5 Things YOU'LL WISH You Spent the Money on 

I'm a senior woman, after 911 I left NYC and bought a house on 1 acre of land with a large creek in the Catskill mountains. I sew, garden, can and dehydrate foods. I plan on getting chickens. I'm preparing for whatever comes and learning survival skills. I've been prepping for 10 years. Thanks for the tips I definitely will buy a Leatherman.

We bought a piece of land with a creek last year. We built a shed with thick insulation since we live in a cold climate. I am glad we did the right thing 👍

I built a storeroom with 6 inch thick reinforced concrete walls that also doubles as a crisis shelter. The building is half below ground and half above ground, which reduces problems with ground water and also allows windows for ventilation. It is a very useful building, as it is strong and also has a high thermal inertia, so it stays cool during hot days and warm during cold nights. We live in the rural Philippines (jungle with lots of coconut trees) and earthquakes and typhoons are common national hazards - Category 5 Typhoon Rai went right over the top of us on the night of December 16/17, 2021, and we still do not have electric power 3 months later. The shelter was good for that typhoon, but during hot days (30+ degrees Celsius) it serves as a naturally cool space that does not need electric fans or an aircon.

What I would add as an alternative to the Harvest Freeze dry is: for those that this is out of their budget invest in a couple of good dehydrators and dehydrate your food. Dehydrators are much more budget friendly.

Here's a suggestion for those who can't afford additional land. Look for nearby land that no one minds if you improve. My HOA owns several acres of woodland that the city requires to absorb water runoff. It was turning into a nasty thicket filled with invasive plants. I'm clearing them out and planting fruit-bearing native species that are well-adapted to the location. For now, they'll feed the wildlife. But if the matters turn sour, I'll join them in the dining.

Back when we were using covered wagons, the pioneers used to bring their tools with just the metal parts. They would make the wooden handles when they arrived on the homesite. They also burned down houses to get the nails back. If that tells you how important those things were.

All great items. One simple tool that people will probably go crazy for is a can opener. At least 3-5 can openers is ideal.

Great content! But I have to ask why is no one talking about seeds? By far the most important thing to store. Seeds are life! Unfortunately, you cannot do much with land without seeds.

I live in rural Maine and have 10 acres. I have a well and a generator and multiple fuel sources. I have been prepping for past 10 years and been stocking up on can goods and I stocked up on the dry freezer foods. No one is really ready for what might happen but at least I’ve put myself and family in a good position to survive for a while. Stay frosty and good luck.

I’m a senior female living in an urban, desert environment. I will shelter in place so I try to conceal my preparations as much as possible. My efforts at “climate control” also serve as ways to conceal what I have (insulated window coverings, landscaping,etc). Because I live in the desert, water is a priority. I have multiple 55 gallon drums that are “hidden” by landscaping. I do have some fruit trees and other edible shrubs interspersed with non edible landscaping. I keep the common yet thornier plants around the perimeter of the yard to discourage “visitors”. I’m trying to transition to indoor hydroponics because it uses less water and is less obvious than outdoor gardening. I have a Zero Water pitcher, a Sawyer mini and a filter attached to the water drums. I have a dehydrator but can go back to dehydrating food outside if necessary. I store the dehydrated food in vacuum sealed jars and the jars are concealed in furniture. I have a food saver and a brake bleeder as back up to seal the jars. I try to buy non perishable food items in bulk. I have a GoSun solar cooker for boiling water or cooking small amounts of food. I have a variety of solar lights and items with solar chargers. I have fire starting tools/materials but confess I need to practice. I have a multi-tool. I’m continuing to replace electric tools and appliances with manual versions. My goal is to invest in a portable solar system within the next 12 months to run a small energy efficient cooling unit if the grid is down.

Great suggestions. My husband and I have already begun to stock up on food. We have at least a years worth of emergency food. I'm fortunate to live on the farm I grew up on, so we already have 165 acres of land. I am learning to garden this year. While I get why people want to have investments like Bitcoin, gold and silver, if things really get bad, they will be worthless. You will need skills, food, supplies, etc. to barter with. Thanks for this!

Some things I haven't seen mentioned in any prep videos is good boots and gloves or much about clothing at all. I have a military arctic grade coat and wow, it works. And there's cargo pants, the kind with pockets, out of style now but they're very practical. Good warm hats for winter and hats for summer- shade for the head. The clothes we have won't last forever so we need to think about what we'll do when we're needing more.

Dehydrator and vacuum sealer would be a more affordable option to a freeze dryer. They’re $4000+C🇨🇦 I like the thermos “cooking.“ It’s odourless, until you open it, and simple. Put dehydrated food in thermos, add boiling water. Wait. Play with proportions, preferably ahead of time.

