If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of prepping, it’s that you don’t always need deep pockets to build a solid emergency food stockpile. Some of the best long-lasting food I’ve stored came straight from food banks—yes, the same places many folks overlook or feel hesitant to visit. Let me set the record straight: […]
The post 10 Long-Lasting Foods You Can Get From Food Banks appeared first on Ask a Prepper.
Did you know that Tampa, Florida, hasn’t seen a major hurricane in over 100 years? Hurricane Milton came close in 2024. However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be prepared. As hurricane season ramps up, many people are preparing for the worst. But if you still haven’t done anything to prepare, don’t worry – there’s still time! Here are some last-minute hurricane preparedness tips to help you get ready.
If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, it is essential to have a plan for what you will do if one is headed your way. The first step is to track the storm and be aware of its projected path.
If it looks like the hurricane will make landfall near your location, start making preparations. This may include securing loose outdoor items, stocking up on food and water, and filling up your car with gas. Please keep all of your vehicle gas tanks full.
If you have time, you may also want to evacuate to a safe location outside of the hurricane’s path. However, even if you don’t evacuate, it’s crucial to have a plan for where you will go if your home starts to flood or the power goes out. Knowing what you will do in advance can help to minimize the disruption and keep you safe during a hurricane. Hurricane Items You Must Have Before It Hits
When it comes to emergency preparedness, one of the most important things you can do is gather your supplies ahead of time. That way, if disaster strikes, you’ll be ready. But what should you include in your emergency kit?
At a minimum, you’ll want enough food and water to last for 72 hours. If possible, extend that to a week or more. And don’t forget about medicine. If you or someone in your family has a chronic condition, make sure you have enough medication to last at least a few days. Beyond that, consider other items that could be useful in an emergency, such as a first-aid kit, flashlights, a good radio, and batteries.
I’ve never had to do this, but many people cover their windows with plywood or other kinds of wood boards. It helps protect the windows and you from strong winds that could blow them out. There is also the chance of flying debris that could come through the windows, so strong wood is essential.
The bottom line is this: it’s better to be safe than sorry. Take a moment now to gather your supplies and assemble an emergency kit. It could make all the difference if disaster strikes. Be Prepared for a Hurricane
As any prepper knows, information is power. When a hurricane is approaching, it’s essential to stay informed so you can make the best possible decisions for yourself and your family.
The most important thing is to track the latest news and forecasts. This way, you’ll know exactly where the hurricane is headed and what to expect in terms of wind speed, rainfall, and storm surge.
Armed with this knowledge, you can make a plan to evacuate if necessary or hunker down and ride out the storm. Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on social media for updates from local officials and first responders.
I think having a weather band radio is critical. You can get one that relies on batteries for power, but there are also “crank” radios. Know where it is so you don’t waste time looking for it. It’s also important to know how to operate the unit, what channels to rely on, and who to respond to based on what is reported.
I’ve also suggested to my readers that they consider having walkie-talkies so that close family and neighbors can communicate with each other. Again, know how to operate them and agree on what channels to use beforehand.
In an emergency, information can be hard to come by, but by staying informed, you can be sure that you’re making the best decisions for yourself and your loved ones. Basic Items To Gather For Any Emergency
If you live in an area that’s prone to hurricanes, it’s essential to know what to do if a storm is headed your way. For one thing, don’t wait until the last minute to evacuate. If officials say it’s time to go, then go. The sooner you get to safety, the better.
Of course, evacuation isn’t always possible. If you can’t leave, then make sure you have a plan for weathering the storm. Have supplies on hand like food, water, and first-aid kits. And be sure to stay informed about the latest forecasts and updates from officials. 10 Things You Should Do Before You Evacuate
If you’re able, offer help to those who need it during and after the storm. Whether it’s helping them clean up or just being a shoulder to lean on, your assistance can go a long way. If you have supplies and food to spare, consider donating them to a local shelter or relief organization.
And if you know someone who may be older or needs help, check on them to make sure they’re doing okay. We’re all in this together, so let’s help each other out! Should You Tell Others You’re Prepping? Pros & Cons
The next time you hear of a hurricane headed your way, there are some last-minute things you can do for hurricane preparedness. These hurricane preparedness tips can help you be prepared and stay prepared. What tips would you share with the world about preparing for a hurricane? May God bless this world, Linda
The Emergency Food Assistance Program
Copyright Images: Hurricane Broken Trees Depositphotos_176711390_S by Milanchikov
The post 5 Last-Minute Easy Hurricane Preparedness Tips appeared first on Food Storage Moms.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
In theory, a doomsday bunker offers the ultimate form of security: a hidden, fortified refuge from the chaos of WWIII or some other doomsday event. But in practice, your underground survival shelter could turn into a coffin.
Most people imagine survival shelters as ironclad solutions to nuclear war, civil unrest, or some other catastrophe. They conjure images of high-tech bunkers with filtered air, shelves lined with supplies, and thick doors shielding them from danger. What they don’t imagine is the gas leak, the blocked air vent, the rising groundwater, or the crushing weight of soil collapsing inward. Yet those are far more likely outcomes than what you see in the movies.
