December 2018

DON’T MISS: YOU NEED THESE MAPS IN A CRISIS

HOW LONG WOULD YOU LAST IN A BROKEN-DOWN CAR?

IN THIS ISSUE:

DECEMBER 2018

STAYING SAFE WHEN THE STREETS ARE NOT

IMPROVE YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

CHALLENGES TO A SUCCESSFUL BUG OUT PLAN

TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR SURVIVAL GARDEN

KEEP YOUR CHICKENS ALIVE DURING WINTER

INCREASE YOUR LONG-DISTANCE RANGE TO HUNT and more…

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

, , , , ,

Contents

, . , ,

FEATURED

HOW LONG WOULD YOU LAST IN YOUR BROKEN-DOWN VEHICLE? I don't know about you, but I put a whole lot of trust in my car. It's my lifeline. Where we live in the states it's a pretty remote area, and once you get out of the villages the cell service is…

page 4

FORGET GPS - YOU NEED THESE MAPS IN A CRISIS I'm not going to lie. When I'm in a new city, or exploring a part of town I don't know my way around, I've become a rather heavy user of Google Maps. It's just so damn convenient…

page 5

IMPROVE YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS I've lost count of the amount of times I've slipped over the years. I make it a conscious effort to remain situationally aware, but it's tough. Even for me. To anyone new to the blog, situational…

page 6

SIMPLE TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN SURVIVAL GARDEN I'm a big fan of gardening, and I think it's critical every survivalist have their own garden. There's a certain element of serenity to working with your hands, and there's nothing better…

page 8

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR LONG-DISTANCE RANGE ON A HUNT Hunting season is one of my favorite times of year. It's the perfect excuse to head off into the wild, becoming one with nature again, and perhaps even bring home a nice feed. My dad…

page 9

STAY SAFE WHEN THE STREETS ARE NOT I shouldn't have to tell you the streets are no longer safe. Heck, you just need to turn on the evening news and you'll get your choice of armed robberies, assaults and much worse. And…

page 10

DON’T LET THESE CHALLENGES OVERCOME YOUR BUG OUT Bugging out is a core element of nearly every survivalist's bug out plans. It seems almost everyone has the plans to head up to the country, pick a remote spot on the mountains, and…

page 11

STEER CLEAR OF THESE POISONOUS PLANTS IN THE WILD Getting lost is a frightening experience. I'm grateful that I've never had the misfortune to be stranded in the wild unintentionally, but I've done my fair share of training missions. And after…

page 13

KEEP YOUR CHICKENS ALIVE DURING THE WINTER COLD With winter soon to hit in full swing, it's important you start getting on top of all those jobs you've been putting off all summer. This last weekend I spent most of my time getting our…

1

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

HOW LONG WOULD YOU LAST IN YOUR BROKEN-DOWN VEHICLE? I don't know about you, but I put a whole lot of trust in my car. It's my lifeline. Where we live in the states it's a pretty remote area, and once you get out of the villages the cell service is patchy at best. I've been fortunate that I've not suffered a breakdown, but that doesn't mean I'm not prepared. I'd like to ask you, what would you do if your vehicle broke down in the middle of nowhere? I'm asking as I've seen two horrible reports in just the last few weeks from Australia. People who died from exposure after being stranded in the wilderness. The first, a young family of four were found dead after making it only 11 miles from their vehicle towards help. The other, a solo motorcyclist was found dead next to all of his gear. How does this even happen? Simply put, they weren't ready. As harsh as that sounds, if you want to survive no matter what, your car needs to be equipped with the gear you need to last in the wild. There are also a few key things you can do to help rescuers find you, and I'll cover these too.

DON’T RIDE AROUND WITH AN EMPTY TRUNK What good is your bug out bag if it's sitting in a closet in your home, miles away from being of any use to you? Your first task is to create a bug out kit for your car. Start with enough food and water to last you at least 72 hours, along with a change of clothing, some cold-weather gear, and a sleeping bag or two. I've also got a fire making kit, a small tent, and some signal flares that are all packed in a large plastic trunk, that essentially lives in my trunk. And if I'm heading somewhere remote, I'd also throw in at least a week or two's worth of food and water. No matter what, even if my bug out bag is at home, if I'm in my car I know I've got the gear I need to survive. STOCKPILE BASIC NECESSSITIES FOR YOUR CAR Of course, you won't be able to fix everything in a breakdown, but if you've got a few key items you may be able to limp yourself back to civilization. Check your spare tire is roadworthy, and you've got a small compressor to inflate it just in case. It goes without saying you should also have a jack and a tire iron, and I'd also throw in a pair of jumper cables and a tow rope.

2

I've also got a spare bottle of oil, brake and power steering fluid, and some coolant ready to use should any of these ever drop to dangerous levels, and may keep my car going just a few miles longer. DON’T LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE FOR ANY REASON Let me make this very clear, as often people think their best course of action is to hike to civilization. The reality is the opposite.