1) skills (including medical) 2) multitool (listen to brands he has, incl. Leatherman) 3) water (Berkey filters) plus purification, (zeo water) 4) food (incl. freeze dried food) 5) land

Solar. Thank you for your calm & caring delivery of your message. I do feel my anxiety building because I have started preparing but needed to communicate the urgency to my 30 year old daughter who lives about 19 hours away without chaos & my 75+ year old parents who live about 15+ hours away without chaos in the opposite direction. I’m trying to give them lists, send them you tube videos, call for status updates & send them kits. Thanks for the reminder to be calm & steady. God bless & take care.

YES ! ! ! My mantra was always "Use every item of your equipment BEFORE you need it, before your life may depend on it!"

I think a good honorable mention along side the top 5 would be getting some [advanced] first aid training. If you have the time, go through first responder training. And build a trauma kit. Not just burn cream and band aids, a full blown trauma kit (aka: a crash kit). Even if the S never hits the F, or the EOTWAWKI never happens, It is a good tool to have in your tool box. Knowing how to save a life could save a life.

I always find it funny in prepper/preparedness communities how skills are thought of. A lot of us spent decades living in the woods, hiking, camping, building forts/blinds, hunting, fishing, foraging, and cooking. We had a knife in our pocket and a way to start fire from as young as 8-10 yrs old, every single day. We made fish traps, primitive traps for squirrels and such. As we grew older we started raising our own livestock, gardening, canning, dehydrating, and stockpiling groceries. Mainly because we only went to the store 1-2 times a month. We have all other bases covered on the farm, but it has been all for other reasons other then prepping.

I learned all these survival skills as a kid. The Internet was for school hours only. I worked close to for free, for tradesmen anytime they would let me. Carpentry, plumbing, electricians, surveyors, brick masons, welders, mechanics. Learned the basics, studied and got licensed.

Looking at the LTS foods that I bought in 2012 and comparing the prices today. A good investment considering prices are 30-50% more today. It seemed expensive when I started prepping but now I see that it was well worth it.

I agree about property, but if for some reason you cannot move to your rural property - bugging out could be dicey. I’m looking at a spot three hours drive from our home - If SHTF bad enough that I have to walk, foraging and guarding against strangers, it would take at least a year if I survived. That would be alone or accompanied by equally skilled people. My dogs simply couldn’t make it and even my wife would double time and difficulty while upping risks even more dramatically. In other words, if getting a hunting cabin as bug out destination be certain you will be on the road early enough to drive the whole way. Figure 2-10 times usual drive time, similar gas consumption, and carry all the gas you need. If you’re watching the news, be prepared to be teased for being paranoid for routinely bugging out before nothing happens. If you wait until it’s certain - you’ll be too late.

Water is still coming out of the tap and people so underestimate the need to be able to purify water! Freeze driers are a luxury. Dehydration and canning are more important and doing it without electricity. We have lived through such prosperous times with modern conveniences most have no idea! Land is the top of the list!

We bought a little piece of land upstate as plan B. It started off small but we have built that thing strong. Bought some guns as a full backup to protect everything. Because what’s it worth if you can’t protect it. We have over a year of food and water. And everyday we are making it better.. thanks for the good tips.

Here is my list of five top things anyone should have in their possession or be able to access to just in case the grid goes down for weeks or they have to evacuate and do dispersed camping on public land: 1) a method of transportation (anything from a pair of walking shoes and good socks, to a bicycle, saddle horse, canoe or engine-powered vehicle plus supply of fuel), 2) a way to stay clean (could be a wash cloth, a bar of soap, a toothbrush and a clothesline, to a solar shower, to having the cash money to use a truck stop shower or to have a national gym membership and access to their showers), 3) some kind of latrine or toilet (could be a garden trowel to dig a cat hole, to a chemical camp toilet, composting toilet or access to a real restroom somewhere), 4) shelter from the elements (could be a tarp, a blanket and some cardboard boxes from a dumpster, to a backpacker tent and sleeping bag, access to a garden shed, barn or empty garage, car camping....) and 5) a way to prepare inexpensive meals (could be a nesting set of backpacker cookware plus a folding grate for a campfire, to a butane or propane camp stove, or even an RV with a kitchen and onboard generator to power that microwave). If I had to choose a sixth thing, it would be a way to get emergency news and weather news (could a small portable Am/FM radio with both battery and solar power, to a smart phone plus solar panel for charging it to a shortwave HAM radio set-up or even a satellite phone). For those who already have the skills and experience to hunt and fish for food and to build a cabin and make the furniture for it, it is good to have a hunting knife, basic fishing gear, deer rifle and ammo for it, hunting bow plus arrows, pruning saw, hatchet, axe, whetstone, hammer and a keg of nails.