This false sense of security isn’t new. In 1961, as Cold War tensions peaked, Business Week posed the question on many Americans’ minds: “To dig or not to dig?” Fallout shelters were everywhere. They were promoted in Good Housekeeping, debated in the Yale Review, and obsessed over at PTA meetings and office watercoolers. President Kennedy encouraged citizens to prepare, while families stockpiled supplies in basements and backyard bunkers.
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Today, we’ve traded the term “fallout shelter” for “doomsday bunker,” but the psychology remains the same: fear meets fantasy. And as fears of nuclear escalation, civil unrest, pandemics, and extreme weather rise, so does interest in underground shelters.
But here’s the truth no one likes to say out loud: most survival bunkers, especially DIY or budget-friendly ones, aren’t safe. Oftentimes, they’re death traps waiting for a trigger. Before you dig, read on.
Bunkers are often romanticized in prepper circles. They offer a vision of ultimate control: stocked shelves, reinforced walls, and a quiet space to wait out the apocalypse. On paper, the benefits sound compelling, but only if you overlook the fine print. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly cited “pros” of survival shelters and the hidden caveats behind them.
Building a shelter on your property seems smart: no travel, no traffic, just a few steps to safety. But that assumes you’ll be home when disaster strikes. If you’re at work, school, or on the road, that $50,000 hole in your backyard might as well be on another planet.
Underground structures can offer some shielding from hurricanes and tornadoes. But storm debris can block exits, saturate air vents, or cause flooding if the shelter isn’t perfectly sealed and elevated. It’s not enough to be underground. It needs to be airtight, watertight, and structurally reinforced.
A properly built bunker can offer refuge from fast-moving wildfires, but “properly built” is key. Most DIY shelters aren’t designed to withstand the superheated air and radiant heat of a serious firestorm. An underground space without ventilation or insulation from heat can quickly become a low-oxygen oven.
Avoiding panicked crowds sounds ideal until you realize that help won’t find you either. If you’re injured, sick, or in need of rescue, your isolated bunker can become a sealed tomb. Public shelters may be uncomfortable, but they’re also monitored, supplied, and connected.
Yes, a bunker is a great place to store supplies… until moisture, mold, pests, or poor insulation compromise them. And if your shelter becomes inaccessible due to flooding or a structural failure, all those stockpiles are suddenly out of reach.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of a bunker is psychological: the feeling of control in a chaotic world. But that confidence can backfire. A flawed shelter gives the illusion of safety, and that illusion could lead to catastrophic decisions when real danger comes.
When most people imagine underground survival, they picture a safe, silent refuge. But reality is messier . Here's why your underground shelter could turn against you when it matters most.
Most bunkers rely on air intakes or snorkels for ventilation. But these are easy to spot, easy to sabotage, and tragically easy to block. A little mud or a simple rag could suffocate everyone inside. Worse, a hostile actor could pour gas or smoke down the tube, turning your safe space into a gas chamber.
If your bunker sits below the water table, near a floodplain, or in a region with heavy rainfall, you’re asking for trouble. Water infiltration is hard to prevent and even harder to stop once it starts. The result? A slow drowning or a total collapse.
Fire underground is a nightmare scenario. It eats oxygen, produces toxic gases, and can compromise steel reinforcements. Worse, putting it out often means using up your precious air supply. DIY bunkers packed with flammable materials and limited ventilation are particularly vulnerable.
Throwing a shipping container in a hole and covering it with dirt isn’t just dangerous, it’s potentially lethal. Without proper reinforcement and engineering, underground shelters can buckle under the weight of soil and moisture, trapping or crushing occupants.
Human waste, garbage, and food scraps are rarely planned for adequately. Sealed underground, they breed bacteria, generate toxic gases, and attract pests. Poor sanitation isn’t just gross, it can lead to disease, infection, and death.
Steel rusts. Wood rots. Concrete cracks. If your shelter isn’t professionally sealed and maintained, nature will reclaim it and weaken its integrity in the process. And in a disaster, you won’t have time for emergency repairs.
If someone finds your bunker by spotting your air vent, following your supply chain, or noticing unusual property behavior, you’re trapped. Unlike a house or above-ground retreat, you can’t see who’s coming, and you can’t fight your way out without revealing yourself.
Claustrophobia, darkness, isolation, boredom… These aren’t minor inconveniences. They can trigger anxiety, hallucinations, panic attacks, and depression. Confined with others, tensions rise fast. Without sunlight or stimulation, your circadian rhythm and mental health begin to unravel. People underestimate this, until it's too late.
Most bunkers have a single entry point. Some have a second, but rarely is it well-hidden or secure. If something goes wrong, like a cave-in, intruder, fire, or gas leak, there may be no way out. Your safe space becomes a trapdoor.
