For years, sardines were the forgotten cans at the back of the pantry – cheap, salty and reserved for camping trips or emergencies. They weren't glamorous. They weren't trendy. And for many people, they weren't even considered food worth thinking about. That's changing. Sardines are quietly staging a comeback and not just among budget cooks. Upscale tinned-fish shops now line streets in Lisbon, New York and Paris. Behind the cultural revival is something more lasting than a t

Popcorn prices are popping—but your grocery bill doesn’t have to. Skip the expensive, chemical-laden bags and discover a fast, healthy, budget-friendly way to make microwave popcorn at home. This simple method saves money, uses clean ingredients, and fits perfectly into your food storage rotation—giving you a shelf-stable, prepper-approved snack that’s ready in minutes. Why Popcorn May Belong in Your Food Storage Plan One of the most common mistakes in preparedness is storing

Before electricity and refrigerators, folks still had eggs through the winter. They relied on smart, simple methods that anyone can do at home today. The key is using fresh, clean, unwashed eggs. Washing removes the natural coating that seals the shell and keeps bacteria out. Once you have your fresh eggs, store them in a cool, dry, and dark place. Fifty degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. A cellar, basement, or pantry will work. Below are proven old-fashioned ways to keep eggs fres

Our taste for bread and pasta wouldn’t be the same if not for our ability to break down starch, a talent Peru’s Andean populations have taken to the extreme. A genome-wide study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), has revealed that Indigenous Andeans have, on average, up to four times the number of genes for a starch-busting digestive enzyme in their spit than any other population. Closer inspection of the gene’s sequences suggests

Of all the foods I can every year, the most useful is the wide variety of meats. While we aren’t huge meat eaters, these rows and rows of jars of all sizes form the base of many meals throughout the year. And in our hurry-scurry world, it’s so convenient to have this pre-cooked, tender, and oh-so-tasty meat right on the shelves, ready to quickly whip up a meal that tastes like I spent hours preparing it. At any one time, you’ll find jars of venison, moose, and elk meat, chick

Few people are lucky enough to have an actual root cellar any more, but that doesn’t mean you can’t “root cellar” produce at home. My family stores 200 pounds of each apples, onions, and potatoes (600 lbs total) without a root cellar, along with all manner of other produce, homemade cheese, and salt-cured meats. These days, our basement works well for the task, but in the past, we’ve used back closets and other jerry-rigged spaces to get the job done. Where there’s a wi

Why I Changed My Mind About Pumpernickel I used to dismiss pumpernickel as just another heavy, odd-tasting bread that belonged in a dusty European deli case. Whenever I saw that dense, dark loaf, I assumed it was all marketing hype -- a shadow of real food that had been stripped of its soul by industrial processing. But after years of researching nutrition, fermentation and traditional foodways, I have completely flipped my understanding. This is not shadow food. It is a genu

Have you heard? The White House just doubled funding to combat antibiotic resistance – citing it a major public health and economic threat. Luckily, you can help combat this problem in the grocery store. Our tips: Learn more about the effects of overusing antibiotics in factory farming. Then, next time you go grocery shopping, make sure you buy meat that’s labeled “raised without antibiotics” and/or “organic.” Right now, up to 70 percent of the antibiotics sold in the Un

I’ve long wanted to try pemmican but in my search for recipes, I found ‘virtual tons’ of them. After having the time and making the effort to weed through them all, I finally decided on a simple recipe for my first try. While there are lots of ingredients that could be added, it’s important to remember that the more items you add to your pemmican, the shorter the shelf life. (If you don’t want to make your own, here’s some pemmican you can buy that is already made and ready f

You can only live for about three days without it and even after twenty-four hours, you start experiencing physical and cognitive decline. Right now, it’s easy to turn on the tap and get fresh, clean water, but even without a SHTF situation, many of us are doing what we can to live off the grid. I’ve written several articles on collecting rain water and purifying water, and now I’d like to discuss how to make sure that your water is safe to drink. Water purification is a prim

Meat to Americans is more popular than Elvis Presley, Michael Jordan, and Taylor Swift put together. And there’s no end in sight for the meat industry. The “machine” spits it out like the ocean produces shells. This article gives you the facts about meat consumption in the United States. No doubt, people need to eat. But I believe these numbers are shocking and should, at times, be embarrassing due to the gluttonous overkill the demand creates. Total transparency: I’m a pes

Every year I can nearly 200 pounds of meat. I normally can about 60 pounds of meat at a time 3 times each year. The meat I normally can is chicken or pork. I have also canned store-bought hams and wild boar meat that I have hunted. I once canned deer meat, although I’m not a big deer-meat eater. Other meats that you can can (yes, can can) include fish, beef, ground meat, and even bacon. Bacon takes some additional preparation to can, but you can can it! This doesn’t includ

Why Water Contamination Happens During Disasters Many disasters damage the systems that provide safe drinking water. Some common causes include: • Flooding that overwhelms water treatment plants • Chemical spills from industrial accidents • Storm damage to pipelines and pumps • Power outages that shut down treatment facilities • Algae blooms that contaminate reservoirs • Earthquakes or landslides that rupture water lines When these events occur, local authorities often

Getting lost or stranded in the wild is something that could happen to just about anyone. And if you are that unlucky person, finding...