My parents bought an older farmhouse on 20 acres in 1973 and I inherited it two years ago after my mother passed away 15 years after my father. It has a deep nearly two acre pond, with the rest divided between a large yard and larger woods. Nearly perfect. At the present time it is my wife's and I weekend getaway place and refuge for what is coming. We live in a small country town of 1400 people with the farmplace 11 miles away and it is six miles from the nearest town of around 6,000. We are in the southern half of Illinois and do I wish it was out west somewhere like Idaho, Montana, Wyoming? Certainly. But when you look on the voting map, the land mass of Illinois is around 95% red with Chicago, Springfield and a couple of college towns providing the blue areas and a little over half of the population which shifts the balance of power somewhat. We feel very fortunate for what we have and are taking every advantage we can to up our preps and knowledge. Both my wife's and I's parents grew up in the Great Depression and knew about surviving which was taught to us just by observing how they did things and mindset. Crack on!

The Sawyer Mini is a great water filter. Very light and compact. Good for when you are on the move.

I'm Sixty four. I've been post colon cancer treatment for two years. I've started prepping for shtf time for a year. These five things are a great list to start with. I'm also an eagle scout from boy scouts oh so long ago. I do love going in the woods and practicing for end times. I need an idea for dealing with my new normal from cancer treatment when out there.

I have had the Harvest Right medium size freeze dryer for 4 years and I absolutely love it. Before it we canned, dehydrated froze and smoked our various harvests. The freeze dryer is the crown jewel of our preps now.

I use a freeze dryer ; the biggest difference is a freeze dryer does not evaporate away the flavor and nutrition. Some foods will be fresh for 25 years and meat will last at least 10 years. I have freeze dried many years worth of food so there's no reason to freeze dry if the power is down. I also stored gasoline to run my welder generator. I would rather not have to prepare like I have (BUT WHAT IF ?) .

I couldn't agree more on the Leatherman Wave. I've carried mine nearly everyday for over 20 years and probably cut a cord of firewood with its saw (maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but a lot). Based on my own experience, I wouldn't recommend the black version. I've lost my stainless Wave in the woods several times over years and probably wouldn't have found it if hadn't been for the bright finish. Your vids are outstanding by the way, I appreciate the work you put into them!

I am growing a garden on my balcony and plan to can every thing, you only need a large pot and the right canning lids

Thank You for your helping by giving tips and advise/reminders of if the hard time hits. I am a European and since childhood ( just after the WWII ) we were though how to act if time is though and had to 'create' for our survival, many years past by since and with the new things like you recommend here is make it much easier at least in the peace of mind as in the practice leave us to God hand, protection, and mercy.

Yes indeed I can't disagree with your top 5 there sir. Really nice video! I have renovated 3 old houses and properties into high insulation, on site solar air heaters and solar PV and permaculture garden yards. If we all strive for this distributed and decentralized regenerative and renewably powered design the more we have all forms of community security and long term culture. I am planting 40 feet of potatoes this year along with asparagus, rhubarb and mushrooms.

We bought a freeze dryer with our stimulus checks, so glad we did. I understand it’s not something I would run during SHTF but I have SO much freeze dried food put away now, way more than $4,000 worth of Mountain House. For my family it’s a must have and we wish we’d bought one sooner.

Good presentation, good channel. I know many like the Leatherman, but I've seen 3 break while I am still using my full size Gerber tool after 32 years of farming and 7 in Boy Scout leader roles (back a few years). Either is fine but get the heftiest you will actually carry every day, it has saved me trips back to the barn so many times. I appreciate your low key presentations with reasoning for your recommendation. Keep up the good work! - D Watts.

I melted a jar of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, took a bag of cotton balls, soaked them, then put them in a new ziploc bag, got my ferro rod, have practiced a few times. Bought a Leatherman several years ago. A few bundles of 550 cord

I would argue with 3 days without water. Even in a very mild climate you are going to be ineffective after 2 even if you can survive for 5. In a desert you are going to have an incapacitating headache after 36 hours maximum. Worst case you can be dead in 24 hours (there are a handful of recorded cases of this). Then there is the really counter-intuitive one. Cold climates. At -40C/F you lose so much moisture from just breathing it can be as bad as being in a desert. That is why I carry a funnel and coffee filters (for filtering water) and two water bottles. One for water that has been boiled and one for doing the boiling in. If it's a dry environment I carry up to 3 for water that has been boiled and also have a camel pack that can hold a further gallon. That's 10 pounds of water but worth it to eliminate some of the risk.

