What to Do When the Lights Go Out and Democracy Flickers -- Prepping for Civil War!
Gardening, growing, and gathering plants, seeds, and herbs
Food Options from Cooking to Storing
Tools You Need
What are Your Options if You Lose Water and Electric
Options and Recipes
But first, How did I get on this kick? And what the heck does it have to do with Trump and our democracy? We are now on a Journey of Stockpiling Truth: Political Prepping 101
Many of you know that I love research and writing stories. My AI assistant suggested I shouuld watch Blast from the Past, so I did. Plus I always remember anniversaries of historical events and watch documentaries about them. It was the 24th anniversary of 9?11, so I have been inundating myself with documentaries about it. All of that got me thinking about it. Then I found recipes from the 50's, 60's, and 70's that are weird, but I remember eating them. Because I click on that video, food podcasts just kept popping up. Can goods that never expire, African meals, meal prep for seniors, the Amish food, Shelf Stable Meal Ideas from Your Prepper Pantry, and Cheap Meals Pioneer Families Ate to Stay Alive. Very intesting choices.
Plus, I was getting depressed focusing on Gaza and starvation. I needed a change. So This should add some fun to our universe. Unfortunately the is a real side to this that is important to consider. Climate cahnge is very real, RFK Jr. is a madman that wants to eliminate vaccines, Trump is sending ICE, The National Guard, and US military into cities, and with the sad assination of Charlie Kirk and the rhetoric against the democrats that is causing, prepping and survival may be necessary. LKet's build the tools to Civic Survivalism: Building the Tools to Outlast Disinformation together!
Gardening, Growing, and Gathering (My Newly Discovered Strong Suit!)
If you enjoy my mix of truth, prepping, laughter, and the occasional gardening disaster, please:
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👉 Tell your friends — and your plants — to join the fun
Every click gets me closer to live streaming straight from the garden (or what’s left of it). Let’s grow this thing together! 🌞💬🥒
Gardening and Growing from the Experts and Me
🍂 Use these 4 tips to close your garden for the Fall and wrap up the season! #beginnergardening@MindandSoil
10 Cold-Hardy Crops You Can Grow Through the Winter (Grow at -30
Grow Garlic in Containers with these EASY steps! #garlictips #howtogrowgarlic #containergardening@MindandSoil
🥔 Want more potatoes? Use this 1 tip and it will make all the difference! #growingpotatoes #potatoes@MindandSoil
🍂 Use these 4 tips to close your garden for the Fall and wrap up the season!#beginnergardening@MindandSoil
#9 9 Beginner Gardening Mistakes to Avoi E
Please use the Experts' Advice. Check out Epic Gardening @epicgardening, Gardening Experiments with Mind & Soil@MindandSoil, @TheShilohFarm
Go below to Laugh.
15 Crops to Grow To Survive Difficult Times!
Gathering and Foraging: Again from the Experts and Me
(I found my Strength! At least with Black Walnuts!)
Robin Greenfield@Robin.Greenfield...
Pokeweed Facts That Will Amaze You!...
Southeast Foraging Guide: 62 Edible and Medicinal Plants,
Medicinal Plants, Growing and Gathering
14 Medicinal Plants to Grow Before It's Too Late
, 15.2K subscribers, Oct 16, 2025 #HerbalRemedies #NaturalHealing #MedicinalPlants
14 Medicinal Plants to Grow Before It's Too Late Discover the top 14 medicinal plants to grow in your garden for natural health remedies and herbal medicine. Learn how to cultivate powerful healing herbs like echinacea, turmeric, aloe vera, and peppermint to boost your immune system and treat common ailments. This guide is perfect for anyone interested in organic gardening, sustainable living, and holistic wellness through growing medicinal herbs at home. Start your journey to self-sufficiency by planting essential herbal remedies before it’s too late. #MedicinalPlants #HerbalRemedies #GrowYourOwnMedicine #NaturalHealing #PlantMedicine
Medicinal Herb Gardening for Beginners: 15 Easy Medicinal Plants and How to Use Them
, 17K subscribers, ul 29, 2025 Herbalist Training
🎯 Tired of spinning you wheels? Let's chat and figure it out together → https://calendly.com/iwillaremedy/con... I’m offering free calls to help you get clear on your path forward.