Building a survival bunker might seem like the ultimate prepper achievement. But without serious planning, professional engineering, and a hefty budget, your underground shelter could turn into a death trap. Literally.
Yes, bunkers offer protection from some threats. But they introduce new ones that are just as deadly: toxic air, structural collapse, fire, flooding, and psychological breakdown. These aren’t rare failures. They’re common outcomes in amateur or budget builds.
If you’re going to invest in a shelter, treat it like a life support system, not a glorified root cellar. That means:
And if you can’t do all that? Then your money and time may be better spent on other forms of preparedness: a mobile bug out plan, a well-defended homestead, a community support network, or a reinforced above-ground storm shelter with multiple exit options.
Because in a real crisis, the worst mistake you can make is believing you’re safe when you’re not.
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The post Your Underground Survival Shelter Could Be a Death Trap appeared first on Urban Survival Site.
So you bought a bulletproof vest and think you’re invincible now. Congrats—you’ve just increased your odds of dying. Yes, you read that right. Because while everyone’s flexing their “tactical gear” selfies online, most don’t realize they’re strapping on a false sense of security, not armor. And in the real world, especially when it’s collapsing around […]
The post How A Bulletproof Vest Can Kill You appeared first on Ask a Prepper.
While EMPs get a lot of the chatter, there’s another electromagnetic threat that’s far more insidious, ever-present, and already inside your home in the form of EMFs. These electromagnetic fields don’t come from nuclear detonation or solar flares like EMPs do. Instead, they come from your microwave, your Wi-Fi router, your cellphone, and the power […]
The post How To EMF-Proof Your Home appeared first on Ask a Prepper.
If I talk about emergency preparedness, how prepared are you? This is the logical question. I have asked a few people how they feel about readiness. Some of my questions to friends were, “Do you store water?” Other questions have been “How do you feel about food storage?” or “How long could your family survive on the food you have stored?”
As you may imagine, the answers were all over the board. Here’s the deal: I try not to be on a soapbox screaming from the rooftops to tell everyone to get prepared. But I feel strongly about it, and I want to help others catch the vision. We have to be realistic and recognize the government can’t take care of all of us after a minor or major disaster, at least not right away, so it’s on us to do as much as possible to be self-sufficient and well-prepared.
Like anything else, that’s a little complicated at first, but important, planning and follow-through are critical. I’m hoping today’s post provides a helping hand, particularly to those new to the preparedness journey.
How to Kick Start Your Food Storage Plan
The local American Red Cross is a well know organization that steps in during most disasters. That help may help in a week or two, possibly a month. But their resources are limited. Even the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal agency given the task to provide support during major emergencies and disasters can’t be everywhere and provide everything needed. We must be self-reliant, that’s it. Period.
I’m not a doomsday prepper and I don’t believe in zombies. I know a lot of people do, but I don’t. My life has always been focused on being prepared for whatever comes my way. I have been lucky, my husband has never lost his job. We have never had to live on government help.
Mark worked three jobs so we didn’t have to take out student loans to get him through college. I ironed clothes (I doubt my daughters even own an iron). I’m thinking about this as I write this statement. I babysat kids and cleaned homes to help generate some income with four daughters undertow. Mark and I never thought anything about it.
We just worked hard, and we still do to this day. It’s a way of life for us. I understand people need occasional help from the government. I get it. As long as it’s short term and doesn’t become a way of life or lifestyle, as I call it, I understand.
It’s when I hear about families who have been living off the government for ten or more years when they could have tried to do it on their own that I get ticked off. Let me emphasize, “could have tried.”
As you know, Facebook sometimes tells us more than we want to hear. Some people almost boast about the fact they are living off the government going on 12-15 years now.
Wow, my mom could have used some help as a young single mom with three daughters. She was too proud, she worked and we worked to help her. This is why it’s so critical to have food storage and water stored. If you or someone in your family loses a job or becomes ill such that they can’t work, are you prepared to feed your family?
Being prepared is a way of life for me and for my daughters. I can boast about my daughters because they are all hard workers and survivors. They are also self-reliant. Of course, all families have a few hiccups, and I’ve had a few as well.
I love the saying from Texas, “I put my boots on and got back in the saddle.” I don’t know where I heard that quote, I believe it was a movie. I use it all the time because I know I’ve had to put my boots on and get back in the saddle a few times.
It’s life, but I know I can survive anything. My daughters can survive anything because they are strong women.
I swear, it was from others’ example to us, but also we grew a garden and we “canned” every food we could get our hands on that was free or cheap. I know work teaches kids how to be self-reliant.
Please note: a few years ago I “pressure canned” chicken for the first time while earning my Master Preserver Canning Certificate. It was a really fun class!!
If you have a disaster or unforeseen emergency in your neighborhood is anyone prepared with water, food, gardens, first aid kits, cooking devices, fuel, or general preparedness skills? I am extremely worried about where I live. I can’t take care of everyone on my street, it’s not going to happen.