“you’re going to be in big trouble if you ever find yourself stranded…”

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018 cont. Your best chance of survival is to stay with your car. Do not, under any circumstances, leave your car and try to hike to town. This is a recipe for disaster. Once people start looking for you they will always find your car first, so your best chances of being "rescued" is to sit tight, get warm, and munch on your rations until help arrives. Don't try to be a hero. LEARN HOW TO MAKE SIGNALS FROM YOUR CAR One of the key reasons your car will be found first is that it's highly visible. To a chopper from the air, it's much easier to spot a vehicle on the side of a road than it is to see you in the woods. Especially if you're camping out under a makeshift lean to. But you can also make it easier to spot. When you're in danger and signaling for help, the rule of threes is what you need to remember. Three means you need help. Light three signal fires. Create three big "X" marks on the ground. Whatever you can. ENSURE THERE’S ALWAYS SOMEONE EXPECTING YOU This last one is a habit I got into with my folks many years back. You could do it with your family, a friend, whoever. Whenever I'm headed off somewhere far, like driving a few hundred miles to a new hiking spot, or picking up a great deal from a random on Craigslist two towns over, I let my dad know. It's a good way for us to stay in touch, and it's as simple as this. I'll send him a text like: "Hey dad. Headed up to Jumbo Rocks at Joshua Tree. Will get in a bit later tonight and stay two nights. Be back home on Sunday by 9pm." He'll hit me back with some random string of emojis. But it's important. Beca use n ow th er e' s so meo n e, someone who isn't with you, who knows where you are, where you're planning to go, and when you're planning to be back.

If my plans change, I make sure to find somewhere with enough signal to send an update. Of course, there's not always signal to send updates when you're in a truly remote area, but dad knows that if I've not checked in when I'm supposed to, he's going to start following up on me, and eventually getting the authorities involved. If my car happens to break down in the middle of nowhere, with no signal and no hope of getting it started again, I just need to wait, and help will come.

3

My plans ensure I could last at least a week in my car, perhaps even much longer if I've got enough food and water. How about you? If your car broke down in the middle of nowhere tomorrow, how long would you last? And how long would it take your family to raise the alarm that you were missing? That's what's really important, and if you can't make it at least a few days, you're going to be in big trouble if you ever find yourself stranded in your car.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

FORGET GPS - YOU NEED THESE MAPS IN A CRISIS I'm not going to lie. When I'm in a new city, or exploring a part of town I don't know my way around, I've become a rather heavy user of Google Maps. It's just so damn convenient. With GPS and mobile technology, you can get directions anywhere, from a device you've always got with you. Until of course, it stops working. Whether it's a full-scale EMP attack that renders your smartphone into nothing more than an expensive paperweight, or the fact you've simply got nothing to keep it charged, smart survivalists pack maps into their bug out kits. But not all maps are created equal. And if you're planning a bug out, or want to find your way around in the aftermath of a disaster, there's a few key maps to get your hands on. DETAILED MAPS OF YOUR CITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD The most important map to get your hands on is your neighborhood. Most people typically only know the routes they drive frequently, like the way to and from the office, but beyond that things aren't all that clear. When you can study the local street map, you'll notice a bunch of different ways you can get to your destination, that you may have never realized. In a crisis, having alternate routes could be your saving grace getting out of town safely. TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF YOUR ENTIRE STATE Next, it's important to know what's going on in your state. Get a detailed one for your car, as it'll show many minor roads that don't get a lot of traffic, which is perfect if you're looking for a discreet alternative when driving to your bug out location. I actually sat down one night and planned out all the different routes we could evacuate on, with an emphasis on finding roads that aren't listed on major road atlases. That way we're more likely to actually make it to our final bug out location, instead of being stuck in gridlock on the major highways.

A ROAD ATLAS OF THE USA It's unlikely you're going to be venturing cross country when a crisis hits, but I think it's important to have a understanding of where everything is. If you hear mention of a safe haven, a disaster area to avoid, of whatever it is, you can use a road atlas to get a general idea of how far away it is, and the path you can take to either plan your route (or avoid it altogether). It's also smart to use the road atlas to double check your planned bug out route isn't listed as a major thoroughfare. If it is, you may want to have some backup options. SATELLITE MAPS OF THE AREA NEAR YOUR BUG OUT Google Earth is a godsend if you're smart and use it strategically for survival. Because anyone can get on there and download high-quality satellite images of almost every square mile of land on the planet. What I've done, is taken printouts from all of the area surrounding my bug out location, giving me actual photos of the land. Using this technique, I've discovered little streams that never registered on the forestry maps, and some abandoned structures we've shored up as survival caches on our land. LOCAL FISH AND GAME MAPS I've also purchased every map that was available from our local state fish and game agency. The survey maps are what you're looking for, as they have been used by the fish and game officers to identify the best spots for fishing and hunting. Using these maps, I can pinpoint the best areas I'm likely to land my family a decent meal, and get back fast. Of course, these maps are available to everyone and I do realize that over a long-term SHTF event these "prime" hunting spots will lose their appeal, but it's a great start. NATIONAL PARKS FORESTRY MAPS If you live in an area like me, there's probably also a wealth of national parks, and often the state maps don't do these areas justice. Take the time to visit the field offices in any national parks in your area, and get the most detailed maps they have available. Knowing the trails and paths through a forest could prove a godsend in an emergency, and if the SHTF it's another area for you to explore for valuable resources that may have better yields than elsewhere.