Kill the Flu with this Common Backyard Tree
, 206K subscribers, ul 15, 2024
In this video Matthew describes the medicinal uses of the sweet gum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua), a plant used in Southern folk medicine for coughs, colds, and flu. Identification of the tree is covered followed by a demonstration of how to harvest sap or "storax". Next a detailed explanation of this tree's medicinal benefits are given, including the uses of the fruit (gum balls), leaves, and bark. Directions on how to make a tea from the bark and leaves is also shown, as well as how to make a tincture from the gum balls and sap. Matthew's personal dosage information is also included. Download my free guide to medicinal plants of the Southeast here: https://www.legacywildernessacademy.c... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:40 Identification 1:22 Sweet gum vs maple 2:04 Sweet gum scientific name (etymology) 2:51 How to harvest sweet gum sap (storax) 7:27 Sweet gum medicinal uses 11:43 How to harvest sweet gum bark 13:41 Sweet gum bark decoction + dosage 15:26 Sweet gum leaf tea + dosage 16:48 Sweet gum ball (fruit) and sap (storax) tincture + dosage 19:28 Sweet gum wildlife uses
Gathering, Processing, and Cooking with Black Walnuts
The Gift of Black Walnuts: A Fall Treat Worth the Effort
They may be tough to crack (literally!), but black walnuts are one of nature’s richest gifts. I gathered two bags full and I’m diving in — hulling, cracking, and maybe even turning them into nocino, a traditional Italian liqueur that tastes like fall in a bottle.
Join me as I try not to smash a finger while filming my new Shorts — and celebrate this Southern backyard treasure from sweet to savory to sip-worthy!
How to gather and clean THOUSANDS of black walnuts, fast and easy
, 490K subscribers, ct 17, 2024 2 products
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Spec Ops 22oz Milled Face Framing Hammer - SPEC-M22CF-S
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Garden Weasel 48 in. Weasel Large Nut Gatherer with Smooth Rolling Cage
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📅 Never miss black walnut season with Gather, my foraging app! 👇 https://gatherapp.co 📝 Get your ridiculously detailed workflow guide here! https://feralforaging.com/black-walnu... 🔨Get my recommended black walnut nut cracker here! (use code “feral24” for $10 off!) https://www.grandpasgoodygetter.com/p... 📦 Check out Hammons if you want delicious wild black walnuts shipped straight to your door! (With my code “feral” for 10% off your order 😄) https://www.hammonspantry.com/collect... ⚒️ All the products mentioned in this video can be found below. https://kit.co/feralforaging/black-wa... 👥 Join my foraging community group for ID help and good foraging discussion! / discord 📚 Foraging books I recommend - https://kit.co/feralforaging/best-for..
How to Harvest and Process Black Walnut (don’t wash them!)
, 7.9K subscribers,
How to Harvest and Process Black Walnut (don’t wash them!)
Food Options: Cooking and Storing
20 Foods The Amish STOCKPILE That NEVER Expire
al
7 Shelf Stable Meal Ideas from Your Prepper Pantry
, 169K subscribers
Forgotten Farmhouse Recipes You'll Wish You Knew Sooner!
20 Must-Have Foods To STOCKPILE That NEVER EXPIRE!
Tools and Supplies You Need
Top 17 Things Every Smart Prepper Buys In Bulk!
, 29.2K subscribers, Oct 6, 2025
🚩💡How to turn $50 into a 90-day food supply. My FREE guide reveals the simple tricks that work in any home or apartment 👉 https://www.prepin60.site/preppingplan In this comprehensive guide, I'm revealing the exact bulk buying strategy that's saved me over $3,000 annually since 2012. Whether you're preparing for emergencies or just trying to beat inflation, these 17 items will transform your approach to food storage and household preparedness. You'll discover: Why contractor bags are the ultimate multi-use prep (and it's not just for trash) The battery storage mistake that's costing you 3x more than necessary How to make rice and pasta last 20+ years instead of 2 The overlooked vitamin strategy that prevents nutritional collapse My 3-tier rotation system that ensures nothing expires Secret bulk buying price points that trigger instant purchases Why wheat berries beat flour for long-term storage The truth about toilet paper stockpiling post-2020 Plus, I share my personal story of how these preps saved my family during unexpected job loss, the exact spreadsheet system I use to track prices, and the costly storage mistakes that almost ruined $500 of food. This isn't about doomsday paranoia it's about financial intelligence and family security. With inflation hitting grocery stores hard, bulk buying isn't just smart prepping, it's smart living. Get ready to transform your pantry into a mini-warehouse that provides security, saves money, and gives you peace of mind in uncertain times.
Dollar Tree Fuels: Cook, Heat, Light
, 69.8K subscribers, Feb 11, 2024
Dollar Tree Fuels for SHTF, Grid-Down, Emergencies and any type of Power Outage. Are they really available and if so, what are they, how can you use them and what can you use them for?
The 5 Worst Food Storage Mistakes Preppers Make
, 1.21M subscribers, Feb 12, 2025 #shtf #prepper #food
Don't make these 5 food storage mistakes! Download the FREE Survival Guide: https://cityprepping.tv/38C5Ftt ... Join our City Prepping community: https://cityprepping.tv/3sc9Beq Videos to Watch Next:
The Ultimate Pantry Stockpile Checklist - • The Ultimate Pantry Stockpile Checklist: W...