I used to use berkey too for years, but pro pur is much better and are throroughly tested. I also use a distiller to make pure water.

I totally agree that skills are most important! No matter how many tools you have your mind, and hands are your best tools!

A lot of the skills we'd like to bring the survival table - farming, making rainwater drinkable, keeping homes warm in winter without electricity, aren't things you need to spend money on, you just Google them. The bigger problem isn't going to be if you can grow food, it's are you going to grow enough or even successfully grow it at all when climate change screws up production, makes water scarcer, ramps up the temperature (costing wayyy more in air conditioning which will be too expensive for too many), and it'll be generally coping with storms and flooding. You can't buy that stuff away.

3:25 It’s not going to replace a sledgehammer, but you can construct a mallet with one. On his channel, Felix Immler demonstrated how to make a wooden mallet with a Swiss Army knife. 11:54 I have a small flock of just 4 chickens and I have to tell you (those who aren’t familiar with chickens), they are one of the lowest maintenance animals I’ve ever dealt with. Once you get your coop and your flock set up properly, you just feed, water, and collect eggs. Out of only 4 hens, I’m getting an egg a day. That’s a dozen eggs every 3 days! Besides, if the SHTF and you’re collecting a dozen eggs every 3 days, you’ll be able to barter and trade those eggs.

Last weekend, I went to Smart and Final, an institutional food store. 5 pounds of plain white flour was $1.90. 5 pounds of flour plus salt, water, prep. time, and baking in the oven yields 5 days of marching rations for a Union solider in the Civil War. Does not include 5 pounds of salt pork, coffee, scrounged veggies. People were smaller then. Leftover barrels of hardtack were issued more than 30 years later in the Spanish American War. Crumble into a cup of hot coffee. No clean up. No dirty pans, No smell to be detected. Roll it thin and you have the equivalent of saltine crackers or pilot bread. Put aside cans of tuna fish, sardines, stew, soups with meat or meat chilli and you have your meat protein and can avoid spending big bucks on freeze dried.

I bought a solar stove and rocket stove so I’ve got multiple ways to cook and heat water if we lose power. Bought freeze dried food every paycheck it’s expensive. Also bought 3 different water filters. I also have survival kits in each car and my home is my big out location got land and a garden.. God bless people get ready!

Finally a practical prepping channel!... Leatherman on my hip everyday. Can find at garage sales and used trucks in between the seats!. I also carry a one pound propane torch and lantern. For light and fire. Carry on frien

Live in the middle of a small south Mississippi town. Kind of isolated. Got my chickens. Just finished my manual water well. Just signed contract for installation of impact windows. Got my wood heater installed. Dang!! I gotta go back to work!! Do you guys ever grow weary of all this prepping stuff?? Never in my life would I have ever dreamed of spending my money on such stuff.

Just found you randomly on my feed! I really enjoyed this video and I look forward to seeing your others in your playlist! Keep it up man, we need more content like this

I think a portable solar panel I've one that came with a load of different adapters so you can charge/power directly from it. I use it everyday for my phone tablet camera batteries and rechargeable lights brilliant bit of kit

May have to find potting soil since I don't have access to land. Freezed dried food is lighter weight and if one had to evacuate it would be easy to take freeze dried food where as canned food would be too heavey. Good to have a light weight emergency plan .

I had a house built on a 12 acre wooded lot with a running stream and 3 acre lake. Been working on an emergency pantry for 6 months. Might buy a dual fuel generator primarily to power the well pump. If fuel became unavailable for the generator a water purification unit would come in handy. Food wise if things got really really bad I counted 40 turkeys and 5 deer in my backyard last week. If there was a SHTF I feel this location would work for our family to circle the wagons and dig in.

Using the gear now is a really great suggestion

Nicely done! TY Brother, praying your message spreads... God Bless

We use our Berkie daily and have done so for about 8 years. We filter our city tap water. We feel safe to know we can filter stream, creek, pond, or river water and drink safe water!

I was a plumber and carried one every day doing service work. Leatherman Wave is very good tool

As an Ex Armoured Infantry Officer of the Dutch Army,.. You are right,...I got a black coted leaderman since,..2001,.. others suck,.. I have a Big Berkey Waterfilter with 8 Black Berkey filters!! And a Sawjer waterfilter mini,.. you are tight again,.. I use my Berkey also every day,..

Having a Bible to lift you up to give you faith plus the courage to forge ahead.