4

SAFETY WITH YOUR MAPS As a final point I just want to make one thing clear. Safety. Marking too many marks on a map is an operational security breach, because if it falls into the wrong hands it's a path to your doorstep, your bug out location and all of your supply caches. You don't want to leave a valuable piece of intel just laying around. The only map that lays out all of our routes is the one in my bug out bag. Of course, if I'm ever in a situation where I'm being forced to hand over my bug out kit, I've got bigger problems to worry about than a map. But all the copies in our cars, and the other maps we have are all clean. No identifying marks, so that if they're ever stolen, the thieves aren't getting intel on us. With technology advancing as fast as it is, it's important to have fail safes in place with your survival planning to ensure you're not completely screwed if you happen to break or lose your phone. Maps are a key part of this, and every smart survivalist will have these six maps in their kit. It may just help save your life.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018 PAY ATTENTION TO THE OUTLIERS An outlier is a person acting in a way that's different to everyone else. Perhaps they're being argumentative and raising their voice over the hushed chit-chat of the coffee shop. Or in the case of the Boston Marathon bombers, the police noticed the two suspects were the only two acting calm, while everyone else were running in panic. The outliers are important. Because once you notice someone acting strange, it gives you a target to focus on. You can pay attention to this one person, and perhaps notice something far quicker. Like if they reach for a gun. You were watching, and you can react faster because you're seeing it happen. PLAN A RESPONSE STRATEGY

IMPROVE YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS I've lost count of the amount of times I've slipped over the years. I make it a conscious effort to remain situationally aware, but it's tough. Even for me. To anyone new to the blog, situational awareness is the ability to know what's going on around you, at all times. Being situationally aware allows you to react faster, anticipate people's actions, and perhaps even step up to diffuse a problem before things get out of hand. Almost like a superpower. First though, I want to make this clear. I'm not paranoid. Being situationally aware is the complete opposite to paranoia. You’re simply staying truly alert to your suttoundings. Here’s the exercises I conduct on a daily basis to boost my ability to stay alert. I hope they help you. SCAN THE ENTIRE AREA No matter where you are, the first step is to understand what's going on around you. Say I've just parked my car and am headed to a coffee shop. Are there any people hanging about the car park? Do they look like a problem, or are they relaxed? Is there security guards in the booth, or are they off doing rounds? Are there any CCTV cameras? Pay attention to the things around you, but don't make it obvious. Quick scans with your eyes to take it in, don't stand there like a zombie.

DON’T LIMIT YOUR VISION The next step is to ensure you've always got the best field of vision. That way you've got the best possible chances of seeing something "off" while there's still time to act. Taking my visit to the coffee shop, I've got the mirror behind the counter I can use to see behind me, so there's no problem leaving my back to the door while I'm lining up. Once I've got my drink, I'd choose a seat where I can put my back to a wall (solid brick so no one can sneak up behind you), where I've still got a good field of vision to any and all exits. If I can't choose my table because the hostess has seated me, I'll choose a spot on the table where I can still see the exits. FIND THE COMMON NORM Now you need to pay attention to the people. Because it's the people who will cause the vast majority of problems. Take note of those who are in close proximity, and start counting. I like to figure out the number of employees, the number of people in a restaurant, those kinds of things. It helps me to remember to look if I’m counting. Now to find the common norms. In the coffeeshop there are probably a few people on their phones, maybe working on a laptop, a first date. These kinds of things. Once you know what's what, it's easier to spot the outliers.

5

Here's where things get a little fun. Once you've settled, you need to run through a few scenarios in your head. Imagine an active shooter walks through the front door and opens fire. What would you do? Is there a booth you could dive behind and get out of site? Or is it possible to dive behind the counter and make a run for it out through the kitchen? Think about what you would do, and plan it all out. This is probably the most important step in the entire process, as it allows you to anticipate and react with lightning speed. If you know already "what to do," when something bad starts to happen your body will spring into action while everyone else is frozen in shock. TRUST YOUR GUT Finally, I want to reinforce the importance of listening to your gut. If something simply doesn't feel right, there's probably a reason. Your subconscious can (and does) pick up on these same clues we're trying to practice, and will warn you if things aren't quite right. It's your job to listen. Of course, your gut isn't always right, but I like to give mine the benefit of the doubt. It's better to be a little cautious and avoid a somewhat dodgy situation, than to find yourself staring down the wrong end of a gun. Staying situationally aware is a survival skill that requires a constant practice. It's not enough to know "how" to do it. You need to follow these exercises on a daily basis, whenever you're out-andabout, to ensure you're never caught off guard. That's smart survival.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