12 Ways to Safely Cook After a Disaster - • 12 Ways to Safely Cook After a Disaster
Why Store Borax?
, Jan 31, 2025
We discuss the advantages for having a supply of borax on hand should we have to live long term off grid without the availability of renewing our supplies. Borax has many uses around the home. It is good for doing everything from brightening our laundry to killing ants! RoseRed Homestead Book Store: https://payhip.com/roseredhomestead Website: www.roseredhomestead.com Amazon Store: https://roseredhomestead.com/amazon-s... RoseRed Homestead Channel: / @roseredhomestead Trail Grazers Channel: / @trailgrazers3690 Any products we mention or show on our videos have been purchased with our own money and are recommended or not based on our own experience.
Food Storage: 25 Foods You Can Package in Mylar Bags for Long Term Storage
, 267K subscribers, Mar 12, 2022 3 products
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20 Wallaby 2500cc Oxygen Absorbers - Individually Vacuum Sealed - Food Safe for Long-Term Food Prepping & Storage in Mylar Bags, Canning, Harvest
How To Store BELL PEPPERS — Keeping Raw Peppers Fresh and Crisp!
, 18K subscribers, Oct 8, 2025 2 products
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Bulk - 6 Packs: 12 ct. (72 total) 16 oz Glass Jar by Ashland | 16 fl oz | Michaels
$74.71
Klaus Meyer 2 Piece Carbon Steel Knife Set - Black
$22.99
In this video, I’ll show you how to store bell peppers properly, so they stay fresh, crisp, firm, and flavorful for weeks — and even months! Most people make simple mistakes when storing peppers, like trapping them in plastic or letting moisture build up. These small errors can quickly turn your vibrant peppers into soft, wrinkled messes. But with a few science-backed storage methods, you can extend their shelf life and preserve that perfect crunch. Here’s what you’ll learn: The worst mistakes that cause bell peppers to spoil faster How to store whole peppers the right way How to store cut bell peppers so they stay crisp Which method works best for long-term storage Bonus: How to freeze peppers without losing flavor By the end of this video, you’ll know exactly how to keep your bell peppers fresh for up to a month or more — saving money, reducing food waste, and keeping your meals colorful and delicious. #tips #diy #bellpeppers #foodstorage #foodscience #kitchentips #foodstoragetips #bellpepperstorage #howtostorevegetables #howtostorebellpeppers #keepvegetablesfresh #freshfoodtips
30 Native American Recipes You Need To Eat In Your Lifetime!30 Native American Recipes You Need To Eat In Your Lifetime!
, 203K subscribers
Disgusting 1950s, 1960s and 1970s recipes
MASSIVE Meal Prep for a Senior! A New Mix & Match Menu to Stock Her Freezer with Easy Meals!
25 CHEAP Recipes during the Great Depression That Can Save You Money Today
Tasting History, Learn to make soup from a stone.
How to Build A 90 Day Food Supply with Just $100Preppers Guide
Forgotten Garden Traditions: 15 Vintage Features America Left Behind
Plant These 9 Perennial Crops ONCE… and Harvest Forever!
Since I have a ton of these in my yeard, this was awesome
How to gather and clean THOUSANDS of black walnuts, fast and easy
g, Oct 17, 2024 3 productsFeral Foraging earns commission on tagged products. Learn more479K
Eating ACORNS 🌰: How to Forage, Store, & Cook Acorns
, 60.1K subscribers, Jun 16, 2021
Acorns are a super sustainable source of sustenance that you can forage from the forest to your front yard! In this video, Wren discusses the different types of acorns, how to identify a good nut, foraging tips, processing acorn meat, and how to use your acorns to make DELICIOUS food. Let us know if you have any acorn recipes below!
How To Make 17th Century Clotted Cream - A History
, 3.86M subscribers, Aug 27, 2024 #tastinghistory
Thank you to Trade for sponsoring. Visit https://drinktrade.com/maxmiller to get a free bag of coffee when you sign-up.
Best Things to Grow for Absolutely Free From Kitchen Scraps!
Jun 13, 2025 #growyourownfood #kitchengardening #gardeningtips
Credit: Special thanks to Mark from Self Sufficient Me for his excellent gardening content on growing food naturally, keeping poultry, and living more self-sufficiently. Check out his channel here: / selfsufficientme Watch his Sweet Potato Tips video: • 5 Tips How to Grow a Ton of Sweet Potato i... Watch his Pineapple Growing video: • Regrow Pineapples from Store Bought Pineap... Your grocery store is hiding a secret garden. From pineapple tops to sprouted garlic and dried beans, this video reveals the 10 easiest crops you can grow for absolutely free using kitchen scraps. No seed packets. No fancy tools. Just your leftovers—and a little knowledge. We explore regrowing food from scraps, including herbs, root vegetables, and pantry items like dried legumes and sprouted onions. These DIY gardening hacks not only save money but can create a self-sustaining food supply right at home. Perfect for beginner gardeners, urban homesteaders, or anyone looking to reduce food waste and grow food naturally. These are powerful kitchen gardening tips you won’t hear at the store—turning what you’d normally throw away into food for months or years to come. Whether you’re living in a small apartment or starting a backyard food forest, this guide gives you the fastest, easiest plants to grow without buying seeds.
