Homesteading 3/64

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Don’t Be Helpless Over a Torn Seam

There was a time when throwing away a perfectly good pair of pants because of a torn seam would have seemed foolish. People owned fewer clothes, took better care of them, and repaired what they could. A needle, some thread, and a little know-how could keep a favorite shirt, work pants, socks, boots, pack, or piece of outdoor gear in service for years. Today, we're accustomed to replacing things. That's convenient—until the store isn't available, money is tight, you're miles f

Survivalist Scoop

Aug 31

Why Your EDC Matters

Most of us over 50 have spent decades learning how to handle problems. We know how to change a tire. Fix a leaky faucet. Deal with a dead battery. Keep a pantry stocked. Maybe we even have enough food, water and equipment to ride out a serious disruption. But there’s one kind of emergency that doesn’t give you time to prepare. It’s the crisis that happens while you’re simply going about your day. You’re getting lunch. Sitting in a restaurant. Walking through a parking lot. St

Survivalist Scoop

Aug 24

Colorado’s Bear Problem Is Getting Worse

Colorado’s bears are running short on the food they normally find in the mountains, and that is sending more of them into neighborhoods, businesses and backyards. The reason is simple: the wild buffet isn’t producing like it normally does. Drought has dried up grasses, while berries and other natural foods are scarce in parts of Colorado. Gambel oak trees, which normally provide bears with a valuable supply of acorns, are also producing a weak crop in some areas. That matters

Survivalist Scoop

Aug 19

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The $2 Food Worth Stockpiling

When people talk about long-term food storage, the usual suspects get all the attention: rice, wheat and dry beans. Those foods deserve a place in a serious pantry. But there's another inexpensive staple that doesn't get nearly enough attention from preppers: lentils. They're cheap, compact, nutritious, easy to store and—perhaps most importantly when you're thinking about a prolonged power outage or fuel shortage—they don't require soaking and cook much faster than most dried

Survivalist Scoop

The 10-Second Survival Scan

After years of writing about preparedness and teaching survival skills, I’ve learned something that is easy to forget: The fundamentals aren't exciting—but they are what keep you functioning when everything else gets complicated. People naturally gravitate toward the flashy stuff. The newest gear. The latest threat. The newest piece of technology. The dramatic headline about some crisis halfway around the world. There’s nothing wrong with paying attention to those things. But

Survivalist Scoop

The Hidden Cost of Clean Water

When you're over 50 and you've been preparing for a while, you've probably learned an important lesson: Every piece of gear you add to your property eventually becomes another thing you have to maintain. That's easy to forget when the equipment is cheap—or better yet, free. Water is a perfect example. After a major disaster, municipal water systems can fail, wells can become contaminated, pumps can quit, and infrastructure can be damaged. That's when having your own dependabl

Survivalist Scoop

10 Weird Homestead Moneymakers

Most homesteaders make the same mistake when they think about earning money from their property. They grow what everybody else grows. Tomatoes. Peppers. Zucchini. Maybe some eggs, honey, or firewood. There’s nothing wrong with any of those. In fact, they’re proven products. But if you're already putting in the work, there may be a smarter question to ask: What can I produce that people want but few local producers are supplying? That is where things get interesting. You don't

Survivalist Scoop

DOJ Says Federal Handgun Sales Ban for 18–20-Year-Olds Is Unconstitutional

A major change in the federal government’s position on firearm law could affect how adults ages 18 to 20 obtain handguns—but there are still important details to understand before assuming the rules have completely changed. On September 17, 2026, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued an opinion concluding that federal laws restricting federally licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to otherwise eligible adults ages 18 to 20 cannot constitutio

Survivalist Scoop

Bear Attack? Know This First

Most people want bear safety reduced to a simple formula: Black bear = fight. Grizzly = play dead. That's easy to remember. It's also incomplete. A real bear encounter doesn't happen in a classroom. You may not get a good look at the animal. You may not know whether it's protecting cubs, defending food, startled by you, or treating you as potential prey. And you may have only seconds to react. The better approach is to understand bear behavior, distance, terrain, and the diff

Survivalist Scoop

The Poison Ivy Mistake Hikers Keep Making

If you spend enough time in the woods, eventually you learn a simple truth: The forest doesn't care how experienced you are. You can have a well-stocked pack, good boots, a compass, fire-starting skills, and decades of outdoor experience—and still ruin a weekend by grabbing the wrong vine. Poison ivy is one of those hazards that's easy to underestimate. Most people remember the old saying: “Leaves of three, let it be.” That's a useful warning, but it's not a complete identifi

Survivalist Scoop

The Lost Art of Family Survival: Why Your Grandchildren Can't Cook or Build

When the SHTF or the modern economy finally hits a wall, what are you actually leaving the next generation? A fading bank account? A mortgage on a tract house? A pile of plastic gadgets that will end up in a landfill? If the grid goes down or corporate supply chains vanish overnight, a stack of fiat currency won't teach your grandchildren how to put food on the table. Real generational security isn't about a trust fund managed by people who hate your values. It’s about buildi

Survivalist Scoop

Prepare to Survive

Welcome to Survivalist Scoop! Here you will learn skills designed to help you and your family not only survive, but even thrive in the face of disaster. Grab Your Bug-Out bag, put your survival hat on, and get ready to prepare!