Community

Neighborhood Watch: What You Can Learn By Listening To Your Neighbors

May 30, 2020 / 2 Comments

Our metro area already exceeded last year’s murder rate by mid-year. Three of those deaths were in the neighborhood just one over from mine. While the numbers aren’t high compared to big cities, the percentage increase is staggering. So when our neighborhood began observing strange vehicles and odd behavior on our street, neighbors started to compare notes and make a plan. As I talked with people on my street in small groups or individually I was struck by the varied …

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27 Creative Ways to Help Disaster Victims

May 30, 2020 / 3 Comments

“I have a boat and want to help.” ‘Who needs hot food?” “I’m going grocery shopping today. Who needs anything?” “Who needs help with clean up?” “I have a huge chainsaw, does anyone one need major chainsaw work?” Questions like this have become the norm on my local forum, as thousands of people in my community are seeking to find ways to help disaster victimes whose lives have been upended by Hurricane Harvey. The storm has taught our family a …

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ways to help harvey victims

50+ Ways to Help the Victims of Harvey (and other disasters yet to come)

May 28, 2020 / 4 Comments

Around the world people are reaching out to my beloved Texas, wanting to help. In some cases, well-meaning help comes in the way of used clothing and items that are redundant and no longer needed. The fire station by my house begged, “Please! No more food!” I’m learning first hand that in situations like this, needs are very fluid. One shelter might be desperate for adult diapers on one day and bottled water and energy bars the very next. I’ve …

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7 Ways To Succeed At Being A Charitable Prepper

May 30, 2020 / 6 Comments

Spring is in the air, summer is on the way. This is the time of year when many people begin to pack up their winter gear and spring clean their home in preparation for the summer. If you are like me, I have piles of items I do not need anymore but still have good use left. These items can be donated to help others, and there seems to be a plethora of ways and places to give to. You …

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charitable christmas giving

The 12 Days of Christmas: Day 3, Light Up Someone’s Holiday

May 28, 2020 / 4 Comments

Do you ever get tired of all the beautiful, sparkling lights decorating trees and homes at this time of year?  I never do.  I love watching the faces of our kids when they spy yet another home all lit up for Christmas.  We’re keeping a list, and checking it twice, of all the homes on our block that are lit up! One year every house but 2 were lit up, and it was a special treat. Most of us say …

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survival lessons old timers

11 Survival Lessons We Can Learn From Old-Timers

May 30, 2020 / 4 Comments

For the last 20 years I have been working on my genealogy. The research is fascinating to me. Old certificates and wills captivate me and the search for my ancestors is like a treasure hunt. One part of genealogy that I have found most valuable are their personal journals. Their stories of survival and endurance have always left me in awe and reminded me that I have life pretty easy. I have done my best to apply their wisdom to my …

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Get Family & Friends On Board With Prepping

May 29, 2020 / Leave a Comment

Whether you are forming a small neighborhood group, a disaster preparedness club, or a prepper group there are 9 steps which will help you get started and begin the path for the success of your group. You’ll want to start with a comprehensive, but family-friendly survival manual such as this one. When you’re just starting to put a plan together, first define in what geographical area you want to organize your group. It could be a housing development, an apartment …

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13 Clever Ways to Get Non-Preppers On Board

May 28, 2020 / 5 Comments

Prepping works best when an entire community is doing it together, but this is extremely rare and not easy to achieve This is especially true when our neighbors, family, or friends aren’t at all interested. Yet. Still, we care about them and want to see them able to care for themselves in the event of an emergency, power outage, or natural disaster. Here are a few ways to get your preparedness missionary mojo in motion and get those non-preppers on …

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Some folks don't think preppers are quite normal. Here's why... www.TheSurvivalMom.com

5 Reasons Why Normal People Shy Away From the Prepper World

May 30, 2020 / 94 Comments

I don’t believe I’ve ever started an article with an apology, but before I go any further, my apologies to preppers for this headline! I’ve met hundreds of you over the past few years at expos and other events, and you are all so normal! I hope my apology is accepted! Now on to my story. Quite some time ago I recorded an episode of my podcast and included 6 lessons kids should learn from the Trayvon Martin case.  Lesson #6 was, “Be …

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You Might Be a Survivalist If…

May 30, 2020 / 78 Comments

You Might Be a Survivalist (or Prepper) If… You have a cookbook all about Spam. You consider your extra large ham radio antenna as “broadband”. You know how to cook leather. You’ve ever been on a Soviet “Potential Threat” list. SWAT has ever asked to borrow a few of your guns. Your new girlfriend comes over for the first time, and when she walks into the living room, the first thing she sees is your CHL regulation Man sized target …

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