning to cook with in-season
produce and pastured meat will help guide your plans for the
future, as will learning basic methods of food preservation.
“If you want to branch out beyond the basics (but still in
the realm of simple projects), mushroom logs and rain bar-
rels are also worth considering.”
KNOW WHAT YOU’LL EAT
When creating your homesteading plan, you might be
overwhelmed at all of the gardening and livestock options
CONSIDERATIONS
FOR HOMESTEADING
LOCATIONS
• Level of remoteness
• Community of like-minded
people
• Distance from medical care
• Land characteristics
• Access to phone line
• Land restrictions
• South-facing land for
gardening
• Soil quality
• Access to wood and fertilizer
• Livestock supportable?
• Natural disaster potential
• Adjacent properties
• Water
Source: eartheasy.com
GW_ASG5_HOME 5/17/13 4:31 AM Page 34
that could keep your family
nourished on your property.
Knowing which to select will
depend on your climate, Hess
says, but she has found that the
easiest vegetables to grow com-
pletely chemical-free are let-
tuce, Swiss chard, okra, sum-
mer squash and green beans,
with mint and basil adding spice
to the ultra-easy garden. In
addition, she adds, bramble
fruits (blackberries and raspber-
ries) are fast, prolific fruits, with
strawberries a close runner-up
in that department.
“Among the animals,” she
adds, “chickens are intuitive and
entertaining, and also provide
plenty of food.”
If, however, you’re seeking
the most calories per square
foot (and you’re willing to put
in some effort to tend to your
plants), root crops usually win,
she says. “Although most peo-
ple will tell you that white potatoes produce the most calories
per square foot, in our own garden that accolade is usually
awarded to sweet potatoes or carrots.”
If your land is hilly or otherwise problematic for row crops,
ruminants (like cows or sheep) provide plenty of food in an
area that would erode away if tilled, Hess says. “Similarly, you
can often grow tree crops (nuts or fruits) in these rough areas.”
“All of that said, if I were a backyard homesteader just get-
ting started, I’d probably plant some leaf lettuce, zucchini, and
ever-bearing red raspberries, then add a
couple of chickens to provide protein in
my diet,” she says. “It’s great to ensure
success your first year on the farm by
starting with the low-hanging fruit, and
you can always expand later.”
DON’T BE
LIMITED BY SPACE
If you’re thinking that your home-
steading dreams are an impossibility
because you only have an acre or two of
land, think again. You can definitely home-
stead in smaller spaces than Hess’s 58
acres, she says.
“The vast majority of our farm is
swamp and steep hillside, so we focus on
two acres as our core homestead,” she
says. “In fact, we easily grow all of the
vegetables, herbs and strawberries for
two people on about a quarter of an acre.
You can spice up your own culinary expe-
rience with a very small garden, especially
if you focus on high-value crops like fresh
herbs and homegrown tomatoes.”
Animals take more space, she says, but you can raise honey-
bees on a flat rooftop, and compost worms can live under your
kitchen sink. “The trick is to focus on the foods you care about
the most, and to fully utilize whatever growing area you’ve got.”
35
NO 9 TO 5?
NO PROBLEM
Making a living without leaving your
property can be done, and Anna Hess
and her husband Mark are proof of that.
As homesteaders, the couple saw a need
for watering products for chickens,
ducks, turkeys and other birds in which
the water would not get contaminated
with the animals’ waste. Mark came up
with the idea and concept for their Avian
Aqua Miser, which supplies clean water
to their hens. They now sell it through
their website at
www.avianaquamiser.com.
As you move forward with your home-
steading adventure, chances are that
you’ll find simple ways to make income
from your property as well, whether it
involves selling eggs and honey that
you’ve cultivated or by creating a much-
needed product that solves problems.
THE
10
EASIEST
VEGETABLES
TO GROW
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Radishes
• Peppers
• Carrots
• Beans
• Lettuce
• Cucumber
• Squash
• Basil
SEEK THE WEB
To read more about Anna Hess’s adventures, visit her blog, www.waldeneffect.org.
Even if you have no growing area outside, you
can produce some of your own food in a sunny
window. The Hess’s neighbor owns this dwarf
Meyer lemon tree, which has produced more than
100 lemons in some years.
Mark is the inventor
and handyman. His
chicken watering
invention has been
enjoyed by thousands
of chicken keepers
around the world.
GW_ASG5_HOME 5/17/13 4:31 AM Page 35
36
Goodbye
To The Grid
P
O
W
E
R
Seeking Alternatives to the Gas-Powered
Generator? Look no Further
IT COULD HAPPEN.
When you picture yourself and your family following a disas-
ter—or even a run-of-the-mill storm—you’re probably sitting by
candlelight with no idea of when your electricity will reappear.
But if you’ve got an alternative energy source, you can listen
to the radio, charge your phone, or get some lights going with
these clever and innovative ways to create power. Which is why
we’ve turned you on to the following products.
BY TORREY KIM
EDITOR’S CHOICE
K-TOR
Model: Pocket Socket Hand Crank Generator
www.k-tor.com
Key features: AC outlet, charges quickly
MSRP: $59.95
GW_ASG5_BG_POWER 5/17/13 3:12 AM Page 36
GW_ASG5_37 5/16/13 11:37 PM Page 37
38
buyer’s
Guide POWER
K-TOR
Model: Pocket Socket Hand Crank Generator
www.k-tor.com
Key features: AC outlet, charges quickly
MSRP: $59.95
Description: A working AC outlet is typically an impossibility
when you’re in the middle of the woods—or even when you’re
home in the dark after a storm. But you can have access to 10
watts of electricity at 120 volts thanks to the Pocket Socket,
which runs on your sweat equity. Turn the crank to power it
and you’ll be able to charge any device that uses less than 10
watts of electricity, which includes a wide range of devices,
from GPS to phones to flashlights. In our test, it powered a bat-
tery charger—which seems like an oxymoron, since you might
think that if you have AC power you don’t need batteries, but
charging the batteries with the hand crank in turn allowed us
to use several battery-powered flashlights.
PHOTOJOJO
Model: Bamboo Solar Phone Charger
http://photojojo.com
Key features: Sleek, lightweight, charges quickly
MSRP: $35
Description: Sitting around without electricity may be a scary
thought for some people—but being without your phone can
be downright terrifying, especially if you become separated
from family members and you’re eager to track them down.
Without a way to charge your phone, you can feel completely
cut off from your loved ones. Enter the Photojojo Bamboo Solar
Phone Charger, which soaks up the sun and then charges up
your phone, iPod or tablet. For our test, we strapped the Photo-
jojo charger to the top of a baseball hat and wore it during an
afternoon of gardening. After just two hours in the sun, the
charger was able to juice up a smartphone quickly, and it held
the charge for hours.
SOLLIGHT
Model: Lightcap 300
www.sollight.com
Key features: Dual-use, bright light, easy charging
MSRP: $29.95
Description: If you’re carrying a backpack on a trek, the lighter
your pack is, the better for your back, your feet, and your
energy levels. This means that any time you can find a product
that serves double duty, you should take advantage of it. The
Lightcap is a fantastic option when you need both water and
light—which is most of the time. The bottle holds a full liter of
water and features a cap with a solar panel that shines a light
after the sun goes down, allowing you to benefit from four
white LED lights as well as one red light that can serve as a
nightlight. During our test, we left the cap in the light outside
while doing some indoor work, and by the nighttime, it pow-
ered the included light, which was strong enough to allow two
people to read near it.
ETON CORPORATION
Model: Clipray
www.etoncorp.com
Key features: Crank-powered, provides light and charges your
phone
MSRP: $14.99
Description: Got a minute to turn a crank? Then you’ve got 10
minutes of light, thanks to the dual-use, lightweight Clipray,
which clips to your belt or backpack and requires no batteries
to serve as an emergency light or charging source. Turn the
crank for a minute to give it enough power for 10 minutes of
light, or to charge a smartphone using the USB port. During our
test, the crank was easy to turn, and the resulting light was
bright and crisp. The 6-inch tall Clipray didn’t get in the way of
the other gear we had to carry, and was a great addition to a
lightweight pack.
1
2
3
4
2
$35
PHOTOJOJO
4
$14.99
ETON CORPORATION
3
$29.95
SOLLIGHT
1
$59.95
K-TOR
SOAK IT UP
ON SUNNY DAYS
If you’re using solar power to charge your
devices, keep in mind that you should take advan-
tage of every sunny day to soak up the sun in your
chargers. If you fill up the storage on your charger
during a sunny day, you won’t have to worry about
what happens on those cloudy days, which can cut
the amount of solar power that your charger col-
lects, typically by up to 80 percent, depending on
the cloud cover. In addition, you should con-
sider a crank-type charger as well in case
you get a spate of bad weather that
obstructs your access to the sun.
GW_ASG5_BG_POWER 5/17/13 3:12 AM Page 38
SOLIO
Model: Classic2
www.solio.com
Key features: Compact, durable, long battery life
MSRP: $100
Description: How many of your products can charge
using a USB cable? Probably quite a few. You can power
up most of them using just one day’s worth of sunlight
thanks to the Solio Classic 2, which allows you to plug in
a variety of devices and can hold a solar charge for up to
a year. Unsure of where to point the charger to collect
maximum sunlight? Just put a pencil into the hole on the
device and it serves as a sundial—when you don’t see a
shadow coming off of the pencil, you’ve achieved maxi-
mum position for soaking up the rays. During our test,
the Solio charged a USB-capable flashlight in an hour
and still had enough juice to charge a phone completely.
SAFECASTLE
Model: Hand Crank Generator
www.safecastle.com
Key features: Doesn’t require the sun, holds a strong
charge
MSRP: $206.25
Description: For a little bit of muscle, you can get a lot
of power. The 30-watt Hand Crank Generator requires
you to use your own elbow grease, and then stores your
raw power so you can charge up your radio, lights and
other devices later on. Even if you just need it for a
night-light, you only have to crank it for 15 minutes to
give you 5 watts of LED light for two full hours. It’s light-
weight enough to toss into your bug-out bag, and
durable enough to handle every trek you make.
SOLLIGHT
Model: Solicharger SP
www.sollight.com
Key features: Durable, charges quickly, provides
speakers
MSRP: $59.95
Description: Beat boredom when you’re without power,
thanks to this innovative solar charger, which not only
powers your phone, iPod or other handheld devices, but
also includes speakers and a hard case that can protect
your device on your travels. Our test showed that charg-
ing the case in the sun for four hours was enough to
power a phone and included speakers to show a full
episode of a children’s television program, allowing the
kids to beat the blues later that evening.
WINDSTREAM POWER
Model: Human Power Generator
www.windstreampower.com
Key features: Sturdy, provides ample power
MSRP: $550
Description: Create pedal power without a bicycle
thanks to the Human Power Generator, which offers
standard foot pedals that you can turn to power your AC
appliances. Crank out 35 to 65 watts of power during
your pedaling session, and then convert that to power a
battery, small appliances, or charging cables for other
devices. If your legs get tired, you can convert to the
optional hand cranks, which you can buy separately to
power the device with bicep power.
5
6
7
8
39
INVESTIGATE FIRST
When shopping for alternative energy
generators, always inquire about how
long each device can hold a charge. A
generator that can store solar power
for a year or more is ideal, since you
don’t want to charge a device when the
sun is shining, only to find that the
charger is completely drained by the
time you need it. Some products will
drain quickly (even if you haven’t used
them), so it’s important to ensure that
the charger can not only collect a
charge, but can keep it.
5
$100
SOLIO
8
$550
WINDSTREAM POWER
6
$206.25
SAFECASTLE
7
$59.95
SOLLIGHT
GW_ASG5_BG_POWER 5/17/13 3:12 AM Page 39
OU MAY NOT BE TRAINING FOR
THE TOUR DE FRANCE, BUT YOU
CAN GET A LOT OF MILEAGE OUT
OF THIS BIKE.
LIVING OFF THE GRID CAN MEAN
READING BY CANDLELIGHT, SWEATING
OUT THE HEAT OF SUMMER WITHOUT A
FAN AND SURVIVING WITHOUT ELECTRIC-
ITY UNLESS YOU HAVE A GENERATOR ON-
HAND AT ALL TIMES. BUT WITH A BICYCLE
AND A BIT OF YOUR OWN SWEAT ENERGY,
YOU CAN FIRE UP YOUR ELECTRONICS ON
YOUR OWN, THANKS TO THE GENESIS OF
PEDAL-POWERED ELECTRICITY.
With most pedal-power products, you’ll simply need a
bicycle in good shape, and the products do the rest. You’ll
set your bike in the included stand and hook it up to the
accompanying generator (which is custom-designed to fit
the bike stand), and once you start pedaling, your generator
will collect your energy to power lights and small appliances.
40
PEDAL
POWER!
Hammer on the Bike, Generate Your Own Electricity
By Mimi Kim
Y
Making healthy juice while
pedaling the power to the
blender. (CREDIT: Pedal-A-Watt)
T
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K
S
T
O
C
K

P
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S
GW_ASG5_PEDAL 5/17/13 3:43 AM Page 40
41
“If your ability to
power your lights
and fans involves
getting some exer-
cise, you might begin
to rethink how
much power you
overuse at home.”
Your work pedaling a bike
could be a great addition
to your power needs while
avoiding on-grid power.
T
H
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C
K

P
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PEDAL
DIG A LITTLE DEEPER
For more information,
contact www.econvergence.net.
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Pedal-powered electricity is ideal for survivalists who want to reduce
their carbon footprint, save money, and gain independence from energy
companies—but these products can come in handy for other consumers.
“They also allow for the creation of electricity
during and after natural disasters such as Hurri-
cane Sandy where the traditional power grid may
not be available for days or weeks,” says William
Gerosa, creator and founder of the Pedal-A-Watt
Company, which specializes in clean energy solu-
tions including survivalist power stations and wind
generators.
GENERATE
SOME POWER
You might think you’d have to be riding your
bike all day to power your lights, but the fact is
that people of all ages can generate power, even
with short rides. An average rider can produce
125 to 300 watts of power using this product in a
day. A standard laptop can run for more than an
hour on 50 watts of power, which you can gener-
ate by riding a Pedal-A-Watt for about 20 min-
utes.
In contrast, hand crank generators typically create between 5 and 15
watts, which means that for every hour of continuous hand cranking, you
can run your laptop for up to 10 minutes or your iPhone for about 16
minutes.
Because your legs are stronger than your arms, you can create signifi-
cantly more wattage with a pedal-powered generator than you can with a
crank generator.
DOUBLE THINK
YOUR ENERGY USES
If your ability to power your lights and fans
involves getting some exercise, you might begin
to rethink how much power you overuse at
home.
For instance, keeping your laptop plugged in
and on (but closed) at all time will still eat up
electricity, as will something as innocuous as a
toothbrush charger. Once you start having to
pedal to power these items, you may rethink
how often they need to be plugged in, and you
might consider keeping them off and unplugged
unless they’re in use.
Similarly, asking every family member to gen-
erate their own power can make people rethink
what they really need to use versus what they
want to power. If the kids want to watch televi-
sion but have to ride the bike for a while to see their favorite show, they
might just prefer to play outside, while your teenagers may use the cell
phone less if it requires building up sweat equity to do so.
Mimi Kim is a freelance writer in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
“Because your
legs are
stronger than
your arms, you
can create signif-
icantly more
wattage with a
pedal-powered
generator than
you can with a
crank generator.”
BRING IN THE TEAM
Kids want TV time? They can pedal their way through their favorite TV shows with the PowerPak, which allows you to store
energy that can be used at a later time via an easy-to-carry and easy-to-store 600-watt-hour battery and a 600-watt inverter
PowerPak.
THE BENEFITS OF
PEDAL-A-WATT
• Independent power
generation
• Clean electricity generation
• Appreciation of what it takes
to create a given amount of
electricity which leads to
conservation and smarter
use of electricity
• Useful during power outages
• Will run basic electronics
such as: heaters, micro-
waves, mobile devices, high-
efficiency lighting
• Can run basic appliances for
nearly two weeks
• Pedal-A-Watt accessories
can offer several options to
extend your use of pedal
power and help your entire
family get fit
• Commercial built power
source with off-shelf compo-
nents to reduce waste and
carbon footprint
UPGRADE YOUR WHEELS
• LED light strip with plug
• Pedal-A-Watt power meter
• 12-vdc regulator/converter
• The DC PowerCenter
• Pedal-A-Watt PowerPack
• Pedal-A-Watt USB port
KNOW
THIS
Smooth road tires
will result in less
noise and vibration
than knobby
off-road tires.
The Pedal-A-Watt
powers a computer
server (CREDIT:
Pedal-A-Watt)
T
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Survival … Urban Style
IT HAS THE MAKINGS OF A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE.
Hidden escape routes, an emergency tunnel system, a powerhouse off-road
survival camper. Yet, it’s anything but the glitz and glamour of Tinsel Town.
Instead, it’s everything survival.
To get you through anything the world throws your way.
IN THIS SECTION …
• Underground Survival Shelters
• Ultimate Off-Road Survival Camper
• Cody Lundin’s Home
• Buyer’s Guide
GW_ASG5_URBAN 5/17/13 4:34 AM Page 45
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“The escape tunnel can lead you directly
outside, to a pre-established safe house or
to one of the Security Disaster Shelters’
custom-designed protection units.”
GW_ASG5_TUNNEL 5/19/13 11:36 PM Page 46
THE GREAT
ESCAPE
47
THE GREAT
ESCAPE
Underground Survival
Shelters—More
Comprehensive Than
Panic RoomS—Provide
Secure Locations For
Your Family In An
Emergency
By Torrey Kim
ICTURE THIS.
A tornado has encroached your neighborhood in
the middle of the night. You dash to the front door
but realize that it’s too late to run to your outdoor
basement entryway because the tornado is heading
straight for you. You know that you and your family are
trapped—unless you have a hidden escape route.
Sounds like something that’s only available to Batman? Not
anymore. You can set up an emergency escape tunnel system
or install a completely secure shelter where you can stay until
help arrives, thanks to Security Disaster Shelters, which makes
custom products to keep you and your family safe.
P
GW_ASG5_TUNNEL 5/19/13 11:36 PM Page 47
48
ESCAPE
PROTECTING YOUR
FOOD STOCKPILE
AND VALUABLES
Security Disaster Shelters not only
makes escape tunnels and shelters—the
company also constructs water- and air-
tight caches that can hold your valuables.
The caches are built to your specifica-
tions and can be fastened to the exterior
of your home or buried underground,
while keeping your most important items
safe and protected.
You might also consider one of the
company’s subterranean protected stor-
age vaults, in which you can store food or
other supplies in the 382 cubic feet of
storage. A hatch and ladder allow you
access to the underground storage area,
but criminals would never know it’s there.
GW_ASG5_TUNNEL 5/19/13 11:37 PM Page 48
49
GIMME
SHELTER
Security Disaster Shelters
provides a secure place
during the following:
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Forest fires
• Invasion
• Civil unrest
• Nuclear meltdown
INSIDE A SHELTER
The company can make an emergency escape tunnel that suits your
property and remains unobtrusive. Constructed of a 3-foot by 7-foot tun-
nel of carbon steel, the tunnel has a grated floor, allowing you to safely
walk through it. Security Disaster Shelters can create an access way to
the tunnel from within your home so you can easily slip into it and get
outside undetected.
The tunnel can lead you directly outside, to a pre-established safe
house or to one of the company’s shelters. You can choose from either a
re-deployable shelter, which can be mobile, or a permanent underground
shelter that can be customized with multiple units to accommodate your
entire family.
The survival shelters won’t simply keep you from harm from the out-
side world—they’re actually as comfortable as a second home, with
options like a working kitchen, bunk beds, a full bathroom, a stove and a
shower.
“We’ve had a few clients who have actually lived in their survival shel-
ter while their house was being built,” says Riley Cook, owner of Security
Disaster Shelters.
