Advanced Prepping

Advanced prepping goes far beyond stockpiling canned goods and bottled water. This realm of preparedness encompasses a vast array of knowledge and skills that can keep you engrossed for years.

From electromagnetic pulse (EMP) events to long-term off-grid living, advanced prepping covers scenarios most people can’t even imagine.

The thought of all our electronic devices suddenly becoming useless is terrifying. But with the right knowledge and preparation, it’s possible to protect at least some of our crucial electronics.

Let’s take a look at some key areas of advanced prepping, starting with EMP preparedness.

Understanding EMP Threats and Protection

EMPs can originate from two main sources: solar activity (coronal mass ejections) and high-altitude nuclear detonations. Both have the potential to fry electronic circuits on a massive scale.

The key to protecting against EMPs comes from creating a barrier that blocks electromagnetic radiation.

Enter the Faraday cage. Named after the 19th-century scientist Michael Faraday, these enclosures use conductive material to create a shield against electromagnetic fields.

The principle is simple, but the applications can be quite complex.

Building Your Own Faraday Cage

Creating a basic Faraday cage is surprisingly straightforward. You can start with something as simple as a metal trash can with a tight-fitting lid.

Line the inside with non-conductive material like cardboard, and you’ve got a rudimentary Faraday cage.

For smaller items, even a few layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil can provide some protection.

The effectiveness of your Faraday cage depends on factors like the material used, the thickness of the shielding, and how well it’s sealed. Even tiny gaps can allow electromagnetic radiation to penetrate.

Pro Tip: Test your Faraday cage by putting a cell phone inside and calling it. If it rings, your cage needs improvement.

Advanced EMP Protection

For serious preppers, protection goes far beyond a simple metal box. Some advanced techniques include:

1. Nested Faraday cages: Using many layers of shielding for extra protection.
2. EMP-hardened solar panels: Specially designed to withstand electromagnetic disturbances.
3. Vacuum tube equipment: Old-school technology that’s naturally more resistant to EMPs.

One of the biggest challenges in EMP preparedness is balancing protection with practicality. You can’t shield everything, so you need to prioritize.

What electronics are absolutely crucial for your survival plan?

For me, it’s communication equipment, certain medical devices, and key components of my off-grid power system.

Navigating the Wilderness: Advanced Techniques

In a long-term survival scenario, electronic navigation tools may not be an option. That’s where traditional and natural navigation techniques come in. These skills are crucial but often overlooked in our GPS-dependent world.

Mastering Map and Compass

If you’re serious about wilderness navigation, you need to master the use of topographical maps and compass. This goes beyond just knowing how to orient a map or take a bearing.

We’re talking about skills like:

1. Triangulation to pinpoint your location
2. Using contour lines to visualize terrain
3. Calculating distances using map scales

One technique I find particularly useful is the “handrail” method. This involves using linear features like rivers or ridgelines as guides to navigate to your destination.

It’s a great way to stay on course in areas with limited visibility.

Natural Navigation: Reading Nature’s Signs

But what if you don’t have a map or compass? That’s where natural navigation comes in. This ancient skill involves using environmental cues to decide direction and location.

Some key techniques include:

1. Using the sun’s position throughout the day
2. Navigating by the stars at night
3. Reading wind patterns and their effects on vegetation

One of my favorite natural navigation tricks is the shadow-tip method. Stick a straight branch into the ground and mark the tip of its shadow.

Wait 15 minutes, then mark the new shadow tip.

The line between these marks runs roughly east to west.

The challenge with natural navigation is that it needs constant practice and observation. The more time you spend in nature, the better you’ll become at reading its signs.

Advanced Foraging: Beyond Basic Wild Edibles

Advanced foraging takes a close look at the complex world of plant families, seasonal availability, and sustainable harvesting practices. I’m not talking about identifying a few berries or nuts.

It’s about developing a deep understanding of the natural world around you.

Understanding Plant Families

One of the most effective tools in advanced foraging is a solid understanding of plant families. Plants within the same family often share similar characteristics, which can help you identify edible species even if you haven’t seen that specific plant before.

For example, the Brassicaceae family (also known as cruciferous vegetables) includes many edible wild plants. If you can identify the distinctive four-petaled flowers and peppery taste common to this family, you might recognize edible plants like wild mustard or shepherd’s purse.