I’ll be willing to cook meals with help and share food and water with other residents, particularly older adults and children. My fear is the lack of both on my street. I know possibly seven families out of my subdivision that is prepared for a disaster. I would love to move where there are like-minded people, but economically it’s not going to happen.
I’m concerned for the truckers and their safety if the roads are shut down and the people are trying to loot the trucks because the grocery store shelves are empty. People get mean and crazy when they are hungry and their kids are crying for a drink and something to eat. For the survival of your family, please get prepared for the unexpected through an effective emergency plan.
Even with somewhat limited resources, families can put together a plan and learn how to execute that plan to their benefit. It’s called emergency management on a family-sized basis and it’s doable. No matter what the natural disasters or the types of emergencies are, we can look out for ourselves, have an in-house coordinator, and stand tall with our own emergency response team, in many cases.
Sure, we’ll need additional resources from outside the home in many cases, but we can also weather the storms in so many instances.
I quote from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Preparedness is “A state of adequate preparation.” The key word here is “adequate,” meaning enough supplies stored to keep your family hydrated with water, fed with healthy food, kept warm with blankets, and fuel sources to not only help keep them warm but also to cook or just heat up food. Also, having first aid supplies at the very minimum so your family can be prepared for an unexpected accident or injury.
Please start today if you haven’t already to follow some of the suggestions/guidelines below as outlined in many of my posts in my archive:
As I’m writing this I’m thinking about the people in Seattle in the early months of 2019. As the month of February started in 2019 the thought of snow warnings seemed crazy. Seattle can be cool temperature-wise, but they seldom have heavy snow storms. This time there were areas around Seattle where they received over 20 inches of snow over just a few days during a severe winter storm starting on February 3rd and running through February 11th.
The city wasn’t prepared to clear all the main streets and highways, let alone the thousands of side streets in residential neighborhoods. Not only were families unable to get out of driveways and streets, but the trucking companies couldn’t get to the local stores with all the supplies we take for granted when we go shopping.
Airline flights were canceled day after day because of the ice and snow accumulations. This is what they called a 50-year storm since they hadn’t seen this much snow accumulation since 1969, the year we first put a man on the moon.
My readers are used to me talking about how often we experience power outages no matter where we live and that being prepared for the next one only makes sense. We so often assume that the utility companies and government agencies that supervise them are aware of potential risks to our power grid system and are doing all they can to make sure they stay functional since we rely on them so much.
The state of Texas proved that assurance to be faulty based on a severe ice and snowstorm event that took place in February 2021. Not many people know that Texas has its own power grid, one of just a few in the entire U.S. During the second week of February, weather forecasters reported a pending blast of very cold air and related winter weather headed to a large portion of the state.
Texas often gets cold temperatures and also experiences winter storms, but seldom do they see both at the same time. Cold days and winter storms usually don’t last more than a few days, and people are geared to turn up the heat, stay home and off the roads, and shelter in place. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) could see from weather reports coming in that this event was going to be anything but normal.
They ordered what they called rotating outages, something we hear taking place in California during heat waves so the need to shut down various areas due to the demand for power can be passed from one neighborhood to another on a rotation basis and avert the challenge of any one area taking the brunt of a power outage. The challenge with the Texas grid system is that the power wasn’t rotating and the grid was deemed unstable.
Thousands of homes were left without any power to heat them causing pipes to break, and even prompting people to die from hypothermia and actually being frozen to death. State health officials indicate that 246 people lost their lives, with over two-thirds of the deaths from extreme exposure to cold.
With the cold air, demand hit record levels, but the actual supply of power available tended to fall. There was a period where almost 50% of the state’s power generation went offline. It was the “perfect storm” since wind turbines couldn’t run due to the frozen precipitation on the turbines and the generators running on natural gas couldn’t get the gas because of the cold temperatures in the pipelines supplying the gas.
We all need to consider how we can heat our homes during extreme temperatures and take the necessary steps to protect ourselves.
Now, my mind is racing about this Once in a “Generation Cold Front of December 2022”! Many in the weather reporting field called this storm one filled with chaos across the 48 states. This was leading up to the busy travel Christmas Holiday weekend, causing the cancellation of thousands of flights around the country.
The weather reports talked of anticipated multiple feet of snow, particularly in northern New York. The snow was accompanied by freezing rain, subzero temperatures, power outages, and the related deaths that come when people can’t heat their homes and they don’t have the resources set aside to stay warm.
There have been reports of terrible road conditions, prompting traffic backups, multiple car pile-ups, and again, related deaths. Some places like Denver, CO saw rapid and severe temperature drops in a very short time, even as short as one hour. Some locations reported a drop of 50 degrees and more during the day as the storm swept across the country.
Consider what those stranded in their cars were trying to do to stay warm and safe for hours on end, waiting for roads and accident debris to be cleared. Many of you have heard me harp about keeping your gas tanks over 75% full all the time and putting together an emergency car kit so you have food, water, and warm blankets ready to go during events like this. As stated throughout this post, it all takes planning and follow-through, but it could mean saving lives.