SIMPLE TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN SURVIVAL GARDEN I'm a big fan of gardening, and I think it's critical every survivalist have their own garden. And once you start harvesting the produce you've grown, well there's no better feeling. When the SHTF things are going to be bad. And what's going to disappear first is the food. So, it stands to reason that if you want to actually survive once your stockpile of food is gone, you're going to need to grow it yourself. Right? I mean, you could always forage for what you need, but that's highly risky. Risky you're caught somewhere you're not meant to be, you're captured by other survivalists, or worse, some bad guys follow you home and you lead them straight to your family. Or simply risky you can't find enough food. The best option is to be self-sufficient. And that's where your garden comes in. HAVE A PLAN TO KEEP YOUR GARDEN WATERED Probably the most important aspect of growing a successful garden is water. For anyone planning a big garden, remember you're going to need quite a lot of water to keep it flourishing during the dry summer months.

Because of this we've installed extra water tanks on our property, and as a backup we've also got a pump house setup on our pond so we can keep our garden watered no matter what. In our planting boxes I've also connected a small sprinkler system, that we can switch on and easily ensure that our plants are watered and happy. DON’T FORGET TO FEED YOUR PLANTS For your plants to produce enough fruits and vegetables, they need food too. Food in the form of compost. We've got our own composting system where pretty much all organic food matter (except meats) gets taken out of our trash, mixed in with grass and leaf clippings, and is left for a couple of months to break down into compost. It's one of the best sources of nutrients you can give your plants, and the best part is you don't need to spend money on expensive fertilizer. Composting is a solution you can continue to follow even once the SHTF. ONLY EVER BUY NON-GMO SEEDS When I first started gardening I used to collect the seeds out of the produce I bought from the supermarket, only to realize later why the plants all looked sickly and never produced enough.

6

They'd been genetically modified, which means the seeds don't really continue to work well season after season. What you want is to buy non-GMO seeds. Sometimes these are called heirloom seeds. These days we only ever use these types of seeds, and we're slowly building our supply of seeds from every successful harvest we do. Just in case.

“what’s going to disappear first is the food…”

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018 cont. KEEP THE NASTY PESTS AT BAY Caterpillars are going to be the death of me. Those fat little monsters sit there chewing out my cabbages, and ruining the best crops we have. Planting and growing a garden is only the first step. You've got to protect it from the birds, insects, and animals like deer who will wreak havoc on all your work. T here's nothing more disheartening to see months of work destroyed. We've got most of our crops fenced off in four separate enclosures (it was how our land was originally split, we simply kept the fences up), to keep the deer out. Companion planting is another great way to attract insects that will eat the caterpillars. We plant flowers to bring in the wasps to eat them all. DON’T MAKE YOUR GARDEN TOO OBVIOUS This goes double if your home is visible from the road. Forget deer and the other nasty pests, when the SHTF your biggest problem is going to be other people. And if they can see all your netted off fruit trees from the road, you can bet they're going to come in for a feed. What we've done is to leave much of the natural vegetation along out property lines, even planting thorny blackberries as a deterrent, to create a natural barrier that eliminates the line of sight to our home. Our house is so deep behind the wile brush, it's effectively completely invisible from the road. Just how we like it. FIND HIDDEN SPOTS FOR YOUR GARDEN Having your garden pillaged before you can eat it would suck. But in a crisis, you never really know what could happen. The authorities could come by and confiscate your food. A lone deer could get into your garden and destroy it all. Or you could be unlucky and have a group of looters come through and take it all. What we've done is rather sneaky.

In addition to the rather large garden we've got growing, I've made a point to plant little hidden gardens, all over our property. Certain plants, like asparagus, potatoes and sweet potatoes can blend in easily with the weeds and brush.

Long term survival requires more than a basement full of ready-to-eat meals.

You've just got to get them started.

And you'll need food.

We've also planted a ton of bush beans that are extremely difficult to find and pick, even when you know where to look. We've also strategically placed a number of fruit trees about, so they can grow and mature on their own, and are hopefully overlooked if our main garden is targeted.

Use these tips and start your own survival garden, and ensure there's always enough to eat.

7

You need to create a sustainable lifestyle so you and your family can survive indefinitely.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR LONG DISTANCE RANGE ON A HUNT

Hunting season is one of my favorite times of year. It's the perfect excuse to head off into the wild, becoming one with nature again, and perhaps even bring home a nice feed. My dad taught me how to hunt, and his father before him. As a kid they were my heroes, and they knew everything when it comes to bringing down a big buck. We head out as a family every season, and as I've gotten older and my daughters are starting to grow, I've started focusing on the shooting techniques that I can pass down to them. To help my girls become better marksmen in the field. And after just finishing a course on long-range marksmanship, I'd like to share with you the techniques I discovered in the training. DON’T STICK TO THE BENCH

PRONE SHOOTING POSITION

When you head to the range the easiest position to shoot from is the bench. Once you've sighted in your rifle, it's easy to just punch out a bunch of rounds right into the kill zone. The trouble is, shooting from the bench isn't an accurate representation of the shooting conditions you'll face in the field. You need to practice a variety of different shooting positions that you're likely to experience when you're hunting. Without practice, you can't replicate these shooting positions with any success in the real world.