Everyone know I can't grow anything but cucumabers, but I am going to try getting a fall garden
g, 1.19M subscribers72,215 views Aug 30, 2025
In this video I answer the question, "What vegetables can I plant in September?" with my top 10 choices for vegetables to sow in September
a jar until winter!
, 2.45M subscribers, Jun 12, 2025 preserving food in jars without a pressure cooker (Dubbed)
I store fresh fruit in a jar and it doesn't spoil for years! Eat nectarines, watermelon, apricots and peaches in winter just like in summer! Preserve fruit in jars as compote. Preserve food while it's cheap and eat it when it's expensive and when it's gone! Fill the pantry with food, it will be easier for you to survive war, famine, shortage of food, drop in the value of money. 00:00 preserving nectarines in jars 03:36 canning watermelon in jars 08:42 canning apricots in jars 12:06 p.m. canning peaches in jars 14:46 canning sour cherries in jars https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mojakuhinjm You can buy me a coffee and support my work and channel development. Thank you dear friends ❤
5 TOP WILD Foods to Forage to Keep You From STARVING!
, 481K subscribers, Nov 2, 2024 3 products
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📆 Never miss the vital wild food species in this video with my Interactive Forager's Calendar! 👇 https://feralforaging.com/calendar 📝 Get your FULL guide with all the important details for the species in the video 👇 https://feralforaging.com/dont-starve... 👇 If you've been on the fence about getting a good blender, now is the time! The one I recommend below will work for both acorn and hickory nut blending. https://geni.us/8ck40r 👇 And don't forget the stainless steel container to go with it! https://geni.us/BeHsq 👇 Get your Grandpa's Goody Getter Nutcracker $10 off with code "feral24" (made in America! 🇺🇸) https://www.grandpasgoodygetter.com/p... 🍎 Wild food processing tools I use - https://kit.co/feralforaging/wild-foo... 📚 Top foraging books I recommend - https://kit.co/feralforaging/best-for... Timestamps:
00:00 - What is a staple wild food?
01:12 - Staple wild food #1
06:14 - Staple wild food #2
10:02 - Is wild food worth it?
11:36 - Staple wild food #3
14:02 - Staple wild food #4
19:16 - Why I made this video
20:27 - Staple wild food #4
24:54 - Bonus staple wild food #6
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational and information purposes only. None of the information on this channel is medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anything. You are responsible for anything you do related to foraging or the subjects of any of our videos. #foraging #wildfood #survival
8 Powdered Foods That LAST FOREVER! (30+ Year Shelf Life)
, 50.2K subscribers,Feb 2, 2024
Discover the ultimate solution to potential food shortages with our latest video on "8 Powdered Foods That LAST FOREVER! (30+ Year Shelf Life)." As the threat of food shortages looms and empty shelves become a reality, it's crucial to prepare adequately. Are you ready for the impending food crisis coming to America? Join us as we delve into the essential strategy of stockpiling food for long-term survival. Learn how to stock up your pantry with powdered foods that have an extended shelf life, ensuring you're well-prepared for any emergency situation. Don't wait until it's too late – start stocking up now and secure your family's future!