Sometimes you have to see, read or hear articles before it really hits you that these needs are real and may save lives. This is the article I hope helps just one family do what they should be doing. Make an emergency preparedness plan, today, not tomorrow, and make sure all of your family knows and understands what needs to be done, don’t take it all on yourself.
May God bless those who have prepared for the unexpected. If you can move where there are like-minded people, seriously consider it, or figure out how you can get those close to you to gather together and work on a common goal to get as many families prepared for the unexpected as possible. Do it now! May God Bless the World, Linda
Copyright Images: Fire Trucks AdobeStock_79142551 By ftfoxfoto
The post Emergency Preparedness-Make A Plan appeared first on Food Storage Moms.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Some of my favorite things about summer include grilling on the patio, going on a camping trip, or just relaxing in the backyard with a cold drink. It’s the season for picnics, bonfires, gardening, and soaking up the sunshine. But one thing that can ruin it is the buzzing and biting of flies.
Flies are more than just a nuisance. If you have livestock, chickens, compost piles, or even just outdoor pets, you already know how quickly they can become overwhelming. And once they show up, they multiply fast. That’s why it’s so important to get ahead of the problem and keep the population under control.
Luckily, there are lots of clever and effective homemade fly traps. I've found 5 such traps on Youtube, all from people who’ve tested them and proven they work. I shared each of the fly trap videos below along with simple, step-by-step instructions for anyone who wants to try them out. They're inexpensive, easy to make, and work incredibly well.
Flies and fruit flies are strongly attracted to the smell of apple cider vinegar and sugar. Once inside the jar, the dish soap disrupts the surface tension, causing the flies to sink and drown. The plastic wrap with holes prevents escape and keeps things tidy.
Flies will be lured by the scent, enter through the holes, and get trapped in the liquid. A tidy and effective solution for indoor or covered outdoor use.
This ultra-budget fly trap relies on the scent of meat and sweet syrup to draw flies in. Once inside the jar, flies land in the sticky mixture and become trapped or drown. It’s low-maintenance, doesn’t smell foul, and doesn’t produce maggots because the flies die quickly.
Within a day or two, flies will be visibly accumulating inside the jar. The trap is odor-controlled and can remain effective for up to a week or two before needing to be refreshed.
This trap uses the strong smell of decomposing meat and the visual lure of light through a black cap to attract flies. Once inside, they can’t escape and drown in the liquid.
Flies are powerfully attracted to the smell of decaying organic matter — and few things smell more enticing to them than fermented eggs. This trap combines that with a jar designed to trap flies inside once they enter through small holes.
Avoid placing it near doors or windows since the smell can attract flies toward entry points. Within a few hours, the trap will begin catching flies.
The longer the bait ferments, the stronger it gets and the more effective the trap becomes. You can even make multiple batches and rotate them for continuous control.
This is one of the most potent outdoor traps for mass fly infestations. It's great for farms, barns, or heavily fly-trafficked zones.
This homemade liquid lure combines sugar and vinegar to attract flies with a sweet-sour scent. The dish soap breaks the surface tension of the liquid so that when flies land, they sink and drown instead of escaping.
This solution works well in traps designed with narrow openings or funnels, ensuring flies enter but can’t get out.
How it Works:
This trap mimics the fermentation process, attracting fruit flies with the smell of yeast and sugar. Once inside the bottle, the flies have difficulty escaping.
Instructions:
After a couple of days, the trap should be visibly catching fruit flies.
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The post 5 Homemade Fly Traps That Always Work appeared first on Homestead Survival Site.
Homesteading looks a little different to everyone: for some folks it looks like a thriving farm, for others just a place to settle down way out in the country away from it all. But big or small, business oriented or not, all homesteaders need a particular set of skills. That’s because homesteading is a lifestyle ... Read more
Top 10 Most Important Homesteading Skills to Focus On can be read in full at New Life On A Homestead- Be sure to check it out!
Let’s cut to the chase — yes, signal jammers are illegal in the United States. Doesn’t matter if it’s cell service, GPS, Wi-Fi, or police radios. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) bans the marketing, sale, and even possession of devices that intentionally block or interfere with wireless communications. If you get caught with one, you’re […]
The post Are Signal Jammers Illegal? The Truth You’re Not Supposed to Know appeared first on Ask a Prepper.
Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
If you're tired of weeds coming back year after year, join the club. Everyone who's ever lived in a house has had to deal with them. Whether they're popping up in your garden, taking over your driveway, or creeping into your lawn, weeds can be relentless. But it's possible to kill weeds permanently, if you use the right methods.
In this article, we'll explore both chemical and natural solutions that can stop weeds from growing back for good. We'll start with the chemical methods.
If you don't mind using chemicals, such as on cracks in patios or driveways (far away from any foods you might be growing), there are plenty of chemical-based methods that work really well. We'll cover those first.