This is my favorite for big distances, and the one I'm most comfortable with.

GET USED TO SHOOTING REST

YOUR

One trick I picked up is the importance of a good shooting rest. The key to consistent shooting is comfort. You should know every piece of your gear, inside and out, so it becomes a second nature to use it. Of course, in the field you may not always be able to find the right shooting rest, tree branches and your backpack isn't reliable. My advice, is to buy a portable solution, like our rifle rest sand bags. So you've always got a reliable base, no matter where you're hunting. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE There's nothing better than good practice for improving your shooting skills. Use these different positions you in your training sessions to ensure you're able to maximize your accuracy when you're hunting long range.

Lay flat on your stomach, with your right shoulder pointing towards the target. Extend yourself, and take a breath to relax. Bend your elbows and rest on them, and curve your shoulders forward ever so slightly. This helps you to tighten your core, and provide a solid base. Your arms will support your rifle, and you can use your shooting rest for more stability. SEATED SHOOTING POSITION Look straight at your target, then turn about 30 degrees to your right. As you sit down and cross your legs, place your left elbow onto your left knee, and tuck your elbows in and under the rifle as much as possible. Take a breath and strengthen your core, resting your right elbow on your right knee. With both elbows resting on their respective knees, you've got a solid base. KNEELING SHOOTING POSITION Look straight at your target and turn about 45 degrees to your right. As you drop down put your right knee to the ground, and leave the left knee raised with your foot forward. Sit on your right foot so you're stable, and lock your left elbow in as a base of support for the rifle on your left knee. Take a breath, and solidify your core, and you're ready to shoot.

8

S TA N D I N G S H O OT I N G POSITION Look straight at your target and turn anywhere from 60 to 90 degrees to your right. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, and bend your knees ever so slightly. You don't want them locked. Supporting your rifle with your left arm, tuck your elbow in close to your body to create a stable base, and pull it in tight against your right shoulder. KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS Before you head off on a hunt, what's critical is you understand your own limitations in each position. There's no point trying a 100-yard shot while standing in the field if you're not able to keep your groups on a paper target at this distance in the range. Take the time on the range to determine where your limitations are, so you're not "pushing it" when you're trying to take down a real target. The key to being an effective hunter is knowing your maximum hunting ranges, and ensuring you're close enough to effectively make the kill shot when you get the chance. Becoming an effective long-range shooter isn't rocket science. But it does require practice. So, kit yourself out with the right gear, and get down to your local shooting range and start practicing. Just remember to get out from behind the bench, and practice a few different positions. You'll be shooting accurately at range in no time.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018 A group of people wound up into a frenzy, they throw common sense out the window. Stay away from any rioting and pay attention to the news so you're aware of where the trouble points are. Our get home routes are also designed to avoid major highways and thoroughfares, sticking to backstreets that will hopefully get us home safer (albeit a little slower) than taking the main roads. Our goal is to keep away from as many people as possible. GET UNDER THE RADAR

STAY SAFE WHEN THE STREETS ARE NOT

Operational security is key when chaos is on the streets. You don't want to do anything that attracts any attention. Simple things, like having the lights on when your whole street is dark is like a beacon. It shows you have a generator, and probably means you're better prepared than any of your neighbors. Where do you think any group of thieves is going to target? Be smart, and don't do anything that sticks out. Like having a barbeque in your yard that can be smelt blocks away. The last thing you want is to catch unwanted attention. GET YOUR HOME SECURED

I shouldn't have to tell you the streets are no longer safe. Heck, you just need to turn on the evening news and you'll get your choice of armed robberies, assaults and much worse. Any time there's a natural disaster or a cause to riot, the streets aren’t safe. Our society is on edge, and it's up to us to be prepared for the inevitable. You need to know how to stay safe. GET YOUR STOCKPILE IN PLACE Barricading yourself and your family inside your home is one of the safest strategies. But you need supplies. It's no good trying to do a grocery-store run when the shelves are stripped bare. The trick is to plan in advance, so you've got at least a few months' worth of food, water, and survival items. Yes, I said months. If you've only got enough food to last a couple of days, you're going to be in big trouble should an event send your family into lockdown. GET YOURSELF HOME Now to make it to your safe haven. Your home. Of course, in a perfect world you're already home, but life is far from perfect, and it's most likely you've got kids at school, and you and your wife are both in the office. That's our reality anyway.