Canned food is one of the most reliable food sources in a survival situation. It lasts for years, requires no refrigeration, and provides...

I’ve always viewed red drum—a.k.a. redfish—as the largemouth bass of saltwater. If you compare the two closely, the similarities are...

I’m often asked what my favorite days are to hunt spring turkeys. After 39 years of turkey hunting, I still have a lot to learn, but...

If you want to survive an economic collapse, a Civil War, or an EMP and other major disasters, all you need to do is learn from the only...

Taken separately, the components that make up a bass jig seem most unlikely to entice a fish to open its mouth and eat. Strands of...

It's been said many times that meat rabbits and goats are a poor prepper’s cows, but I don’t think that mantra is quite right. Don’t get...

In the world of prepping, food preservation has become essential to us, whether for long-term storage or simply for reducing food waste...

There seem to be two opposing views on animal threats. One claims they don’t exist or are so rare that you’re silly to worry about them...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is urging Americans to fill their bellies with invasive species that are wreaking havoc on habitats...

Welcome back to our discussion about improving your small game hunting strategy. In the first part of this article, we covered why it’s...

Small game hunting provides a rewarding and engaging way to connect with the outdoors and fully immerse yourself in the natural world. It...

When disaster strikes, there’s a pretty good chance your local grocery stores will be stripped bare in a matter of hours. From panicked...

Emergency food is a type of long-term storage food that is designed to last for several years and provide sustenance during an emergency...

It is normal to feel a little overwhelmed when confronted by the sea of information on preparedness. Everyone seems to have opinions and...

The Universal Edibility Test, Rules of Thumb & Signs of Spoilage In survival ordeals that last weeks or months, food procurement usually...

I always hankered for the country life, despite the fact I was raised in the big city. Summers were spent on the family farm, visiting my...

Few foods can rival the humble bean when building a nutritious and sustainable diet. Whether you’re a seasoned health enthusiast or just...

A campfire provides a warm place to gather outdoors, but you can do more with that welcome heat than just relax in its radiance while...

Disaster scenarios and quasi-collapse scenarios all affect essential functions of life. The ability to maintain safe food storage and...

Keeping tabs on the best deer food is important throughout the fall, but in the late season, it’s pretty much the entire ball game....

In comparing the continuum of survival needs to the historical record, famine is one of a few disasters that takes entire civilizations...

As much as we love the look of a shoulder mount or deer skull on the wall—the real trophy of a successful deer hunt is the wild game we...

Building up food storage may seem overwhelming, especially when you're trying to keep costs low. However, with the right strategies and a...

On the opening weekend of Montana's rifle season, an antler thief cut off the head of a hunter's whitetail buck while he was hiking to...

Dehydrating food is considered one of our oldest—if not oldest—method for preserving food. For as long as our species has been gathering,...

A winter storm rages outside when suddenly you are surrounded by an eerily, silent darkness. After grabbing a flashlight you realize that...

According to an analysis I conducted this weekend, stocking your prepper pantry costs more than ever. I collected pricing info on a...

For thousands of years , herbs have been used in food preparation and for medicinal purposes. How did those ancient herb enthusiasts...

As preppers, we are specifically prepping for SHTF to avoid having to forage for food in a post-SHTF world. This will be dangerous and...

Do you have enough food for an unexpected snowstorm? Are you ready for a natural catastrophe? If not, now is the time to start. FEMA...

You’ll want to know what common animals you shouldn’t eat in an emergency. There are plenty of animals you can hunt, cook, and eat...

There’s no doubt about it, prices seem to be going up on everything from groceries to gas and even ground beef. With all these...

Many people have special things they do at the beginning of the year. For me, that means taking inventory in more ways than one. That’s...

Most every whitetail guide worth his salt is a hard worker, but Joel Artis of Buffalo County Outfitters takes things to a whole...

We likely all know what Meals Ready to Eat, or MREs are. Just in case you are unfamiliar with the term, MREs are those handy, single...

People have been pickling for more than 4,000 years , making it one of the oldest methods of food preservation. The technique extends the...