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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.
Happy Thanksgiving From My Home to Yours

Happy Thanksgiving From My Home to Yours

Some years are better than others and this year, in spite of many changes, is one of the better years. As we approach year end, I find myself in an upbeat mood as I look forward to even more change. Going into 2017, I feel less worried and infinitely more prepared. That is the beauty of prepping and living a prepper-centric lifestyle: with each passing year, you are steps closer to meeting your goals and feeling secure in your knowledge that you can take care of yourself and your family during dire circumstances.

It is with this frame of mind that I offer you a message of “Thanks” and Thanksgiving. Thank you for being a part of Backdoor Survival.

8 Essential Oils For Your First Aid Kit

8 Essential Oils For Your First Aid Kit

As much as I like to try new things when it comes essential oils, I tend to go back to the same oils, day in and day out. This is surprising since my EO drawer is overflowing with over fifty different oils. I consider this good news since, as a prepper, there is only so much I can afford to put away for long term emergency purposes. It is much easier to stockpile and learn the effective use of a handful of oils than the dozens that are out there, just waiting to be put through our personal trial and error cycle. Today I share eight oils for your first aid kit that are tried and true.

11 Things To Do When You Must Hunker Down in Place

11 Things To Do When You Must Hunker Down in Place

Can you even begin to imagine combining boredom with stress? If you have ever been in that situation, you will know what it is like to be antsy, grouchy, depressed, and useless all at the same time. Who has not been there and done that?

As simple as it sounds, as part of your preparedness planning I would like to suggest you put together a list of things to do when you are required to hunker down in place to wait out a storm, wait for the power to come back on, or otherwise wait until it is safe to leave your home. Here are 11 things to get you started.

6 Questions Every Prepper Needs to Ask and Answer

6 Questions Every Prepper Needs to Ask and Answer

Every once in a while, it is important to take a back seat to the process of prepping and do a little planning. This often means going back to the beginning and re-evaluating the original plan – if you had one, that is. Here are six questions both new and experienced preppers need to ask and answer. That said, there are no wrong answers. Are you up for the challenge?

Prepper Book Festival 13: Power From the Sun – A Practical Guide to Solar Electricity

Prepper Book Festival 13: Power From the Sun – A Practical Guide to Solar Electricity

Harnessing the power of the sun achieve a modicum of energy independence no longer has to be a lofty goal. In Power From the Sun, learn everything you need to know to develop a solar strategy of your own. Written for the non-geek, this book is easy to read and understand. Plus, enter the giveaway to win one of three copies that are up for grabs.

One Man’s Perspective From Living Off Grid

One Man’s Perspective From Living Off Grid

Who hasn’t, at one time or another, wondered what it would be like to chuck it all, give up the job, abandon suburbia, and become totally self-sufficient by living off of the land? Learn what living off grid is like from someone who has lived off the land for over 35 years.

10 Last Minute Preps When a Disruptive Event is Brewing

10 Last Minute Preps When a Disruptive Event is Brewing

Have you given any thought as to what you would do if you had advance warning of a huge storm or other disruptive event? You may have time to get some last minute preps done and even time to make some last minute purchases. Here is a list 10 things to get you started.

What You Need to Know About Expired Prescription Drugs

What You Need to Know About Expired Prescription Drugs

The news keeps getting better relative to the safety and efficacy of using expired prescription drugs in a survival situation. Here is the latest update from contributing author, Dr. Joe Alton.

Review: Hand Crank Stainless Dough Maker from Lehman’s

Review: Hand Crank Stainless Dough Maker from Lehman’s

Home baked bread is one of life’s greatest joys. The hard part, though, is the kneading of the dough, which takes time and a bit of effort. Learn how to use a hand crank dough maker to mix and knead dough in just 5 minutes. Also enter the giveaway to win a Stainless Dough Maker from Lehman’s.

Prepper Book Festival 13: Survival Medicine Handbook Third Edition

Prepper Book Festival 13: Survival Medicine Handbook Third Edition

Medical preparedness ranks up there with water in terms of importance. Read about the newly released Survival Medicine Handbook Third Edition and enjoy an interview with the author, Joseph Alton MD. Plus, enter the giveaway to win a copy for free. There will be three winners!

Review: Emergency Solar Lighting With a Goal Zero Torch 250

Review: Emergency Solar Lighting With a Goal Zero Torch 250

You can never have too many sources of emergency lighting. Read the review of the Goal Zero Torch 250 Solar Flashlight + USB Power Hub. This is a rugged flashlight with an integrated solar panel that really works. Be sure to enter the giveaway to win one for free!

10 Ways to Use Epsom Salts Now and During a Major Crisis

10 Ways to Use Epsom Salts Now and During a Major Crisis

The superstars of preparedness are those items that serve multiple purposes. In many cases, these are common, everyday items that we already have on hand. One you may not have considered is Epsom salts. Learn 10 reasons to stockpile this multi-tasker for both now and for use when the SHTF.

What To Do Following a Natural Disaster

What To Do Following a Natural Disaster

Following a natural disaster, there will likely be confusion and panic. Think about creating a post-disaster checklist you can refer to without having to think about it. Here is an example to get you started.

Prepper Book Festival 13: Changing Earth Series Without Land

Prepper Book Festival 13: Changing Earth Series Without Land

Imagine an earthquake so big, and so deadly, that there are few survivors. Those that do survive, are faced with unimaginable challenges simply to live from day. Thus sets the stage of the Changing Earth Series. In Without Land, it is nine years later and life, such as it is, is extremely difficult. Read the interview with author, Sara Hathaway, and enter to win a set of both books in this latest Backdoor Survival giveaway.

Why Store Fish Antibiotics For Survival

Why Store Fish Antibiotics For Survival

Did you know that fish antibiotics are exactly the same as human antibiotics? In this exclusive article by Dr. Joe Alton, learn about fish antibiotics and why they belong in your survival kit.

Hits and Misses: Lessons Learned After Six Years of Prepping

Hits and Misses: Lessons Learned After Six Years of Prepping

As someone who has been prepping for six years, I have learned a lot along the way. During these six years, my survival skills, food and water storage, and general knowledge have grown exponentially to the point where I have grown comfortable, if not complacent, with my preps. What was done right? And what not so good? Here are some of the lessons learned as well as a challenge to take stock of your own preparedness hits and misses.