So, we've got to get the kids and get home. We've got multiple routes we can follow (that we've already practiced) so we can avoid any blocked streets, and in both our cars are bug out kits, packed and ready to go. If we decide to escape the city, we've got a primary (and two secondary) rendezvous points, where we can all reconnect and bug out. GET HIDING PLACES SCOPED OUT Now we assume that getting home will be possible, but this may not be the case. A thousand different things could go wrong, from police road blocks to washed out bridges. So, it's important you know where you can hide. A few years ago, I started running, to build my fitness, but it's also given me a better feel for the city. I make it a mission to take a different route almost every run, but not only that, pay attention as I’m running. Looking for places I could hole up for the night, whether it's a community hall, a church, or even empty houses for sale. Knowing where to hide could give you the upper hand should someone be coming after you. Especially if you don't want to lead them straight to your home. GET AWAY FROM PEOPLE To me there's nothing scarier than mob mentality.

9

Lock down your home. Windows and doors shut, and depending on the scale of the crisis, boarding these up too. We've got "decorative" metalwork over ours, making them impossible to get through without an angle grinder. Use duct tape and black plastic to stop light escaping, and use common sense. Don't open the door to strangers, and keep your pets inside. GET A MEANS TO DEFEND YOURSELF Finally, it's important you're ready to defend yourself and your family. Invest in a firearm and take the appropriate courses and training on how to use it. No matter what steps you take to keep yourself safe, sometimes the fight will come to you. Be prepared to fight back. I'd also recommend keeping your firearm on you at all times, because it takes just seconds for your home to be breached. Your gun won't help you if it's locked in the bedroom safe. When the streets aren't safe the key is to stay home. Don't partake in the riots or the chaos that ensues, and you stand the best chances of making it through unscathed. The trick is to have enough food and supplies to outlast whatever comes, have a plan to get home, and know how to defend it if trouble comes knocking. That's how you'll stay safe.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

DON’T LET THESE CHALLENGES OVERCOME YOUR BUG OUT Bugging out is a core element of nearly every survivalist's bug out plans. It seems almost everyone has the plans to head up to the country, pick a remote spot on the mountains, and live out their days in a glorified version of "the simple life." It's to the point these days it's almost a fantasy. Bugging out is becoming a solution to escape, to leave behind the trappings of modern life. But it's a piece of the survival puzzle too many people aren't adequately prepared for. I'd like to run you through some of the challenges, as I see it, that every survivalist will need to overcome in their bug out plans. THE REST OF SOCIETY The biggest danger you're going to face in a SHTF event is other people. The ones who failed to prepare. The ones who are starving and lack basic necessities within just a couple of days. The ones who are willing to do "whatever it takes" to put food on their table. These are the people who won't think twice about looting. And that's not to mention the bad eggs who take advantage of the chaos to riot, and conduct unmentionable atrocities. Your bug out plans need to take security into account, and ensure you've taken steps to both conceal and protect your location from anyone intending you and your family harm.

“too many people aren’t adequately prepared…”

THE PATH TO YOUR BUG OUT Ever tried to go anywhere at rush hour? In a crisis the traffic congestion will be a thousand times worse. Our roads just aren't capable of accommodating this amount of traffic. Expect highways to be gridlocked, and potentially even road blocks from the authorities. Your bug out plans need to follow a route that avoids highly populated areas, traffic choke points, and has multiple back up options should a particular route be impassable. SUPPLIES IN YOUR BUG OUT It's too late to do a supply run one a crisis hits, and even if there's anything left, you're going to be looking at highly inflated pricing, and not even getting enough of the goods you need. And it's probably not going to be safe. Crowds rushing to grab everything they can is not a scenario I want to be in. Your bug out plans need to include a stockpile of food, water, and other key pieces of survival gear to ensure your family has the necessities needed to survive, for however long is necessary. THE HEALTH OF YOUR BODY Transitioning from a sedentary office lifestyle to one living off the land is a major change. You're going to be walking, running, and performing all sorts of physical activities your body just isn't ready for. And the shock of this happening can lead to major health issues. It took months for me to adapt to our homesteading lifestyle after a long career at a desk, and I'm still not as fit as I'd like to be. Your bug out plans need a fitness program to get you in shape before a major crisis hits, so you don't shock your system into a heart attack, or other issues when the SHTF. WATER NEEDS TO FLOW Without water things are going to get real difficult, real fast. You need to drink, but you also need it for cooking, cleaning, and maintaining a certain level of sanitation around your bug out. If you're not able to stay hydrated, you won't make it to your bug out location. Your bug out planning needs to involve water, with enough in your bug out kit to make the hike to your location, and enough renewable supplies to make it more than just a couple of days.

