Author: Gaye Levy

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a Backdoor Survival reader asking my opinion on a device she had seen being promoted to preppers.  It was basically a . . .

One of the very first things I learned to do when I started to prep was seal food in Mylar bags.  As simple as this sounds, you would not believe . . .

Whether or not you currently have a food garden, practical wisdom says you should stash away some heirloom seeds for the long term.

If the time ever came when food . . .

Do you know how to disinfect and sterilize medical instruments? In a survival situation, knowing when and how to do this will be a crucial skill when performing emergency medical procedures on wounds, whether in the field or at home. This is important information and the difference between sterile and clean may surprise you.

Make fresh, wholesome bread in an automatic bread machine, commonly referred to as an ABM. 14 proven tips for bread machine users. No apologies needed – bread machines make great bread!

These two massive storms might be the most expensive to recover from in American history. Hurricane Katrina saw damage worth roughly $100 billion and she holds the top spot of . . .

Gardening often requires the use of a cold frame or a greenhouse, even in warmer climate. A good way to think of the difference between a greenhouse and a cold . . .

There is much confusion surrounding the use of pool shock to purify water. In this article, the steps are broken down in an easy to understand manner.

It seems like every time we turn around there is some deadly disease in the news. In recent years, there has been Ebola and the Avian influence A (H7N9) virus . . .

Essential oils offer more than just a pleasant smell. You are probably used to using them for relaxing massages, but, did you know that they can be used as a . . .

Just a little of 10 years ago, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Seattle area. I was at work and SurvivalHusband was at our house in Bellevue. Right before the earthquake hit, my little dog ran up to him and jumped in his arms. Then it hit.
Following that event, I learned-up about post earthquake safety and of course, a couple of weeks ago I wrote about being prepared for an earthquake. One of the lessons I learned after the 2001 quake was that if you are safe, stay put. Your very best chance of survival is to remain in your home or your office or even the shopping mall if that is where you happen to be.

FEMA defines Shelter-in-Place as the process of staying where you are and taking shelter, rather than trying to evacuate. Here are some guidelines from FEMA’s Ready America website.

Although news of Ebola has been dominating the headlines, there is currently another nasty outbreak circulating the United States. Since August, enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has caused clusters of respiratory . . .

When it comes to being a prepper, it is easy to throw your hands up in frustration and become overwhelmed. Here are 20 steps you can take now.. It really does not have to be that difficult and although you need a bug-out-bag and get home bag, you do not need to prepare to live a solitary life in the woods (unless, of course, you want to). Lets be practical and become a common sense prepper. Here are 20 steps you can can take now.

No matter how many times I write about food, there is always something new to consider or a new and different way to present the same old information in a more useful manner. With that in mind, today I would like to share a method for getting started with your food storage program in an easy, step by step, and cost effective manner.

To be truthful, my initial goal with this article was to respond to readers who were just getting started and wanted a shopping list of things to buy for their food storage pantry. I also wanted to compile a checklist that more experienced preppers could use to compare what they had to what they needed. My goal can pretty much be summed up by saying that I wanted to write about getting started with food storage the easy way. No frills, no fluff – just a common sense list of food items to get you started.

Shared over 37,000 times, DIY Miracle Healing Salve is still going strong. If you have not tried it, please do. It is easy and economical to make and it really works. Learn how today!

While soft cheeses do not need to be pressed, or should be pressed only lightly, hard cheeses need to be pressed to expel extra liquid and allow the cheese curds . . .

Paracord is amazing stuff. Here is a starter list that includes 44 ways to use paracord for prepping and survival purposes. Can you think of others?

Cakes make people happy. That is simply a truism. I don’t know why but a cake can put a smile on the face of the meanest grump. (Not that you freely associate with grumps, right?) So take a cake, add a birthday and you get a really happy person.

Last week I baked a cake for SurvivalHusband’s birthday: a nice tall, double layer Red Velvet Cake. Was I intimidated at the thought? Nope. (Well maybe the layer cake part since baking in an oblong pan is way more efficient and a lot easier.) And here is why: I always start with a mix. It is easy, it is cheap, and with a few special add-ins, it tastes wonderful.

Today I would like to share with you my Magical Cake Recipe – so easy even a bachelor can make it with perfect results. (No disrespect to you bachelors out there but if you can cook, chances are some lucky gal has already snagged you for her own.)

During or following a disruptive event, life will be tough enough without having to worry about maintaining health and preventing disease. Why then, do I find the topic of a survival hygiene kit taking a backseat to articles about food, water, bug-out bags and life in the wilderness? Here is a list of must have items to keep me clean, healthy, and looking good.

Learn how to make an awesome cayenne salve for pain relief. Easy to make and inexpensive. Why spend money when you can make it yourself?

One of the more serious risks we face is an EMP. Learn how to build a simple Faraday cage and also what to store inside it.

For years, I have referred to Harbor Freight as the world’s best toy store for grown up boys.  Well I have news for you.  Prepper gals also drool over . . .

When someone mentions the word “Lemon”, I immediately think “fresh, clean and pure”.  There is simply something about lemons that evokes an overall feeling of wellness and goodness.  This might . . .

It may sound gross, but fermentation is actually among the safest, healthiest way to preserve food, before or after SHTF. Whether you’re already a fan, or a beginner just . . .

A gas mask is technically a kind of respirator which focuses on filtering out chemicals and gases. They are a very specific tool, that won’t protect you from everything . . .

Could you and should you eat roadkill? At some time you may need to eat roadkill to survive. Here are 8 important rules to follow to safely eat roadkill.

When people think of crazy preppers, they often think of underground bunkers, full to the brim with supplies, locked up beneath a Fallout-style hatch. But few of us have . . .

As preppers, we should probably all know the answer to this question: Can we extend the shelf life of flashlight batteries by refrigerating or freezing them? You might be surprised by the answer.

How many hours a day do you spend on your feet? Four, six, eight hours? If you spend a good chunk of the day standing, then you are probably used . . .

Water shortages caused by wonky weather patterns make finding ways to maximize the water we do have critical. In this article, learn 16 ways to conserve water in your home now so that the prudent use of water becomes habit. Your survival depends on it!