Mycology: The Fascinating World of Fungi

No discussion of advanced foraging would be finish without delving into mycology. Mushrooms can be an incredible source of food and medicine, but they need extensive knowledge to forage safely.

Key areas of study in mycology include:

1. Spore print identification
2. Understanding mushroom lifecycles
3. Recognizing mycorrhizal relationships between fungi and plants

One of the most rewarding aspects of mushroom foraging is learning to cultivate your own. I’ve had great success growing oyster mushrooms on logs in my backyard, providing a sustainable source of nutrient-dense food.

Ethical and Sustainable Foraging

As we develop our foraging skills, it’s crucial to consider the ethical implications of our actions. Overharvesting can damage ecosystems and deplete resources for wildlife and other foragers.

Some key principles of ethical foraging include:

1. Never harvesting more than 1/3 of a plant population
2. Avoiding harvesting rare or endangered species
3. Using proper techniques to confirm plants can regenerate

The goal of foraging in a survival situation is long-term sustainability, not short-term gain.

Implementing Advanced Prepping Techniques: A Case Study

Let’s put some of these advanced techniques into context with a real-world scenario. Imagine you’re preparing for a potential long-term grid-down situation in a rural area.

Here’s how you might implement some of these advanced prepping strategies:

1. EMP Protection: Create a Faraday cage room in your basement to protect crucial electronics like communication equipment and medical devices.
2. Off-Grid Power: Install a solar power system with EMP-hardened components, backed up by a micro-hydro system if you have a suitable water source.
3. Navigation: Develop a comprehensive understanding of your local area using topographical maps.

Practice natural navigation techniques during regular outdoor excursions.

4. Food Security: Implement a permaculture design that incorporates both cultivated crops and encourages the growth of wild edibles.

Develop your mycology skills to take advantage of mushroom resources in nearby woodlands.

5. Water Management: Install a rainwater harvesting system with many filtration stages, including UV sterilization and bio-sand filters.

The key to success in this scenario is integration. Each of these systems should work together to create a resilient, sustainable lifestyle.

Common Problems in Advanced Prepping

As with any complex endeavor, there are potential pitfalls, problems, issues, problems, issues, problems, issues to watch out for in advanced prepping:

1. Overcomplication: It’s easy to get caught up in elaborate systems and forget the basics.

Always confirm your basic needs (water, food, shelter) are met before moving on to more advanced preps.

2. Skill Atrophy: Many advanced prepping skills need regular practice to maintain. Set up a schedule to review and practice your skills regularly.
3. Tunnel Vision: Don’t become so focused on preparing for one specific scenario that you neglect other potential threats.
4. Isolation: Advanced prepping can sometimes lead to a “lone wolf” mentality.

Community resilience is often key to long-term survival.

5. Ethical Dilemmas: As you develop advanced skills, you might encounter ethical questions.

For example, at what point does harvesting wild resources become detrimental to the local ecosystem?

It’s important to think through these issues before you’re in a survival situation.

Adapting Advanced Techniques to Different Scenarios

One of the most valuable skills in advanced prepping is adaptability. The techniques we’ve discussed can be modified for various situations:

1. Urban Environments: While wilderness skills might seem less relevant in a city, many can be adapted. For example, foraging skills can be applied to identifying edible plants in parks or vacant lots.
2. Different Climates: Navigation and foraging techniques will vary greatly between, say, a tropical environment and an arctic one.

Study the specific challenges and resources of your area.

3. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Scenarios: Some advanced preps, like a fully off-grid power system, may not be necessary for short-term emergencies.

Prioritize your preps based on the most likely scenarios for your situation.

Building on the Basics

These advanced techniques build upon a foundation of basic prepping skills. Before looking closely at EMP protection or mycology, confirm you have the fundamentals covered:

1. A reliable water source and purification method
2. A stockpile of non-perishable food
3. Basic first aid skills and supplies
4. A plan for shelter, whether bugging in or bugging out

Once you have these basics in place, you can start to layer on more advanced preps. This approach confirms you’re prepared for a wide range of scenarios, from common emergencies to more extreme situations.

Exercises to Enhance Your Advanced Prepping Skills

To really internalize these advanced prepping concepts, regular practice is key. Here are some exercises you can do to sharpen your skills:

1. EMP Preparedness: Conduct an “EMP drill” where you live without electronics for 24-48 hours.

This will help you identify gaps in your preps and practice choice methods for essential tasks.

