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Author: Gaye Levy

I grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, I started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. Awhile back I abandoned city life and moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on on San Juan Island in NW Washington State.

These days I call Arizona home and am actively pursuing the purchase of a mountain retreat along the Mogollon Rim.

As you may have noticed, I am a bit of a glamourista but hope you do not hold that against. me. My bug out bag includes makeup and other items to make me look and feel good if SHTF.
Survival Friday: Spices for the Survival Pantry

Survival Friday: Spices for the Survival Pantry

A commonly used idiom, “variety is the spice of life”, is used to mean that life is more interesting when things are not always the same.  And so it is…

How to Vermicompost: Learn to Love Worms with Vermicomposting

How to Vermicompost: Learn to Love Worms with Vermicomposting

Three years ago, if someone had mentioned they purchasing some worms, I would have grabbed my pole and said “let’s go fishing”. Then, as I became interested in organic gardening, I started reading about worm bins and worm compost. The technical term is “vermicomposting” which is the process of composting using worms.

The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Review

The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Review

I first learned about the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter a year ago when one of the readers of Backdoor Survival sent me an email extoling its virtues. Although it sounded cool and the price (under $20) was right, I did not bother to test one myself. After all, I already had a Berkey Sport bottle, a Nalgene water bottle and some water purification tabs in my pack. I was all set.

Or so I thought.

During my recent trip to Alaska, I decided to carry along a LifeStraw and use it for some field testing. After all, what better place to stick a straw in the water and drink than a beautiful Alaskan glacial pond or stream?

Survival Friday: Learning to Render Fat

Survival Friday: Learning to Render Fat

Old habits die slowly. For years we have been told that animal fat is bad and to be honest, I personally subscribe to a diet plan that is primarily plant based. That said, there is a place in my diet and my kitchen for organic meat and meat products, including the fat that is typically discarded after the fact.
For the longest time, something I absolutely tossed out was cooking grease. Healthcare experts, government and public health agencies and even the editors of popular cooking magazines all jumped on the fat is bad bandwagon. Low fat was good, no fat was better and animal fat? Forget it.

Meals Ready to Eat – Not!

Meals Ready to Eat – Not!

The concept of a meal in a pouch is not new. For years, military organizations have contracted to have “Meals Ready to Eat” (or MREs) made for distribution to hungry soldiers in the field when a mess kitchen was unavailable.

The evolution of military grade MREs from the 1960’s era to now has resulted in light weight pouches that contain a complete meal sealed into a tidy packet. A typical MRE contains a main course, side dish, bread, dessert, and flameless ration heater. There will also be a napkin, eating utensil and condiments such as salt and pepper. True U.S. military MREs are well marked with the designation “U.S. Government Property, Commercial Resale is Unlawful” although this is a misnomer since there are no laws that forbid the resale of MREs.

7 Last Minute Prepping Items

7 Last Minute Prepping Items

Every single one of us has been in a situation where the weather forecasters and civil authorities have warned of an oncoming crisis.  It might be a winter storm, a…

The Miracle of Tea Tree Oil: 80 Amazing Uses for Survival

The Miracle of Tea Tree Oil: 80 Amazing Uses for Survival

This article has been shared over 44,000 times and with good reason. Tea tree oil (also know as Melaleuca Oil) has many amazing properties for health and wellness. Here are 80 amazing uses that will convince you to keep some in your survival kit.

There is WHAT in your Bug Out Bag?

There is WHAT in your Bug Out Bag?

Finding practical uses for ordinary items has always been a hobby of mine. It all started when I had my first apartment way back when and I used toothpaste to patch up nail holes left in the wall as I was hanging posters using the trial and error method. After that, there was no looking back. I was hooked on using household items in unusual ways.

Today Above Average Joe shares a secret item that is in his bug out bag. You will be surprised!

16 Food Storage Tips for the Space Challenged Prepper

16 Food Storage Tips for the Space Challenged Prepper

Challenged for space to store your stuff? Here are a few ideas to help you starting thinking outside the box!

Reasons You Need Salt in the Prepper Pantry

Reasons You Need Salt in the Prepper Pantry

Salt is one of those staple items that belongs in every prepper panty. Not only is salt required for physical health and survival, but their are many other uses as well. Here are reasons you need salt in the prepper pantry.

26 Five Minute Prepping Projects

26 Five Minute Prepping Projects

Overwhelmed with too many things to do? Start with these 26 five minute prepping projects and you will be on your way to the road to preparedness.

The Mini-Sentry Trip Alarm Goes BOOM

The Mini-Sentry Trip Alarm Goes BOOM

A review of the mini-sentry trip alarm, an inexpensive device that can be used to scare off intruders.

Embracing Phytochemicals for Health and Survival

Embracing Phytochemicals for Health and Survival

In a survival situation, all of the gear in the world will be of no use if you do not have a sound body. The Rainbow Diet is a way of eating that promotes lots of fruits and veggies that contain phytochemicals to help you build a strong body.

Winter Book Festival and Giveaway: FJ Bohan and Barbed Wire, Barricades and Bunkers

Winter Book Festival and Giveaway: FJ Bohan and Barbed Wire, Barricades and Bunkers

FJ Bohan, the author of Barbed Wire, Barricades, and Bunkers: The Free Citizen’s Guide to Fortifying the Home Retreat, answers questions from the Survival Woman plus offers a book giveaway to one lucky reader.

7 Critical Steps to Take Following a Disaster

7 Critical Steps to Take Following a Disaster

When a major disaster hits an area, entire communities are affected in ways that are unimaginable. Here are 7 critical steps to take following a disaster while you are waiting for help to arrive.

Survival Mindset: Preparedness as a Way of Life – Part III

Survival Mindset: Preparedness as a Way of Life – Part III

10 steps toward having a positive survival mindset and living a preparedness lifestyle. Part 3 of 3 on how to embrace preparedness as a way of life.