More Recipes and Other Things You Need to Know
What are Your Options if You Lose Water and Electric
How To Survive Without Electricity (Off Grid)
, 54.7K subscribers, un 6, 2025
Your grid-down survival starts with the 5:21 Preparedness Plan 👉 https://www.thereadylife.com/521 Would your family survive a grid down event without power? This guide has you covered with real-life, budget-friendly ways to keep your household safe, warm, and fed when the grid goes down. Whether it’s a power outage from a winter storm, a cyber attack, or just the grid finally giving out, these off grid survival basics are practical and doable—no matter where you live. We’ll cover how to store and purify water on the cheap, build a pantry with food your family will actually eat, cook without electricity, and stay warm—even without a fireplace. You don’t need fancy gear or a cabin in the woods. Just a plan, some simple tools, and a bit of motivation to get started. 👉 How to store and purify water on a budget 👉 What to stock in your pantry (and how to make it last) 👉 Simple ways to stay warm and cook when the power’s out 👉 Grid down hygiene hacks to keep your family healthy Give Your Family the Edge in a Crisis When the grid goes down, most people scramble. With the 5:21 Preparedness Plan, you won’t be one of them. In just one 5-minute video per day for 21 days, you'll get high-impact steps that give you real traction in the four most critical areas: water, food, heat, and power. It’s fast, practical, and built for real life. And right now, it's free if you use this link: https://www.thereadylife.com/521 Chapters : 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Emergency water storage 03:31 - Water purification and filter in a disaster 10:06 - Food storage for a food shortage 12:58 - Off grid cooking options 15:20 - Hygiene hacks for disasters 19:03 - Non electric heat
Endless Heat Without Electric | Safe Reliable And Low Cost
, 554K subscriber, an 26, 2025 #emergencyheater #homeheating #diyheating
In my continued series on heating your home in power outages this is probably my favorite heater. It's incredibly easy to assemble and the components are found at almost every hardware and grocery store. The heater will store in a pantry ready to use for years, even decades, and will work perfectly without power. I've even included a forced are solution to add to the heater for additional heating in larger spaces. This is one of those emergency items every home should have. Thanks For Your Support! Patreon 👉 / zengardenoasis1 ✅Products: 1 Gallon Empty Paint Cans with Lids: https://amzn.to/3Wy389v AUTORIND Metal Quart Size Paint Can (2 Pack): https://amzn.to/4azvEgI KLEAN-STRIP GSL26 Denatured Alcohol, 1-Gallon: https://amzn.to/3WzX0gK Airtight Stainless Steel Canisters with Glass Lids: https://amzn.to/4awmYHO VODA 4-Blade Heat Powered Stove Fan: https://amzn.to/3POe8vL K&S 3400 Round Brass Telescopic Tubing Assortment: https://amzn.to/3CpCubW Behrens Galvanized Steel Storage Can: https://amzn.to/3WB6gl0 SimpliSafe Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector: https://amzn.to/4h9NJo8
Hobo Heater [Easy DIY]
, 418K subscribers, Nov 22, 2021 #18thcentury #primitivecamping #stanley
The Hobo Heater is used by the homeless and is a great and inexpensive gift for those less fortunate. One of my viewers told me about this and so I put my spin on it and I think that it's also a great option for cold nights or power outages.
Survive Any Power Outage: Keep Food Cold for WEEKS! (Blackout Prepping)
, 24.2K subscribers, Oct 9, 2025 #blackout #poweroutage #prepping
Survive Any Power Outage: Keep Food Cold for WEEKS! (Blackout Prepping) The hum stops. The fridge goes silent. Minutes tick by… and reality hits — this blackout isn’t ending soon. Every second your food gets warmer, your survival buffer shrinks. In this video, we’ll show you how to keep food cold for WEEKS without power — no generator, no expensive equipment, just smart prepping hacks that actually work. Discover: 🥶 How to turn your freezer into a cold battery that lasts for weeks 💧 The water and salt trick that keeps coolers colder for 3x longer 🔥 The forgotten “ice chest hack” that outperforms a dead fridge 🌞 How solar + 12V setups can make your food storage blackout-proof Whether it’s a storm, EMP event, or power grid collapse, these survival-tested tricks will keep your fridge cold and your family fed when everyone else is panicking. ⚠️ Don’t wait until your food spoils — learn how to protect it now.
How to Turn Your Home Toilet Into an Emergency Porta-Potty
, 267K subscribers, Dec 22, 2023
No running water or working sewer? You can quickly turn your standard household toilet into an emergency porta-potty with just a few basic supplies. Urine hat https://amzn.to/48vxvkz Poo powder https://amzn.to/3O09CtF Biodegradable garbage bags https://amzn.to/478TE74 Kitchen garbage bags https://amzn.to/478B13g Painters' tape https://amzn.to/3tleKBs Duct tape https://amzn.to/3tC8O6Z Learn more at TheProvidentPrepper.org Prepping for Basic Emergency Sanitation https://theprovidentprepper.org/prepp... Emergency Sanitation for Our Little Loved Ones https://theprovidentprepper.org/emerg... Crisis Laundry Management https://theprovidentprepper.org/crisi... Disasters Literally Stink: How to Tame the Stench! https://theprovidentprepper.org/disas... No Toilet Paper? No Problem! 14 Emergency Alternatives https://theprovidentprepper.org/no-to... Emergency Sanitation – Recommended Products https://theprovidentprepper.org/recom... Action Plan – Sanitation https://theprovidentprepper.org/the-p... Thanks for being part of the solution! Follow us! Instagram – theprovidentprepper / theprovidentprepper Facebook – The Provident Prepper: Building Your Family Ark / providentprepper *Pinterest – The Provident Prepper / theprovidentprepper TheProvidentPrepper.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
Going Dark: How to Manage Life Without Electricity (11 Vital Tips)
, 43.5K subscribers, Oct 15, 2025 #preparedness #poweroutage #survival
🎁 FREE GUIDE: Turn $50 Into a 90-Day Food Supply 👉 Get your free preparedness guide here 👉 https://www.prepin60.site/preppingplan 🚩💡 Discover Ancient Invention Generates Energy-On-Demand (NO POWER Required) 👉 https://www.digistore24.com/redir/446... When the power grid goes down, will you be ready? In this comprehensive guide, I'm sharing the exact strategies that have kept my family comfortable, safe, and well-fed through multiple extended outages since I started prepping in 2012.