10

THE RIGHT GEAR FOR THE CONDITIONS I love a good air conditioner, and central heating in winter is a god send. When the weather outside isn't particularly nice, most of us elect to stay indoors. But we can't choose the timing of a disaster. And in my experience, when things go wrong, it's usually at the worst possible time. Even in perfect weather bugging out can be a challenge, and if it's stormy or cold it becomes far more dangerous. Exposure is a killer, and without the right gear, you can get in trouble fast. Yo u r b u g o u t p l a n s n e e d t o accommodate the worst possible weather conditions, so it's important you've got the right protective clothing and gear to stay warm and dry no matter what. A WAY TO STAY CONNECTED Staying connected will be one of the biggest challenges for families and survival groups to overcome. Initially you're going to need a communication plan to gather your family, and once all is said and done you're going to need a means to communicate with your group when you're getting on with your dayto-day life. Knowing about an incoming attack, or even staying current on the local news can give you an edge to survive. Yo u r b u g o u t p l a n s n e e d a communication strategy to ensure your group can stay in contact at all times, and also keep up-to-date on the crisis situation. When putting together your bug out plans, make sure to consider these seven challenges. It's vital to have strategies and tactics in place to ensure these dangers don't hinder you and your family's ability to survive.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

STEER CLEAR OF THESE POISONOUS PLANTS IN THE WILD Getting lost is a frightening experience. I'm grateful that I've never had the misfortune to be stranded in the wild unintentionally, but I've done my fair share of training missions. And after a couple of days without food, your entire body aches for something to eat. It's a feeling that words simply don't give justice to. Hunger drives people to do some crazy things. Like Christopher McCandless. A tragic story of a man seeking to return to a simple life, ultimately inspiring the film 'Into The Wild." On finding his remains inside a rustedout bus in the Denali National Park, he had succumbed to starvation, and the debate rages to this day on the actual plant he consumed that led to his demise. In his own words from his journal, “extremely weak. fault of pot[ato] seed. much trouble just to stand up. starving. great jeopardy.”

Eating the wrong thing sent the 24year-old survivalist past the point of no return, and he died. Now back to you. In the wild things aren't always as they seem. You should already know to not just stick anything in your mouth, but when starvation is the alternative you've g ot to be willing to push the boundaries. J ust make sure you steer clear of these plants. RHUBARB It's highly likely you'll recognize this plant in the wild, and without knowing the danger could find yourself in serious trouble. Rhubarb stems are safe to eat, but the leaves are poisonous. Once ingested you will have difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, feel a burning sensation in your mouth and throat, and if you've consumed too much it can lead to seizures and death.

11

ROSARY PEA These seemingly innocent little red peas contain a deadly toxin, and if you chew, ingest, or even get the juice from a seed in a cut, you're in big trouble. It takes only 3 micrograms of arbin, the toxin inside, to kill an adult, you'll face organ failure within four days.

“things aren’t always as they seem…”

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018 THE UNIVERSAL EDIBILITY TEST Right. Now let's imagine for a second you are lost and you've got nothing that can help you to identify which plant is edible or note. That's where the universal edibility test comes in. Of course, this test isn't 100 percent foolproof, and you'd be much better suited if you had spent the time to learn what's edible or not. But in a pinch, here's what you do: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Don't eat anything for 8 hours Separate the leaves, stem and roots of the plant Break up each part of the plant so the sap comes out Rub each part of the plant on your body (inside wrists, or elbows) for 15 minutes Wait another 8 hours for any reaction to occur. If none, you can continue. Test a piece of the plant on your lips. Hold for 3 minutes, and stop if it starts to tingle. If none, place a piece in your mouth. Hold for 15 minutes, and stop if any reaction occurs. If none, chew the piece in your mouth for 15 minutes. Stop if any tingling or reaction. If none, swallow the small piece of the plant. Wait another 8 hours, eating nothing else, and drinking only water. If no reaction, prepare ¼ of a cup of the same plant, the same way, and eat it. Wait an additional 8 hours. If no reaction, you can eat it. If you feel any sort of reaction, or nausea. Induce vomiting immediately. Repeat as necessary on all parts of the plant you plan to eat.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE

HORSENETTLE

POKEWEED

The sweet berries that look remarkably like cherries is often what lures unsuspecting hikers to try this plant. With dull green leaves and shiny black berries, once ingested the poison will act fast to cause paralysis in the muscles of your body. It will cause your heart to stop. Even the leaves are an irritant, and you will feel it, so steer clear.

These fruits have tricked many people, as they look remarkably similar to heirloom tomatoes. But they contain a poisonous substance that causes massive abdominal cramps, and even circulatory and respiratory issues. Do not eat anything in the wild that looks like a tomato, unless you're absolutely sure it is.

Don't be fooled by these appetizing berries, they're poisonous to humans even though deer, bears and many other animals can eat them safely. A handful of these is enough to kill a child, a little more and it's enough poison to take down an adult. Look out for the grape-like clusters of purple berries, with the purple-pink stalks.

WATER HEMLOCK

DOLL’S EYE BANEBERRY)

BUCKEYE

One of the most violently toxic plants in North America, what gets many people confused about water hemlock is it so closely resembles parsnips and celery. But make no mistake, despite being a member of the carrot family, water hemlock will rapidly generate fatal symptoms in anyone who eats it, with painful convulsions, abdominal cramps, and death.

(WHITE

Another berry that looks tempting, with white flesh and a unmistakable "dot" for the eye. But despite the looks, it can lead to immediate death when eaten. The berries contain high levels of toxins that will shut your muscles down, slowing your system until you slip into a coma and die.

