Category: DIY, Tips & Tricks

How to Avoid Getting Sick While Traveling

Experienced travelers know that there is nothing worse than getting sick while away from the comforts of home. The problem is that traveling greatly increases your chances of getting sick whether it is from contaminated food or water or picking up a cold or flu from fellow travelers. Here are some tips to keep you …

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Best Wood For Burning

Wondering which firewood is the best to burn, whether in a fireplace, wood stove or when camping? The best options depend on where you live, but no matter what, you want to ensure what’s burning is what’s supposed to be burning. Setting fire to wood that doesn’t burn correctly…well, it’s a big ‘ol mess. Let’s …

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How to Reduce Stress During the Holidays

The holiday season is widely acknowledged as a time of joy, wonder, and giving. On the other hand, dealing with the crowds, the bad weather, and the financial pressure of buying presents can easily turn it into one of stress and anxiety. Here are some ways to keep from getting overwhelmed during the holidays: Take …

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Saving Money on Heating Costs

As cold temperatures and winter weather sets in, it’s time to start thinking about how to keep your home warm. You might be wondering, though, how to save money on heating costs. Energy bills can be downright scary in the middle of winter and take a heavy toll on your pocketbook. According to the Department …

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Improvised Floatation Device Ideas

The thought of getting thrown into the ocean, a river or fast-moving lake with no life jacket is pretty darn terrifying, particularly if already afraid of water. Whether you find yourself in deep water from a capsized boat or other means, knowing how to make a flotation device can definitely save you from certain doom. Let’s look …

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How to Build a Winter Home Emergency Kit

With cold weather and snow encroaching on us as well as the disastrous snow seen in the Buffalo, NY area recently, the idea of a winter home emergency kit is looking better and better. Part of being a prepper is being prepared for just about anything the world can throw at you and while many …

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Going Off-Grid ‘Starting From Scratch’ PART 3 Energizing Your Off-Grid Homestead

In this series, we are considering the very basic steps that would allow anyone with average skills and the requisite adventuresome disposition, to successfully establish an ‘off-grid’ homestead. Going off-grid requires some of the same ‘spirit’ that many of our forefathers had when they first came to America in the 1800’s, taking their families into the wilds to establish their homesteads.

Borax: Its Many Uses

A naturally-occurring mineral also known as sodium borate, Borax is an eco-friendly cleaning solution featuring a host of other benefits. If your emergency or camping kit needs another component, check out some of the white stuff’s many uses: Fire Retardant Want to put your campfire out? Need to put your campfire out because someone thought …

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How To Stay (Relatively) Clean During Long Hiking Trips

Planning a long, long, long hiking trip? Whether “long” means “the weekend” or “several months,” keeping clean is often a challenge. Unless staying in a campground with available showers, you’ll have to get creative to remain clean and (somewhat) fresh. Check out a few ideas to help you avoid saying “What IS that horrendous smell?” and  …

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Fire Preparedness: Survival Tips For When You Can’t Call The Fire Department

Brush fires, or wildfires, are one of the most dangerous types of blazes for firefighters to battle – and are especially dangerous when you can’t call the fire department. Fire preparedness is perhaps one of the most neglected aspects of preparedness. Fires can double in size approximately once every 30 seconds to a minute. Dry …

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