Planting and Gardening
10 Common Weeds That Are Actually Expensive Superfoods (Growing in Your Yard Right Now!)
, 18K Subscribers, Jun 22, 2025 #EdibleWeeds #Foraging #survivalfood
🎋 Foraging Secrets Guide; learn the forgotten foraging secrets of your ancestors - https://stellareureka.com/ForagingSec... 🌱 Want to grow some of these plants yourself? Get non-GMO, heirloom seeds at: https://stellareureka.com/Seedsnow
10 Cold-Hardy Crops You Can Grow Through the Winter (Grow at -30°F)
, 1.77M subscribers, Oct 5, 2024 2 products
The Gardening Channel With James Prigioni tagged products below.
Nature’s Medicine Cabinet: 10+ Herbs You’ll Wish You Had Sooner 🌿✨
, 1.81M subscribers, Dec 22, 2024
ORDER MY NEW BOOK PLANT TO PLATE NOW https://geni.us/planttoplate ❤️ This is my list of the herbs I keep in my at home herbal apothecary for their medicinal powers. All my written recipes here - https://www.gazoakleychef.com 📚SIGNED COPIES OF MY COOKBOOKS https://www.gazoakleychef.com/books/ 📸 FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: / gazoakley
The Healing Power Of Basil They Never Told You About
, 60.8K subscribers, Sep 4, 2025 #Herbalism #Basil #Gardening
Basil isn’t just for pesto or pizza — this powerful herb has been used for centuries as a natural remedy with surprising healing benefits. 🌿 In this video, I’ll show you why basil deserves a spot in every garden and every kitchen, and how it can support your health in ways most people never hear about. You’ll learn: ✨ The surprising health benefits of basil ✨ How to harvest and use multiple varieties ✨ My favorite ways to make basil tea, sun tea, and even preserve basil by freeze-drying Whether you’re growing it fresh in the garden or reaching for it in your kitchen, basil has so much more to offer than flavor. If you’re ready to unlock the healing power of basil, hit play — and don’t forget to subscribe for more Herbs That Heal! ⏱️ Timestamp Guide 0:00 – Intro & Today’s Harvest 0:43 – Who Should Take Basil? 4:22 – Cinnamon Basil 6:47 – Lemon Basil 8:22 – Thai Basil 9:33 – Making Sun Tea And Freeze Drying Our Basil 15:29 – Sun Tea Options Basil is more than just a kitchen herb—it’s a healing powerhouse you’ll want to grow and use every season. 👉 Don’t miss more videos in our Herbs That Heal series: • Herbs That Heal Get Your Own Freeze Dryer: tinyurl.com/freezedrywithgrace Learn More About Herbal Consultations: https://stan.store/Gracewalkfarm/p/bo... #HerbsThatHeal #Basil #Herbalism #Gardening
🌿 OREGANO The most POWERFUL natural antibiotic you have at home (use it like this)
, 782K subscribers, Aug 14, 2025 #Oregano #MedicinalOregano #NaturalRemedies
Did you know that the oregano in your kitchen is more powerful than many medicines, but only if you use it CORRECTLY? Most people waste its incredible healing power because they don't know WHEN and HOW to consume it.
Medieval Food Preservation Citation
Snell, Melissa. "Medieval Food Preservation." ThoughtCo, Apr. 16, 2025, thoughtco.com/medieval-food-preservation-1788842.
Key Takeaways
Drying was a common method to preserve grains, fruits, and meats by removing moisture.
Salting was used to preserve meat and fish, drawing out moisture to prevent bacteria growth.
Pickling added flavor and preserved vegetables by soaking them in salt brine with herbs and spices.
For centuries before the medieval period, and for centuries afterward, human beings in all parts of the world used a variety of methods to preserve foods for later consumption. Europeans in the Middle Ages were no exception. A society that was largely agrarian would be keenly aware of the need to store up provisions against the ominous threats of famine, drought, and warfare.
The possibility of disaster wasn't the only motive for preserving food. Dried, smoked, pickled, honeyed, and salted foods had their own particular flavors, and many recipes survive detailing how to prepare foods that have been stored with these methods. Preserved foods were also much easier for the sailor, soldier, merchant, or pilgrim to transport. For fruits and vegetables to be enjoyed out of season, they had to be preserved; and in some regions, a particular foodstuff could only be enjoyed in its preserved form, because it didn't grow (or wasn't raised) nearby.