Not only do the Survival Shelters keep you safe from natural disaster
like tornadoes and hurricanes, but they can also guard you against
invaders. You can install an optional camera to allow you to see what’s
happening outside of your shelter. If you see someone trying to break in,
you can even deploy a blowtorch to injure the approaching invader.
“You can install an optional camera to allow you
to see what’s happening outside of your shelter …
you can even deploy a blowtorch to injure the
approaching invader.”
WHAT IT IS,
HOW IT WORKS
The company makes an emergency escape tun-
nel that suits your property. The tunnel can lead
you outside to a pre-established safe house or
to one of the company’s shelters. You can
choose from either a re-deployable shelter,
which can be mobile, or a permanent under-
ground shelter that can be customized.
GW_ASG5_TUNNEL 5/19/13 11:37 PM Page 49
50
ESCAPE
THE FIRST STEP
Before the company will commit to installing a Survival Tunnel or
Shelter on your property, a representative will visit your site to con-
firm that your yard is amenable to the installation.
“On the bigger projects, we go out and do a site survey,” says Cook.
“We do soil sampling about 20 feet down and walk through it with the
homeowner. Our shelters can be installed anywhere in the United States, and if
it’s an underground shelter or tunnel, we can cover it and replant grass over the
construction area so no one will even know it’s there.”
The company will then discuss your specific needs with you so the product can
be customized to your preferences.
“If someone needs wheelchair accessibility, we can make the entryway and the
floor ready for that,” Cook says. “Or if they need extra freezer space or a separate
refrigerator for medications, we can keep that in mind. If there are kids involved,
we need to know up-front so we can make a comfortable space for them.”
ESCAPE TO SAFETY
Once your tunnel or shelter is complete, you can rest with a better peace of
mind that no matter what problems heads toward your house, you can get out—
without anyone knowing where you went.
Torrey Kim is a contributing editor.
STEP BY STEP
1
A representative will visit
your site to confirm that
your yard is amenable to the
installation.
2
On the bigger projects, the
company does a site sur-
vey in which they do soil sam-
pling.
3
The company discusses
your specific needs so the
product can be customized to
your preferences.
4
If someone needs wheel-
chair accessibility, they
can accommodate that.
5
If you need extra freezer
space or a separate refrig-
erator for medications, they
can do that.
6
If there are kids, they can
design the shelter so it is
comfortable space for them.
7
If it’s an underground shel-
ter or tunnel, the company
can cover it and replant grass
over the construction area so
no one will know it’s there.
8
The shelters can be
installed anywhere in the
United States.
DIG
A LITTLE
DEEPER
To read more about the
company’s products, visit
www.securitydisaster-
shelters.com.
“The company will
then discuss your
specific needs
with you so the
product can be
customized to
your preferences.”
GW_ASG5_TUNNEL 5/19/13 11:37 PM Page 50
51
A GLANCE AT COST
$30,000
This is the price of the company’s
most basic shelter or storage space.
$500,000
Designed with top-of-the-line appli-
ances, air-filtration systems and com-
munications stations, some units could
go as high as $500,000.
WORRIED ABOUT EMP?
Depending on your geographic location, your
first security concern may be an earthquake or
tornado, but many homeowners are also con-
cerned about the threat of electromagnetic
pulse (EMP) disrupting their home’s security.
EMP is a burst of electromagnetic radiation,
and it can result from a high-energy explosion,
a solar flare, a nuclear bomb or other catastro-
phes. Security Disaster Shelters can provide
you with EMP-shielded containers of various
sizes to ensure that your valuables are secure
from EMP concerns.
FRAME-LOCK
FASTER, SMOOTHER, SAFER
Single-sided handle
design has exposed
frame on reverse
Titanium-Nitride
coating on blade
and frame
New for 2013
FX350
Frame-Lock
8033 NE Holman
Portland, OR 97218
1-800-426-5858
503-234-4545
Fax 503-234-4422
www.COASTportland.com
[email protected]
EXCLUSIVELY FROM:

GW_ASG5_TUNNEL 5/19/13 11:37 PM Page 51
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Cody Lundin’s house
thermoregulates its
own inner temperature
in hot and cold
weather extremes.
“The rooms in my home are a series of parabolas, one of nature’s
strongest shapes, and my home was built for a fraction of the cost
of traditional earth homes that require massive infrastructure to
hold up the weight of the earth.” — Cody Lundin
GW_ASG5_CODY 5/19/13 11:51 PM Page 52
53
HE OPTIMUM AMBIENT TEM-
PERATURE IN WHICH
HUMAN BEINGS ARE ABLE
TO MAINTAIN CORE BODY
TEMPERATURE WITHOUT
STRESS IS 79 TO 86 DEGREES F (26 TO
30 DEGREES C).
Although the modern home now serves many
purposes, physical and psychological, a home used
to have one main priority. It matters not if your
home is a mansion or a shack for this purpose.
Both the mansion and the shack are simply shelters,
and a shelter’s main purpose in the past was to act
as an extension of clothing to help thermoregulate
the core body temperature of its occupants.
I don’t care how much money you’ve dumped
into your shelter to compete with the Joneses, if
it’s too hot or cold inside, you’ll be miserable.
This almighty god called “room temperature” is a
phenomenon so common and taken for granted
that its importance to comfort and happiness has
been completely overlooked by modern urban-
ites. It’s only when the invisible switch of room
temperature clicks off that people realize how
dependent on the grid they have become.
According to Tony Brown, founder and direc-
tor of the Ecosa Institute, Americans use more
than 30 percent of the country’s total energy bud-
get to heat and cool their homes. This wasteful
blasphemy should hammer home the point that
stabilizing the inner temperature of the home
ranks high on the list of priorities for all Ameri-
cans. It’s a blasphemy because there are many
Gimme
Shelter!
Cody Lundin’s Home Is Proof
You Can Do More with Less
“If design, production, and construction
cannot be channeled to serve survival, if
we fabricate an environment—of which,
after all, we seem an inseparable part—
but cannot make it an organically possi-
ble extension of ourselves, then the end
of the race may well appear in sight.”
– Richard Neutra, Survival Through Design
TEXT AND Photos BY Cody Lundin
T
GW_ASG5_CODY 5/19/13 11:51 PM Page 53
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SHELTER
alternative building and common-sense options
for builders and homeowners alike that severely
reduce or all but eliminate the need for heating
and cooling the home with outside resources.
The Ecosa Institute is a sustainable design school
for architecture students that teaches alternative
methods of design, construction, and energy effi-
ciency. It is part of the growing tide of people
worldwide who know there are better options
for building smart, efficient homes without pillag-
ing the land. Imagine how much freer this nation
and the world would be if common-sense building
alternatives to promote energy efficiency were
actively promoted by the world’s governments.
What if we eliminated even half of the above per-
centage of our nation’s energy dependence by
simply building or modifying current homes to
make better use of free energy sources and con-
serve the ones they use? Luckily, we don’t have to
wait for status quo politicians who seem to be
more interested in keeping their jobs than doing
their jobs.
SELF-RELIANT
FREEDOM OF
GOOD DESIGN
“My precept to all who build is, that the
owner should be an ornament to the
house, and not the house to the
owner.” — Cicero
In a modern outdoor survival
situation the most common way
to die is to succumb to hypother-
mia, low body temperature, or
hyperthermia, high body tempera-
ture. Knowing this, and knowing
that this country has become a slave
to foreign energy in order to have a com-
fortable living room, I wanted to design a home
that would thermoregulate its own core body
temperature, and I have. While my home looks
unconventional, the basic concepts
that I’ve incorporated to achieve
energy freedom are orientation,
thermal mass and insulation.
These common-sense concepts
can be applied to any home regard-
less of the materials it’s constructed
from or how it looks.
It’s winter in the high desert as I write this,
and last night the thermometer outside read 9
degrees F (minus 13 degrees C), a bit colder than
typical and, ironically, part of the same storm sys-
tem that left 500,000 people without power in
the Midwest. Regardless of single-digit tempera-
tures, my home remained a cozy 72 degrees F (22
degrees C), and it did so without using any con-
ventional energy resources. I have no heating bills
of any kind and I don’t burn wood. My home is
heated entirely by the free clean energy of the
sun, a phenomenon commonly referred to as
“passive solar.” Along with orienting my home
solar south, I have the proper square footage of
BREAK
OPEN THE
BOOKS
Check out Cody’s best-
selling book “When All
Hell Breaks Loose.”
GW_ASG5_CODY 5/19/13 11:51 PM Page 54
55
windows to match the square
footage of my home so that it
doesn’t under- or overheat. These
windows let in shortwave radia-
tion from the sun that soaks into
my stone floor during the day. At
night when outside temperatures
dip, the stone floor, which is a
great conductor of the sun’s
energy, re-radiates the stored
sunshine, or heat, as long-wave
radiation that keeps the house
warm. Insulation and thermal mass
help retain the heat throughout
the night. The process starts anew
the next day. Even though my
home is dependent on the sun for
heat, it’s designed to retain this
comfort for several days of cloudy
weather or storms.
In the summertime, when out-
side temperatures hit triple digits,
I enjoy inside temps in the high
70s (approximately 25 degrees C).
I have no cooling bills of any kind.
A simple roof overhang designed for my window
height and latitude keeps the higher summer sun’s
rays from hitting the stone floor. My windows and
doors are situated to take advantage of the pre-
vailing weather patterns and the cooler nighttime
breezes. In fact, the entire front of the house is a
huge parabola that acts as a scoop to harness the
dominant southwestern weather systems for opti-
mal, natural and free ventilation when required.
Once again, thermal mass and insulation keep out
hot temperatures while maintaining the cooler
inside environment.
I’ve utilized an open floor plan that allows nat-
ural light from the sun to reach all rooms of the
house, even though my house is underground.
This eliminates the need for artificial lighting of
any kind until it gets dark outside. The wall paint
is impregnated with mica, which is highly reflec-
tive of natural or artificial light, thereby increasing
the light value. Hundreds of pieces of shattered
mirror line a vertical skylight that reflects sunlight
into a back room that has no windows of its own.
What electrical lighting, appliances (including a
microwave, washing machine, and computer), and
tools that I require are powered by a self-con-
tained solar system. A carport to shield vehicles
from the summer sun doubles as a rain catchment
surface, which funnels thousands of gallons of
potable water into a holding tank that gravity
feeds into the house. My hot water comes from
the sun as well, which heats up water-filled panels
and the salvaged inside of a conventional water
heater that’s painted black. Although much of the
time I use a small, two-burner, propane-fueled
stove for cooking, my solar oven cooks every-
thing from lentil soup to chocolate cake for free.
Regardless of my frequent stove use, by paying
attention to fuel consumption as outlined in the
creative cooking chapter of my book, I can make
my barbecue grill-sized propane tank (20-pound
cylinder) last more than a year and a half. And it
costs less than $13 to fill.
The rooms in my home are a series of
parabolas, one of nature’s strongest shapes, thus
my home was built for a fraction of the cost of
traditional earth homes that require massive
infrastructure to hold up the weight of the earth.
The shape of my roof is, of course, arched, like
the top of an igloo, so even though grass and
flowers grow on the roof, it doesn’t leak, as there
is no flat surface for water to collect. The precipi-
tation that does hit the roof is directed by
earthen contours and berms toward waiting fruit
trees that are heavily mulched with compost,
sand, and stone to conserve water. The earth acts
as thermal mass, helping to slow down fluctua-
tions in temperature, and the grasses on the roof
not only stabilize the earth from erosion, but act
as insulation, especially during the hot summer
months when they shade the roof from the sun.
The hot-season native gramma grasses require no
water other than rain and also provide forage for
the wild desert cottontail rabbits (which I hunt
for food) that live on my roof.
In short, my off-the-grid home thermoregu-
lates its own inner temperature in hot and cold
weather extremes, self-ventilates, lights itself dur-
ing daylight hours, and provides supplemental
meat for the table, all for free, and all with very
little activity on my part. It does so because I
researched and implemented the virtues of good
building design and paid strict attention to the
natural world of my particular building site.
ADD THIS UP
SUMMER
When outside temperatures hit triple digits, Cody
Lundin enjoys inside temps in the high 70s.
WINTER
During winter, when the temperature drops to 9
degrees F, temperatures in his home remained
72 degrees F.
“It’s only when the invisible switch of room tempera-
ture clicks off that people realize how dependent on
the grid they have become.” — Cody Lundin
REACH OUT TO CODY
WEB: www.codylundin.com
EMAIL: [email protected]
GW_ASG5_CODY 5/19/13 11:51 PM Page 55
F YOU’RE GOING TO BUG OUT, GO IN STYLE.
YOUR CAR ISN’T A GREAT SUBSTITUTE FOR
YOUR HOME, BUT YOUR HOUSE IS NOT
PORTABLE; THUS, YOU’RE LEAVING A GAP IN THE
SURVIVAL REALITY OF HITTING THE ROAD WITH
ALL THE CONVENIENCES OF HOME.
ALMOST.
A great alternative is the Survival Basics off-road vehicle, a power-
house of a machine that allows you to live independently thanks to its
built-in solar panel, off-roading capability and expansion options.
WHAT IT IS
The Survival Basics is an adaptable expedition body that will fit a
large variety of truck chassis. Survival Basics manufacturer Global Expe-
dition Vehicles (GXV) custom builds expedition bodies from 10 feet to
20 feet in length, allowing you to take on just the size that you need for
your bug-out requirements.
56
ULTIMATE
SURVIVAL
Built-in Solar Power, the Luxury of Home on Wheels
By Sean Cooper
I
GW_ASG5_TRUCK 5/21/13 10:54 PM Page 56
57
OFF-ROAD
CAMPER

A concern for many survivalists is that their bug-out equipment may be
fine for one climate, but it’s difficult to be prepared for all types of weather.
But the decision on whether to bring snow tires or mud flaps is moot with
the Survival Basics, because it’s extremely durable. It’s made using SCS body
panels and marine-grade components, so the vehicle is not only comfort-
able, but it can withstand treacherous off-road routes and extreme weather
conditions.
GXV completely takes care of installation on your supplied chassis, but
if you don’t have a chassis, no worries; GXV will locate a chassis for your
specific travel requirements. When built on a Mercedes Unimog chassis, this
rugged vehicle can burn any mix of diesel fuel, including high- or low-sulfur
diesel and any bio-diesel found in the world, making this a true go-every-
where vehicle.
MAKE IT YOUR VEHCILE
OR GO HOME
As long as you have enough food and water packed into it, you could
SPECIFICATIONS
Following are some of the most impres-
sive features of the Survival Basics.
• Stainless/aluminum entry stair system,
manual operation
• Two under body lockable aluminum
storage compartments (left and right), one
of which contains a gray water tank
• Rear luggage compartment, with three-
point lock
• Domestic skylight with integrated blinds
and mosquito screen
• Stainless steel sink with single lever hot
and cold water
• 12v with 120v systems, consisting of
shore power plugs and interior outlets
• HVAC
“The solar system
only needs four to
five hours of sun-
light each day to
sustain all systems
for 24 hours.”
- Rene Van Pelt of Global
Expedition Vehicles
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CAMPER
IN ALL ITS GLORY
Vew the full details at www.globalxvehicles.com/survival-basics-expedition-camper/.
LOW SULFUR VS. HIGH
SULFUR DIESEL FUEL
“By law, all diesel vehicles manufactured after
2007 are required to use ultra-low sulfur diesel,” says
GXV’s Mike Van Pelt. “By law, in the U.S., our ultra-low
sulfur diesel (ULSD) carries 15 particles per million
(ppm) of sulfur for highway use. You may still purchase
off-road diesel that ranges from 50 ppm and up,” he
adds. “50 ppm is marked as low sulfur diesel. Coun-
tries that do not require ULSD have high-sulfur diesel
which can carry as high as 2,000 ppm. Unless diesel
fuel is marked as ‘ULSD’ or ‘LSD,’ it is the ‘old’ high-
sulfur diesel.”
It would not be uncommon in less advanced coun-
tries to have high-sulfur diesel with as much as 2,000
ppm, Van Pelt says.
“The fuel would not have to be refined as much.
Most countries are willing to accept this high sulfur
content fuel to save on the cost of the product. It does
not hurt their vehicles, only the environment, and in
fact adds lubrication to the motor itself and allows the
motor to run cooler.”
A GLANCE AT THE SPECS
Entrance Door/Storage Compartments
• SCS entrance and storage doors, 2.36 inches, integrated into
the body walls
• Double seals with heavy duty three-point lock
• Three-point stainless steel safety cylinder locks, keyed alike
• Stainless steel hinges on all doors
• Under body lockable aluminum storage compartments and
one contains a water tank
NUMBERS AND FACTS
15, 8
In feet and inches, the standard
length of the truck
10-19
In feet, it is customizable
to these lengths
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59
live in the Survival Basics indefinitely, thanks to
the solar system, which only needs four to five
hours of sunlight each day to sustain all sys-
tems for 24 hours, says Rene Van Pelt of
Global Expedition Vehicles. The only excep-
tion would be continued use of the optional air
conditioner, which would either require more
solar panels and batteries or a generator, she
says.
Inside the ride is a host of components
that you’ll need for your daily use of the Sur-
vival Basics, including electrical management
system of solar panels; solar charger; AGM
batteries; 120v inverter/charger; marine-grade
wiring; AC and DC breakers; LED lighting;
plumbing system with all PEX piping enclosed
within the cabin envelope; 125-gallon fresh
water supply; 23-gallon gray water poly tank;
water heater; cabin heating system; kitchen
with refrigerator, stove, microwave/convection
oven and stainless steel sink; wet bath consist-
ing of teak lower cabinet with sink, teak upper
medicine cabinet, shower and Thetford cas-
sette toilet; dining booth that converts into
second sleeping area; and a queen size bed
with large storage area under-bed accessible
from the outside. Many options and various
finishes are available in addition to these basics.
The standard length of the vehicle is 15
feet, 8 inches, but the size is customizable from
10 feet through 19 feet—which is perfect,
since you might be bringing the whole family
on your trek.
The Survival Basics model is very versatile
in that it can be sized to comfortably accom-
modate one person or up to four persons,”
Van Pelt says. “As our vehicles are fully cus-
tomizable, components can be added or
upgraded to the level chosen by each individual
client (i.e. battery, water, and fuel capacities).”
The company will size the Survival Basics
expedition body to fit various truck chassis
from a Ford F-450/Dodge 4500 (16,500 GVW)
up to class 7 trucks like the International 7500
or Freightliner M2 106 (33,000 GVW). Fuel
capacity is based on the truck chassis to which
the Survival Basics expedition body is fitted.
Sean Cooper is a freelance writer based in
Canada.
UNDER THE “HOOD”
Kitchen/Galley/Dining
• Adjustable table
• Converts into second sleeping area
• Cushion covers: cloth
• High-quality white cabinets with maple trim
• Laminate countertops
• Stainless steel sink with single lever hot and cold water
• Refrigerator with freezer
• Convection/grill microwave
• Ample overhead cabinetry/storage areas
“The Survival Basics model
is very versatile in that it
can be sized to comfortably
accommodate one person
or up to four persons.”
– Rene Van Pelt
Learn How to:
•Prevent a violent intrusion
•Escape or hide from a shooter
•Protect yourself and your family
•Survive an Active Shooter attack
•Improve security at work, school,
or place of worship
Are you prepared to ACT in the event of an
Active Shooter or Terrorist Attack?
Get your copy of the Active Shooter Survival DVD
Order now at [email protected] or call
1-888-4 actcert
1 - 8 8 8 - 4 2 2 - 8 2 3 7
The ACT survi val measures can be used by anyone, anyti me, anywhere.
G
GW_ASG5_TRUCK 5/22/13 12:00 AM Page 59
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Stayin’ Alive
K
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V
E
S
Seven Great Knife Choices
For Survival Situations
KNIVES ARE PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES; THEY
ARE A NECESSITY AND A HOUSEHOLD ITEM.
