12 Multipurpose Items for Your Off-Grid Survival

2. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival TABLE OF CONTENTS DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................................... 2 Multipurpose Items for Your Off-Grid Survival ......................................................................... 3 Duct Tape ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Pantyhose ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Lipbalm ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Alcohol ............................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Newspapers .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Tarp .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Balloons ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Paracord ...................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Cat Litter ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Zip Ties ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Pine Trees ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Uses for Pine Resin ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Uses for Pine Needles ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Uses for Pine Cones ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Uses for Pine Bark ............................................................................................................................................... 14 Uses for Pine Wood ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Wood ............................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Wood to Use for Burning ................................................................................................................................. 15 Wood to Use for Carving ................................................................................................................................. 16 Woods to Use for Survival Weapons ........................................................................................................... 16 © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 1 of 18

3. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival DISCLAIMER THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN “12 MULTIPURPOSE ITEMS FOR OFF-GRID SURVIVAL” IS MEANT TO SERVE AS A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF TIME-TESTED AND PROVEN STRATEGIES THAT THE AUTHORS OF THIS COURSE LEARN OVER THE YEARS. SUMMARIES, STRATEGIES, TIPS AND TRICKS ARE ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE AUTHORS, AND READING THIS EBOOK DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT ONE’S RESULTS WILL EXACTLY MIRROR OUR OWN RESULTS. THE AUTHOR OF “12 MULTIPURPOSE ITEMS FOR OFF-GRID SURVIVAL” HAS MADE ALL REASONABLE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CURRENT AND ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR THE READERS OF THIS COURSE. THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY UNINTENTIONAL ERRORS OR OMISSIONS THAT MAY BE FOUND. THE MATERIAL IN “12 MULTIPURPOSE ITEMS FOR OFF-GRID SURVIVAL” MAY INCLUDE INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, OR SERVICES BY THIRD PARTIES. THIRD PARTY MATERIALS COMPRISE OF THE PRODUCTS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY THEIR OWNERS. AS SUCH, THE AUTHORS OF THIS GUIDE DO NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY THIRD PARTY MATERIAL OR OPINIONS.THE PUBLICATION OF SUCH THIRD PARTY MATERIALS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE AUTHORS’ GUARANTEE OF ANY INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION, OPINION, PRODUCTS OR SERVICE CONTAINED WITHIN THE THIRD PARTY MATERIAL. WHETHER BECAUSE OF THE GENERAL EVOLUTION OF THE INTERNET, OR THE UNFORESEEN CHANGES IN COMPANY POLICY AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES, WHAT IS STATED AS FACT AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, MAY BECOME OUTDATED OR SIMPLY INAPPLICABLE AT A LATER DATE. THIS MAY APPLY TO THE “12 MULTIPURPOSE ITEMS FOR OFF-GRID SURVIVAL”AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS SIMILAR COMPANIES THAT WEHAVE REFERENCED IN THIS EBOOK, AND OUR SEVERAL COMPLEMENTARY GUIDES. GREAT EFFORT HAS BEEN EXERTED TO SAFEGUARD THE ACCURACY OF THIS WRITING. OPINIONS REGARDING SIMILAR WEBSITE PLATFORMS HAVE BEEN FORMULATED AS A RESULT OF BOTH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS THE WELL DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION SHALL BE REPRODUCED, TRANSMITTED OR RESOLD IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN ANY FORM, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHORS. ALL TRADEMARKS AND REGISTERED TRADEMARKS APPEARING IN “12 MULTIPURPOSE ITEMS FOR OFF-GRID SURVIVAL”ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNER. © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 2 of 18

4. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Multipurpose Items for Your Off-Grid Survival Everybody knows that a survival kit should contain bandages, water purification tabs, food, a knife, needles, and the like, but what about some of the multipurpose items that you use every day? Why wouldn’t you want to include them in your bag of post-SHTF tricks, too? Today we’re going to talk about some items for your off-grid survival kit that really should be in there, but aren’t typically listed. And see what else you should use for your off-grid survival. Duct Tape I know that we preach the value of duct tape all the time, but it really can't be overstated as an invaluable multi-use item that every prepper should have. Just a few things that you can use duct tape for include: Patching tarps, rain gear, shoes and tents Splint a broken tent pole (or a leg!) Sealing broken windows © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 3 of 18

5. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Sealing leaky window sills and frames Binding wounds Marking trails Making a cup in a pinch Making easy fly strips Making a sling Emergency vehicle repair (hoses, etc.) There really is no limit to what you can use duct tape for. Have several roles on hand. Pantyhose Pantyhose have awesome potential as a multi-purpose tool and deserve a place in your survival kit. There are a million sites all over the web that tell you the “normal” uses, but today we’re going to go out on a limb and discuss some unusual survival uses for pantyhose. Let me start by saying that for some of these uses, traditional, cheap pantyhose may not be tough enough to do the job, so I’d suggest picking up a few pairs of leggings, which are essentially pantyhose with a tighter weave. They’re stronger and won’t be as prone to tearing, but still have the stretchy, sieve-like properties that make pantyhose so useful. You can get them for a buck or two at thrift stores. Keep Deer Out of Your Garden Food may be scarce enough without feeding half of your garden to the local wildlife. Cheap, used pantyhose will work just fine for this task. Fill up a few pantyhose sacks with some hair clippings and tie them around the perimeter of the garden. Human hair is good, but dog hair is even better. Just put a few clippings in a short length of pantyhose and tie them around. Keep Warm and Prevent Bug Bites and Chiggers Wearing a pair of pantyhose or leggings is a great way to add a layer of warmth while keeping the bugs from eating you alive. No directions necessary here! They work well to keep off leeches or other water bugs as well if you’re going to be traveling through infested waters, though those are uncommon in most of the states. © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 4 of 18

6. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Prevent Blisters When You Walk Because pantyhose are slippery, wearing them under your sock will help keep shoes from rubbing blisters on your feet if you have to walk any distance. Preventing blisters will help keep you free of infection as well as make you much more comfortable when traveling. Just wear a pair under your socks. You can actually get the “footie” pantyhose for this in boxes that contain several pairs. Use Them as a Bait Net You won’t be able to catch larger fish probably, but if you stretch hose over a forked stick then skim it through the water, you may be able to catch some bait fish that you can use to catch bigger ones. You can also use a length of hose to hold your bait if you have nothing else. They may get gill-caught in the netting but at least they won’t get away. Just keep the hose hanging in the water and use the bait as you need it. Use Pantyhose as a Dust Mask They’re not perfect and won’t keep out toxins but if you have to walk through an area with heavy ash or dust in the air, putting pantyhose over your face bank robber-style will help keep out the larger debris so that you’re not sucking all of that stuff into your lungs. You can put them over your air filter in your car to keep it from sucking ash or dust into the motor, too. Use Them to Sprout Seeds Your seeds are going to be valuable and you don’t want to lose them to wind, etc. You also don’t want to waste dirt or containers on seeds that don’t sprout. Just put several seeds in the toe of a pair of pantyhose and wet it twice daily, then hang them up. Your seeds will sprout in a few days and you can remove them and transplant them. Use Them as a Crab Net Crabs make an excellent meal but are difficult to catch if you don’t have your traditional crabbing gear. Just put chicken skins or other food that crabs like in the toe of the hose and © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 5 of 18

7. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival dangle it in the water so that it’s sitting on the bottom. Crab will get stuck in the netting and you can just lift the hose up and remove the crabs. Other Traditional Survival Uses for Pantyhose Filtering debris from water, Tying up plants to keep them off the ground, Bungee cords, Mosquito netting, Works great as an emergency fan belt if yours breaks. Place it in the bottom of your planters to allow water to drain without losing your dirt. Keeping your soap clean – just hang your soap in a length of pantyhose and hang beside the water source. Drying food – tie your peppers, onions, herbs, or other food that you want to dry up in a leg of pantyhose and hang in the sun. Because they’re stretchy and allow liquids to pass through easily, pantyhose are great multi- purpose survival tools and we recommend keeping a few pair in your bug-out bag and even more in your stockpile. Lipbalm Chapped lips In extreme cold weather, you can rub it on the exposed parts of your face. The thin layer helps prevent heat loss by limiting radiation and air convection. Lubrication for your fire bow drill, etc. It is a great firestarter! It works just like petroleum jelly. You can rub it on a piece of cloth, lint from your pocket, a cotton ball, gauze pad from your first aid kit, or even on natural tender. I always have a cotton ball or two stuffed in my matchcase to keep the matches from ratteling around and in my little pill vial I use to carry some basic medicines. Emergency waterproofer. You can even use it to plug a small hole in your tent, poncho, or tube tent that is leaking in the rain. Rub it on a hot spot on your foot to help prevent a pending blister (lubricant). Mix it with some black ash and rub under your eyes to keep the glare down (great for desert or snowy terrain). Do the same above to camo your face for hunting, works much better than mud and is kind of water resistant. © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 6 of 18

8. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Not as good as oil, but I think it is a decent expedient rust preventive to rub on carbon steel knives. Alcohol Medicinal Purposes When consumed moderately, alcohol can have the following medicinal purposes in a survival situation: Calm Anxiety Sleep Aide Antiseptic Sterilize medical instruments such as needles, tweezers, etc. Disinfect water Treat poison ivy Relieve tooth pain Topical Treatment Clean your skin with it before an injection Clear sinuses and congestion Treat bug bites (itch) Relaxes your muscles Cough suppressant Take note that not all types of alcohol can be used for medicinal purposes. You need to know what are the types and concentrations of alcohol that you can use for medical applications. Fire - Alcohols that are ethanol-based like home-distilled moonshine can be used to start a fire. Fire starter Fuel for lamp Fire accelerant Molotov cocktail Hygienic Purpose Kill odors (deodorant) Facial astringent and toner Mouthwash Perfume © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 7 of 18

9. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Here are other survival uses of alcohol: Barter and Trade Alleviate Boredom Kill and repel bugs Used to refresh clothing Make herbal tinctures and elixirs Fuel for vehicles and stove Gun cleaner Solvent Rust prevention Cooking food Dry your wet cloth Newspapers Don’t toss out those Sunday papers after you get the coupons out of them! Newspaper can be used for toilet paper, insulation, starting fires or making a semi-bulletproof wall. Starting Fires You can, of course, use newspaper as a fire starter as-is. Just wad it up and put it underneath your kindling. Or, you can roll it up or shred it and coat it in wax. Allow it to dry and cut or break into pieces if necessary. When you need to light a fire, just set it on the wood and light it. This is an awesome way to repurpose both old candle wax and newspapers. Try stirring the shredded paper in wax and then stuffing it into toilet paper rolls. That works really well and gives you something to hold the whole, gloppy mess while it dries. If you’d like, dip the whole thing in wax and use whole or slice. We slice ours into 3 or 4 pieces before it’s completely hardened. Blanket or Protection from Dampness Under Sleeping Bag You’ve often seen bums, at least on TV, sleeping under newspapers. There’s a good reason for that:they’re warm! Just a couple of layers of newspaper serve to block the wind and hold in body heat. Of course, the more layers you © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 8 of 18

10. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival have, the warmer you’ll be. A few layers of newspaper will also help to insulate you from the cold or wet ground. Just place it under you before you lie down. Toilet paper Just like the Sears and Roebuck catalog of old, newspaper will serve quite well as toilet paper in a pinch. Don’t use the glossy paper for this – just the print paper. To make it soft, just wad it up and rub it between your knuckles a little. Draft-Proofing or Covering Windows Just as it works well for insulating you and your walls, newspaper makes an excellent draft- stopper around your doors and windows. Just tuck it into the cracks and you’ll be amazed by how much cold air you’ll keep out (or in, as the case may be in the summer). If you’re looking for a quick way to cover your windows in order to keep people from seeing in, or to camouflage your house so that it looks less appealing, newspaper works wonders. As a matter of fact, this is one of our favorite survival uses for newspaper. Just wet it with water, or even add a bit of flour to make it stickier, and stick it on the windows. This has the added benefit of being easy to remove and if you only add one layer, you’ll still get plenty of light but people won’t be able to see in. Tarp Learn to love them. Lay on them, curl up in them, rub them because they have a multitude of purposes including: covering the tops of wood piles to promote drying making tents for the kiddos placing under the floor of “real” tents to help prevent soggy wet tent floor action as a drop cloth for painting to hold construction debris like plaster Think of how you could use the tarp then: provide shade for cool weather crops packed in your bug-out-bag if you’re making © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 9 of 18

11. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival a long journey by foot used as a makeshift “shelter” for your SHTF home remotely positioned as a sentry covering lots and lots of firewood constructing rapid shelter for the farm animals you suddenly found yourself keeping cover your roof if you sprung an unexpected leak Their biggest advantage is they’re versatile. There is a big disadvantage to tarps, though: they’re not breathable. Balloons Balloons are great for keeping things dry. You can stuff them with an extra pair of socks or a shirt if you’re traveling, or you could put your medical kit or fire kit in one to keep moisture out. Though balloons do hold water, you need a pressurized source such as a faucet to force the water in. You could use them to tie things together, such as shelter poles. A larger balloon could also be used as a waterproof pressure bandage by opening the end and just slipping it over the arm or leg. Be careful that it’s not too tight, though. Speaking of which, you could use a balloon as a tourniquet. If you fill them with air, they will float, so you can use them as floatation devices or for cushioning. Keep your rifle barrel clean and dry by slipping a balloon over it. You can shoot right through it if need be. Or use them as trail markers. Paracord Secure a tent Secure a tarp between trees Hang tools from your belt Hang tools from around your neck Secure things to the outside of your backpack Make a tourniquet Secure a splint        © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 10 of 18

12. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Make a sling for your arm Make an emergency belt to hold your pants up Make emergency suspenders Replace a broken bra strap (it happens) Replace broken or missing shoe laces Repair a zipper pull Secure your boat or skiff to a tree Make a tow line; double or triple up for extra strength Create a makeshift lanyard String a clothesline Hang something up off the ground Rig a pulley system Make traps and snares Replace damaged or missing draw strings in packs, bags and sweat pants Keep rolled up items secure Create a neckerchief slide Tie objects together for easier transport Make a rope Make a hammock Make a sack for carrying groceries or gear Bundle stuff together Tie tall garden vegetable plants to stakes Make a pet leash Make a pet collar Secure a garbage-bag rain poncho around your body to keep you dry Hang food in trees to keep the bears away Tie stuff down so it will not blow away in a storm Create a trip wire Create makeshift hand cuffs Tie bad guys or intruders to a tree or chair Tie people together on a trail so that they keep together Identify members of a group using different colored armbands or bracelets Use as sewing thread (inner threads) Use as fishing line (inner threads) Emergency dental floss (inner threads) Emergency suture material (inner threads) when there is nothing else available                                     © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 11 of 18

13. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Cat Litter Cat litter is absorbent; it doesn’t dissolve, and, when wet, dries to something akin to concrete. There are many reasons why you may want to include it in your kit. Fill your plastic bottles with it to reinforce and bullet-proof your house or walls. Use it to improve traction in wet, muddy, or icy areas. Absorb the odor and liquids in your portable toilet. Keep rats away. They hate the smell of cat litter so sprinkle it where they may come in or where you’ve seen them to get rid of them. Keep your soil moist in your garden or in your planters. Calcium bentonite clay, the primary component of kitty litter, naturally absorbs radiation and other positive ionic charged substances such as toxins and pesticides. It needs activated with water but when it is, it’s almost like a magnet it’s so negatively charged. Zip Ties Zip ties are right up there with duct tape on my list of must-have, versatile items. Buy a pack and experiment with them. I think you'll be impressed with how many different uses you find! Secure Hauling: If you have to move bulky items from point A to point B, zip ties may be the perfect tool for securing your load to your roof rack. If you're using a pick-up truck, zip ties are one of the quickest and easiest ways to tie down a cover tarp to keep your load hidden from prying eyes. Organize Your Tools: I once read a book that talked about how important it is to keep your tools and supplies organized. Otherwise, it may be difficult to find something essential in the dark. A piece of pegboard and handful of zip ties makes a cheap, easy, and effective tool organizer. Just thread the ties through the pegboard to create hanging loops for your hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, etc. Miscellaneous Repairs: Whether you've got a loose bumper on your car, a broken pedal on your bike, or a broken flush chain on your toilet, a zip tie may be just the thing to hold it together until you can make a more permanent repair. Home Security: If you need to secure an intruder (better left to law enforcement for sure, but this is about being prepared for anything), zip ties function perfectly well as handcuffs. In fact, many police agencies and even flight crews on commercial airlines use them for restraining dangerous or aggressive people. Build a Shelter: With a handful of zip ties and a bunch sticks, you can improvise a sturdy shelter that can protect you from the elements if you're ever get caught outdoors for a © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 12 of 18

14. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival night. Soldiers in WWI and earlier built shelters with nothing more than sticks and grapevines, and certainly zip ties are a lot easier to tie than wild vines. Organize Your Prep Supplies: When you're getting ready for anything, it's natural to buy things in bulk and keep them in storage. You can use zip ties to make bundles of like items. This is useful, especially for things you have on hand for barter or that you'll use multiples of – grab one, and you'll get your whole bundle. You can also just count your zip ties and multiply for a quick inventory. Make Improvised Hinges: If you're building a fence with a gate, say for your garden, chicken coop, or dog run, you can use zip ties to make a functional hinge for your gate. Saves you the fuss and expense of the usual hardware. Make Furniture: If all you have is a drill, some raw materials, and zip ties, you can build quick shelves and tables by securing the wood together with the zips ties. Just loop the ties through holes you drill in your boards and pull them tight. You can do the same thing with scrap materials like pallets and old milk crates. Securing Luggage: Just run a zip tie through your suitcase zipper pulls to lock your luggage up tight. If TSA decides to search your bags, you'll know because your zip tie will be cut. Short-term lock replacement or temper-evident seal: It's virtually impossible to remove a zip tie with anything but a sharp knife, something most people, even thieves, are not carrying around with them. This makes zip ties a quick way to secure many items against opportunistic crooks. You can see why so many people stock up on zip ties. They come in multiple colors and sizes, and you can get big bags of them cheap. There's just so much you can do with them and they can be useful in so many different situations from around the house to in your car to out in the wilderness. Pine Trees If you find yourself in a survival situation in the middle of a pine forest, you actually have a lot of resources available in your natural surroundings. © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 13 of 18

15. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Uses for Pine Resin Pine resin has multiple uses. Scrape resin from a tree and collect it in a tin container. Press the sap into the container until it is full, and lights the sap at night. The odor will deter insects, and its warm glow will provide light. Resin can also waterproof articles, such as boots, mittens, or tent seams. Heat the resin in a container, and use the resin as glue while it is still hot. Adding ash dust from your fire to the hot resin can help strengthen its waterproofing qualities. If you can’t find enough resin on a tree, cut into the bark with a knife so that more sap will seep out. Come back later to collect new sap as it oozes from the cut. Uses for Pine Needles Brown or green pine needles provide an excellent bed for a survival shelter. Collect them into a pile, and spread them beneath you while you sleep. Laying pine branches and needles beneath you in a shelter will also form a natural insulation between your body and the ground so that you can stay warmer at night. Make tea from green pine needles by boiling the needles. Fill a container with water, bring to a boil, and add the needles at full boil. Boil for two minutes before removing the container from the fire. Let the needles stew for a few minutes, and either strain the needles from the water or drink the water with the needles in the container. This beverage will warm you up if you are cold, and green pine needles are also high in vitamin C. Uses for Pine Cones The seeds of all pine species are edible, and they’re especially good to eat when they’re toasted over an open fire. In the spring, collect young male cones. You can bake or boil the young cones as a survival food. Uses for Pine Bark The bark of young pine twigs is edible. Peel the bark from thin twigs by stripping it off in thin layers with your knife or by pulling it off in chunks with your fingers. On a more mature pine tree, the tender layer of bark beneath the brittle outer layer is also edible. © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 14 of 18

16. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Uses for Pine Wood Pine twigs and branches make excellent dry tinder when you’re ready to start a fire. Cut pine wood into thin strips to use as kindling. You may also burn pine logs to fuel your fire after you get it going. Wood Each type of wood has different densities, textures, and grains that make it great for one use but not-so-great for others. Knowing the difference will give you the know-how to make your own goods after disaster, and will also become a skill that you can use to barter for things that you need. Wood to Use for Burning A good rule of thumb to finding the best woods for burning is to go with hardwoods. They burn longer and more consistently than softwoods, because the wood is dense. Also they don’t have dangerous sap or air pockets that can pop and start fires. Here is a list of good hardwoods: Elm Hickory Oak Beech Birch Ash Mesquite Locust Some of these are better than others for cooking, too. Mesquite and hickory give a nice, smoky flavor to food and can reduce your need for spices. Apple and cherry are both good for flavoring food but if you have a good apple or cherry tree, you don’t want to cut it down if it bears fruit for obvious reasons. In a pinch you can use pine or other softwoods but they will burn faster, hotter, and will have often the resin or gas pockets. Burn carefully and make sure that you have a screen if using an open indoor fireplace. Clean your chimney thoroughly and regularly to prevent sap buildup that can start a chimney fire if you have no other option than using softwoods as a heat source. © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 15 of 18

17. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Wood to Use for Carving Just like wood for fires, some wood is better suited to carving than others. With the right wood, you can make plates, cups, bowls and basically any other vessel that you may need, along with forks and spoons. Because wood is porous, it may be best if everybody has their own utensils to avoid the spread of disease if you have no way to seal the wood. Here are the best woods for carving with hand tools, because they’re non-toxic, relatively soft yet will hold form and aren’t as prone to split: Butternut hickory – great for carving but is prone to wormholes which may be a challenge for cups or vessels. Poplar Basswood Pine Cottonwood – easy to carve but has a tendency to split Grey Ash Hardwoods such as mahogany and oak are great but are difficult to carve with hand tools. Make sure that your wood is seasoned (dried) before carving if possible. Woods to Use for Survival Weapons Guns are great but if you run out of bullets, you’re up the proverbial creek without a paddle. In that case, it’s a good idea to have a weapon on hand that you can make your own projectiles for, for both hunting and defense. A bow is a great survival weapon for both scenarios, is light, and can be used by nearly everyone. Plus, you can make your own arrows, so as long as you have access to good wood, you won’t run out of ammo. The bow and the arrows require different types of wood, so here’s a list for each. Wood Good for Bows The primary characteristic that you need in wood that you’re going to use for a bow is flexibility, but not too much. Your bow has to be able to flex without breaking, but it also needs to be © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 16 of 18

18. few 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival strong enough to provide the snap back that will give you the oomph needed to fire an arrow accurately and repeatedly. Bamboo –often called nature’s fiberglass. If you have access to bamboo, it makes excellent wood for bows. Osage Orange – this is considered by many to be the cream of the crop for bow-making but it isn’t readily available to everybody. Hickory – It has good flex, but is strong so it will need to be carved thin. Also, it may not have the durability that other woods do, but it’ll do in a pinch. Red Oak – Awesome bow material but make sure that you use a piece made from the thicker later growth rings, because the inner growth rings are more porous and therefore more brittle. Yew – This is right up there with Osage Orange. Excellent for making even longbows because of the strength and flexibility. Black Walnut Black Locust Most fruit trees make good bows, too. Wood Good for Arrows You need to use wood that isn’t going to break or bow and that is neither too heavy nor too light. Here are some good suggestions: Cedar (preferably Port Orford but that’s hard to come by sometimes) – This is the cream of the crop in arrow wood. It’s light to moderate in weight and doesn’t bow easily. Some people really don’t like yellow cedar, so you may want to avoid that type. Douglas Fir –This wood is tough to get straight but if you do, it makes a great arrow. It’s heavier than cedar. Maple – Smooth and uniform in weight and texture, it may not be as durable as others but it has a nice combination of weight and strength. Ash – Nearly indestructible but heavy and slow. Still, not a horrible option. Poplar Birch Most Pines © 12 Multipurpose Items for Off-grid Survival Page 17 of 18