Subscribe to continue reading
Subscribe to get access to the rest of this post and other subscriber-only content.
Fall growing made easy! Here’s how to grow fresh food this fall.
Author: Kathleen Marshall
Top 3 Survival Wakeup Calls of 2025
Let’s be honest, if the last few years haven’t nudged you toward prepping, 2025 might be the final push. We’ve gone from a global pandemic to rising inflation, civil unrest, and growing international tensions – all with breakneck speed.
At this point, being even a little bit prepared isn’t fringe, it’s smart. Across the globe, regular people are starting to ask, “What if things get worse?” Well, I believe in getting ahead of that question with a calm and confident plan.
Here are the top three survival wake-up calls shaking folks awake in 2025, and what you can do to prepare without losing your mind (or your budget).
Week 10: Creating a Paper Trail—Why Documentation, Pet Records, and Reliable Light Matter in a Disaster
Disasters don’t just threaten your safety and comfort – they can also separate you from your most essential records and the ability to prove who you are, what you own, and what you’re owed. In the wake of a wildfire, flood, earthquake, or other large-scale event, many survivors find themselves without access to insurance, medical care, or even basic supplies, not because those things are unavailable, but because the systems that connect them are overwhelmed, or they simply can’t verify their identity.
This week, we’re taking a big but manageable step toward preparing for those worst-case scenarios. You’ll gather supplies that protect critical documents, provide access to information and emergency news, and ensure that you and your pets are properly accounted for.
Week 9: Clean Enough to Survive – Emergency Sanitation & Hygiene When the Grid Goes Down
When we think of preparedness, we usually picture stockpiles of food, batteries, or emergency radios – but what happens when there’s no water to flush the toilet, trash pickup is a distant memory, and your hands haven’t touched soap in three days?
It’s not glamorous, but sanitation and hygiene can mean the difference between surviving and getting seriously sick in a disaster. Disease outbreaks often follow crises, not because of injuries, but because people couldn’t stay clean.
This week, we’re taking a critical (and slightly gritty) look at how to stay healthy when the comforts of plumbing and trash service vanish. Let’s get into it.
Fortifying Your Home Against Threats
The best prepared people are those who are able to fortify their homes against threats. A well-secured home is the first line of defense in times of uncertainty. Ensuring that entry points are reinforced is crucial to deterring potential intruders. Beyond basic home security, it’s critical to know how to defend yourself against intruders and assailants.
Building a Comprehensive Home Medical Kit
A well-stocked home medical kit is the foundation of health preparedness. In an emergency or survival situation, you may not have access to medical care. And even if you are careful, accidents happen. By ensuring that you have basic medical supplies, and gaining the knowledge of how to properly use them, you not only make yourself more self-sufficient, but you improve your odds of surviving a disaster.
According to many experts, in comparison to other developed nations, the American healthcare system faces a complex and multifaceted crisis, characterized by high costs, limited access, and poor quality of care. That’s a huge reason to learn basic first aid, as well as other methods of health management such as herbalism.
In my opinion, people rely on doctors far more than necessary. I’m always surprised to see people taking their kids to the doctor for a cold. Many common illnesses and minor injuries can be easily managed at home, and we, as a society, need to learn how to do that again.
Securing Water Independence
You don’t have to be stranded in the middle of nowhere to worry about a reliable water source. The fact is, even if you get your water from a municipal water supply, you may one day find yourself without safe water to drink.
Much of our water infrastructure in the United States was establishes back in the 1970-80s, and while that makes me feel really old, it’s worse for the water supply. In fact, there are some cast iron pipes that are over a century old. Philadelphia still uses water main pipes installed before the Civil War, and many treatment plants are also aging and in need of repair or replacement. A rapidly aging infrastructure means often water mains break or leak, causing contamination of our “safe” water supply.
Make no mistake, establishing a safe, reliable source of water is critical.
Creating Food Security Beyond Stockpiling
When you think of food security, stockpiling is often the first thing to come to mind. And there’s nothing wrong with stockpiling food if you have the space and the desire to keep everything organized and rotated. But what if you could stockpile food that you’ve prepared yourself? Food security that doesn’t rely so much on the grocery store, but instead relies on you?
I won’t pretend that it’s not a little intimidating to be solely responsible for keeping food on the table, but it also comes with less worry about chemicals or hidden allergens, as well as an amazing sense of accomplishment, at the very least. At the most, it allows you to worry less about shortages and supply chain issues. Not to mention, no concern over crazy egg prices! Wouldn’t it be great to not even think about those things?
Building a Resilient Financial Plan
This week we’re talking about steps for real preparedness and I don’t need to tell you that economic instability is a growing concern in today’s world. A resilient financial plan ensures that you remain secure, even during financial crises. This guide provides step-by-step strategies to safeguard your wealth, create alternative income sources, and minimize dependency on traditional financial systems.
Prepping for an Economic Collapse: Practical Steps for Real Preparedness
The thought of an economic collapse is unsettling, yet history has shown us that financial downturns, hyperinflation, and recessions are not just possibilities but eventualities. In the current political climate, I am seeing a wide range of opinions from “we’re saved!” to “we’re doomed!”
While mainstream discussions often focus on stockpiling food and precious metals, there are several overlooked aspects of preparation that can make all the difference. In this guide, I’ll cover not just the basics but also unique and highly actionable strategies to prepare for a serious economic crisis, with further detailed articles for each topic planned for the week ahead. 🤞🏻
The Practical Homestead 