2. Navigation: Go on a hike using only a map and compass (no GPS).

Challenge yourself to identify your location using triangulation techniques.

3. Foraging: Spend time each week identifying and researching wild plants in your area.

Start a foraging journal to track seasonal changes and locations of useful plants.

4. Off-Grid Living: Practice living off your off-grid systems for a weekend.

This will help you understand the practical challenges and limitations of your setup.

5. Natural Navigation: On clear nights, practice identifying key stars and constellations.

During the day, try to decide direction using only natural cues like the sun’s position and plant growth patterns.

Advanced Communication in a Grid-Down Scenario

In a long-term survival situation, communication can be crucial for safety, gathering information, and maintaining morale. Advanced preppers often look beyond basic walkie-talkies to more sophisticated communication methods.

Ham Radio Operations

Ham radio, or amateur radio, is a powerful tool for long-distance communication. It needs a license to operate legally, but the skills you learn in the process are invaluable.

Some key aspects of ham radio for preppers include:

1. Understanding different frequency bands and their propagation characteristics
2. Building and maintaining antennas
3. Operating off-grid using solar power or hand-crank generators
4. Participating in emergency nets and practicing message relay

I’ve found that joining a local ham radio club is an excellent way to learn these skills and connect with like-minded people.

Mesh Networks

Mesh networks are decentralized communication systems where each node (device) can relay information to others. This creates a resilient network that can function even if some nodes fail.

Some preppers are experimenting with:

1. Gotennas: Small devices that pair with smartphones to create long-range text messaging networks
2. Raspberry Pi-based mesh nodes: DIY systems for creating local area networks
3. Disaster.radio: An open-source project for long-range, low-power mesh networking

These systems can provide local communication even when traditional infrastructure is down.

Advanced Water Purification Techniques

Clean water is critical for survival, and advanced preppers often go beyond basic filtration methods. Some advanced techniques include:

Distillation

Distillation can remove a wide range of contaminants, including heavy metals and certain chemicals that other methods might miss. Building a solar still is a great skill to practice:

1. Dig a hole in the ground and place a container in the center
2. Cover the hole with plastic, weighing down the edges
3. Place a small weight in the center of the plastic above the container
4. As water evaporates, it will condense on the plastic and drip into the container

Biofilters

Biofilters use living organisms to purify water. One example is the bio-sand filter:

1. A container is filled with layers of sand and gravel
2. Over time, a biofilm of useful microorganisms develops
3. These microorganisms help remove pathogens from the water

Building and maintaining a bio-sand filter is an excellent long-term water purification solution.

Advanced Food Preservation

Long-term food storage goes beyond simple canning and dehydrating. Advanced preppers often explore methods like:

Fermentation

Fermentation preserves food but can also increase its nutritional value. Some fermentation projects to try:

1. Sauerkraut and kimchi
2. Kefir and yogurt
3. Sourdough bread
4. Fermented fish sauce

Freeze-Drying

While commercial freeze-dryers are expensive, they offer unparalleled food preservation capabilities:

1. Maintains nutritional value better than other methods
2. Food can last for decades if properly stored
3. Preserves taste and texture better than dehydrating

If a freeze-dryer is beyond your budget, you can experiment with DIY methods using dry ice.

Sustainable Energy Production

Advanced preppers often look beyond basic solar panels for their energy needs. Some advanced energy projects include:

Biogas Digesters

Biogas digesters convert organic waste into methane gas, which can be used for cooking or generating electricity. Building a small-scale biogas system involves:

1. Creating an airtight container for waste
2. Installing pipes to collect the produced gas
3. Setting up a system to use the gas for cooking or power generation

Micro-Hydro Systems

If you have a flowing water source on your property, a micro-hydro system can provide consistent power:

1. Assess the flow rate and head (vertical drop) of your water source
2. Choose an suitable turbine design
3. Set up a system to convert the mechanical energy to electricity

These systems can provide reliable power even when solar panels might struggle.

