Text copyright © 2015 Jim Cobb. Concept and design copyright © 2015 Ulysses Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic devices, digital versions, and the Internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Published in the US by:
Ulysses Press
P.O. Box 3440
Berkeley, CA 94703
www.ulyssespress.com
ISBN: 978-1-61243-519-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015937561
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Acquisitions editor: Keith Riegert
Managing editor: Claire Chun
Editor: Renee Rutledge
Proofreader: Lauren Harrison
Design and layout: what!design @ whatweb.com
Cover artwork: from shutterstock.com; nuts and bolts © Viktor Gladkov, screw heads set © DeCe, cotton cable cord © Szasz-Fabian Ilka Erika, utility knife © Aleksandr Stepanov, hacksaw © humbak, plastic bottles © yalayama, newspapers © xamnesiacx, batteries © silabob
Index: Sayre Van Young
Distributed by Publishers Group West
PLEASE NOTE: This book is independently authored and published and no sponsorship or endorsement of this book by, and no affiliation with, any trademarked events, brands or other products mentioned or pictured within is claimed or suggested. All trademarks that appear in this book belong to their respective owners and are used here for informational purposes only. The author and publisher encourage readers to patronize the quality events, brands and other products mentioned and pictured in this book.
For Tammy. Every day, I fall for you just a little bit more.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
WATER
Transpiration Bag
Solar Still
Osmosis Water Filter
Layered Filter
FOOD ACQUISITION
Pocket Fishing Kit
DIY MRE
Bola
Cold Frame
Seed Tape
Growing Food from Kitchen Scraps
Take-Out Container Greenhouse
COOKING
Buddy Burner
Brick Rocket Stove
Hobo Stove
Altoids Tin Alcohol Stove
FIRE
Melting Wax
The Original DIY Fire Starter
Egg Carton Fire Starters
Self-Igniting Fire Starter
Cotton Pad Fire Starter
Fire Straws
Fire from Electricity
Baton Firewood
Expedient Firewood Storage
Fire Kit
LIGHTING
Altoids Tin Candle
Crayon Candles
Altoids Tin Oil Lamp
Solar Landscape Lights
Milk Jug Lantern
SURVIVAL KITS
Altoids Tin Survival Kit
Workplace Emergency Kit
Belt Pouch Survival Kit
MISCELLANEOUS
Gift Card Cordage Storage
Bucket Clothes Washer
Portable Heat
Bucket Toilet
Clothespin Alarm Trigger
Bucket Mousetrap
$1 Door Fortification
Coupon Stacking
Preparedness Flash Drive
Improvised Gear
Prepper Uses for Aluminum Foil
Prepper Uses for Trash Bags
FINAL THOUGHTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INTRODUCTION
This book is very different from the others I’ve written. Many readers of my previous books have asked for more photos. The thing is, in my other books, there really wasn’t a whole lot that warranted illustration. I mean, sure, I could have included some sort of stock photo of a bunch of people standing around to accompany the topic of group versus individual survival planning. But, really, would that photo have added any true value to the book?
As an author, I’ve always tried to be conscious of what I’m providing to the reader in exchange for their hard-earned dollars. As a reader myself, I’ve been suckered more than once by a flashy cover and some nifty graphics, only to find the text lacking. Too many writers look at photos and graphics as padding, rather than as actually adding value to the book. They look at photos, charts, diagrams, and all that fun stuff as a great way to add pages to the book, and that’s about it. While a picture might indeed be worth a thousand words, it doesn’t necessarily follow that a picture can fully replace all of those words. A great example of how photos are supposed to work can be found in any of my good friend John McCann’s books, such as his excellent Practical Self-Reliance. He not only understands when a photo is needed, he’s one hell of a photographer.
Leafing through the book you’re holding (or scrolling through the pages on your tablet), you’ll no doubt notice there are a ton of photos. To be honest, this book was a pain in the butt to create because of all those pictures. I’m not a photographer. I have a couple of friends who are, and they no doubt cringe and wince at any photos I post online or share with them. The composition is likely all messed up and the photo probably isn’t framed the way it should be.
Here’s the thing, though. The photos contained in this book aren’t meant to hang on the wall of your kitchen or den. I hold no illusions that anyone could look at a photo here and think it in any way approaches art. To my way of thinking, as long as the photos allow you to follow the bouncing ball and complete the projects, they’ve served their purpose.
As for the projects themselves, there’s some pretty neat stuff here. Some of it you may have seen before. I know the Milk Jug Lantern made the rounds online a while back. Why did I include it here? Two reasons, actually. First, there are going to be at least some readers of this book who’ve not seen it before. Second, part of the purpose of this book is to give you a resource to use during a disaster and the recovery period. Facebook and Google might not be viable options at that point. You might be in need of some sort of ambient lighting during an extended power outage and remember, “Hey, one of Cobb’s books had a few lanterns in it!”
Other projects are likely to be brand-spankin’ new to you. I’ve searched high and low for interesting ways to repurpose and recycle stuff you can find around the house and have put my own twists on a few ideas as well. Keep in mind, too, that the purpose of this book is doing, not just reading. Get up off your butt and actually try some of these projects. See what works for you and what doesn’t. Few things in this book, if any, are truly universal. Every reader comes to the table with their own skill set, experience level, and individual circumstances.
Every project I chose to include in this book can be done by the average person. None require some sort of obscure tool or years of experience with carpentry, plumbing, or any other trade. In fact, just about any project in this book could be completed by a middle schooler. While some of the projects might be decidedly simplistic, they all work and will accomplish the intended goal. That’s the whole point, right?
I’d love to hear from you and find out how you’ve fared with some of the projects in this book, as well as any you’ve come up with on your own. I answer all of my emails myself and maintain my own Facebook and Twitter accounts. If you send me a message, you can be assured it will reach me, not just some virtual assistant.