But in a situation where survival is your only option, knives
become more than a necessity; they can quickly become a valu-
able resource. We have compiled a list of the top survival knives
in the pages to follow. These are the knives that will help you sur-
vive in the roughest conditions.
COMPILED BY BREANNA ARMSTRONG
EDITOR’S CHOICE
CAMILLUS
PRODUCT: The Bush Crafter
WEBSITE: www.camillusknives.com
MSRP: $114.99
GW_ASG5_BG_KNIFE.CX 5/23/13 11:38 PM Page 60
61
buyer’s
Guide
KNIVES
AVID DESIGN
PRODUCT: The Revelation
WEBSITE: www.realavid.com
MSRP: $59.99
The Revelation features two LED lights in the handle,
which can help you survive the darkest situations.
Best known as the producer of a gun tool designed
for gunsmiths, the company’s Revelation is a straight
knife with a 4-inch blade that remains durable in the
toughest situations.
Real Avid
10700 Hwy. 55, Ste. 150
Plymouth, MN 55441
800-286-0576
BROWNING
PRODUCT: Trip Wire Fixed Blade
WEBSITE: www.browning.com
MSRP: $393
Browning’s Black Label line is more than impressive,
and the Black Label’s Trip Wire Fixed Blade is not one
to take lightly. Made for all situations, this tactical
knife also comes with a built-in, three-position, wire-
cutting system. Whether it’s wires, or a quick cut,
this knife will serve its purpose in the outdoors.
Browning
One Browning Place
Morgan, UT 84050
800-333-3504
CAMILLUS
PRODUCT: The Bush Crafter
WEBSITE: www.camillusknives.com
MSRP: $114.99
In the toughest survival situations, the Bush Crafter
fixed-blade knife made by Camillus is the knife you
want with you. This knife has an 8 ½-inch black pow-
der-coated steel blade and comes with a leather
sheath for carry.
Camillus
60 Round Hill Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
800-835-2263
1
2
3
3
$114.99
CAMILLUS
3
$393
BROWNING
1
$59.99
AVID DESIGN
GW_ASG5_BG_KNIFE.CX 5/23/13 11:38 PM Page 61
62
buyer’s
Guide
KNIVES
COLUMBIA RIVER KNIFE & TOOL
PRODUCT: The Redemption
WEBSITE: www.crkt.com
MSRP: $300
The Redemption was designed by Ken Onion for CRKT and
made for survival usage. With a generous recurved edge, this
knife is designed to maximize cutting efficiencies across its full
length. The G10 handle molds to the user’s grip for a secure
hold in any situation. The blade is 9 ½ inches and its overall
length is 15 inches, making this one hefty tactical knife that
will get the job done.
Columbia River Knife & Tool
18348 SW 126th Place
Tualatin, OR 97262
800-891-3100
[email protected]
COLUMBIA RIVER KNIFE & TOOL
PRODUCT: Onion Survival Para-Saw
WEBSITE: www.crkt.com
MSRP: $24.99
Though it’s not a knife, Ken Onion has designed a multi-pur-
pose survival tool. The Onion Para-Saw paracord survival
bracelet has 8 to 9 feet of cordage that unravels and releases a
handy cable saw that could cut limbs, wood and many other
things in a tough situation. This is a survival essential.
Columbia River Knife & Tool
18348 SW 126th Place
Tualatin, OR 97262
800-891-3100
[email protected]
SOG SPECIALTY
KNIVES & TOOLS
PRODUCT: The Tangle
WEBSITE: www.sogknives.com
MSRP: $80
The Tangle paracord knife is a fixed-blade model featuring
one-piece tang construction with a hollow-ground, drop-point
blade. The Tangle has a blade length of 3.9 inches and its most
interesting survival feature is the 5 yards of paracord wrapped
around the handle. You can tie or cut your way through any-
thing with SOG’s Tangle paracord knife.
SOG Specialty Knives & Tools
6521 212th St. Southwest
Lynnwood, WA 98036
www.sogknives.com
(425) 771-6230
LEATHERMAN TOOL GROUP, INC.
PRODUCT: Charge AL
WEBSITE: www.leatherman.com
MSRP: $119.95
Versatility: that’s what a survivor needs. Leatherman’s Charge
AL is a multi-purpose tool with 2.9-inch blade and awesome
features including pliers, serrated knife, saw, scissors, screw-
driver, can opener and a wood/metal file, all wrapped up into
one tactical knife that weighs 8.3 ounces. It’s a go-to for any
venture.
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
12106 N.E. Ainsworth Circle
Portland, OR 97220-9001
www.leatherman.com
800-847-8665
4
5
6
7
4
$300
Columbia River Knife & Tool
6
$80
SOG SPECIALTY KNIVES & TOOLS
5
$24.99
Columbia River
Knife & Tool
7
$119.95
LEATHERMAN TOOL GROUP, INC.
GW_ASG5_BG_KNIFE.CX 5/23/13 11:38 PM Page 62
63
TEN SECONDS.
THAT’S ALL IT TOOK TO REMIND US THAT TERRORISM LURKS AROUND EVERY
CORNER. ONE MOMENT RUNNERS IN THE BOSTON MARATHON WERE FOCUSED
ON PERSONAL BESTS. AFTER THE TWO EXPLOSIONS, THEY WERE SIMPLY
FOCUSED ON STAYING ALIVE.
In this upcoming section, you’ll learn to recognize potential terrorism threats, as well as learn how
to sharpen your instinctual awareness, handle sanitation properly and treat your own wounds.
Let’s knock out terrorism. Entirely.
In This Section…
• Survive Anything
• Defuse Bomb Threats
• Survival Sanitation
• Buyer’s Guide
• Treating Wounds
Live
Without Fear
G
E
N
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R
A
L
Emergency personnel
respond to the scene
after two explosions
went off near the finish
line of the 117th Boston
Marathon. (Photo by
David L. Ryan/The
Boston Globe)
GW_ASG5_GENERAL 5/20/13 4:47 AM Page 63
64
“It’s about being in tune with where
you are. Playing the ‘what if’ game.”
— Sam Sheridan, survival expert, explaining situational awareness
Survive
Anything
By Sean Cooper
From Situational
Awareness To
Trusting Your
Instincts, Five Tips
That Can Mean The
Difference Between
Life and Death
AM SHERIDAN HAS DONE IT ALL.
He’s an author, amateur boxer, MMA
fighter and survival expert. He’s worked all
over the world—from Antarctica to the
farmlands of Montana—and learned some
essential survival skills along the way.
Sheridan can survive anything—from a natural disas-
ter to being left alone in the woods for months. In his
new book, Disaster Diaries: How I Learned to Stop Worrying
and Love the Apocalypse, Sheridan shares his top five tips
for survival that will get you through any disaster—even
the apocalypse.
S
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ONE
PRACTICE SITUA-
TIONAL AWARENESS
In a disaster, situational awareness, being
aware of your surroundings and being able to
identify potential threats and anticipate dangerous
situations, is key to survival.
“Don’t have your head in your (rear),” as
Sheridan puts it.
Situational awareness is a trained skilled –
you’re not born with it.
“It’s important for pilots, Marines and anyone
who has to be aware of their environmental sur-
roundings,” he says.
Maintaining that awareness doesn’t simply
mean you should wait idly for help if you’re in a
jam. Instead, it’s important to keep your mind
active and always be prepared for any potential
problems that could arise.
“It’s about being in tune with where you are.
Playing the ‘what if’ game,” Sheridan says.
To be fully prepared, you’ll have to learn to
hone all of your reactions as if you’re in a disaster
situation.
“It’s like practicing driving on a freeway ver-
sus a parking lot,” he says. “In a big parking lot,
you have to have your eyes and ears peeled.”
TWO
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
We’ve all heard of heroes rising to the occa-
sion in a disaster situation—rushing into a burning
building to save a person’s life or diving into rush-
ing waters to rescue a drowning child. But while
disasters can bring out the best in the human psy-
che, they can also bring out the worst. That’s why
it’s vitally important to know your limits.
“Be aware of what it can do to your mind,”
warns Sheridan. “When you’re scared there are
things you can’t take for granted.”
Similar to pro athletes who spend weeks
training for the big game, training physically is only
half the battle—you’ll need to train your mind to
be fully prepared.
“People think they can rise to the occasion,
but when it comes time to perform they freeze
up,” he notes.
What if you find yourself lost in the forest
with no means of communication?
THE BIG 5
1
Practice situational
awareness
2
Know your limits
3
Take care
of yourself
4
Know how to
survive in the cold
5
Trust your
instincts
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
Heroes rise to the occasion in a disaster situation.
In some cases, disasters bring out the best in the human psyche;
they can also bring out the worst. Thus, know your limits.
Training physically is only half the battle; you’ll need to train your
mind to be fully prepared.
“People think they can rise to the
occasion, but when it comes time to
perform, they freeze up.” — Sam Sheridan,
survival expert, on the importance of knowing your limits
MASTER SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
This is a trained skilled. No one is born with it.
Keep your mind active and always be prepared for any potential
problems that could arise.
[ ]
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SURVIVE
“If you’re terrified of being lost, there’s a cog-
nitive issue,” he says. “Guys will start changing the
map to fit what they see. Be aware any kind of
extreme stress will affect your cognitive abilities.
Even something as simple as dialing 911 can be
difficult; you might keep dialing 411 in fear
instead.”
THREE
TAKE CARE OF
YOURSELF
According to Sheridan, surviving even the
worst disaster means taking great care of yourself
COLOR CODES OF READINESS
You should be aware of the five important conditions of readiness, Sheridan says, which are as follows.
BLACK
This is your do-
or-die moment,
when you must
react to save your
life.
RED
Your adrenaline is
flowing as you’re
ready for an
encounter. You’re
fully prepared to
defend yourself.
ORANGE
Reacting to target
indicators – a
sudden smell,
movement or
noise.
YELLOW
Always being in a
state of relaxed
awareness.
Knowing your
surroundings,
both immediate
and far away.
WHITE
Being totally
oblivious to your
surroundings and
what’s happening
around you.
“Trust your gut, which is your
intuition. It’s designed to be a
warning system. Your gut is a
reliable indicator, especially in
the wilderness.” — Sam Sheridan
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DIG INTO SOME RESEARCH
You can read more about Sheridan and his books on his Website, http://worldismadeoffire.com.
first and foremost. That means eating right, being
in shape and getting enough shut-eye. Stuff we
take for granted on a daily basis is key in a disas-
ter situation.
Sheridan explains there are colors associated
with conditions that human beings experience.
“Condition red means your heart rate is ele-
vated, ”he says. “Condition black is when you
can’t dial 911. Your stress hormones flood your
system, and you can’t cope. You can have all the
training in the world, but if you’re condition black,
you won’t be prepared,” explains Sheridan.
BUILDING A FIRE FROM SCRATCH
One skill that can help you survive in extreme circumstances is the ability to build a fire from scratch. In his
book, Sheridan shares his tale of when he met John McPherson, a Vietnam War veteran. Sheridan learns that
you can draw fire from anything – even cold wood. He recounts the skills essential for fire-making in Disaster
Diaries: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Apocalypse.
FOUR
SURVIVING THE
COLD
Cold weather can easily wear down your
body and spirit. If you’re trapped on top of the icy
peak of a mountain, you’ll need to think fast to
survive. Although what’s on the outside is impor-
tant, having a full stomach is equally important.
“If you’re in the extreme cold, you should
focus on the inside,” he says. “Eat as much as pos-
sible and fuel up,” suggests Sheridan.
While it’s important to eat, you’ll need to do
so at the appropriate times to perform at your
peak.
“A lot of people don’t eat when they should,”
he notes. “They start to suffer from hypothermia.
A fire is only good if you have food, shelter and
ventilation.”
If you take food and water out of the equation,
shelter and ventilation alone won’t get you far.
FIVE
TRUST YOUR GUT
When you’re in a disaster situation, your five
senses are heightened. But it’s also essential to
take advantage of your sixth sense.
“Trust your gut, which is your intuition,” says
Sheridan. “It’s designed to be a warning system. I
think the mistake people make is they don’t rely
enough on it. While it doesn’t necessarily work
for things like the stock market, your gut is very
good for reaction for people following a disaster.”
Your gut reaction especially comes in handy
when you’re alone.
“If you’re out in the wildness stranded and
you have a very adverse gut reaction to it, your
subconscious mind is picking up a queue,” he says.
“Your gut is a reliable indicator, especially in the
wilderness.”
A Canadian resident, Sean Cooper is a regular contributor to Beckett Media.
LISTEN
TO YOUR
SIXTH SENSE
In a disaster situation, your five
senses are heightened, but don’t
neglect your sixth sense. Your
gut or instincts are a reliable
indicator, experts say.
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GW_ASG5_AUTHOR 5/20/13 4:56 AM Page 67
ENIAL.
IT’S A COMMON PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE PEOPLE HAVE TO CHANGES IN PER-
CEIVED CONDITIONS OF SAFETY. MOST OF US ARE ILL-EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH
UNEXPECTED THREATS, AND WE HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO RELYING ON
OTHERS TO MAINTAIN OUR SAFETY. WE LIVE IN A 9-1-1 SOCIETY, AND WE ASSUME
THAT HELP IS ALWAYS A PHONE CALL AWAY.
In reality, societal resiliency is a communal responsibility. As the population grows, so do the number of threats to
safety, so it’s wise to increase your self-reliance should an emergency occur.
The challenges of maintaining law and order and protecting society are not the sole responsibility of governments: We
must become active participants in our own security. Following are some thoughts to help you do that.
BOMB THREATS
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), improvised incendiary devices (IIDs), remote control improvised explosive devices
(RCIEDs), vehicle-born improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and human-delivered improvised explosive devices (HDIEDs)
are all weapons of choice for domestic and international terrorists.
Terrorists used backpacks and satchels to conceal IEDs in the 2004 attacks on the Madrid mass transit system, the 2005
attacks on the London subway, the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, and the 2009 attacks on hotels in Jakarta. These
devices have killed and maimed thousands of people worldwide, mostly civilians (non-combatants). IEDs and IIDs have also
been used by active shooters (Columbine High School, etc.) and by other fringe extremists.
68
DEFUSE
BOMB
THREATS
Recognize Potential Terrorism Threats,
Learn How To Report Them Safely
By Alon Stivi
D
In addition to law enforcement’s
battle against crime, the author
says the public must also “par-
ticipate in our own security” by
watching for suspicious activity.
Here, police officers with their
guns drawn hear the second
explosion down the street. The
first explosion knocked down
78-year-old U.S. marathon run-
ner Bill Iffrig at the finish line of
the 117th Boston Marathon.
(Photo by John Tlumacki/The
Boston Globe via Getty Images)
GW_ASG5_BOMB 5/20/13 5:32 AM Page 68
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“The challenges of
maintaining law and
order and protecting
society ARE not the sole
responsibility of govern-
ments: We must become
active participants in our
own security.”
— Alon Stivi, survival expert
GW_ASG5_BOMB 5/20/13 5:32 AM Page 69
70
DEFUSE
CHECK
THE WEB
Contact Attack
Countermeasures
Training at
www.ACTCERT.com.
A second explosion
goes off near the
finish line of the
117th Boston
Marathon on April
15, 2013. (Photo by
David L. Ryan/The
Boston Globe via
Getty Images)
GW_ASG5_BOMB 5/20/13 5:32 AM Page 70
71
IEDs have become very effective
weapons for those who advance their
cause through terror and violence. These
weapons are favored by terrorists for their
force, traumatic impact, low cost of pro-
duction and difficulty to detect when con-
cealed in items used everywhere. Informa-
tion on how to manufacture most of these
devices is available online and the ingredi-
ents are readily available. Excluding Iraq and Afghanistan, 7,747 civil-
ians were wounded by IEDs in 2010. This translates to an average of
three IED incidents each day. Data compiled by the Global Campaign
Against IEDs document incidents at 291 and 308 per month in 2008
and 2009, respectively.
INTERNET RADICALIZATION
Internet radicalization is of particular concern.
The English language magazine Inspired, was developed by propa-
gandist Anwar al-Awlaki (a recruiter and operational planner for al-
Qa’ida), who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen. The publica-
tion continues to motivate self-appointed radicals to commit atroci-
ties, and most recently the Tsarnaev brothers reportedly used bomb-
making instructions outlined in the summer 2010 edition of the maga-
zine to build the pressure-cooker IEDs used in
the Boston Marathon bombing. The spread of
extremist ideology and the persistent threat of
homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) indicate
that the use of these devices is proliferating.
Even improved security and greater police
presence cannot completely prevent such attacks
on public places. An essential element of every
successful security program is the involvement of
the people it’s intended to protect. There are not enough “eyes and
ears” to identify and notify others in a timely matter when terrorism
strikes.
Each and every one of us is our first line of civil defense.
GROWING UP
WITH TERRORISM
Growing up in Israel during the 1970s, we learned as part of the
school curriculum how to recognize booby traps and IEDs used by
PLO terrorists against the Israeli public. Some of these devices were
specifically targeted against children and disguised as toys and candies.
Today, the Israeli public is very much aware of this threat and knows
how to recognize and respond to suspicious objects and people. Alert
Israeli citizens have thwarted many bombings.
“Each and every
one of us is our
first line of civil
defense.” — Alon
Stivi, security expert
ASSESSING KEY PRE-INCIDENT INDICATORS (PII)
How to identify PII of bomb production:
• Suspicious purchases of items that could be used to construct explosive devices, including hydrogen peroxide,
acetone, gasoline, propane or fertilizer.
• Suspicious activities in storage facilities or other areas that could be used to construct an explosive device.
• Suspicious signs related to the production of explosive devices in your neighborhood, including strange chemi-
cal odors, discoloration and chemical residues around sinks or car garages and signs of chemical burns or
hand-skin discoloration.
AN ITEM IS
ABANDONED WHEN:
• It does belong and would
normally be present in the
environment where the item
was found. Example: a brief-
case left in a conference
room or a backpack in a
school.
• There’s no specific threat
associated with the item.
• There are no suspicious
activities associated with the
item.
• There are no external indica-
tors typically associated with
an explosive device.
AN ITEM IS
SUSPICIOUS WHEN:
• It’s out of place and does not
belong in the environment in
which it’s been located.
• It involves any action or cir-
cumstance that makes the
package suspicious, includ-
ing “abandoned” packages
and backpacks or bags left
in a secure area.
• It’s visibly suspicious due to
outward signs of an explo-
sive device such as oily
stains, discoloration, pro-
truding wires, tinfoil, strange
odors, or unusual or exces-
sive packaging.
• It relates to previous suspi-
cions; i.e., another device
has already been located and
identified at the same loca-
tion/event.
In this image released by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), two suspects in the Boston
Marathon bombing walk near the
Marathon finish line. The twin
bombings at the 116-year-old
Boston race resulted in the
deaths of three people with more
than 170 others injured. (Photo
provided by FBI via Getty Images)
GW_ASG5_BOMB 5/20/13 5:32 AM Page 71
72
SEE SOMETHING, SAY
SOMETHING
In an attempt to engage the public and harness “the wisdom
of the crowd,” the Department of Homeland Security developed
the “See Something – Say Something” campaign. Taking this sim-
ple and concise message seriously is important, but we
also need to educate ourselves about what to look
for and how to report it.
It’s not easy to identify a bomb by its
cover. Terrorists have become proficient at
concealing these devices in everyday items
like backpacks, cookware, bottles, jars, trash
cans, mail, toys, electronic equipment, vehi-
cles and other innocuous-looking items. Exam-
ples include the 2006, UK-based plot to bring
down transatlantic airliners with explosives made to
look like sports drinks, as well as the “underwear bomber”
and the “shoe bomber.” Remember that there’s no “profile” of a
terrorist. Behavior is the true indicator of danger.