I made it a habit to always light my woodstove with ferro rod spark and cotton wad pinch (think recycled cotton from padding in pill and vitamin bottles..). Same 5/16 thick rod has lit my fires for 4 years now and is worn about 1/2 way through. Am well-practiced with it. I've made like 40 ferro rod setups to save for bartering items someday.

I agree. A great fixed blade knife is the most important prep. (2nd is duct tape). As for skills, you can’t stress enough “Firearms” training. A recommendation for water filtration. I prefer the Grayl filter. Yeah they’re expensive but it’s not just a filter but a great transport device. And a multitool is a must have. A leatherman is a nice to have.

These are great. Skills are the ultimate thing to have. I have 5 acres and we are self sufficient. During the supply issue and pandemic we don't have to go anywhere. Nice to see someone passing on useful information. This information will have you prepared for anything.

Knowledge is power I agree. The best thing is to learn skills that keep you alive

I would also put a great solar system and back up generator on the list of must haves. Regardless if you're mobile or on a homestead land.

Thank you for all the info. I'd like to say I never hear preppers talk about Atmospheric water Generators or if you can filter and drink water from a dehumidifier. I like to cover all bases. Thank you.

The Leatherman Surge is great and i have it with the bit set and extention arm. I have an ESEE 5 as a main full tang knife (plus the BK9 & BK7, mora amongst others) The Life Saver water bottle is a high end system that works fast. As back up, i have sawyer.

I so appreciate your calm and reasonable videos!!

Really great list - I think pressure canning equipment and supplies are more important than freeze dryer because you can operate a pressure canner over a wood fire if there is no electricity and create shelf stable meats, veggies, and meals. Good quality is only slightly less. Cost to purchase is also 10x less than a freeze drier.

I was on the fence about the freeze dryer. Bit the bullet and ordered one. 8 - 10 week lead time. Obviously, you can't use it without electricity. You can prepare now, though. I have people who will need to bug out. Freeze dried will give them more nutrition for less weight and space. The freeze dried stuff you buy is full of ingredients and additives we don't need or want due to allergies, etc. I have a dehydrator as well, and I use it. Still, more nutrition in freeze dried. You do you. This suits me.

U r totally on point. I have bought all types of survival atuff and I can't use 90% of them. Growth areas!!!

We got 300 acres with 4 families at the end of an 8 mile road.That’s about the best we can hope for here in central Texas😎🤠! The problem I see is it is a 50 mile round trip into town and back where we work five days a week, so they can still get us with gas prices or if they just straight come after the land with military or whatever. But grid down type stuff will do all right.Bless you all as you learn to receive the love God pours over you so that the strength to fight flows out of you!(Lovers make better fighters,workers,family members,you name it!🙌👊👊)….Brent

May I also suggest, respectfully and sincerely, that you do as much reading on the Fourth Industrial Revolution/ Great Reset/ UN Sustainability 2030 as you can. The coming digital economy will seriously compromise your ability to do any of this, particularly own land, since private ownership has been deemed 'unsustainable' and 'unequitable'. The plan as outlined in Canada is to be offered debt relief for assets or, if you decline that, be deemed a 'health risk', incarcerated, and simply given the choice to join the Reset or have your property confiscated by the government. Unless you're prepared to live wild, it's not enough to be self-sufficient and proficient. They are serious people with a serious plan decades in the planning. You will not be allowed to own your own livestock or poultry for 'health concerns". That is already being established. The same with growing your own food. All food is to be tracked and traced from corporate farm to table. Meat will be replaced with protein alternatives. They are not going to live and let live. This is a controlled demolition. I would also suggest you learn about Terrain theory to ease your mind about filtering out 'viruses'. I wish you the best and thank you for all your practical advice. I went rural a couple years ago, but not rural enough it seems. The other thing we must also carry with us at all cost, is our humanity. We're going to need that if we're to survive.

As far as the land, I’m thinking of checking with the city on ownership of unused acreage and see if I could lease a small plot if it for chickens and gardens. It’d be much preferable to have it attached to our house for security, but better than nothing.

Great content ! Thank you for sharing your useful information during shtf.

We bought a freeze dryer and use it in conjunction eith our son and daughter in law...best thing that we have done to prepare...we have been preping for ten or so years....freeze dried food is light in weight and easy to rehydrate...we still are preping for other things and help other friends to keep up with it...

For cooking and sanitizing, get a good solar oven. Any other heating water and cooking requires fuel, which will eventually run out.

Got my big Berkey about a month ago and love it

I agree that freeze dried food is a great way to go. Don’t have to worry and you can eat it years after purchase. The break even point for a freeze drier, food and electricity vs just buying mountain house is really high. City prepping did a video on this and I think the math came out to somewhere near buying $10,000 worth of mountain house. Also mind you that a commercial facility has high quality controls vs a homemade operation.