Virtually any kind of food could be preserved. How it was done depended on what type of food it was and whether a particular effect was desired. Here are some of the methods of food preservation used in medieval Europe.
Drying Foods to Preserve Them
Today we understand that moisture allows for the rapid microbiological growth of bacteria, which is present in all fresh foods and which causes them to decay. But it isn't necessary to understand the chemical process involved in order to observe that food that is wet and left in the open will quickly start to smell and attract bugs. So it should come as no surprise that one of the oldest methods of preserving foods known to man is that of drying it.
Drying was used to preserve all sorts of foods. Grains like rye and wheat were dried in the sun or air before being stored in a dry place. Fruits were sun-dried in warmer climes and oven-dried in cooler regions. In Scandinavia, where temperatures were known to plunge below freezing in the winter, cod (known as "stockfish") were left out to dry in the cold air, usually after they were gutted and their heads were removed.
Meat could also be preserved through drying, usually after cutting it into thin strips and lightly salting it. In warmer regions, it was a simple matter to dry meat under the hot summer sun, but in cooler climates, air drying could be done at most times of the year, either outdoors or in shelters that kept away the elements and flies.
Preserving Foods With Salt
Salting was the most common way to preserve virtually any type of meat or fish, as it drew out the moisture and killed the bacteria. Vegetables might be preserved with dry salt, as well, though pickling was more common. Salt was also used in conjunction with other methods of preservation, such as drying and smoking.
One method of salting meat involved pressing dry salt into pieces of meat, then layering the pieces in a container (like a keg) with dry salt completely surrounding each piece. If meat was preserved this way in cold weather, which slowed down the decomposition while the salt had time to take effect, it could last for years. Vegetables were also preserved by layering them in salt and placing them in a sealable container such as an earthenware crock.
Another way to preserve food with salt was to soak it in a salt brine. While not as effective a long-term method of preservation as packing in dry salt, it served very well to keep food edible through a season or two. Salt brines were also part of the pickling process.
Whatever method of salt preservation was used, the first thing a cook did when he got ready to prepare the salted food for consumption was soaking it in fresh water to remove as much of the salt as possible. Some cooks were more conscientious than others when it came to this step, which could take several trips to the well for fresh water. And it was next to impossible to remove all the salt, no matter how much soaking was done. Many recipes took this saltiness into account, and some were designed specifically to counteract or complement the salt flavor. Still, most of us would find preserved medieval food much saltier than anything we're used to today.
Smoking Meat and Fish
Smoking was another fairly common way to preserve meat, especially fish and pork. Meat would be cut into relatively thin, lean strips, immersed briefly in a salt solution and hung over a fire to absorb the smoke flavoring as it dried — slowly. Occasionally meat might be smoked without a salt solution, especially if the type of wood burned had a distinctive flavoring of its own. However, salt was still very helpful because it discouraged flies, inhibited the growth of bacteria, and hastened the removal of moisture.
Pickling Foods
Immersing fresh vegetables and other foods in a liquid solution of salt brine was a fairly common practice in medieval Europe. In fact, although the term "pickle" didn't come into use in English until the late Middle Ages, the practice of pickling goes back to ancient times. Not only would this method preserve fresh food for months so that it could be eaten out of season, but it could infuse it with strong, piquant flavors.
The simplest pickling was done with water, salt and an herb or two, but a variety of spices and herbs as well as the use of vinegar, verjuice or (after the 12th century) lemon led to a range of pickling flavors. Pickling might require boiling the foods in the salt mixture, but it could also be done by simply leaving the food items in an open pot, tub or vat of salt brine with the desired flavorings for hours and sometimes days. Once the food had been thoroughly infused by the pickling solution, it was placed in a jar, crock, or another airtight container, sometimes with a fresh brine but often in the juice in which it had marinated.
Confits
Although the term confit has come to refer to virtually any food that has been immersed in a substance for preservation (and, today, can sometimes refer to a type of fruit preserve), in the Middle Ages confits were potted meat. Confits were most usually, but not solely, made from fowl or pork (fatty fowl like goose were particularly suitable).
To make a confit, the meat was salted and cooked for a very long time in its own fat, then allowed to cool in its own fat. It was then sealed up -- in its own fat, of course -- and stored in a cool place, where it could last for months.
Confits should not be confused with comfits, which were sugar-coated nuts and seeds eaten at the end of a banquet to freshen the breath and aid the digestion.
Sweet Preserves
Fruits were often dried, but a far more tasty method of preserving them past their season was to seal them up in honey. Occasionally, they might be boiled in a sugar mixture, but sugar was an expensive import, so only the cooks of the wealthiest families were likely to use it. Honey had been used as a preservative for thousands of years, and it wasn't limited to preserving fruit; meats were also stored in honey on occasion.