Advanced Security Measures

Security in a long-term survival situation goes beyond having a good lock on your door. Advanced preppers often consider:

Permaculture Security Design

Using permaculture principles to enhance security:

1. Planting thorny bushes under windows
2. Using food-producing plants as privacy screens
3. Designing paths and sight lines to funnel visitors to designated areas

Early Warning Systems

Setting up systems to alert you of potential threats:

1. Trip wires connected to alarms
2. Motion-activated lights or cameras
3. Training animals (dogs, geese) as sentries

Camouflage and Concealment

Techniques to make your preparations less obvious:

1. Disguising food gardens as ornamental landscaping
2. Creating hidden storage areas
3. Using natural materials to blend structures into the environment

Medical Preparedness Beyond First Aid

Advanced medical preparedness involves skills and supplies beyond a basic first aid kit:

Wound Care and Suturing

Learning to properly clean and close wounds:

1. Practicing different suturing techniques
2. Understanding when to use adhesive strips vs. sutures
3. Recognizing signs of infection

Herbal Medicine

Developing knowledge of medicinal plants:

1. Identifying and cultivating medicinal herbs
2. Learning to make tinctures, salves, and poultices
3. Understanding dosages and potential interactions

Dental Care

Preparing for dental issues when professional care isn’t available:

1. Stocking temporary filling materials
2. Learning to extract teeth safely
3. Understanding preventative care to avoid dental emergencies

People Also Asked

What is a Faraday cage and how does it work?

A Faraday cage is an enclosure made of conductive material that blocks electromagnetic fields. It works by distributing the electric charge or radiation around the exterior of the cage, protecting the contents inside from electrical damage.

How can I build a simple Faraday cage at home?

You can create a basic Faraday cage using a metal trash can with a tight-fitting lid. Line the inside with non-conductive material like cardboard, and confirm there are no gaps where the lid meets the can.

This can protect small electronics from EMP events.

What are some natural navigation techniques?

Natural navigation techniques include using the sun’s position, reading star patterns, observing wind effects on vegetation, and using the shadow-tip method to decide direction. These skills allow you to navigate without relying on maps or compasses.

Is it legal to operate a ham radio?

Operating a ham radio needs a license in most countries. In the United States, there are three levels of amateur radio licenses: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra.

Each level needs passing an exam and provides different operating privileges.

What is the most effective method for long-term water purification?

For long-term water purification, a combination of methods is often most effective. This might include initial filtration, followed by UV sterilization or chemical treatment, and potentially distillation for removing heavy metals and other contaminants.

How can I start learning about edible wild plants?

To learn about edible wild plants, start by studying plant identification guides specific to your area. Join local foraging groups or take classes from experienced foragers.

Always use many sources to confirm identification before consuming any wild plant.

What is a biogas digester and how does it work?

A biogas digester is a system that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, producing methane gas. This gas can be used for cooking or generating electricity.

The system typically consists of an airtight container where waste is deposited and pipes to collect the produced gas.

How can I improve my property’s security using permaculture principles?

Permaculture can enhance security by using plants strategically. Plant thorny bushes under windows, use dense hedges as natural fences, and design your landscape to create natural barriers and funnel visitors to designated areas.

This approach combines food production with security features.

What are some advanced food preservation techniques?

Advanced food preservation techniques include fermentation, freeze-drying, pressure canning, and smoking. Each method has its advantages and can significantly extend the shelf life of foods while often preserving nutritional value.

How can I learn basic medical skills for emergency situations?

To learn basic medical skills, consider taking courses in first aid and CPR. Many organizations offer wilderness first aid courses that cover more advanced topics.

For more specialized skills, look for courses in wound care, herbal medicine, or emergency dental care.

Always practice within your level of training and legal limitations.

Key Takeaways:

1. Advanced prepping encompasses specialized skills and knowledge beyond basic stockpiling.
2. EMP protection needs understanding electromagnetic shielding principles and practical application through tools like Faraday cages.
3. Wilderness navigation skills, both traditional and natural, are crucial for long-term survival scenarios.
4. Advanced foraging involves deep understanding of plant families, mycology, and sustainable harvesting practices.
5. Implementing advanced preps needs integration of many systems and regular practice of skills.
6. Common pitfalls, problems, issues, problems, issues, problems, issues in advanced prepping include overcomplication, skill atrophy, and ethical dilemmas.
7. Adaptability is key, advanced techniques should be modified for different environments and scenarios.
8. Advanced preps should build upon a solid foundation of basic prepping skills.
9. Regular exercises and drills are essential for maintaining and improving advanced prepping skills.
10. Advanced prepping often involves specialized areas like communication systems, sustainable energy production, and advanced medical preparedness.