Good tip on the freeze drier even for after the food is gone and we're hunting and growing too store stuff long term

Lucy lights, or some kind of small solar light. Headlamp. LED fairy lights. Are all good choices to keep. They are inexpensive but priceless in a crisis. Pick up some hurricane lamps at your local thrift stores and stock up on some oil for it. Also, a mini rocket stove. One that you can cook with twigs and leaves. You may never need it, but it's a small investment for peace of mind. Lastly, start investing in small appliances that run on USB DC current. This will create less strain on your generator and the charge to last longer.

We moved from the city (South Florida), to North Carolina 11 years ago. We bought 5 acres in a rural location. We garden, and raise chickens 🐔 and rabbits 🐇. I'm an Army Reserves Medic, (91 Bravo). I've been trained very well in multiple skills. My parents took us kids camping in almost all of the National Parks, gained alot of skills camping. Right now I'm learning about Bushcraft and Foraging. Gonna look for a Hamm radio and classes for it, that way I'll know what's going on in our country. I put my walkie-talkies, and my electronics in a metal trash, to act as my Faraday cage.

Good information. Yes for skills, and useful things that can be used now or for shtf.

My wife and I were never rich. We retired two years ago. We are fairly well prepared. How is this possible? We gave ten percent of our gross to respected charities. And we believe that God respected that and blessed us. We were frugal. We paid off our bills regularly. Paid off the cars and the house ahead of schedule, and we took care of what we have. We use our skills rather than spend our money. Even our hobbies are those that either save money or make money. We look for deals. Prepping can be done on a budget, but it needs to be a priority and don't invest in useless stuff or have needless luxuries. We weren't perfect in our frugality, but we made a serious effort to not waste moneys. And it has paid off for us. Some of my notes on this subject. Things to buy unless you live in the tropics, I would add Wool. Clothing, blankets and fabric. Wool does not melt, is fire resistant, is still insulation when wet. The modern polyester, polyproplene, and more exotic synthetics can melt onto skin. Wool is also pretty sturdy, A good wool blanket can last generations. Even a cheap one will keep a person warm in the cold rain. I have worn the same wool jacket for most of a decade and will continue to wear it. I live in Iowa. Maybe in Florida or Hawaii or SoCal you don't need wool. In the food category, unflavored texturized vegetable protein (TVP) is an inexpensive survival food if you can buy it at the right price, last i saw a good price was 3 bucks a pound in semi-bulk. If it is kept well; its shelf life is equivalent to freeze dried. The flavored TVP will have a shorter shelf life. It ain't steak, but then neither are the freeze dried foods. Do not pay 20 bucks for a 12 ounce bag. Some of the freeze dried survival foods use TVP, Mountain house brags that they do not. Regarding tools and teams, one example If there is a loss of effective local government; so many people will need to dig a well and install an outhouse or composter. They need to be VERY separate from each other. In many places it was a village well. This is for safe water supply, away from contamination sources . Doing this will require more tools than a multitool. And a set of skills that may include laborer, rigger, mason, carpenter, sawyer, a logger, a roper, and a scrounger. Wells are a village job. You will need help. Why wait? Because many communities forbid the digging or drilling of private wells because of the chance of contaminating the public drinking water. Wells should be installed in the high ground to reduce runoff contamination. We can't all live by a stream. And like so many things, a village is much better than solo. That's why villages started. Now that people see the obvious cracks in the system it is easier to nudge your neighbors towards some preparation. Get the young ones some training. Teach them some valuable skills. Skills Skills can make or save you money. Learn the basics. pick a couple and get started, cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, elementry carpentry, plumbing, mechanical and electrical. pour some concrete, build a shed, repair something, make a fence, a wall, tend bar, weld, blacksmith, design and lay a brick or block patio, fish, hunt, these are the skills our ancestors had. We can learn them. And we can teach them.Quit paying other people to do so many things for you will save you a lot of money. My skill set includes gardening including fruit trees and bushes, cooking, baking, bicycle repair, firearm maintenance and operations, ammo reloading, three instrument musician, engineering and planning, teaching, catching and filleting of fish, some butchering, some bricklaying, some carpentry, some backcounty skills, some plumbing, some small engine maintenance. My wife has some of the same skills but others I don't have, she was an EMT, she's taught, coached jobs, she knits, braids rugs, can sew, is a better cook and baker and can out shoot me with a pistol. I love that woman. She's a tough woman with a hidden tender center. Food production We have about 1,400 square foot garden. It produces at least two thirds of our vegetables for a year. and we give much to family and friends. Our apple tree should be producing in a couple years, our berry bushes and grape vine will start producing this year and increase in future years. We don't buy plants, we grow them from seeds in our south facing windows. Our previous apple tree was destroyed by a deer by rubbing off his velvet. We freeze, dehydrate, ferment, jelly and can. We compost. We get free wood chips for mulch from a local tree trimmer. We have a friend with goats. If it all goes down; we will trade for an occasional goat. We have neighbors that keep chickens. If it comes to it, we will raise a couple from eggs and start our own flock. It is just a couple trades away. Our fish from last year until 6 weeks before we caught our first fish this year. About 90 servings. Plus we gave 10% of them away. Tools Our tools include everything to install and maintain a house, garden, yard and trees by hand if necessary. Carpentry, painting, wallboard, plumbing, electical and mechanical, basic hand tools and a few common electric or battery tools. The two of us still own four bicycles in good repair. Our chain saw runs. I'm getting it out next week to clear a couple trees on the lot line. The trees belong to me and a neighbor and we agree to take them down. This will give my garden more early spring sunlight and reduce the risk to his home. We both win. Our rototiller has been used by me in our neighbor's gardens. It is a privilege to assist. Stockpile Our food stockpile is somewhere in the range of 6 to 14 months depending on when we start rationing. We stock seven months of dog food. We have a hand pumped water filter. We can keep electricity going anywhere from 10 to 42 days depending on time of year and how we ration fuel and electric. Our ammo stockpile including reloads of brass and shotshells could last from 72 hours to 14 years depending on if it a bad weekend or we are rationing. Other stockpiles include canning supplies, rope, cord, tarps, camping equipment, detergents, soaps, other household chemicals, blankets, cots, generators, lighters, alternate fire starters, first aid and medical supplies, seeds, plumbing and construction hardware, lubricants, the list goes on. The house and shed are crowded, but neat. Financial Our home is paid for. If the system doesn't collapse before then, we have enough money in the bank and the market to last us until we are in our mid 80's with annual inflation of 10% and minimal growth in our portfolio. If the market performs better or there is less inflation our heirs get more. Our home is only 780 square feet with a full basement. No attached garage. Our roof is new, our windows are double pane, our lighting is LED. Health, We are old, arthritic to some extent but we stay busy. I walk the dog every day. our average is 2.3/4 miles a day year round. My wife uses that time to clean the house and work in the garden. I spend a few hours a week doing outside chores getting more exercise. our dog, He's a hunting breed, and if I get a bit healthier I will get a hunting license and start bringing home upland game. He lets us know when someone comes to the house without being one of those obnoxious dogs that barks at everything that happens on the street. It is possible, you just need to set priorities. And I'm not even what many would consider to be a hard core prepper. This is just the way my grandparents lived. And America has gotten away from it. Favorite bible story on the subject, Joseph convinced Pharaoh to become a prepper. He got an entire nation to be prepared. Joseph's brothers we caught unprepared. The brothers decedents were slaves for generations.