Key pre-incident indicators (PII) of the pre-operational
surveillance for an attack could include some or all of the fol-
lowing: unusual or prolonged interest in or attempts to gain
sensitive information about security measures; discreet or
unusually suspicious use of cameras or video recorders,
sketching, or note taking, particularly of or about sensitive
areas or restricted access points; and observation or questions
regarding security measures, including security staff schedules
and information about barriers, restricted areas, cameras and
intrusion detection systems.
There’s a difference between responding to a bomb threat
and responding to a suspicious bomb. It’s important to take
every bomb threat seriously; making bomb threats is an act of
terrorism and a federal and international crime. Evacuation
routes must be carefully considered and executed in an orga-
nized fashion. In general, it’s best to evacuate in single file or in
small groups (if children are involved) and avoid main
entrances and throughways. Do not evacuate to
parking lots or gather in areas where a bomb
could be hidden.
PREVENTION
IS THE KEY
Remember, we’re all in this together. No
one has a monopoly on controlling violence.
There isn’t anything to gain by complaining about the
lack or excess of security and the resulting loss of liberties.
It’s too late to look for someone to blame after an attack.
Instead, we must focus on what we can do to prevent the next
bombing, and becoming better prepared is a major step toward
accomplishing that goal.
Alon Stivi is CEO of Direct Measures and the developer of the
ACT Cert program. He’s a security and counterterrorism specialist
and a POS-certified law enforcement trainer who emigrated from
Israel after serving in an elite unit of the IDF. Currently serving with
the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department as a Terrorism Liaison Officer,
Stivi has been featured on network television, film, radio and in
national publications.
“It’s too late
to look for
someone to
blame after
an attack.”
— Alon Stivi,
security expert
DEFUSE
Terrorism strikes the pub-
lic’s heart and soul. Here,
a woman kneels and prays
at the scene of the first
explosion on Boylston
Street near the finish line
of the 117th Boston
Marathon. (Photo by
John Tlumacki/The Bost.
HOW TO RESPOND
When responding
to a suspicious item
(possible bomb) and
the location of the
device is known.
• Don’t touch
the device.
• Get a description
of device.
• Observe the
device’s condition.
• Maintain distance
from the device.
• Move around and
pass the device.
• Report the
device’s descrip-
tion, location and
condition.
• Mark the device
location with visi-
ble items (red stick
light/shirt).
• If you must use a
radio or cellphone,
seek cover and
distance prior to
transmitting.
• If possible, post a
security officer at a
safe distance to
prevent access to
the device vicinity.
HOW TO SAVE YOUR LIFE
• Never carry a package for a
stranger. IEDs can also be
remotely triggered and terror-
ists have been known to use
unsuspecting carriers.
• It’s likely that other devices
are in place where one device
has been found.
• The use of secondary devices
is a common tactic in which
the primary device is either
placed to go off or be noticed
(and draw in the first respon-
ders), while the secondary
device is positioned to explode
when the terrorist decides that
the intended crowd size or
composition is present.
•The mandatory minimum evac-
uation distance from any
explosive charge is 900 feet.
GW_ASG5_BOMB 5/20/13 5:32 AM Page 72
73
Trail “Mix”
F
O
O
D
A Variety of Food Products that Will Help
You to Stay Nourished During any Disaster
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, YOU DON’T WANT TO BE
CAUGHT UNPREPARED.
In the following section, these products will enable you to create
a quality meal on the go even if you don’t have the picture-perfect
checkered tablecloth and a pitcher of bug juice.
Consider these options when dining in the wild.
BY TORREY KIM
EDITOR’S CHOICE
WALKSTOOL
Model: Comfort
www.walkstool.com
Key features: Lightweight,
strong and durable
MSRP: $72
GW_ASG5_BG_FOOD 5/21/13 1:56 AM Page 73
WALKSTOOL
Model: Comfort
www.walkstool.com
Key features: Lightweight, strong and durable
MSRP: $72
Description:
Having a meal on the go may involve eating as you hike, sitting
in some brush to dine, or leaning against a tree while you bal-
ance a bowl on your knee. But if you tuck the Walkstool into
your backpack, you’ll have a place to sit and dine wherever you
go. The ultra-portable stool folds and the legs telescope inward
until it’s the size of a packed tripod. Then you can slip it into
the included case and get back on your way, since it adds less
than 2 pounds to your carry load. During our test, it was great
to be able to sit down and enjoy a drink or a quick sandwich,
and the Walkstool was very sturdy and durable for testers of all
sizes (we tested it up to 220 pounds, but the company says it
can hold 440 pounds). It didn’t cause strain and didn’t fold up
on us while we were in it.
TO-GO WARE
Model: Conserve Utensil Set
www.to-goware.com
Key features: Durable, lightweight, sustainable
MSRP: $16.95
Description:
Disposable cutlery may be convenient, but when you’re on the
go, it’s hard to find a place to dispose of it. Instead, check out
the To-Go Ware Utensil set, which includes durable bamboo
utensils nestled into a folding container made entirely of dis-
carded plastic bags. This means zero impact to the environ-
ment, and a safe and reusable cutlery set for you. In our test,
the fork and knife cleaned up easier than expected in hot
water, and the knife was capable of cutting tomatoes, cheese
and hot dogs. The case didn’t absorb water and was light-
weight in our packs.
COGHLAN’S
Model: Carbon Steel Cookset
www.coghlans.com
Key features: Durable, compact, non-stick
MSRP: $59.99
Description:
If you plan to be out on the trail for an extended period of time,
you’ll need a way to cook your food, and the Carbon Steel
Cookset does not disappoint. Featuring a non-stick surface, the
set also has several clever space-saving features that will keep
you happy when you’re packing your gear. For instance, the
pot lids all have built-in strainers so you needn’t bring a colan-
der. In addition, a pot scrubber and measuring cup fit into the
configuration for easy stacking. During our test, we found the
set to heat quickly and clean easily. The only thing to keep in
mind is that the 10-piece set is heavy (12 pounds), so you
should pick your favorite piece from the set to take on shorter
treks when you may not have a car or camper to carry the bulk
of the load.
BVT PRODUCTS
Model: GoCaddy
www.bvtproducts.com
Key features: Holds your water bottle and small gear
MSRP: $19.99
Description:
Lighter than a backpack but functional enough to carry every-
thing you need, the GoCaddy is a great addition to any trek into
the woods. Whether you’re camping, hunting or fishing, you
should be able to fit your essentials into the GoCaddy, including
a water bottle up to 1.5 liters in volume, money, ID or credit
card, phone, keys, sunglasses, and other items. In our test, the
included strap was comfortable and adjusted easily for testers
of various sizes. The water, although cold, did not “sweat” into
the outer pocket, which is important since you don’t want your
electronics in the pocket getting wet.
1
buyer’s
Guide
FOOD
2
3
4
74
2
$16.95
TO-GO WARE
1
$72
WALKSTOOL
GW_ASG5_BG_FOOD 5/21/13 1:56 AM Page 74
75
3
$59.99
COGHLAN’S
4
$19.99
BVT PRODUCTS
MAKE YOUR
OWN TRAIL MIX
It can be expensive to stock up on
bags of trail mix, but when you’re heading
out for a fishing excursion, you might wel-
come a small container of it in your
pocket when your stomach starts to rum-
ble. To save money and maximize the
odds of enjoying the flavor, you can make
your own trail mix at home in bulk, and
then package it in individual zip-top bags.
While you’re free to add any ingredi-
ents that you like to the mix, you’ll have
more energy—and you’ll hold onto it for a
longer period—if you use protein as your
base, such as peanuts, cashews or
almonds. Then you can add an equal
amount of a dried fruit, such as raisins,
cranberries or banana chips, as well as
extras such as granola, pretzels, oyster
crackers, cereal or sesame sticks for your
favorite flavorings.
Many people like candy in their trail
mix as well—just remember that choco-
late can melt, rendering the rest of the
mix quite messy when you’re on the go.
GW_ASG5_BG_FOOD 5/21/13 1:56 AM Page 75
buyer’s
Guide
FOOD
76
COGHLAN’S
Model: Nine-Cup Coffee Pot
www.coghlans.com
Key features: Durable, rustproof,
easy to clean
MSRP: $19.99
Description:
Waking up in the wild can be much
easier if you have a bit of java to get
you in gear. This Coghlan’s coffee
pot is a great no-frills addition to
your gear pack, as it percolates cof-
fee quickly. The handle stays cool
and helps you pour it easily. During
our test, we liked the fact that it held
nine cups of coffee, which stayed
warm for a surprisingly long period
after brewing, thanks to the alu-
minum pot.
SteriPEN
Model: Freedom
www.steripen.com
Key features: USB-rechargeable,
quickly sterilizes water
MSRP: $149.95
Description:
Making your water safe to drink is
one of the primary requirements of
being out on the trail, since we can’t
live without H2O. The SteriPEN Free-
dom is a handy way to treat your
water and make it safe to drink, and
it takes up very little space in your
pack. Weighing just 2.6 ounces, the
Freedom can sterilize 8,000 water
treatments of 16 ounces each, and
its UV light destroys germs in 48
seconds. What we loved about it
during our test was that it includes
rechargeable batteries that you can
juice using either AC power or a USB
charger—which is helpful since
many solar chargers accept USB
cords. This means that you can truly
sterilize your water with SteriPEN
while “off the grid.”
BAMBOO BOTTLE
Model: Flip-Top Bottle
www.bamboobottleco.com
Key features: Durable bamboo-cov-
ered glass, handy sipping spout
MSRP: $25
Description:
Want to break away from using plas-
tic bottles but don’t want the risk of
carrying glass? The Bamboo Bottle
is a great way to transition – it hides
a thick-walled glass bottle within its
bamboo sleeve, which protects it
from damage and holds 17 ounces
of water during your trek. During our
test, we found that the water tasted
“cleaner” since it didn’t have that
plastic aftertaste, and the flip-top
allowed for on-the-go sipping. It dis-
assembles easily for cleaning and
screws back together very simply
when it’s ready to use again.
5
6
7
5
$19.99
COGHLAN’S
“During our
test, we liked
the fact that it
held nine cups
of coffee,
which stayed
warm for a
surprisingly
long period
after brewing,
thanks to the
aluminum pot.”
GW_ASG5_BG_FOOD 5/21/13 1:56 AM Page 76
77
PANTRY STOCKPILING TIP:
KNOW THESE GRAIN
SHELF LIVES
Keeping your survival pantry well-stocked is a consideration for most
survivalists, but you should know when it’s time to add to your
pantry, and when it’s time to rotate a food into the compost bin.
Use these guidelines from the Whole Grains Council to ensure
you don’t keep grains past their shelf life:
• Brown rice: Keeps in the pantry for six months and in the
freezer for one year
• Buckwheat flour: Stays fresh in the pantry for one month and
in the freezer for two months
• Popcorn: Lasts for six months in the pantry and in the freezer for
a year
• Whole oats: Stays fresh in the pantry for four months and in the freezer for
eight months
• Quinoa: Lasts for four months in the pantry and for eight months in the freezer
• Wheat flour: Stays fresh for three months in the pantry and for six months in the
freezer.
Source: http://wholegrainscouncil.org/recipes/storing-whole-grains.
7
$25
BAMBOO BOTTLE
6
$149.95
STERIPEN
TIP
Store grains in airtight
containers with tight-
fitting lids to ensure
they last to their full
potential.
GW_ASG5_BG_FOOD 5/21/13 1:56 AM Page 77
NLESS YOU’RE AN ALL-SEEING MEDIUM,
THE FUTURE IS JUST A SHOT IN THE DARK.
No one knows when tragedy will strike, so you must
be able to think fast and react even faster. If you ever find
out that you need to bug out at just a moment’s notice,
you may not have time—or space in your vehicle—to
pack a lot. If you need to pack just what will fit into a gallon-sized plastic
storage bag, keep these tips in mind.
INCLUDE WATER
Water is absolutely key to survival in times of crisis, so it’s essential
that your frantic rush out of your house includes a way to hydrate your-
self. Of course, cramming several bottles of water into a plastic bag isn’t
ideal, so be sure you have a water filter that allows you to make nearly
any water you come across drinkable.
Small straw filters like LifeStraw or Aquamira are a great addition to
your bug-out bag, says Creek Stewart, author of Build The Perfect Bug-
Out Bag and lead instructor at the Willow Haven Outdoor Survival and
Disaster Preparedness Training School.
“These will eliminate almost every biological threat in North Amer-
ica,” he says. “Either will easily fit into a gallon bag.”
In addition, water purification tablets can be great for eliminating
bacteria from water, Stewart adds. In lieu of those, you could take more
plastic storage bags and a small amount of bleach or iodine.
“Both are very effective in purifying water,” Stewart says.
You would mix two drops of bleach or five drops of iodine per one
liter of water.
“The water must be clear for both,” he says. “Crude filtering
through a T-shirt or bandanna will help.”
Then wait 30 minutes before you consume the water.
78
MAXIMIZE
How To Pack
Ultra-Light…
In A Gallon-
Sized Plastic
By Jason Lockamy
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Start with a clean, gallon-sized plastic storage bag if you
don’t have a bug-out bag and you need to pack light.
GW_ASG5_ZIPLOC 5/21/13 2:06 AM Page 78
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THE MINIMUM
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A BLANKET FOR SHELTER
Shelter is essential to human survival, so unless you have a nearby bug-
out location already prepared, you should bring a material that can serve as
a makeshift shelter. If you have a military-style poncho with grommeted cor-
ners, you’ll want to get that into your bag if it fits. As a plan B, an emergency
space blanket comes in handy as well. Many of these blankets reflect up to
80 percent of body heat and are multi-functional.
“They can be used as ponchos, gear covers, shelters, ground covers and
even rain collection tarps,” Stewart says.
If necessary, you could use a large garbage bag as a crude shelter, Stew-
art suggests.
“Several yards of 550 paracord is a critical shelter component,” he adds.
“550 paracord has seven inner strands, each with a tensile strength of
greater than 35 pounds. Consequently, one length of paracord is actually
eight lengths of rope—the seven inner strands and the outside sheath.”
If paracord is unavailable, most any rope will work for shelter lines.
“Even waxed dental floss has a tensile strength of 20 pounds and a roll
typically contains 50 to 100 yards,” Stewart says.
“The one thing you can't source from nature is experience. Many of these skills are
the result of hours and hours of committed practice and repetition. Skill can only
take the place of gear when one puts in the time, practice and hard work in advance
of a bug-out scenario.” – Creek Stewart, author of “Build the Perfect Bug-Out Bag”
Creek Stewart uses his emergency
space blanket to stay warm. This
can also be fashioned into a shelter
using paracord or rope if necessary.
GW_ASG5_ZIPLOC 5/21/13 2:06 AM Page 79
FIREMAKING,
SELF-DEFENSE MATERIALS
On those cold nights, a fire will be in high demand, but you can be
prepared for this by packing a disposable lighter, a ferro rod and some
cotton balls mixed with petroleum jelly in your pack.
“PET balls, as I call them, will burn for upwards of seven minutes and
will ignite with just a spark,” Stewart says.
That seven minutes of firestarter can be critical to get your logs
burning at your bug-out site.
You’ll also need some protection out there on your own, so carrying
a small gun would make for a great kit choice if you have one, Stewart
says.
“At a minimum, a knife should be included,” he adds. “A knife will be
an important multi-functional bug-out tool that will get a lot of use. Fixed
blades are preferred for durability, but folders will work if they are the
only option.”
Light is also a necessity, so small keychain LED lights are great for
small storage spaces.
“They are lightweight, compact, last a long time and put off sufficient
light for nighttime travel and work,” Stewart adds.
MOTHER NATURE
“Theoretically, with enough skill, all needs can be sourced from
nature,” Stewart says.
But unless you’re an avid camper or frequent hiker, you may not
have the experience and knowledge to know how to source your sur-
vival items this way. You can devise a quick shelter from branches, leaves
and grasses.
“Mother Nature also provides some ‘gimme’ shelters such as caves,
rock overhangs and fallen or hollow trees,” Stewart says.
Trees can also provide sustenance.
“Maples can provide as much as a gallon of drinkable nutrient- and
sugar-rich sap an hour.”
You can find water sources in local streams if you have your purifica-
tion tools, and you can gather food.
“Self-defense objects such as knives can easily be substituted with
rocks,” Stewart says. As for a signaling tool, “The smoke and flame from
a fire has been a classic rescue symbol for thousands of years,” Stewart
says.
Jason Lockamy is a freelance writer.
80
ZIPLOC
BRING ALONG SIGNALING TOOLS
If you come across other people out on the trail, you might want to
get into contact with them. Yelling, though energy consuming, is one
option. Mirrors also are a good method.
“The mirror can send a flash from the sun (or even a bright moon)
for miles to a rescue plane, boat or party,” Stewart suggests.
Another tool is a whistle. Small and compact, they can carry sound
a lot farther than the human voice.
DON’T STOP HERE
For More Information:
To get more tips from Creek Stewart, visit his
website at http://www.willowhavenoutdoor.com.
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INSTANT FLAME
How To Start a Fire:
PET balls will burn for
upwards of seven minutes
and will ignite with just a
spark. That seven minutes of
firestarter can be critical to
get your logs burning at your
bug-out site.
A fire will not only keep you warm, but it can also help cook any fish, meat
or vegetables you might come across during your travels. Make sure you
pack fire-making materials like a lighter or matches in your bag.
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LEAN ON
“MOM”
Mother Nature provides
some “gimme” shelters such
as caves, rock overhangs
and fallen or hollow trees.
Trees can also provide sus-
tenance. Maples can provide
as much as a gallon of drink-
able nutrient- and sugar-rich
sap an hour.
BEAR ARMS
Carrying a small gun
would make for a great kit
choice if you have one. At a
minimum, a knife should be
included. Fixed blades are
preferred for durability, but
folders will work.
GW_ASG5_ZIPLOC 5/22/13 12:02 AM Page 80
KEEP YOUR FEET HEALTHY
You should make sure you have a first aid kit, but you may want to supple-
ment the standard kit with a few additional items. Moleskin is a good thing to
have handy, Stewart says, because “if your feet are screwed, you’re screwed.”
If you haven’t or don’t typically walk for long periods of time, blisters will defi-
nitely come quickly.
In addition to what’s in the first aid kit, you’ll want to pack duct tape, rubber
gloves, a mirror and tweezers.
“A mirror can help you deal with eye issues if traveling solo and can also
multi-function as a signaling tool if necessary,” he suggests.
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“The smoke and flame from a fire has been a classic rescue symbol for thousands
of years.” — Creek Stewart
Blisters can happen
quickly when you’re on
the trail. Pack moleskin
or another material to
cushion yours.
If you have a strong knowledge of the
outdoors, you can construct a coal-
burned wooden container to boil and
purify water using red hot rocks from
your fire, Creek Stewart suggests.
If you’re on the hunt for some
meat while bugging out, you
can construct quick fish and
frog gigs from tree saplings
with little effort, Stewart says.
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GW_ASG5_ZIPLOC 5/22/13 12:02 AM Page 81
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?
GW_ASG5_82 5/21/13 10:39 PM Page 82
83
Easy Answers to the
Hard Questions of
Personal Hygiene—and
More—During a Disaster
Survival
Sanitation
VERYONE WONDERS BUT SELDOM DOES
ANYONE ASK.
When thrust into a survival situation, such as living
without water following a major quake, what do you do
with human waste?
Surviving when you’re away from the comforts of home—or
following a natural disaster—is usually not a problem during the first
few days, but what happens if your stay gets extended? Then wash-
ing dishes and cleaning clothes become issues.
But there are solutions, as you’re about to read the specific
methods for handling these situations.
By TORREY KIM
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Once you wash your clothes by hand, you’ll
want to hang them at your campsite to dry.