Fermentation
Most methods of preserving food involved stopping or slowing down the process of decay. Fermentation accelerated it.
The most common product of fermentation was alcohol -- wine was fermented from grapes, mead from honey, beer from grain. Wine and mead could keep for months, but beer had to be drunk fairly quickly. Cider was fermented from apples, and the Anglo-Saxons made a drink called "perry" from fermented pears.
Cheese is also a product of fermentation. Cow's milk could be used, but the milk from sheep and goats was a more common source for cheese in the Middle Ages.
Freezing and Cooling
The weather of the greater part of Europe throughout much of the Middle Ages was rather temperate; in fact, there is often some discussion of the "medieval warm period" overlapping the end of the Early Middle Ages and the beginning of High Medieval Europe (the exact dates depend on who you consult). So freezing was not an obvious method of preserving foods.
However, most areas of Europe did see snowy winters, and freezing was at times a viable option, especially in northern regions. In castles and large homes with cellars, an underground room could be used to keep foods packed in winter ice through the cooler spring months and into the summer. In the long, frigid Scandinavian winters, an underground room wasn't necessary.
Supplying an ice-room with ice was a labor-intensive and sometimes travel-intensive business, so it was not particularly common; but it wasn't completely unknown, either. More common was the use of underground rooms to keep foods cool, the all-important last step of most of the above preservation methods.
In recent years, the prepper movement has shifted from a fringe ideology focused on lone-wolf survival to a more mainstream practice embraced by a diverse cross-section of society. Catalyst events like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and growing economic and political anxieties have driven increased interest, pushing prepping from a niche hobby into a multibillion-dollar industry.
Overview of prepping and survivalism
While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are notable differences in their approach.
Feature PrepperSurvivalistPrimary focusResource accumulation and detailed planning for specific scenarios, such as natural disasters or economic crashes.Skill development and adaptability for long-term self-reliance in a resource-scarce environment, or "thriving in the wild".Typical preparationsStockpiling food, water, medical supplies, and other gear, often stored in a home or "bug-out bag".Cultivating skills like wilderness first aid, blacksmithing, and homesteading. Some adopt a more military-style, combative approach.Community engagementOften focus on local community building and cooperation, rejecting the "bunker mentality" of surviving alone.Historically associated with more isolationist tactics, though modern "retreaters" focus on sustainable, self-sufficient communities.
Historically, the survivalist movement originated during the Cold War with a focus on nuclear threats, evolving through the 1970s and 80s to emphasize economic collapse and living off the grid. The prepper label became distinct in the 2000s, reflecting a more varied, less combative approach to preparedness.
Recent shifts in the prepping community
The past decade has seen a significant transformation in the types of people prepping and their motivations.
Diversified demographics
Wider political spectrum: While once dominated by right-wing individuals concerned with government overreach, the movement has expanded to include politically left-leaning and minority groups. The rise of Donald Trump in 2016, increased climate instability, and racial justice protests in 2020 heightened the sense of insecurity for many, motivating them to prepare.
Younger participants: Younger generations, including millennials and Gen Z, have embraced prepping, often motivated by concerns about climate change and political instability. In a 2024 Forbes survey, 40% of Gen Z identified as preppers, the highest percentage of any age group.
Urban vs. rural: The demographic is no longer primarily rural. A 2025 analysis found that over 90% of preppers live in urban areas, with a majority of those renting apartments.
Mainstreaming of the movement
Mainstream retailers: The rise of prepping has been solidified by major retailers like Costco selling large-scale emergency supplies and food storage kits.
Growth of the industry: The "incident and emergency management" market is projected to reach over $400 billion, with brands selling "bug-out bags" gaining significant traction.
Media representation: Coverage has moved away from focusing on extremist doomsday scenarios and toward presenting preparedness as a sensible choice for ordinary citizens concerned about modern uncertainties.
Focus on community resilience
Networking over isolation: Newer preppers, particularly those on the left, emphasize building social connections and mutual aid networks over solitary survival. This communal approach is seen as a more realistic and effective strategy for weathering crises.
Digital training: The pandemic accelerated a trend toward online training, with virtual courses on subjects like food storage and wilderness medicine growing in popularity.
Realistic preparedness: There's a greater emphasis on preparing for more common, realistic events like power outages, natural disasters, and short-term supply chain disruptions rather than solely focusing on apocalyptic scenarios.
Driving motivations
Loss of institutional trust: Disasters like Hurricane Katrina and slow government responses, coupled with supply chain shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic, have eroded public trust in governmental and corporate reliability during a crisis.
Uncertainty and anxiety: Economic instability, geopolitical tensions, and concerns about climate change have all contributed to widespread anxiety. For many, prepping is a proactive, anxiety-reducing activity that provides a sense of control.
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