1. Ferro rod fire starter 2. Good knife 3. Leatherman multi-tool 4. Water filter or purification / food, freeze dried 5. Land

So far I am liking your video and am appreciating the content. In relation to skills, I would build agricultural skills on a small scale, grow a sunflower or 2 for seeds or to make oil or to have a starter for next year, over the next 6 months and then again if your climate favours more than 1 crop. Grow corn to have a fairly ready to eat/ versatile produce, it can go into soups to add texture and fiber and the husks may be used in fires or as plates to hold food over and over. Keep a stock of a bitter brew or 2, mauby bark, tumeric, ginger are options, You can grow tumeric and ginger in pots to change the quality of air in your home or to take a piece with you! Imagine you are moving as a bag guy, well the tumeric and ginger plants should be stationed by your grab and go bags either in bags which can be raised or in a small box. Ideally, if your air gets bad, then you need one of each per person as a worse case scenario. Most of us may not have the tools or the ability to get the tools given certain constraints, but over time a pot spoon and a kitchen knife gets us through cutting chicken into pieces and it may be what we may need. A metal large can, like a child formula pan is an easy carry and it can hold wood, leaves, coals which can be used to create a fire, bulky to carry maybe, but in a culture which has evolved from coal pots, clay ovens and clay firesides, a metal can is a lightweight option. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Plus 1 for Berkey. I love mine and have convinced a few friends and family to get their own. Good video. Sub’d

I have a Berkey Go. I bought it three years ago over here in the uk for about £150 ( about $197. 82 today) Just looked on Amazon and they are now going at £510. 50 ($673. 25). P.S. I didn't know you could reverse it down to size like that> That alone gets a sub. Good video.