GW_ASG5_SANITATION 5/21/13 2:44 AM Page 83
84
SANITATION
DIG CAT HOLES
The question on many peoples’ minds – but the one most
are afraid to ask – involves how to dispose of human waste when
outdoors. In the absence of an outhouse or other appropriate
location, “cat holes are the proper method of disposal,” says
Haven Holsapple, Leave No Trace program coordinator with the
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
To avoid polluting nearby water sources and to maximize
the odds of decomposition, you should dig a cat hole six to eight
inches deep at least 200 feet from the water, camp, trails and
drainages, NOLS advises. Then cover the hole appropriately
rather than covering it with a rock, because it decomposes faster
if it’s under soil. You should dispose of your toilet paper in your
own garbage that you plan to haul away, but if that isn’t possible,
use as little as possible and bury it deeply in the cat hole rather
than trying to burn it, NOLS suggests. Alternately, many natural-
ists have great success using products from the wild as toilet
paper, including grass and snow.
If you’re going “number one,” you needn’t dig a hole, but
you should try and urinate on rocks or bare ground rather than
on vegetation, the Leave No Trace program says.
200
In feet, this is the distance you
should be from a water source if you
use biodegradable dish soap.
“Even biodegradable detergents can
negatively impact animals and plants
whose home is the water source.”
— Colorado-based campsite manager Carrie Burke
GW_ASG5_SANITATION 5/21/13 2:44 AM Page 84
85
DISHWASHING
101
• Wash your dishes at the
campsite—not in a stream.
• Biodegradable detergents can
negatively impact animals
and plants whose home is the
water source.
• Boil a pot of water while
preparing your meal, and use
that to wash the dishes after
you finish eating.
• After cleaning the dishes in it,
strain the dirty dishwater
through a T-shirt before pour-
ing the water on the ground.
DON’T CONTAMINATE THE WATER
You’ve eaten a nice meal of hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob and mashed
potatoes at your campsite. The leftovers are all biodegradable, so you consider throw-
ing them into the stream. But you should think again, because this is a bad practice.
When spending time outdoors, your ultimate goal should be to leave natural struc-
tures exactly as you found them, and tossing your waste into a stream constitutes a
disturbance. It can take more than six months for a corn cob to biodegrade, for exam-
ple, which means that it is sitting in the stream slowly decomposing over that period.
Don’t
Pollute nearby water sources
Do
Dig a hole six to eight inches deep
at least 200 feet from the water,
camp, trails and drainages.
Don’t
Cover it with a rock
Do
Fill the hole with dirt
HOW TO DISPOSE
OF HUMAN WASTE
When washing dishes,
make sure you are at
least 200 feet away from
a water source so you
don’t contaminate the
fresh water.
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GW_ASG5_SANITATION 5/21/13 2:44 AM Page 85
RULES ON WASHING DISHES
If you’re having your meals at a campsite, you want to make sure that you not
only throw out all of your garbage to avoid attracting animals, but you should also do
your washing at the campsite and not in a stream.
“Even biodegradable detergents can negatively impact animals and plants whose
home is the water source,” says Colorado-based campsite manager Carrie Burke.
Ideally, you should boil a pot of water while preparing your meal, and use that to
wash the dishes after you finish eating. You may not require soap, because hot water
and heavy scrubbing can be effective, but if you use biodegradable dish soap, make
sure you are 200 feet from the water source to avoid contamination, Burke says.
After cleaning the dishes in it, take the extra step of straining the dirty dishwater
through a T-shirt (or if you have one, a small strainer) before pouring the water on
the ground away from your campsite and water sources.
“Straining it will make sure there are no small food particles in the dishwater that
you end up throwing on the ground,” Burke says. “I was at a campsite once where
someone poured out their dishwater and later found a coyote licking up small pieces
of meat from it.”
Some people finish cleaning dishes by rinsing them with a water and bleach dilu-
tion to ensure sanitation, but keep in mind that many campsites won’t allow you to
pour bleach water on the ground because it can damage or kill some vegetation,
Burke says.
86
SANITATION
TWO
RULES ON
NUMBER ONE
You needn’t dig a hole, but
try to urinate on rocks or
bare ground rather than
on vegetation.
If you don’t have access to an outhouse or bathroom, then you should dig a cat hole six to eight inches deep at least 200 feet away from a water source to dispose of your human waste.
“When thrust into a
survival situation, such
as living without water
following a major
quake, what do you do
with human waste?”
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DON’T
NEGLECT
MICRO
TRASH
When you leave a campsite, you
should not only haul away your
trash bags, but don’t forget to clean
up your “micro garbage” as well,
NOLS advises.
Even the tiniest bits of waste can
permanently impact a natural area,
so small pieces of trash such as
peanut shells, cigarette butts,
watermelon seeds, and other
items—although biodegradable—
should be packed into your garbage
and hauled away before you vacate
your site.
Source: Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics Guide-
lines Guide, National Outdoor Leadership School,
www.nols.edu/lnt.
CLOTHES WASHING
You may picture washing clothing along the
banks of a river as a very quaint practice, but this,
too is not good for wildlife, because the soap will
get into the running water and damage the plant
and animal life in it.
Instead, you should take the same approach as
with your dishes. Heat up some water over your
campfire and pour it into a bucket or large trash
bag with your clothes near your campsite. Add a
small amount of biodegradable detergent and stir
the clothes with tongs, your hands, or a stick to
agitate them and mix them with the water. Wring
out the clothes after washing them, and then add a
pot of clean water to the bin or bag to rinse them.
Wring them out once more, then hang them on a
clothesline, tree, or over a picnic table to dry.
Make sure you pour out the laundry water at
least 200 feet from a water source, since it will not
only be dirty, but will include soap, Burke says.
Be sure to pack out even small pieces of waste, such as cigarette butts, before leaving a camp site.
1
Heat water over your campfire
and pour it into a bucket or
large trash bag with your clothes
near your campsite.
2
Add biodegradable detergent
and stir the clothes.
3
Wring out the clothes after
washing them.
4
Add a pot of clean water to the
bin or bag to rinse them.
5
Wring them and then hang
them on a clothesline, tree or
over a picnic table to dry.
5
KEYS TO
WASHING
CLOTHES
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CCIDENTS HAPPEN.
NO MATTER HOW
PREPARED YOU
ARE.
Rock climbers tie in
with ropes and hunters practice field
safety with weapons, but later, relaxed
and away from the apparent dangers,
they can let their guard down and take
a fall around camp or slip while using a
knife.
These kinds of injuries are the
most common things you need to
anticipate in the back country, and they
can occur anytime. Even after major
disasters, the majority of wounds are
usually simple soft tissue injuries and
burns that you can treat on your
own—if you know how.
CLEANING
THE WOUND
If you suffer an injury that creates a
wound in your skin, the most impor-
tant thing to do is clean it, ideally by
irrigating it with a continuous jet of
clean, drinkable water. Irrigation
removes debris more effectively and
with less risk of additional contamina-
tion or tissue damage than the next
best option, which is washing or swab-
bing with soap and water.
If you want to be as well-equipped
as a wilderness paramedic, carry an irri-
gation syringe and a few inches of
catheter tubing in your first aid kit,
because this is the best method of
wound cleaning, says wilderness medi-
cine instructor and paramedic Chris
Davis. Attach the tubing to the nozzle
of the syringe to spray a constant
stream of pressurized water onto the
wound.
If, however, you must make do
with improvised supplies, a plastic bag
filled with water that has a small hole
poked in it will work as well. You can
squirt the stream of clean water
through the hole and directly on to
your wound. Avoid the temptation to
clean with antiseptics like alcohol or
iodine, because along with germs, these
solutions kill healthy cells that would
otherwise be utilized in the healing
process.
88
BE YOUR
OWN ER
DOCTOR
Treat Your Own Wounds With These Simple, Effective Tips
By Michael Neiswender
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Your first aid kit
will ideally have
clean wound
dressings and
bandages in it.
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“It’s only in the
movies where the
hero stitches the
wound in the field
with makeshift
sutures.”
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“Even after major disasters,
the majority of wounds are
usually simple soft tissue
injuries and burns that you
can treat on your own—if
you know how.”
90
WOUNDS
SEEK, YE SHALL FIND
More Information On Wilderness Medicine
www.appwildmed.org
Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine
www.wms.org
Wilderness Medical Society
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PACK YOUR
FIRST AID KIT
Before heading
into the back country,
you’ll want to pack a
well-equipped first aid
kit. At a minimum it
should contain the fol-
lowing wound care
supplies:
• Sterile gloves
• Triangular bandage
and safety pins
• 4x4 gauze pads
• Medical tape
• 5x9 absorbent
abdominal pads or
maxi pads
• Telfa pads: non-
adherent dressing
• Triple antibiotic
ointment
• Irrigation syringe
and tubing
• Benzoin tincture
• Gauze roll
• Adhesive bandages
in multiples sizes
• Steri strips/butterfly
bandages
• Ace bandage
• Scissors and
tweezers
• Pain medicine
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91
DRESSING
THE WOUND
After irrigating and cleansing your
wound, you should treat it with a good
triple antibiotic ointment (which should be a
staple in your first aid kit) and cover it with
a dressing. The main purpose of the dress-
ing is to keep the wound clean and free
from additional damage.
Use an adhesive bandage for small
wounds and gauze pads held in place with
adhesive tape for larger ones. If you have
trouble getting the bandages to stick due to
heavy activity or wet conditions, a great
item to keep in your kit is tincture of Ben-
zoin—a small amount on the skin will really
make the adhesive stick. Change the dress-
ings at least once daily.
Some deep cuts will benefit from lightly
closing the wound with butterfly strips, but
don’t get carried away; it’s only in the
movies where the hero stitches the wound
in the field with makeshift sutures. You’re
far more likely to cause an infection that
way.
SHATTER THE ODDS
BE PREPARED IN AN EMERGENCY
The unique challenge of emergency
medicine in remote areas or disasters
is the need to improvise your best solu-
tion without overreacting to the medical
situation.
Wilderness medicine instructor and
paramedic Chris Davis recalls rescuing
a group of hikers who used all of their
water to cool down a child with heat
exhaustion before realizing that they
were putting their entire group in jeop-
ardy without any way to hydrate them-
selves.
To be fully prepared for remote or
disaster medical situations where evac-
uation or access to primary care is not
an immediate option, Davis suggests
taking at least a basic two-day Wilder-
ness First Aid Course. But if you want to
be as prepared as reasonably possible
for almost any situation, a weeklong
Wilderness First Responder course will
make you ready to handle just about
anything on your own.
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Third-degree burns should
be treated as soon as pos-
sible by medical profes-
sionals, but you should
keep them clean and
moist, and keep the victim
hydrated, as you wait for
professional assistance.
“ … despite what your
grandmother told you,
butter and oil are not
good burn remedies …”
HOW TO TREAT
BURN WOUNDS
Wounds caused by burns are best treated by first
cooling the area as quickly as possible to stop addi-
tional damage.
First-degree (red and painful) and second-degree
(blistered) burns can be treated like wounds
described in the main story: wash and cover them. In
the case of second-degree burns, try to leave blisters
intact, but if they break, you’ll simply treat them as
wounds.
And despite what your grandmother told you, but-
ter and oil are not good burn remedies, and can
actually be harmful, so just stick with the antibiotic
ointment and a bandage. Third-degree burns
(charred skin) require medical intervention. Keep
them clean and moist and keep the victim well
hydrated until help arrives.
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WOUNDS
Cutting a hole into a plastic bag or water bottle
and squirting a stream of clean water onto your
wound is an effective way to clean it in the
absence of an irrigation syringe and catheter.
FAST FACTS
ON BLOOD LOSS
FEW
Most wounds on the extremities do not need any-
thing more to control bleeding than direct pressure.
30
You may need to wait as much as 30 minutes for
severe bleeding to stop.
DAMPNESS + INJURY
= PROBLEMS
Solving Problem Areas
If you have trouble getting the bandages to stick
due to heavy activity or wet conditions, a great item to
keep in your kit is tincture of Benzoin. A small amount
on the skin will really make the adhesive stick.
The same goes for blood loss … very few
wounds on the extremities need anything more to
control bleeding than direct pressure with an
absorbent pad, even though you may need to wait
as much as 30 minutes for severe bleeding to stop.
Michael Neiswender is a freelance writer with a
strong interest in the outdoors and travel.
Change wound dressings at least once a day, and try to keep them clean and dry.
DRESSING THE
WOUND CORRECTLY
After the wound is
cleansed, treat it with a good
triple antibiotic ointment and
cover it with a dressing,
which will keep the wound
clean and free from
additional damage.
THREE KEY FACTS
Cleaning the Wound Properly
1
Irrigation
removes debris
with less risk of
additional cont-
amination or
tissue damage.
2
Washing or
swabbing with
soap and water
is the second-
best option.
3
Avoid antiseptics like
alcohol or iodine. Along
with germs, these solu-
tions kill healthy cells
that would otherwise
be utilized in the
healing process.
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GW_ASG5_93 5/16/13 11:38 PM Page 93
94
THERE’S MORE TO BEAT THAN JUST THE HEAT.
SUMMER MEANS FUN IN THE SUN AND A GREATER LIKELIHOOD
THAT YOU’LL BE OUT AND ABOUT. SO DIVE IN. BUT DON’T LET
YOUR SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND “SITUATIONAL AWARENESS” TAKE
A VACATION. THERE’S NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LIFEGUARD
OR PARK RANGER AROUND TO COME TO YOUR RESCUE.
Highlighting this section are expert tips on summer gardening. You can make a lot
more than hay while the sun shines. So dig in. You’ll thank us this winter when you’ve
reaped the bounty of your labors.
In This Section…
• Secrets Of Successful Summer Gardening
• Buyer’s Guide
• Navigate Like A Modern-Day Magellan
• The ABCs Of Homeschooling
Dive In, Dig In
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Successful
Summer
Gardening
Means a Full
Winter’s
Bounty
Plentiful
Pantry
SUMMER.
In most climates, this is
the best time of year to
plant and harvest the foods
that will allow you to have
food available all winter.
Consider these tips to
improve your bounty.
As the days become
filled with sunshine, garden-
ers eagerly look forward to
digging both hands into the
soil and reaping the reward
of fresh foods to feed their
families. But before you grab
the shovel and seed packets,
you should do a bit of plan-
ning to ensure that you’re
on the right track. If you’re
considering trying your hand
at this labor of love, a few
quick tips will help make
your garden dreams reality.
By Michele Doele
If your summer
garden produces
more of a particular
type of vegetable or
fruit than you can
consume while it’s
fresh, be sure to
can, freeze or
dehydrate it so you
can eat it during
the winter.
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Compost
can serve as
an excellent
fertilizer in
your garden.
96
PANTRY
KNOW WHEN—
AND WHAT—TO
PLANT
Depending on where you live, the time to
start the outside work in your garden varies.
The rule of green thumbs is to start outside
once the ground has thawed and is dry enough
to leave you walking in dirt, not mud. While
you wait for the spring thaw, you can perform
your important indoor planning work to guar-
antee a harvest that will last the summer, fit
your family’s tastes, and help stretch your gro-
cery dollars.
When planning out your crops, think of
the foods you enjoy in the summer: Picnics
with grilled chicken and creamy salads; pastas
with fresh and vibrant pesto; burgers with
crispy lettuce, onions and juicy tomatoes; spicy
salsa and fajitas; leafy tossed salads and pro-
tein-packed bean salads. Now think of what
you consistently buy in the produce section of
your grocery store or farmer’s market.
Are you always picking up tomatoes, a bag
of onions, garlic, cucumbers, radishes, green
beans and lettuce? What fresh herbs are you
likely to grab? Basil, rosemary, chives and
thyme? These are your crops!
With some proper
tending, you can spend
pennies for a packet
of basil seeds to last
the summer instead
of several dollars for
basil leaves that only
last one meal. Try a salad
garden to provide you with
fresh delicious and healthy veggies
all summer.
When you peruse the seed packets, you’ll
notice that they usually list a maturity time for
each type of crop. You’ll want to check out
the typical frost-free date in your area based
on your climate, and then calculate whether
you’ll have a long enough growing season to
see a particular crop through to harvest. For
instance, if you have only two months frost-
free in your area, but the seed packet says that
it requires a full three months from planting to
harvest, you’ll want to plant the seeds indoor
at first to get them started. Alternately, if you
live in a warm climate, you might be able to
get a second crop of a particular vegetable
planted and harvested before the weather
cools in the fall. That’s why checking the seed
packet is essential before you buy.
“You don’t need a field. You’re gardening, not farming.”
You don’t need a farm to get started
creating your own vegetable garden.
A small plot of land in your yard
should be enough to feed your family
for the summer.
THE BENEFITS
OF COMPOST
• Improves soil structure
• Provides a balanced source
of plant nutrients
• Stimulates beneficial
organisms
• Garden insurance
ENRICH THE
EXPERIENCE —
FERTILIZE!
For enrichment, a 5/10/5
fertilizer is ideal for most
climates.
The numbers mean that
this fertilizer is comprised of
five percent nitrogen, 10
percent phosphorus and five
percent potassium. If you
prefer organic gardening,
products that contain cow
manure are excellent, but
you might also consider
making your own compost
from your food scraps and
other discarded organic
items. If you’re lucky
enough to have worms in
your garden, keep them
happy—they process soil
and plants, adding rich min-
eral nutrients.
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CALCULATE THESE NUMBERS
If you’re using raised bed, calculate the amount of soil you’ll need for each one with this formula:
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Equipped with your list of crops, you’re ready
to plot your garden area.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a
field. You’re gardening, not farming. Look for an
area that gets full sun, drains well, and is clear
of water and nutrient-stealing tree roots. A loca-
tion close to your kitchen will make it conve-
nient to grab herbs and vegetables quickly and
therefore more often. This also makes it easier
to spot sneaky weeds and keep a well-main-
tained garden.
A spade and
shovel will be
the first tools
you’ll need to
create a plot of
land where your
summer garden
can flourish.
60
The percentage of
topsoil you’ll need 30
The percent
of compost 10
The percent of soilless growing mix
that contains peat moss, perlite
and/or vermiculite

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WHAT TO DO
Very few gardening tools
are needed to start creating
your vegetable plot. You’ll
want to invest in a straight
spade for cutting the edges, a
rounded shovel for turning
the soil, a hoe for tilling, and a
wheelbarrow. Stake out the
perimeter depending on how many
plants you want, but as a general rule
of thumb, a 10x20-foot plot is typically
plenty for a variety of plants.
Follow spacing suggestions on seed packets
or starter plant tags to ensure that your plants
have ample room to grow. Using your spade,
cut the perimeter edges, digging down 6 to 8
inches. Then, using the shovel, dig out the soil 6
inches down in a foot-wide strip across one end
of the garden. Toss this soil into the wheelbar-
row for safekeeping.
Start the next row
and turn the soil from
the second row over
into the first row.
Leave any grass intact
but face down — this
adds nitrogen to the
garden. Continue until
you have turned each
row over into the
previous one. You will
end with one empty
row, but you can use
the soil in the wheel-
barrow for this. Try
to do this two more
times before planting,
but only half the
depth for subsequent
turnings.
“Your garden can be
a haven for relaxing, reliev-
ing stress, getting some fresh
air, and soaking up the summer sun,
and can also allow you to eat and share what
you grow with family and friends,” adds Penn-
sylvania-based gardener Bruce Walder, Sr.
You’ll not only have some fresh produce to
serve, but you’ll get some exercise outside
while you’re planting and harvesting it.
Michele Doele is a home chef and gardener living in Midcoast Maine
with her two daughters and husband. She strives to use fresh local ingre-
dients to provide homemade meals to share with family and friends.
98
PANTRY
GIVE PLANTS SPACE
Once you’re ready to plant, you should
follow the planting guides that accompany
your plants and seeds, but keep these
general tips in mind:
• Give tomato plants some room, usually
about 36 inches apart.
• Peppers love company—snuggle them
up 18 inches apart.
• Want large onions? Plant them shallow,
just an inch deep. If you prefer smaller
onions, plant them 4 inches deep.
• Lettuce can be planted 6 to 12 inches
apart.
• Cucumbers or other vine crawlers enjoy
being planted in a mound—a small hill
that rises above the rest of your garden
containing several plants under it. Keep
in mind, however, that one mound pro-
duces a lot of produce.