Glyphosate-based herbicides, such as Roundup, are among the most widely used solutions for killing weeds permanently. These are systemic herbicides, which means they're absorbed through the leaves and then translocated down into the roots. This process ensures the entire plant is destroyed, significantly reducing the chances of regrowth.
However, despite their effectiveness, glyphosate products come with controversy. There's been a lot of research suggesting a negative impact on human health and the environment, especially with repeated or large-scale use. So while they do work, they probably aren't worth the risk.
Triclopyr is another powerful herbicide that works particularly well on woody plants, vines, and broadleaf weeds that glyphosate sometimes struggles to eliminate. It's a selective herbicide, meaning it targets certain types of plants while leaving grasses mostly unaffected. This makes it a great option for situations where you want to remove invasive shrubs or stubborn weeds without damaging your lawn.
For especially resilient or deep-rooted vegetation, triclopyr is often used in combination with glyphosate. This pairing enhances the effectiveness of both herbicides, allowing for more thorough penetration and destruction of the root system.
Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to stop weeds before they even start. Rather than killing mature plants, these products work by preventing weed seeds from germinating in the first place. When applied correctly, they create a barrier in the soil that disrupts the early stages of seed development, effectively halting new weeds before they can emerge.
It's important to note that pre-emergents won't do anything to existing weeds. They have to be applied after you’ve cleared the area. Once the visible weeds are removed, a pre-emergent acts as a long-term control strategy by stopping the next wave of growth. Products like Preen or pendimethalin are commonly used in flower beds, mulched areas, and even lawns to maintain a weed-free landscape.
Industrial-strength total vegetation killers, such as RM43 and Ortho GroundClear, are among the most aggressive solutions for permanent weed control. These herbicides are formulated to kill all vegetation they touch including grasses, broadleaf plants, and even hardy perennials. Once applied, they can prevent any regrowth in the treated area for up to a year or more.
Because of their potency, these products are best reserved for places where you want nothing to grow, such as driveways, gravel paths, sidewalks, and patios. However, extreme caution is needed when applying them near garden beds, lawns, or any desirable plants, as even a small amount of drift or runoff can cause unintended damage.
Soil sterilants, such as bromacil and tebuthiuron, are among the most extreme weed control solutions available. These chemicals alter the soil itself to prevent any plant growth for an extended period, often lasting several months to even years. They're designed for situations where total vegetation control is necessary, such as along pipelines or railways.
Due to their potency, soil sterilants aren't suitable for home gardens or landscaped areas. They can leach through the soil and spread beyond the intended application zone, potentially damaging nearby lawns, trees, or ornamental plants. While highly effective in specific settings, their long-lasting and non-selective nature makes them too risky for residential use.
Given all the downsides of chemical-based weed killers, what are some natural ways to kill weeds permanently? Here are your ten best options.
Boiling water is one of the simplest and most accessible ways to kill weeds without using chemicals. When poured directly onto a weed, the extreme heat destroys the plant tissues and scalds the roots, often killing the plant on contact. It’s a completely natural method that works without leaving any residue in the soil.
To use boiling water effectively, heat a kettle or pot until the water reaches a rolling boil. Then, carefully pour the hot water directly at the base of the weed, aiming for the crown where the stem meets the roots. Pour slowly and steadily to allow the heat to penetrate into the root zone.
Be careful not to splash nearby plants you want to keep, as the boiling water will damage any vegetation it touches. This method is most effective on young weeds in cracks, driveways, or gravel paths. For deeper-rooted perennials, you may need to repeat the treatment several times to fully kill the root system and prevent regrowth.
A homemade mixture of vinegar, salt, and dish soap can be a surprisingly effective natural weed killer. The combination works by drawing moisture out of the plant, drying it out from the leaves to the roots.
A common recipe uses 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. The vinegar and salt dehydrate the plant tissues, while the dish soap helps the mixture stick to the leaves for better absorption.
To apply, mix the ingredients in a spray bottle or garden sprayer and coat the weeds thoroughly on a sunny day. Focus on saturating the leaves and the base of the plant. The salt component helps prevent regrowth by altering the soil, but this also means you should use it with caution.
Keep in mind that overuse can damage soil health and make it difficult to grow anything else in that spot. This method is best for areas where you don’t plan to replant, like cracks in driveways, walkways, or gravel paths.
Soil solarization is a highly effective natural method for killing weeds, including their roots and seeds. It works by using the sun’s heat to raise soil temperatures to levels that are lethal to most plant life. This is done by covering the soil with clear plastic sheeting for an extended period, about four to six weeks, during the hottest part of the summer.
To do this properly, first water the area thoroughly, which helps conduct heat deeper into the soil. Then stretch clear plastic tightly over the area and secure the edges with rocks, boards, or soil to trap the heat. Over the next several weeks, the heat builds up under the plastic, effectively “cooking” the weeds, seeds, and even harmful soil pathogens.