Similar to hickory nuts, the shiny brown shell of the buckeye is often confused with chestnuts. But it's not a mistake you want to make. Buckeye nuts are severely poisonous, and shouldn't be consumed at all. You can tell the difference as the buckeye nuts husk is smooth, while the chestnut husk is covered in needles.

When you're lost in the wild and foraging for food, it's critical you know what you're eating before putting it anywhere near your mouth. Make the wrong decision and you'll quickly find yourself in big trouble, poisoned or worse while stranded far from any medical care and help. My advice is to steer clear of these poisonous plants, but also take the time to learn what's edible in your local area. A little knowledge may just safe your life.

12

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

KEEP YOUR CHICKENS ALIVE DURING THE WINTER COLD With winter soon to hit in full swing, it's important you start getting on top of all those jobs you've been putting off all summer. This last weekend I spent most of my time getting our chicken coops ready for winter, as one of our key sources of protein are the eggs they lay. I'd be devastated if anything happened to my little flock of beasts. Keeping your chickens alive during the winter cold isn't rocket science, but there's a few things you need to do before the temperature drops below zero. Here's what I spent the weekend on as I worked on upgrading my coop. INSPECT EVERY ANGLE The first step is to pull out all the old bedding and check the coop is still in good working order. Wild animals are going to get desperate when winter cuts down their food supply, and it's important there's no cracks or loose wiring for them to get in. I also gave the roof of the coop a good hose down to see if there was any cracks, and found one hole that needed to be patched up. A little roof cement and it was all good, and I even used some leftover insulation up in the roof to help my chickens stay warm. It may be overkill, but I'd rather they stay warm than find out they all expired overnight.

ADD NEW BEDDING

GET YOUR HEAT LAMPS ON

Frostbite is a real problem for chickens in the Midwest, and you need to ensure you've got plenty of bedding to keep your chickens warm. I use hay for bedding as it's cheap and retains the heat a little better than wood shavings or straw. It's also easier to clean out when you do get around to it as spring hits, we usually just dump it all straight on our compost heap and mix it in. There's nothing better for your garden than chicken manure! Make sure your chickens have plenty of fresh bedding.

With shorter days your chickens will produce less eggs, as they are stimulated into egg production from the sun. To combat this, we've installed two heat lamps at either end of the coop. It's on a timer, and ensures they're getting ample light, and also extra warmth, when the temperate drops. Of course, we don't want to blind them, so we've used 180-watt bulbs,. If you're wiring these yourself be careful, and make sure you're using external fittings and lights that can handle a little moisture.

LOCK DOWN THE COOP Now's the time to batten the hatches. If there's any areas that are open, seal these up with some all-purpose ply. I just screw on a couple of boards to close the windows completely. The last thing I want is drafts getting through. Once this is done, I've got an old tarp I tie up around the walls. Its like gift wrapping the coop. That's what it looks like when I'm done. This adds another layer of insulation to the walls, and also helps stop any drafts from sneaking in. The tarps usually hang down to the ground, and I toss a cinderblock on each of the corners to hold it down. This is easier (and less disgusting at the end) than tying it up underneath the coop, and stops the drafts coming up through the floors too.

13

“I’d be devastated if anything happened to my little flock…”

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018 cont. BUILD A SUNROOM Earlier in the year we replaced many of the old wooden windows on our home with thick-double glass upgrades, to cut down on our heating losses and hopefully save a bit of cash this winter. But instead of throwing them out, I kept the old windows and frames and created a mini-greenhouse as an add-on to the coop. It's remarkably simple, just an "A" frame that stands about 6-foothigh, and both sides are the windows and glass. I closed the end with a piece of ply and fashioned a rough door, and the other I just wired into the wall of their outdoor coop. My girlsnmlove it, and they've been "sunning" themselves already. It's remarkable just how much the sun heats it up inside.

DON’T LET THEIR WATER FREEZE This was probably the most annoying part of this whole ordeal. You see, last winter the water in the coop would continually freeze over, and checking and replacing it 10 times a day grew old really fast. This year I vowed things would be different, and I built myself a simple stone heater. It's essentially just a cinderblock with another light bulb inside, covered with a thin paver. It connects in to the same wiring as the heat lamps, but bypasses the timer, so it's always on. The warmth from the bulb is more than enough to keep the water bowl on top of the cinder block thawed. So far at least…

14

DON’T FORGET THEIR DIET Getting fat for winter is a joke I often make at my expanding waistline, but with your chickens it's also a good idea to give them a little extra in their diets. Mostly our chickens get feed (pellets), and a little scratch in an afternoon. In winter I mix in some extra corn to their scratch, and if it's bitingly cold I'll make them a hot batch of mash in the morning. My girls love it. During winter there's a lot that can grow wrong, and as a responsible chicken owner it's your duty to check they're happy, warm and content in their coop. If they're being noisy, or worse, lethargic, something is wrong. Make sure you take the time to check for frostbite and with a little extra attention, your flock will make it through the winter.