• Herbs can be started from seeds and
can be kept together in a corner closest
to your house for a quick snip of chives
or pulling a few leaves of basil for home-
made pizza.
… before you grab the shovel and
seed packets, you should do a bit
of planning to ensure that you’re
on the right track!”
Tomatoes and
cucumbers are
excellent crops
to grow in the
summer.
KEEP
PESTS AT BAY
If critters such as deer or rabbits
are a problem, add some pungent
marigolds around the edges of your gar-
den, install chicken wire 2-feet high
around the entire perimeter, and
attach some surveyor flagging
every few feet to spook Bambi
and Thumper.
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HOME GROWN
T
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S
Essential Tools For Your Survival Garden
FOR SOME, IT’S A PERSONAL SANCTUARY. FOR
OTHERS, IT’S A SIMPLE HOBBY. FOR SURVIVALISTS,
IT’S A WAY OF LIFE.
Regardless of which category you fall into, having the right
tools on hand can mean the difference between a pleasant experi-
ence and a frustrating day. You’ll find just what you need with the
following gear.
BY SEAN COOPER
EDITOR’S CHOICE
DULUTH TRADING
Model: Booney Hat
www.duluthtrading.com
Key features: UVA and UVB protec-
tion, flexible brim, sweat resistant
MSRP: $19.50
GW_ASG5_BG_TOOLS 5/21/13 11:37 PM Page 99
100
buyer’s
Guide
TOOLS
DULUTH TRADING
Model: Booney Hat
www.duluthtrading.com
Key features: UVA and UVB protection, flexible brim, sweat
resistant
MSRP: $19.50
Description:
Gardening is important—having sunburn is not. The Booney
Hat is guaranteed to protect you from the sun’s harmful rays
while keeping you cool in every sense of the word. Its flexible
brim throws off some serious shade, and its special sun-pro-
tective 100-percent cotton twill fabric blocks out harmful UVB
and UVA rays. The Booney Hat is perfect on those hot, humid
days. The soft, moisture-wicking sweatband pulls sweat away
from your head, keeping you cool and dry. Contrast-color
underbrim cuts down glare so you can see just what you’re
planting.
MEADOW CREATURE
Model: Broadfork
www.meadowcreature.com
Key features: Ergonomic, easy to use, durable
MSRP: $228
Description:
If you’re looking for a tool to break the hardest sod and pas-
ture, you’ve found it. The Broadfork allows you to till and aer-
ate your growing beds by hand, using a natural motion that’s
easier on your body—no twisting. It tills deeper and provides
an alternative to the noise, pollution, fossil fuel use and
ground compaction caused by power tilling. The Broadfork
looks similar to a pitchfork, but it’s stronger and heavier, with
longer tines. The tines have a gentle curve to ease ground
penetration. To use, you’ll stand on the cross bar, wriggling
the handles and using your body weight to work the tines into
the ground.
SOLO
Model: 465-2G 2-Gallon Stainless Steel Sprayer
www.solousa.com
Key features: Lightweight, easy-to-use nozzle, 2 gallons
MSRP: $59.99
Description:
A garden is like a jungle. If you don’t care for it, pretty soon
the weeds will take over. Some gardens are just too big to pull
weeds by hand or spray with a bottle. If you’ve got a large
property to maintain, look no further than the 465-2G 2-gallon
Stainless Steel Sprayer from Solo. This sprayer is perfect for
applying herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers to your garden.
This high-quality sprayer features a 2-gallon stainless steel
tank for long life and durability. It has a high-capacity pump
for quick pressurization and a large funnel top for easy filling.
It comes with an adjustable brass nozzle, which adjusts from
cone to stream patterns.
FELCO
Model: Pruner No. 8
www.felcostore.com
Key features: Ergonomically designed, durable, sharp
MSRP: $59.99
Description:
Every gardener with a green thumb needs his or her own
pruner. Besides pulling weeds, pruning is probably the least
fun part of gardening, but it doesn’t have to be! The Felco
Pruner No. 8 is ergonomically redesigned with many refine-
ments over the original. It offers optimal comfort and durability.
The grip is convex instead of concave, with deeper indenta-
tions for the thumb and forefinger. The blades are narrower
and pointed to allow for extremely close pruning. They are
also angled to be an extension of the forearm, giving direct
access to the cut.
1
2
3
4
3
$59.99
SOLO
1
$19.50
DULUTH TRADING
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101
FROM THE
MANUFACTURER
“The Meadow Creature 14-inch Broad-
fork is an excellent alternative to a gas-
powered rototiller for converting turf
into growing beds and cultivating a fam-
ily-sized garden,” says Bob Powell of
Meadow Creature. “Our Broadfork is
unique in its well-engineered construc-
tion, fabricated in the USA from high-
strength alloy steel and shipped as a
single welded unit. It’s indestructible yet
still reasonable in weight and easy to
use. Ours is the only Broadfork uncondi-
tionally guaranteed forever.”
4
$59.99
FELCO
2
$228
MEADOW CREATURE
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buyer’s
Guide
TOOLS
GROWORGANIC
Model: Hori Hori Weeder Root Cutter
www.groworganic.com
Key features: Sharp, durable, easy to use
MSRP: $29.99
Description:
Weeds have been around since the dawn of time, but
even if you’re used to them, there’s nothing worse than
a patch of dandelions sprouting up in the middle of your
beautiful botanical garden. That’s where your Hori Hori
Weeder Root Cutter comes to the rescue. A cross
between a knife and a trowel, this handy ancient Japan-
ese tool helps with a variety of tasks in the garden
including planting, grubbing, removing weeds, dividing
perennials and more. The unique blade is traditionally
used in Japan for carving bonsai trees, but it’s perfect
for the garden. It has a heavy steel blade with a serrated
edge on one side and a sharpened edge on the opposite
side.
CORONA
Model: 7-inch Curved Blade Folding Razor Tooth
Saw (RS-7245)
www.coronatools.com
Key features: Easy storage, easily cuts through medium
size branches, portable
MSRP: $21.35
Description:
The Corona Clipper 7-inch folding razor-tooth saw is
designed to cut easily through small- to medium-sized
branches. The professional-style saw folds for safe
transportation and easy storage, and the unit’s razor-
toothed curved-blade design cuts faster and cleaner
than conventional saws for increased plant health and
less pruning effort.
5
6
FROM THE
MANUFACTURER
“The Corona Razor Tooth Saw cuts
two times faster than conventional
saws due to its unique cutting blade
technology,” says Chris Sabbarese of
Corona. “The blade’s impulse-hard-
ened teeth with three cutting sides
helps keep the cutting channel clear
of excess sawdust, while its taper-
ground design at the bottom of the
blade minimizes friction. The
ergonomic handle reduces hand
fatigue during extended use and the
soft, non-slip grip helps maintain
control of the saw.”
5
$29.99
GROWORGANIC
6
$21.35
CORONA
DON’T GET BURNED
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN
If you’re working hard all day in the garden, the last thing
you want is to come inside with a nasty sunburn. Follow these
steps to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.
• Apply Sunscreen: Your first line of defense against the sun is
sunscreen. To ensure you’re fully protected, it’s a good idea
to apply sunscreen with at least 15 SPF or higher. Apply sun-
screen on any skin that is exposed, including your face, neck
and legs.
• Cover Up: If you’re working in the sun all day, it’s advisable
to cover up as much as possible. Rather than wearing just a
T-shirt, you can wear a long-sleeved cotton shirt, especially if
you have fair skin and burn easily.
• Don’t Forget Your Hat: You might only plan to work in the
garden for 15 minutes, but 15 minutes can easily turn into
two hours. Wear a hat so you don’t end up with heat stroke.
Just because it’s overcast doesn’t mean you won’t get sun-
burned.
• Peak Sun: The sun’s rays are the brightest between 11 a.m.
and 4 p.m. If you plan to work in your garden on a hot day, try
to get an early start or wait until the sun is setting.
• Wear Your Shades: You don’t want to ruin your eyes, so
wear a pair of sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection.
GW_ASG5_BG_TOOLS 5/21/13 11:37 PM Page 102
103
RADIUS GARDEN
Model: Hand Transplanter
www.radiusgarden.com
Key features: Advanced ergonomic design, lightweight,
durable
MSRP: $15.49
Description:
Discover garden tools unlike any you’ve ever held
before. The Radius Garden Natural Radius Grip garden
tools were designed using the most current research
into human factors and tool usage. Never strain your
wrist again. The Natural Radius Grip maximizes your
power and comfort while minimizing hand and wrist
stress. Traditional garden tools force you to use your
hands and wrists in a way that can cause injuries. How-
ever, the curve of the Hand Transplanter’s grip matches
the curve of the palm of your hand. This allows you to
hold the tool with your wrist in a safe, neutral position at
all angles of attack. The result is maximized power and
comfort while minimizing wrist and hand stress.
BROOK & HUNTER
Model: Black Trowel
www.brookandhunter.com
Key features: High-quality, durable, lifetime warranty
MSRP: $19.95
Description:
A trowel is a must-have tool in your gardening cart.
Whether you’re breaking up earth, digging small holes,
or planting and weeding, it comes in very handy. The
Black Trowel from Brook and Hunter is a high-quality,
hand-crafted red oak trowel. It offers a carbon steel
alloy with black powder coating. Weighing only 1.5
pounds, it’s the perfect high-quality, lightweight
tool to use in the garden.
7
8
7
$15.49
RADIUS GARDEN
8
$19.95
BROOK & HUNTER
FROM THE
MANUFACTURER
“The unique combination of red oak handle with
stainless steel blade for garden tools is provided
only by Brook and Hunter,” says Mei Collier of
Brook and Hunter. “Multi-layer polished stainless
steel makes for ease of work and cleaning. The
unique design of the squire-shape handle gives
you the solid grab when working with the tools.”
GW_ASG5_BG_TOOLS 5/21/13 11:37 PM Page 103
104
buyer’s
Guide
TOOLS
Sources: http://www.wnetwork.com/Beauty-And-Style/Articles/10-Tips-for-Protecting-Yourself-from-the-Sun.aspx
http://www.canadiangardening.com/how-to/techniques/tips-for-spring-pruning/a/1566
[
GARDENER’S SUPPLY
COMPANY
Model: Working Wellies
www.gardeners.com
Key features: Lightweight, durable, high quality
MSRP: $119
Description:
There’s nothing worse than getting wet socks
while you’re working in the garden. If you’re a
serious gardener, high-quality gardening boots
are a must-have item. Working Wellies are
unbelievably sturdy boots, with rugged tread
and steel shank for support. Natural rubber with
vulcanized seams make them waterproof so
your feet are guaranteed to stay dry. Removable
insoles provide all-day comfort; you can pur-
chase the Wellington Liners, which are sold
separately.
RADIUS GARDEN
Model: Pro Spade
www.radiusgarden.com
Key features: Advanced ergonomic design,
lifetime guarantee, lightweight
MSRP: $39.99
Description:
Overturning soil in your garden is the definition
of backbreaking labor. With the ergonomic Pro
Spade you’ll save time – and your back. The Pro
Spade is a tool like you’ve never held before. It
offers four times the gripping surface of con-
ventional tools with room for both hands. The
Natural Radius Grip keeps the wrist in a safe,
neutral position while allowing energy to flow
from the larger muscles of the arm to the blade.
9
10
9
$119
GARDENER’S SUPPLY COMPANY
10
$39.99
RADIUS GARDEN
FROM THE
MANUFACTURER
“These are the ultimate gardener’s
work boot, made from supple, nat-
ural rubber with vulcanized seams
to make them completely water-
proof and an aggressive tread for
secure footing,” says Sue Chayer of
Gardener’s Supply. “The removable
insole and steel shank provide
excellent support for daylong com-
fort, whether you’re planting,
weeding or digging.”
GW_ASG5_BG_TOOLS 5/21/13 11:38 PM Page 104
GW_ASG5_105 5/21/13 11:35 PM Page 105
OU’RE ON THE MOVE.
PERHAPS YOU’RE BACKPACKING IN A WILDER-
NESS AREA, OR MAYBE YOU’RE BUGGING OUT
TO A SECRET LOCATION—BUT WHATEVER THE
REASON, YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU
STAY ON YOUR ROUTE AT ALL TIMES.
A few simple techniques can help you identify where you are, and ensure
that you find your way to your destination.
UTILIZE ALL RESOURCES
The first thing to remember when you’re trying to “stay found” (or avoid
getting lost) is to use as many techniques and tools as you have available
rather than counting on just one or two to handle all situations.
That might mean using a topographic map in combination with a road
map, utilizing waypoints in your GPS to confirm where you are on a larger
scale map than your GPS can display, or just using a map with a handheld
compass.
Once you’re on the road or trail with your navigation tools, it isn’t practi-
cal or safe to stare at your map during your entire trip. The following tech-
niques will allow you to maintain your situational awareness by focusing on
your surroundings instead of the map or GPS.
1. Break the trip into segments. Don’t think of it as one long trip. Instead,
break it up into a series of shorter legs with easily recognizable natural or
man-made features at each end. Then you can move from one checkpoint to
the next until you finish your journey.
2. Use terrain association. A very simple and direct way to move from
one point to the next is to determine the compass bearing to your next
checkpoint and then walk the straight line to get there. This works well, but it
also means that you don’t have the option of picking the easiest route—and
that’s where terrain association comes into play.
Terrain association refers to following terrain features, like roads, wood-
lines, ridges or streams to reach your checkpoint or destination. This allows
you to take the easier route when you can and resort to following compass
bearings when you absolutely must.
3. Familiarize yourself with what’s on and off your planned route. You
should always be prepared for the unexpected, so before you set out, take
the time to familiarize yourself with what’s on either side of the route you
plan to take. This will give you an advantage if you run into some obstacles
along the way, such as finding that the bridge you planned to cross has been
destroyed. You want to have a Plan B, C and D in mind to address any prob-
lems along the way.
106
By Larry Schwartz
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FINDING
YOUR
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WAY
Simple Navigation
Tips That Help You
Stay On Track
FOCUS ON ROUTE
SELECTION
Part of knowing how to “stay found” is to
avoid things that can get you lost. Whether on foot
or in a vehicle, you want to pick a route that’s easy
to follow but that doesn’t run the risk of forcing
you off of your planned route. For this reason, you
want to avoid areas that might slow you down,
present unexpected risks, or force you to change
your route.
In a vehicle, these might include the following:
• Major intersections that can get clogged
when hundreds of people are trying to leave the
same area
• Roads with bridges on them which can
become choke points if they’re damaged or traffic
is jammed on them
• Areas with large populations and all of the
interactions that might make you change your
plans or have to react to an unexpected situation
• Any place where the terrain narrows and
forces you to take a specific path, such as saddles
between hilltops or cuts in the road where it goes
through a hillside
• Routes where you cannot find gasoline or
other vehicle needs
• Any place where you would not want to
break down, such as deserts in the summer or
mountainous areas in the winter
On foot they could be the following:
• Areas with dense undergrowth
• Marshes that are difficult, if not impossible, to
traverse
• Hillsides with loose rocks/scree or other
broken terrain that makes walking difficult, espe-
cially if you’re carrying a bug-out bag
• Routes with choke points like cuts or bridges
that restrict your travel and especially your travel
options
• Built-up areas and areas with lots of people
for the same reasons as when travelling by vehicle
You may have become dependent on your
GPS or phone for directions over the last
several years, but in the backcountry, your
best bet will always be a paper map.
Handrails, or linear
terrain features, can
make it easier to navi-
gate when you are
moving from one point
to the next, and they
can also help you to
keep from getting lost.
GW_ASG5_NAVIGATION_CX 5/23/13 11:29 PM Page 107
TARGET REACHED
With the proper planning and utilization of all resources, you can
stay on track and arrive at the proper destination. It’s simple.
Beginning in his days as a Boy Scout, through service as an Infantry
officer, later as an outdoorsman/bowhunter, and then as a hunting safety
instructor and seminar speaker, learning and teaching the skills for living
and thriving in the outdoors has been a key part of what makes Larry
Schwartz tick. His writing and seminars have included topics such as back-
country navigation, shot placement, wilderness survival techniques, and
backpacking/camping skills.
108
NAVIGATION
THINK
INSIDE
THE BOX
Handrails, or linear terrain
features, can make it easier to
navigate when you’re moving
from one point to the next, and
they can also help you to keep
from getting lost.
Whether you’re traveling on
foot or by vehicle, you can use
long linear terrain features to
draw a box around the area
where you’re operating. As long
as you stay within that box, you
can always find your way back to
whatever known location you’re
trying to access. Boundaries
should be things that you can’t
confuse with similar terrain fea-
tures and that you can identify
during the day and also during
the night or in foggy weather.
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For example,
this map is of an
area I might be
traversing by
foot. You can see
that I have used a
river on the north
and the northeast
and the only
major roads in
the area for my
eastern, southern
and western
boundaries. If I
get disoriented or
run into an obsta-
cle, I know that I
can go north or
east and hit the
river or south or
west and hit a
hard surface
road. I can then
use either of
these terrain fea-
tures to get back
to where I want
to go.
MAP RULES 101
• North, south, east and
west are the four cardi-
nal directions.
• Maps feature scales
that relate distance on
the map to the world.
For example, one inch
equals one mile.
• Using the scale of a
map, you can tell the
actual distance
between two points for
real.
• A grid of imaginary
lines—called longitude
and latitude—wrap
around and over the
earth; these lines can
identify the exact loca-
tion of any point on
earth.
• Maps use map symbols
to represent real-world
things, such as build-
ings, trails, roads,
bridges, and rivers.
• Maps use colors to
share more informa-
tion. Blue often means
water, green means
forest, and white
means bare land.
“…use as many naviga-
tion techniques and
tools as you have
available rather than
counting on just one
or two to handle all
situations.” — Larry
Schwartz, survival expert
Always get directions using cardinal location points
such as “north” and “south” rather than “right” and
“left,” because your compass can direct you to cardinal
locations from wherever you might be.
GW_ASG5_NAVIGATION_CX 5/23/13 5:02 AM Page 108
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WHY ‘RIGHT’
AND ‘LEFT’
WON’T WORK
The reason that most survivalists carry a com-
pass with them at all times is because this instru-
ment can lead you to one of the “cardinal points”
(north, south, east and west) even if you don’t
have electricity, daylight or a phone.
However, a compass is only effective if you
get directions using the cardinal points in the first
place. If someone gives you directions to their
bug-out cabin by telling you to “head 2.5 miles
into the woods and then left at the gravel road,”
you may never find it. That’s because “left” and
“right” are relative terms based on your location.
If you deviate at all from the pre-determined path,
your left and right will be different from someone
else’s. Therefore, get all of your directions based
on the cardinal points so that no matter where
you come from, the compass can always lead you
in the right direction.
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P
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FORGED
OUT OF TRADITION.
HARDENED
IN THE FIELD.
HONED
FROM EXPERIENCE.
SOG knives and tools are born of the military, preferred
by U.S. Special Forces teams for decades. So whether
you’re answering the call of duty or arming yourself with
innovation, lead the way with SOG. sogknives.com
TAKE POINT.
TM
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K
Likewise, this map is of an area that I
might be traversing by vehicle. For that kind
of navigation, I need bigger terrain features
that can be identified while moving quickly,
such as the river to the south and west and
major highways (Routes 270 and 340), which
are easy to distinguish from non-highways to
the north and east.
MAPS: LARRY SCHWARTZ.
FIVE GREAT
COMPASSES
1. Suunto M-2D
Locator Compass
2. REI Mini Compass
3. Brunton O.S.S.
30B Compass
4. Brunton Classic
9020G Compass
5. Silva Ranger 15
“Part of knowing how
to “stay found” is to
avoid things that can
get you lost.”