This method is especially useful for preparing large garden beds or clearing weedy patches before planting. It's chemical-free, long-lasting, and safe for future growing once the process is complete.
Flame weeding is a method that uses intense heat to kill weeds. When a propane torch is passed briefly over a weed, the sudden heat causes the cell walls to rupture, effectively killing the plant. It only takes a quick pass to do the job. You don’t need to burn the plant to a crisp, just enough to wilt the leaves and damage the tissues.
This technique is particularly effective for shallow-rooted and aboveground weeds, especially in gravel paths, driveways, or between patio stones. However, it’s not ideal for deep-rooted perennials, as the heat usually doesn’t penetrate far enough into the soil to destroy the root system.
For those tougher weeds, repeated treatments may be necessary to eventually deplete the root’s energy and prevent regrowth. Flame weeding is chemical-free and fast, but be careful. Always be mindful of fire risk and surrounding flammable materials.
Smothering weeds with cardboard and mulch is a natural and highly effective method for killing both the plants and their roots. This technique works by cutting off light and air, which starves the weeds and prevents them from photosynthesizing. Over the course of several weeks to a few months, the weeds gradually die and decompose under the layers.
To use this method, lay down sheets of cardboard over the weedy area, overlapping the edges to block any gaps. Then cover the cardboard with 3 to 6 inches of mulch to weigh it down and further insulate the soil.
This approach is especially useful when converting neglected or overgrown patches into productive garden beds or landscaped areas. Not only does it kill weeds, but it also improves soil health as the cardboard breaks down over time.
Manual removal is one of the most straightforward and environmentally friendly ways to deal with weeds, especially when using specialized root-extraction tools. Devices like the Fiskars Weed Puller or the CobraHead Weeder are designed to dig deep into the soil and pull out the entire root system, not just the visible part of the plant. This is crucial for preventing the weed from growing back.
For small infestations or isolated problem areas, manual removal can be extremely effective, if the roots are completely extracted. Many common weeds will regenerate from even small root fragments left in the soil, so thoroughness is key. While this method is time-consuming and labor-intensive, it's ideal choice for garden beds or anywhere you don't want to use chemicals.
Burning weeds with high-pH substances like wood ash or agricultural lime is another natural method that can help kill weeds at the root level. These materials work by altering the soil’s pH and drawing moisture out of plant tissues, effectively “burning” the weeds chemically. When applied directly to the base of the plant, they can desiccate and damage the root system, making it difficult for the weed to recover.
This approach is best suited for dry areas like cracks in sidewalks, driveways, or along garden borders where no desirable plants are nearby. It’s not recommended for garden beds or lawns, as these substances can harm soil health and make the area unsuitable for future planting. Used carefully and in small amounts, though, they offer a chemical-free way to permanently kill weeds.
Repeated soil disturbance through shallow tilling can be a great long-term strategy for eliminating weeds. It involves lightly tilling the soil to bring buried weed seeds to the surface where they're exposed to light and moisture and begin to germinate. Before these new weeds can mature, a second tilling is done to destroy them. By repeating this cycle several times, you can gradually exhaust the seed bank in the soil.
While this method is time-intensive and requires consistent effort over a growing season, it’s a powerful way to reduce weed pressure without using chemicals. It’s especially useful in vegetable gardens or crop fields where soil can be turned regularly. Just be careful not to till too deeply, as this can bring up even more dormant weed seeds and undo your progress.
Strong natural acids like citric acid concentrate or lemon juice make great organic weed killers. These acids work similarly to vinegar by breaking down plant tissues and drying out the weed, but they tend to have a lower environmental impact. When applied directly in high concentrations, citric acid can penetrate the root zone and cause lasting damage, helping to prevent the weed from regrowing.
For enhanced effectiveness, citric acid is often combined with essential oils such as clove oil, which have natural herbicidal properties. This combination increases the potency of the solution and can help kill more resilient weeds.
It's best to apply the mixture on a hot, sunny day for maximum impact, and avoid using it near desirable plants, as it can harm any vegetation it touches. This method is ideal for small-scale spot treatments where you want a natural, biodegradable option.
Allelopathic plants like rye, buckwheat, and black walnut offer a natural, long-term solution for weed control by releasing biochemicals into the soil that suppress the germination and growth of surrounding plants, including weeds. This natural defense mechanism makes them effective allies in keeping unwanted vegetation at bay without the need for herbicides.
While not an instant fix, incorporating allelopathic species into your garden through crop rotation or cover cropping can significantly reduce weed pressure over time. Rye and buckwheat, for example, are commonly used in off-season planting to outcompete weeds and leave behind residue that inhibits future growth.
Black walnut trees are even more potent and should be planted with caution, as they can affect nearby desirable plants. Used strategically, allelopathic plants can build a healthier, weed-resistant growing environment year after year.
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The post 15 Ways to Kill Weeds Permanently appeared first on Urban Survival Site.
Today, I want to discuss the 15 canned vegetables I highly recommend. Lately, I’ve been trying to help my readers not only understand how vital stored food is to survive an emergency, but also how they can get started in their journey to be adequately prepared.