Was Super Blessed to get my property back in ‘90, could NEVER afford to buy it today!

I agree with 4 out of your 5, I have acquired lots of skills during my time on earth, I have both Leatherman tools and accessories on your video, I have 3 berkey filters, the Go being one of them and I have land and animals...I disagree on the Harvest right, those freeze dryers suck up a lot of power and run all day and night...if I can't use it off grid or after a SHTF that most likely could involve a grid down...I don't want it or need it, im very practical when it comes to these things, the freeze dryer is a no go in my book.

24 inch size bolt cutter. From Ace cost 25 dollars . Axe , bolt cutter , shovel , pick axe stuff that can break or cut stuff

I am able to feed six adults wih the four 4 x 12” raised garden boxes, i large grape vine, a 4 x 8 strawberry box and another box similar size of raspberries, and 5 dwarf fruit trees. I garden year round as well. We can do all this without going to a store ever or touching out R long term food storage. So you can do it without an acre of land. Of course we would need to can, freeze dry and smoke things to make it through zone 5 winter.

Practice make you perfect and i agree that skills its something you cant buy!Thank you for your advices 😊

Whenever I buy tools or equipment - whether its for the garage or the yard or the vehicle or the kitchen - I always go for the mechanical ones hat do not require electricity. Its more laborious, sure, but even when the world is normal you and your children develop a greater appreciation for the work involved, the history and culture surrounding it. They're also simpler and easier to maintain. When the world isnt normal, well, you'd be thankful you can still manage without the electricity. Any power generation you have on your property is going to be limited, and it will deteriorate with time in a world where you cant maintain it. No point expecting that you or your children will rely on it forever.

This is the 1st video saying water before food. Sometimes I come into extra money and strait away go to the store for stock. I really wish u wanted this before I went to the store last night. But good to know and thankfully I still have a little(very little) time. Thank you

Good information! Skills! Great call...always more to learn! Tools-Multitools are great, though I am not sure they are the "be all" tools. Hammers, axes, fixed blade knives...shovels .etc Sawyer filters are great for travel, bug out...etc and can filter 100k gallons of water per filter. For shorter term emergencies, LifeStraws can filter 1000 gallons of water. Being able to provide your own food is more sustainable than buying Mountain House but for suburban preppers HarvestRight freeze driers are a great investment!

New subscriber,thought your list is great. Have everything on the list except land (do own a house in the suburbs)but do have a buyout place to go if necessary (a family member and it's rural).Just wanted to add that HARVESTRIGHT freeze dryer does offer a layaway option for anyone who can't afford such a large payment at once. Hope this helps people to know.

I can't believe how much those freeze dryers are. I could never afford one.

Great tips brother! Don’t apologize for your info is high quality and interesting:

Thank you brother for the info. I bit the bullet on a 1 acre, 2bd, 1 bath in rural Alabama, be moving early June. The world is looking REALLY crazy I don't see it improving anytime soon.

Great video. Side note. Takes FOREVER to freeze dry it yourself. Still have to buy all the food. Cost $2-$3 a day to run the freeze dryer. Lots of problems with the freeze dryers this year.

Truly appreciate how you finished with land... definitely one of those bigger things people don't think about when it comes the need for space to do really anything if shtf.. Thank you for that consideration and the realization that not everyone can afford among other things... One thing to consider would be in conjunction with other people you trust perhaps consider splitting the cost on a chunk of land for this exact purpose... split the cost up front and on taxes and then as a "community" perhaps build up that land for not only shtf scenarios but maybe just a place to go camping solo or family or entire group.... Either way thank you for listing land and just space, as being something to truly consider to do what you can to survive and hopefully thrive.....

Dude. Another great video! I can't argue with anything you have on the list. I live in a city so firearms to protect my stuff is on every list I'd make, but to get out of the city, if I can, I'd add a good vehicle. Preferably one with 4 wheel drive and camping equipment in it. But I can't afford that, so it's on my wish list right next to buying property one day.

Not often do I hear people talk about bar soap, deodorants, toothpaste toothbrushes, personal hygiene stuff people are stalking a lot of food but I don't hear many people to talk about stalking shampoos and bar soaps etc your list is great, many things on there that I wish that I could afford like the Berkey filter also I would love to have a portable generator but I'm a senior on a fixed income so that ain't going to happen thanks for all your advice

I have a Berkey, but I haven't used it yet. I don't want to wear out the filters while I can get clean water. We don't know how long SHTF will last!