— Larry Schwartz, survival expert
GW_ASG5_NAVIGATION_CX 5/23/13 5:02 AM Page 109
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Proper Homeschooling Begins With Sacrifice
And Commitment. Here’s How To Make It Work
ROM THOMAS EDISON TO TIM TEBOW AND
BEYOND, MANY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE HAVE
GRADUATED NOT FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
BUT FROM SCHOOLS THAT OFFERED
CLASSES IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
Once looked upon as an anomaly, homeschooling has taken
America by storm in recent years, with graduates leading the way
in academics, athletics and the arts. Many homeschooling oppo-
nents have slowly reversed their opinions of the practice due to
public, parochial and private school problems plaguing our nation’s
traditional schools; such as oversized classes, excessive testing, bul-
lying, and the lack of resources available to children with different
learning styles and needs. If teaching your children at home sounds
appealing, the following ideas can help you get started.
Teach
Your
Children
Well
By Kristin Webb-Hollering
F
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111
“Sometimes homeschooling can be a knee-jerk reaction to a bad situation
at school. It’s a long-term commitment and should be treated as such.”
—Veteran homeschooler, homeschool co-op teacher, advocate, and former elementary public school teacher Karen Greene
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SCHOOL
IS THE COMMITMENT
FOR YOU?
Homeschooling may look attractive as an alternative
to the current education crisis, but it’s not for everyone
and demands an enormous amount of sacrifice, commit-
ment and determination on the part of the parent as
teacher. Before you quit your job and pull your kids out
of their current schools, research the different options
available to you. Teaching your own children can be very
rewarding but also requires you to be impartial, orga-
nized and flexible regarding their lesson plans, physical
education, socialization, artistic pursuits, testing, and day-
to-day routine.
“Sometimes homeschooling can be
a knee-jerk reaction to a bad situation
at school,” says veteran home-
schooler, homeschool co-op teacher,
advocate and former elementary pub-
lic school teacher Karen Greene. “Do
not rush into this lightly. It’s a long-
term commitment and should be
treated as such. Both parents have to
be on-board and appreciate both its
benefits and sacrifices.”
Every state approaches home-
schooling differently, and homeschool-
ers must follow their particular state’s
guidelines for academic advancement.
The National Home Education Net-
work (www.nhen.org) and the National Home Education
Research Institute (www.nheri.org) are outstanding
resources for parents considering homeschooling, with
advice from legal issues to local links for homeschooling
support groups.  
CLASSROOM, CALEN-
DAR, CURRICULUM
CONCERNS
Once you have decided to homeschool and you’ve
investigated your state’s regulations, your first order of
business will be to decide on a place in your home to
WHICH
CURRICULUM
SHOULD
YOU CHOOSE?
Selecting the right cur-
riculum to purchase and
follow can be a daunting
process for the novice
homeschooler. There are
hundreds of nationally
recognized and revered
programs and materials
both online and in hard
copy for free and for pur-
chase. The National Home
Education Network has
many strategies for
choosing the best pro-
grams for your
family. Some factors to
consider are as follows:
• How much do you want
to spend?
• How old are your chil-
dren?
• What is the compatibil-
ity of your ideological
background versus that
of the curriculum?
• Does the curriculum
comply with your state’s
regulations?
• How easy will this be to
teach and test in your
home with the included
tools and materials?
• Will these products be
available long-term as
your child grows?
Ideally, you’ll have a distinct area of your
home where your book work takes place so
your kids feel comfortable with the routine.
Make sure your
kids know the
time and place
where your
school sessions
will be held so
they can differen-
tiate between
“home” time and
“school” time.
HOMESCHOOL
BASICS AT
A GLANCE
• Decide if it’s right for you
• Choose a curriculum
• Understand the laws
• Choose a support group
• Keep detailed records
• Schedule the day
• Keep it interesting!
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teach. Your first inclination might be to set up shop at
your kitchen table, but experts recommend organizing
another space into a classroom with visual aids, desks or
tables, and academic resources. This promotes the idea
that in the classroom you’re the teacher, and outside the
classroom you’re the loving parent. Without the distinc-
tion, it becomes very difficult to manage the learning,
especially for kids who may have once attended another
type of school. Of course, not everyone has the space,
nor the financial means to put up a whiteboard, buy com-
puters, and the tools needed to simulate a traditional
classroom.  
“If you cannot find a separate learning space,
it’s okay,” Greene says. “Make sure you do
have rules such as ‘this is where we
learn, this is when we learn, this is a
classroom right now,’ so that your
children can see and understand
the difference.”
One of the best things about
homeschooling is the opportunity
to decide your own academic cal-
endar. Some families prefer to fol-
low their local school system’s
regime if they have children in both
the public school and at home. Others
manipulate their schedules to allow for more time during
the holidays or to take advantage of off-season enrich-
ment breaks with fewer crowds and better prices. The
important thing about setting your calendar is to ensure
adequate learning time, so that your child can meet your
state’s required assessments.  
TRADITIONAL VS. NON-
TRADITIONAL STYLES
For many people, homeschooling means having the
freedom to educate your children the way you desire.
Some families mix up the curriculum and use
math books from one source and language
arts from another.
Some take field trips abroad and
use the world as their teaching
tools. Homeschooler slang for fol-
lowing one curriculum is “school
in a box,” and it can be helpful for
those just starting out.
“Research, research,
research!” Greene says. “You may
be teaching two or three children of
different ages, with different learning
styles and needs. One program may not
FIVE TIPS TO START
A HOMESCHOOL
1. Make sure you are both
financially capable and emo-
tionally ready to give up out-
side work and spend the day
teaching your children. It can
be a monotonous task, but
the benefits and joy of
spending that time with your
kids can be amazing.
2. Know your state’s laws
about homeschooling your
kids that deal with truancy,
assessment, retention and
graduation. For example,
homeschooled children
nationwide must be annually
tested by age seven, and
some states do not grant
homeschooled children
diplomas. These are things
you must consider.
3. Be organized! All great
teachers are excellent orga-
nizers first, creative thinkers
second. You will be creating
lesson plans and tests for
children of different ages
and academic levels as well
as keeping abreast of the
ever-changing trends in edu-
cation.
4. Mix and match your day with
a combination of classroom
time, field trips and physical
activity. An eclectic learning
environment will break up
your day, allow you to plan a
weekly schedule, and give
your kids outside time and
socialization. Why do you
think teachers love recess?
5. Be prepared for bad days.
There will be days when
your children do not cooper-
ate or do not get a concept.
You’re the teacher, and you
cannot get discouraged.
These are the times when
being part of a co-op or
homeschooling support
group will be essential to
your success.
“Some homeschoolers take extended field trips abroad and use
the world as their teaching tools...”
Homeschooling doesn’t
solely refer to sitting at
a desk and reading a
book—your home-
schooling curriculum
could include travel
opportunities that are
educational and fun.
HOME-
SCHOOLED
CELEBRITIES
• Venus and Serena Williams
• Hilary Duff
• Sandra Day O’Conner
• Agatha Christie
• Bethany Hamilton
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Jennifer Love Hewitt
• Michelle Kwan
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SCHOOL
The 4th R
When Homeschooling,
Students Must Score Well
On Relating
By Thomas J. Nardi, Ph.D.
Increasing numbers of parents are
deciding to homeschool their children.
These parents carefully choose cur-
riculums to complete their child’s
needs. Unfortunately one area of edu-
cation is often neglected or overlooked
entirely. To the traditional three R’s of
reading, writing and ‘rithmetic, a fourth
must be added and emphasized. This
fourth is “relating.”
WHERE THEY LACK
Homeschooled children often sur-
pass their counterparts on standardized
tests, but the one area in which they
sometimes fall short is in social inter-
action. They often know facts, informa-
tion and data, but not how to relate well
to others.
The very nature of homeschooling
often prevents the child from contact
with large numbers of peers. They’re
often isolated and insulated from daily
interactions with peers. As a result
they sometimes are at a disadvantage
in relating to those with different expe-
riences and points of view. They have
not had to deal with the everyday con-
flicts that children and adolescents face
as part of their normal development.
Parents would do well to incorporate
opportunities for social interactions into
their curriculum. Learning to deal with
others is an important aspect of grow-
ing up. Providing opportunities to inter-
act with many others with different per-
sonalities, experiences and back-
grounds can only increase and improve
the child’s ability to relate. And, being
able to relate well to others is an
important life skill that, unlike others,
cannot be taught from a book.
Thomas J. Nardi, Ph.D. is the Director of the Graduate
Mental Health and School Counseling Programs at the
Long Island University (LIU) Rockland and West Point
Campuses.
work. I mix and match and tweak my curriculum
to suit my children. I have learned that if I hate
the program, the kids can sense it, and they don’t
respond and learn. We take lots of field trips, go
to many activities and are part of a co-op. It really
helps to diversify.”
Part of a non-traditional education and an
important aspect of many homeschooling families
is the homeschool co-op, where you can enjoy
outside activities. Many parents feel isolated and
need to talk to other parents about curriculum or
classroom management, and they may not be able
to provide every aspect of education at home.
Most homeschooling families join a co-op, YMCA
or church where either parents or experts teach
special subjects like art, music, drama, foreign lan-
guage, technology and physical education to
homeschooled children in a group setting. This
ensures a more well-rounded education and gives
the parent as teacher a break as well as giving the
child a chance to experience learning in a more
traditional environment.
ADVOCACY GROUPS
• Homeschool Legal Defense Association
(HSLDA)
• Alliance for Intellectual Freedom in Education
• Homeschool Legal Advantage/Christian Law
Association
• American Homeschool Association
• National Home Education Network
• Association of Homeschool Attorneys
• National Home Education Legal Defense
Source: Wikipedia.com
“Providing opportunities to interact
with many others with different
personalities, experiences and back-
grounds can only increase and
improve the child’s ability to relate.”
— Thomas J. Nardi, Ph.D.
Many homeschooling
plans involve a mix of
book-based and web-
based lessons.
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Survival Guns
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Our Top Firearm Picks For Survivalists
STUFF HAPPENS.
If you’re a survivalist venturing into the great outdoors, you’ll need durability
and reliability in your firearms. You’ll most likely have limited access to spare parts
if you’re in the backcountry, so you’ll want a gun that can withstand the outdoors.
Whether you’re looking for a handgun, shotgun or rifle, there are plenty of
great choices for survivalists. We’ve picked the top firearms that will withstand
even the toughest conditions when you need them most.
BY SEAN COOPER
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOSSBERG
Model: FLEX 500 Tactical
www.mossberg.com
Key features: Pump-action,
durable, lightweight
MSRP: $851
GW_ASG5_BG_GUNS 5/21/13 11:09 PM Page 115
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buyer’s
Guide
GUNS
MOSSBERG
Model: FLEX 500 Tactical
www.mossberg.com
Key features: Pump-action, durable, lightweight
MSRP: $851
Description:
Combining the proven performance and durability of the 500-
pump action platform with FLEX Modular technology, the
Mossberg FLEX 500 Tactical Shotgun adapts quickly to any
task. Giving you trustworthy performance with amazing versa-
tility, the FLEX 500 Tactical comes with an adjustable, six-posi-
tion Tactical Synthetic stock and Tri-Rail Tactical Forend. The
modular capability of the Tool-Less Locking System allows this
gun to quickly and easily switch out stocks, forends and recoil
pads to match your shooting application. The FLEX 500 Tactical
sports a 20-inch cylinder bore barrel, 3-inch chamber, tan fin-
ish, black synthetic stock, shooting handle, forend and bead
sight.
GLOCK
Model: GLOCK 17
www.glock.com
Key features: Reduced recoil, 17 rounds, ideal for new
shooters
MSRP: $440
Description:
Designed for professionals, the GLOCK 17, in 9x19, is the most
widely used law enforcement pistol worldwide. Despite its
popularity with the police, the GLOCK 17 is a great survival gun
for the outdoors. It’s called the GLOCK 17 for a good reason – it
has the magazine capacity of 17 rounds, good enough to pro-
tect you from perpetrators and even bears you may encounter.
Because of its unsurpassed reliability and low weight, this
GLOCK is trusted by law enforcement officers around the globe.
With the company’s revolutionary “Safe Action” trigger system,
the G17 9x19 pistol is safe, easy, and quick – just what you
need in high-pressure situations.
TAURUS
Model: Judge
www.taurususa.com
Key features: Five-round cylinder, double-action, shock-
absorbing grips
MSRP: $449.99
Description:
Taurus Judge is your all-in-one self-defense weapon: judge,
jury and executioner. The verdict is in and the judge has ruled
in your favor when it comes to portable power and versatility in
a handgun. With the option of shooting both .45 Long Colt car-
tridges and .410 shotgun shells, you’ll be prepared for any
short-range situation. The finely-tuned rifling is engineered to
optimally guide .45-caliber bullets and spread the patterns of
shotshells. All models have special shock-absorbing rubber
grips and a point-and-shoot front fiber-optic sight.
RUGER
Model: American Rifle
www.ruger.com
Key features: Adjustable trigger, free-floating barrel, bedded
receiver
MSRP: $449.99
Description:
Made right here in the United States, the Ruger American Rifle
is a rifle you can rely on to protect you and your entire family.
Sporting the latest engineering innovations from Ruger, its
Marksman Adjustable Trigger can adjust between three and
five pounds, breaks clean and provides customization for the
individual shooter. The ergonomic and lightweight stock deliv-
ers a comfortable fit and makes for quick, easy handling. Grip
serrations offer a positive hold in a variety of conditions. The
Ruger soft-rubber recoil pad dramatically reduces felt recoil,
and the hammer-forged barrel is ultraprecise, delivering
exceptional accuracy, longevity and easy cleaning.
1
2
3
4
SELECTING THE IDEAL SURVIVAL GUN
Shopping for a survival gun is a lot different than a firearm
for home defense. “I would think you would want a gun that
would last a long time with minimal maintenance,” says Dave
Spaulding, owner and chief instructor at Handgun Combat-
ives. “Access to replacement parts would also be limited to
non-existent, so you would certainly need to keep that in
mind,” Spaulding suggests. “First on my list would be some
type of bolt-action rifle with a short action so you could cycle
it quickly but also light in weight for transport.”
4
$449.99
RUGER
2
$440
GLOCK
3
$449.99
TAURUS
1
$851
MOSSBERG
GW_ASG5_BG_GUNS 5/28/13 5:42 AM Page 116
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BENELLI
Model: Nova Pump Tactical
www.benelliusa.com
Key features: Durable, 3 choke tubes, ergonomic
MSRP: $519.99
Description:
The Benelli Nova series embodies a modular design con-
cept in a pump-action shotgun. With the optional
SteadyGrip stock, this 12-gauge shotgun can be trans-
formed into a high-performance turkey gun or mount a
fully-rifled slug barrel for tack-driving accuracy on deer.
It’s the perfect versatile weapon – it’s like having sev-
eral Benelli shotguns in one. There’s even a barrel with
rifle sights for home defense and the Nova Tactical fitted
with a ghost-ring rear sight. At the heart of this new
pump gun is a lightweight steel skeleton framework
over-molded with a high-tech polymer, making these
shotguns super-light, super-strong and almost com-
pletely impervious to any weather condition.
SMITH & WESSON
Model: Model 29
www.smith-wesson.com
Key features: Double-action, six-round capacity, very
powerful
MSRP: $1,129
Description:
Smith & Wesson Model 29 is the stuff legends are made
of. This famous gun once held the prestigious title as the
“most powerful handgun in the world.” It’s every bit as
powerful as the movies have portrayed it. With the abil-
ity to fire a capacity of six rounds, it’s guaranteed to
stop the largest of animals from bears to deer. Model 29
is a great multi-purpose weapon – whether you’re look-
ing to go out hunting, for home protection or to add it to
your gun collection.
5
6
6
$1,129
SMITH & WESSON
5
$519.99
BENELLI
Order
your copy
Today!
Call us at
1-800-764-6278
www.engagedmediamags.com
Dillon Leather
by Mitch Rosen!
Dillon Leather
by Mitch Rosen!
www.dillonprecision.com
FREE Catalog K01-14690, Call 800-762-3845
5JR-DL $75
A
full-length belt slide that offers all-day
comfort and superior concealment for an
outside-the-pants belt holster.
Beretta 92 K01-18817
Colt Government Model K01-18810
Colt Commander K01-18811
Colt Officers K01-18812
CZ-75 K01-18823
Glock 17, 22, 31 K01-18813
Glock 19, 23, 32 K01-18814
Glock 26, 27, 33 K01-18815
Glock 20, 21 K01-18816
Makarov K01-18819
SIG P220, P226 K01-18818
SIG P228, P229 K01-18827
S&W M&P 9mm/.40 K01-19011
S&W M&P .45 ACP K01-19012
S&W 2” J-Frame Revolver K01-18820
S&W 4” K-Frame Revolver K01-18821
S&W 4” Lugged Bbl. L-Fr. Rev. K01-18822
S&W 4” Light Bbl. N-Fr. Rev. K01-18824
S&W 4” Lugged Bbl. N-Fr. Rev. K01-18826
S&W 5” Lugged Bbl. N-Fr. Rev. K01-18894
Springfield Armory XD 4” K01-18825
Springfield Armory XD 5” K01-18874
Ruger 2.25” SP-101 Revolver K01-18828

GW_ASG5_BG_GUNS 5/28/13 5:42 AM Page 117
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buyer’s
Guide
GUNS
BUSHMASTER
Model: AR-15
www.bushmaster.com
Key features: Reliable, ideal for hunting and tactical use
MSRP: $849.99
Description:
Bring one of the world’s most popular military and law-
enforcement models to the outdoors. The M4 Type features
the distinctive M4 barrel profile and a six-position telescop-
ing stock. The 14.5-inch barrel is outfitted with a perma-
nently attached Izzy flash suppressor that brings total barrel
length to 16 inches (legal for civilian use). The barrel is
hard-chrome-lined in both bore and chamber for long life
and ease of cleaning. An A3 upper receiver with a Picatinny
rail for mounting sights, scopes or optics includes a remov-
able carry handle with a 300- to 600-meter rear sight sys-
tem that has 1/2-MOA elevation and windage adjustments.
The Bushmaster AR-15 also features 30-round magazine,
orange safety block and black web sling.
SIG SAUER
Model: P226
www.sigsaucer.com
Key features: Highly accurate, exceptional ergonomics,
reliable
MSRP: $899.99
Description:
The SIG Sauer P226 is the pistol that set the standard
against which all other combat handguns are measured.
Designed as SIG’s entrant in the military trials to replace the
1911, today the P226 is in use by the U.S. Navy SEALs, fed-
eral agents, and numerous law enforcement agencies
including the Texas Rangers, Ohio State Highway Patrol and
the Michigan State Police, to name a few. The exceptional
ergonomics and balance make this full-sized pistol easy to
handle anywhere, including the outdoors. Available in either
9mm, .357 SIG or .40 S&W, its longer barrel yields better
ballistic performance and accuracy.
WEATHERBY
Model: SA-459 TR
www.weatherby.com
Key features: Semi-auto action, dependable, ideal for out-
door and home defense
MSRP: $699
Description:
The Weatherby Threat Response pump-action shotgun fea-
tures the unique Proveil’s Black 3D Skull Camo pattern. This
isn’t your run-of-the-mill shotgun – it looks and feels unlike
any other factory shotgun on the market. The stock has a
comfortable pistol grip with a rubber textured grip area and
the chrome-lined 18 1/2-inch barrel has a removable
ported-cylinder choke tube. The receiver features a Mil-
spec top-mount Picatinny accessory rail and includes an
adjustable rear LPA-style ghost ring sight.
RUGER
Model: Gunsite Scout Rifle
www.ruger.com
Key features: Lightweight, compact, fast handling
MSRP: $ 949.99
Description:
Based on the scout-rifle concept — capable of handling
just about any hunting or survival situation — this rugged
firearm delivers versatility and power in a light, compact,
fast-handling rifle. It’s chambered in .308 Winchester and
outfitted with a 10-round detachable magazine, enough to
stop anything that might come at you. The Gunsite boasts a
sturdy Mauser-type extractor, adjustable rear peep sight
with post front sight, and weather-resistant stock with
recoil pad, allowing it to withstand even the harshest of
conditions.