Canned food can be a critical component of food storage, particularly when it comes to having food you can store for an extended period. There are so many reasons that canned food can give you confidence that you are planning and adequately providing for your family’s safety and protection.
Canned foods come in many varieties and choices to keep all of us happy with content, flavor, texture, and health benefits. Let’s talk about canned vegetables and the 15 options I recommend you consider.
Note that when I provide information about ingredients in each product, I typically list only those with the highest concentration, rather than all ingredients. Also, the shelf-life shown is as listed on each can based on the date of this post. Please stock at least two can openers. Can Opener or #10 Can Opener
In case you missed these posts,
How can I use Del Monte® Sliced New Potatoes?
I grew up with canned potatoes; I’m not sure of the brand, but we had them all the time. Here’s the deal: you can fry these and add them to soups or stews—no washing, peeling, or chopping. Of course, you can slice them to help stretch them in a recipe or two. I love fresh potatoes, but these work in a pinch.
How can I use Libby’s® Sliced Carrots?
Canned carrots are a great addition to serve as a side dish or to add to a soup or stew at the last minute. They are already cooked, so they just need to be reheated. At an early age, my mom would tell us that if we wanted good vision, we should eat lots of carrots. Based on recent eye issues, I didn’t eat as much as I should have. LOL
How can I use DelMonte® Cut Green Beans?
I used to pressure can green beans, and my girls were raised on them. A lot of them. These are perfect to serve as a side dish or add to your favorite casserole, soup, or stew. When we lived in Northern Utah in a fun community called River Heights, we had a half-acre lot and the most extensive garden ever. We planted green beans, and the kids had a great time watching them grow and then harvesting them.
How can I use Green Giant® Steam Crisp White Shoepeg Corn?
I love corn, whether it’s on the cob (my favorite), frozen, or canned. It works in so many recipes or as a side dish. The bonus is that there are so many varieties of corn available in a can. I’m not sure, but I’ve never heard of shoepeg corn. With Green Giant canning them, they must be good!
How can I use DelMonte® Fire-Roasted Corn Blend?
These are the perfect side dish; they have a bit of a smoky flavor, not too strong, just right. They work great in soups or stews as well.
How can I use DelMonte® Whole Kernel Corn/No Salt Added?
As I walked down the aisles, I noticed many vegetables in cans with zero salt! Squeal! These are perfect for people who need to watch their salt intake. This variety would make a perfect side dish and can also be added to any soup or stew.
How can I use Maria Brand® Artichoke Quarters?
I’m not an artichoke lover, but my family loves fresh artichokes. Well, these are perfect for my Spinach Artichoke Dip
How can I use DelMonte® Mixed Vegetables?
Here again, these make a perfect side dish, but I have added them to soups and stews as well. With the mixture, you get a great variety of flavor, texture, and nutrients. All the colors give it a unique presentation, too.
How can I use Popeye® Chopped Spinach?
I have to be honest here, I have never bought spinach in a can, ever. I have purchased it in freeze-dried, frozen, and fresh forms. My mom used to cook spinach, and I couldn’t gag it down. I tried, but nope, it’s not for me. She put butter and lemon juice on it, and I still didn’t like it. Keep in mind that this precooked canned spinach has a definite difference in texture and flavor from that baby spinach salad you had this week.
How can I use DelMonte® Sweet Peas?
I confess, I’m not fond of canned peas except for use in my grandmother’s pea and cheese salad! But I will add these to a soup or a stew. So there you have it.
How can I use Princella® Sweet Potatoes/Cut Yams in Syrup?
When I saw these at the grocery store, all I could think of was sweet potatoes with butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows on top. I had never considered buying them in a can to eat with a meal. I will now.
How can I use Libby’s® Peas & Carrots?
I opened a can of these last night to go with some barbecued chicken and instant mashed potatoes. They were a perfect addition to the meal. I would also add these to a soup or stew.
How can I use Giorgio® Mushroom Pieces & Stems?
Years ago, I would buy case lot sales of canned mushrooms. I used them for homemade pizza, soups, and stews. We tend to buy fresh now, but I’m thinking I will go back to buying them in cans. I love having these on my pantry shelves.
How can I use DelMonte® Crinkle Cut Pickled Beets?
One thing I have noticed about pickled beets is that you either love them or hate them. I love them! They are perfect on a fresh garden salad. I’ll eat a small bowl of them as well as a snack.
How can I use Green Giant® Asparagus Spears?
This is another product I grew up on, canned asparagus. I love fresh asparagus, but I also enjoy canned asparagus. It has a different texture, but I love asparagus! I would add it to omelets or eat it as a side dish.
I hope you enjoyed my post on the 15 canned vegetables I recommend. Do you have some you like that I missed? It’s all about stocking up and being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world, Linda
The post 15 Canned Vegetables I Highly Recommend appeared first on Food Storage Moms.