7
8
9
10
RELIABLE
GUNS YOU
CAN TRUST
Are you feeling over-
whelmed with the sheer
number of guns on the
market? We’ve listed a
host of excellent sur-
vival guns. Dave
Spaulding recommends
his own picks. If you’re
in the market for a
shotgun, you’ll want a
low-cost, light and
robust gun like the
Ruger Gunsite Scout
rifle or the Ruger
American.
“Another good
idea would be a
pump-action shotgun
like a Remington 870
or Mossberg 500/590,
again due to simplicity
an robust parts,”
Spaulding says.
If a shotgun isn’t
your cup of tea, there
are plenty of reliable
handguns out there.
“For a handgun I would
want a .44 caliber
revolver,” says Spauld-
ing. “A double-action
model would be faster
to shoot and I would
want to shoot specials
instead of Magnums.
Both Ruger and Smith &
Wesson have good
models.”
“A semi-auto
would not be my
choice for ‘survival’
as I see it, but if a
pistol was what I had,
I would want it to be
a Glock due to low
maintenance and the
fact it only has 33
parts,” Spaulding
adds.
8
$899.99
SIG SAUER
7
$849.99
BUSHMASTER
10
$949.99
RUGER
9
$699
WEATHERBY
GW_ASG5_BG_GUNS 5/21/13 11:10 PM Page 118
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THE FINE ART OF SURVIVAL IS NEVER MORE INTENSE THAN
WHEN YOU VENTURE OUT INTO THE WILD… FAR FROM THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF CIVILIZATION. OUT THERE, YOU
CAN REALLY, TRULY BE ON YOUR OWN. NATURALLY,
ARMING YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE AND THE PROPER
GEAR CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
In the following pages, you’ll learn how to distinguish the edible from the
inedible and even the poisonous when grabbing the “ultimate meal-on-the go.”
Also, we provide your “first line of defense,” with tips on the definitive articles
of clothing you’ll need to protect yourself from the elements.
Into the wild? And back again.
In This Section…
• Backcountry Lunch Special
• What To Wear Out There
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Blazing your own trail can be a trial
Survival? It’ s
Only Natural
W
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GW_ASG5_WILD 5/21/13 3:54 AM Page 120
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OU CAN’T WALK THROUGH A FIELD, FOREST, SWAMP OR
EVEN YOUR OWN BACKYARD WITHOUT PASSING BY (OR
STEPPING ON) WILD EDIBLE PLANTS. Uninhabited areas, and even
urban locations, contain nutritious wild food that’s free for the taking—if you
know what to look for. The same plant foods that sustained our ancestors are
still out there growing as they always have. Learn what those things are, and you’ll gain
a back-up food supply that’s available year-round.
Ultimate Meal
On-The-Go
From Acorns To Walnuts—
Know Where You Can Gather
Your Next Lunch When
You’re In The Backcountry
“Don’t use the ‘Universal
Edibility Test.’ This is the
test where you expose
yourself to a mystery plant
in increasingly greater
doses over time. This test
could get you killed.”
Y
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e
By Tim MacWelch
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MEAL
Acorns Are
Your Friends
The nuts produced by any
oak tree (trees in the genus
Quercus) are a plentiful, high-
calorie wild food crop around the
Northern Hemisphere. Coming in
at just over 2,000 calories per
pound, acorns are too valuable to
ignore, despite their bitter flavor
and previous misinformation. Just
make sure you can tell the differ-
ence between an acorn and a
buckeye, because buckeyes (and
the very similar-looking horse
chestnut) are poisonous.
To prepare your acorns,
crack them out of their shells and
break any large nut pieces into
smaller bits. Then soak the acorn
chunks in water to remove the
bitter and irritating tannic acid.
Don’t boil acorns, because it locks
in some of the bitterness perma-
nently. Just soak the acorns in a
few changes of water, for a few
hours per soaking. If the water
was safe to drink, taste a piece of
acorn to see if it’s still bitter. If
you don’t like it, dump off the
water (which should look brown
after a few hours of soaking), add
fresh water and soak the acorn
pieces again for a few hours.
Repeat this as needed, depending
on the acorn’s bitterness.
Once they taste acceptable,
let the acorns dry out for a few
hours. Then you can run them
through a grain grinder, blender
or flour mill to make acorn flour.
Add this flour to existing recipes,
or try making traditional acorn
porridge by simmering acorn
flour, water and maple syrup.
Focus On
Other Tree
Nuts
The walnut family gives us
the highest-calorie wild food
available. Black walnut, but-
ternut walnut, pecan and
hickory are all in this family,
and the shelled-out nut meats
of these trees can provide
you with a high-fat food that’s
almost 200 calories per ounce.
Beechnut, hazelnut and even pine
nuts can also be eaten, after pick-
ing the nut meats from shattered
shells, assuming you can beat the
squirrels to them.
Spring Brings
Great Salad
With all the fresh green
growth, you’d think spring would
provide you with a lot of food,
and it does—but it’s all very
watery, low-calorie food. Most of
the leaves, shoots and other
spring vegetables provide only 20-
30 calories per plateful. However,
spring makes up for this low-calo-
rie situation by offering us a great
variety of tasty wild salads, flow-
ers, shoots, tubers and roots.
Among the tastiest spring edi-
bles are dandelion greens and
flowers, watercress in a salad,
spring beauty bulbs, fresh chick-
weed, redbud tree flowers, and
sassafras roots, which I use for
tea and homemade root beer.
Summer
Offers Berries
And Fruit
Blackberries and all of their
kin (raspberries, dewberries,
thimble berries, etc.) provide a
great-tasting summertime berry.
The vitamin- and mineral-rich
berries provide about 50 calories
per cup, and can be squeezed for
their juice to provide safe hydra-
tion, a pleasant juice or even a
winemaking ingredient.
Other summer treats include
CLOCKWISE FROM
TOP LEFT: Wild berries
like these blackberries
can be an amazing sum-
mer treat if you find them
in the wild. • Wild rose
hips provide you with a
great dose of Vitamin C,
and taste great. • Dande-
lion greens are a great
base for a salad. Keep in
mind that you can also
eat the flowers of these
plants. • Be sure to soak
acorn pieces in water
before you eat them to
remove the bitter tannic
acid. • Walnuts provide
the highest calorie foods
available in the wild.
DON’T IGNORE
WINTER FOODS
Even though winter seems
like a bleak season to scav-
enge for food, it still provides
a great number of edible
plants. Pine needles are a vit-
amin C powerhouse in winter.
Positively identify pine, chop
up a tablespoon of needles
and soak them in scalding hot
water for 10 minutes to get
four to five times your daily
requirement of vitamin C. Just
skip the loblolly pine on the
east coast and the ponderosa
pine, as these may have toxins
in the needles. And for women
who may be or are pregnant,
don’t consume pine needle tea
at all.
If you have an abundance
of pine and a shortage of food,
you can eat the inner pine
bark as well. Shave off the
inner layer, dry it and grind it
into flour that provides 600
calories per pound. Other win-
ter wild foods can include left-
over tree nuts from the fall,
and tenacious wild salad
plants like dandelion, plantain,
clover and wintercress.
GW_ASG5_EDIBLE 5/21/13 4:02 AM Page 122
123
milkweed pods (boiled in changes
of water to remove toxins), blue-
berries, wild cherries, burdock
leaf and root, and paw paw fruit.
Fall Foraging
Will Keep You
Full
While you can get your high-
est calories of the year by forag-
ing tree nuts in the fall, you can
also get your highest source of
vitamin C this time of year. One
cup of wild rose hips contains
162 calories and seven times your
daily allowance of vitamin C.
Rose hips also provide vitamin A,
vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium,
manganese and magnesium.
In the plant kingdom, red
berries are just as likely to be
good or bad (you have about a
50/50 shot at either), so to avoid
getting the wrong fruit or berry,
look for semi-evergreen com-
pound leaves and thorns on your
wild rose bushes. Other fall
favorites include the persimmon
fruit (which is one of the best
tasting edibles in late fall),
Jerusalem artichoke tubers, cattail
rootstocks, barberries, curly
dock seeds (which I grind into
flour) and wild grapes.
Tim MacWelch has been an outdoor writer for
numerous publications over the past 10 years. He’s
also been a professional wilderness survival instruc-
tor for the past 17 years. For information on his
school, visit www.advancedsurvivaltraining.com.
HEED THESE TIPS
BEFORE YOU GATHER YOUR NEXT MEAL
Before you start foraging,
understand that there are some
deadly plants out there that you
should avoid. Poison hemlock,
fool’s parsley, water hemlock,
pokeberry fruits, and many other
plants and plant parts are capable
of killing the careless and unobser-
vant wild food enthusiast. With that
in mind, consider these guidelines:
• Carefully identify the edible plant
with a good book, like Peterson’s
Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants.
Alternately, you can take a wild
edible plant class or go foraging
with someone who is well versed
in this area.
• Learn which poisonous plants are
in your region, and avoid them
like the plague.
• Learn how to use the plants,
which parts to use and when they
are available.
• Wash your wild edibles to avoid
pathogens deposited on them by
birds and bugs.
• Don’t collect near areas that
could be contaminated with pes-
ticides, pollution, or chemicals.
Avoid harvesting near conven-
tional farm fields, roads, landfills,
power lines, train tracks or
drainage ponds.
• Don’t use the “Universal Edibility
Test.” This is the test where you
expose yourself to a mystery
plant in increasingly greater
doses over time. This test could
get you killed.
• Just try one new wild food at a
time, after determining edibility,
so you can tell which plant
doesn’t agree with you—in case
of allergic reaction to a new food.
• Just because an animal ate it,
doesn’t mean that you can. Even
other mammals can eat plants
that would kill a person. Every
creature metabolizes plants dif-
ferently.
• And last but definitely not least—
if you’re in doubt of the plant’s
identity, don’t eat it!
“Among the tastiest spring edibles are
dandelion greens and flowers, water-
cress in a salad, spring beauty bulbs,
fresh chickweed, redbud tree flow-
ers, and sassafras roots, which I use
for tea and homemade root beer. “
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NLIKE OUR FRIENDS IN THE ANIMAL
KINGDOM, WE DO NOT HAVE HEAVY
FUR COATS TO PROTECT OURSELVES
FROM THE HARSH EFFECTS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.
Our first line of defense from the world around us is our clothing;
it not only protects us from the elements but at times from man-
made hazards as well. When an emergency happens, you might
not be suited up to bugging out. In our daily lives it’s appropriate
that we dress to suit our careers or “real world” activities, so you
definitely should make clothing an important part of your emer-
gency planning.
When you lay out your emergency plans, remember to have a
complete clothing system ready to go for each individual in your
household. With clothing being such an important part of our sur-
vival, it amazes me on how little time people typically spend learn-
ing about what makes an article of clothing a solid piece of kit. Fol-
low along as we reveal the most important features to look for in
clothing choices.
FIRST LAYER
When building any clothing system, we first think in layers.
The foundation comes first, as in your underwear. First and fore-
most, buy quality underwear.
Your run-of-the-mill department store merchandise is not
meant to take the abuse you might have to put it through during
an emergency. You want well-constructed underwear with wick-
ing features, which means the under garment is constructed with
dual-purpose layering. The layer closest to your skin is meant to
124
LINE OF
DEFENSE
Learn What To Wear To Protect
Yourself Against The Elements
By Abe Elias
U
ST
1
PROTECT YOUR EYES
Don’t forget a good pair of sunglasses. Performance eyewear can make a difference, so
be prepared. Look for a pair engineered for all-day comfort that features polarized, HDV,
high-definition viewing; secure nonslip silicone pad system; full-spectrum UV protection;
ergonomic face-hugging design; and shatter-resistant polycarbonate lenses.
GW_ASG5_WEAR 5/21/13 11:23 PM Page 124
125
“Unlike our friends in the animal
kingdom we do not have heavy
fur coats to protect ourselves
from the harsh effects of the
environment.” — Abe Elias
GW_ASG5_WEAR 5/21/13 11:23 PM Page 125
draw moisture (your own sweat) from your
body and wick it to the outside layers, where
it evaporates. This important feature thus will
help prevent chafing and rashes, which could
become open sores and get infected. Wicking
also helps keep the cold moisture from rest-
ing against the skin, which can lead to
hypothermia.
Keeping dry can boost morale, because
you’ll feel much worse after 72 hours in the
same clothing if your base layer is soggy and
has caused problems.
Regarding underwear: choose the type
with the fewest number of seams, which indi-
cates they’re put together soundly and will
stay strong.
MID LAYER
The next layer is mid layer, and you
should always go with a long-sleeve shirt for
protection from plant life in the woods or
debris in an urban setting. If it gets hot you
can roll the sleeves up, but you can’t get
much warmth from a short-sleeve model
when it’s cold.
Again, look for a minimum of seams for a
durable garment, and try to find shirts that
feature reinforcements at the elbows and
yoke. Also, look for large buttons because
they’re easier to manipulate and less likely to
break. Choose a simple design with no fancy
additions; these items are just easier to get
caught up and snagged on things. Make sure
the shirt is lightweight; you can always add
layers when it’s cold, but when it’s hot you
need to keep a layer for protection from the
sun and objects that might scratch or cut you,
so the lighter the better. Last, buy something
roomy so you have freedom of movement,
but don’t choose one that’s too baggy
because, again, it will just get hung up on
something.
OUTER WEAR
The first thing to talk about regarding
pants is fit. It’s essential to choose loose-fit-
ting pants for movement and for sitting (a
pair of ill-fitting pants can cut off or reduce
the circulation to your legs). Should you need
to bug out and you have to drive for hours, a
lack of circulation will reduce your physical
mobility when it’s time for you to move.
126
WEAR
POCKET THIS
INFORMATION
Ever heard the saying “give a man a
bigger space and he will fill it”? When it
comes to picking out clothing, avoid get-
ting items with too many pockets. You
will be tempted to carry too much gear,
which wears on the clothing and weighs
you down. Shirts are fine with two pock-
ets, and pants should ideally have six.
Try to look at extra pockets as a spare
shopping bag in which you can put an
emergency item.
5 KEYS TO THE
PERFECT PANTS
• Button fly, not zipper
• Loose fitting
• No bulky seams
• Reinforced crotch,
knees, seat
• Deep pockets
GW_ASG5_WEAR 5/21/13 11:23 PM Page 126
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GW_ASG5_127 5/21/13 10:45 PM Page 127
WEAR
Because pants take a lot of abuse, make sure key areas are rein-
forced, such as the crotch, knees and seat areas. Also make sure the
reinforced areas don’t have bulky seams in places where your legs will
rub together. If you’re not wearing gaiters the cuffs of your pants take a
beating, so they should be reinforced with scuff plates (extra patches of
cloth on the inseam of the ankle) or solidly doubled over.
Note: Never stuff your cuffs into your socks because that will allow
debris and dirt to enter your shoes, which presents a another whole set
of problems. The main pockets on a pair of pants should be deep and the
opening should be loose enough to allow you to stick your hand in for
quick access yet tight enough to help keep debris out.
Last, try to find pants with a button fly; it’s a lot easier to repair but-
tons in the field then it is to fix a broken zipper.
STRENGTH
While we may not have the fur our animal friends do, we can still
prepare properly for the elements. It’s our first line of defense. Make it
strong.
Abe Elias is a survivalist who lives in Canada.
BOOT CAMP
Get A Solid Foundation
Your feet, more than any other
part of your body, take the most
abuse, so why not take a few min-
utes to take care of something that’s
supposed to last you a lifetime?
1. Early bird gets the bad boot:
Setting out first thing in the morn-
ing to go shopping for boots will just
get you a bad fit. Your feet spread out
and get bigger over the course of the
day, so it’s best to go shopping later
in the afternoon after your feet have
had a chance to swell.
2. Keys to a good fit:
Leave yourself some room for dif-
ferent-thickness socks and leave at
least a finger’s space between your
heel and the back of the boot so when
the boot is done up you don’t get
bruised toes from hitting the front of
the boot.
3.Lightweight vs. heavyweight:
Heavy boots give you better pro-
tection but will tire you out on long
hikes. Light boots are easier to walk in
but might not provide enough insula-
tion when you’re sitting in a tree stand
or duck blind. Choose the weight of
the boot according to its intended use.
4. Breaking them in:
Take the time for a proper break-
in. Wear them on short walks with the
proper socks on to slowly work in the
fit. With all-leather uppers, use a mix-
ture of 50/50 rubbing alcohol and
water to soak the boots, and then
wear them until they dry for a quick
break-in.
5. Lace ’em up:
If you buy a high top-style boot
then lace them up. The higher boots
are meant to provide you with extra
ankle support when you carry loads or
negotiate rough terrain, and they can’t
do their job if you leave them unlaced.
6. Fewer seams are stronger:
Seams are the weakest part in a
boot so a boot with fewer seams
stands to have less chance of failing.
So when you’re looking for a set of
boots, keep your eye out for a design
with the fewest number of seams.
7. Socks matter:
Boots don’t work on their own; it
pays to buy good socks and layer
them. Your first layer should be a
wicking sock designed to draw the
moisture away from your foot. Damp
feet are often cold, sore feet that are
prone to blistering. Your second layer
is your insulating layer, so vary your
sock thickness according to tempera-
ture.
8. Taking out the rub:
Blisters are basically friction burns
that develop from a bad rubbing spot.
Try placing a piece of duct tape over
the spot that rubs in the boot; the
outer, smoother side of the tape will
allow your foot to glide across that
spot instead of rub.
128
“When you lay out your emergency
plans, remember to have a complete
clothing system ready to go for each
individual in your household.”
— Abe Elias
SUMMING IT UP
Shirt Basics Recap
• Loose-fitting
• Buttons, not zippers
• Minimum of seams
• Reinforced elbows,
yoke
• No fancy design
additions
• Lightweight
• Roomy, but
not baggy
VERSATILE TRIO
Accessories You Need
Gloves are a super-important item
because they not only keep your
hands warm but also protect them. It
would be nearly impossible to survive
without using your hands, so protect-
ing them is uber important.
A large bandana or shemag can be
used for any number of purposes,
including as headgear, a cleaning
tool, a sweat rag or even a bandage.
A good hat is indispensible,
because it keeps your head warm at
the point from which you lose the
most body heat and protects you from
the sun. I usually go with earth tones
when picking a hat. I also look for
wide-brimmed hats to guard against
the sun, and a pull-down feature to
protect the ears is ideal. If you plan
on doing any traveling by water, make
sure the underside of the brim is a
dark, non-reflective color, as the
glare of the sun on the water will
have a greater effect with a light-col-
ored brimmed hat.
Keep these three items on you and
you’ll have a versatile trio that will
help you face any challenge.
GW_ASG5_WEAR 5/21/13 11:23 PM Page 128
Now

American Survival Guide

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AD I NDEX
Advertiser Page
Blade-Tech Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
CampingSurvival.com (JHL Supply) . . . . . . . . 37
Coast Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Dillon Precision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
DSG Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Knife and Gun Finishing Supply . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Knife Center Of The Internet . . . . . . . . . . 129
Long Life Food Depot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Major Surplus & Survival . . . . . . . . . . . 10 - 11
Nitro-Pak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Paladin Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Randall Made Knives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Savage Arms, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Security Disaster Shelters . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
SOG Specialty Knives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Survival Bags Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
TOPS Knives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Tormach LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery . . . . . . . . . . . . . CO. 2
129
GW_ASG5_AD_Index 5/23/13 8:38 AM Page 129
CLOSING WORDS
T
H
I
N
K
S
T
O
C
K
 
P
H
O
T
O
130
“The backbone of success is usually
found in old-fashioned, basic concepts
like hard work, determination, good
planning and perseverance.”
— Mia Hamm, retired American soccer player
GW_ASG5_CLOSING 5/21/13 4:38 AM Page 130
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