Blog Posts

A GPS can fail. Batteries die. Phones break. But a map and compass? They’ll always work. For preppers and bushcrafters, orienteering is more than a skill—it’s your lifeline when technology fails.

This guide breaks down map and compass navigation in plain English, giving you the confidence to navigate any wilderness, from your own land to the backcountry.

For preppers and bushcrafters, tracking animals isn’t just about hunting—it’s about reading the land like a book. Every bent blade of grass, every hoofprint in the mud, and every pile of scat tells a story about the wildlife around you.

Whether you’re hunting, trapping, or simply monitoring your land, tracking gives you the ability to predict animal movement, find food sources, and secure your property.

Here’s a practical guide to animal tracking—from basic signs to advanced interpretation.

Shelter is the second priority of survival—right after air and before water or food. Exposure kills faster than hunger or thirst. On your land, shelter is more than survival—it’s training in how to turn natural resources into protection.

This guide covers shelter at three levels: emergency, semi-permanent, and long-term homestead cabins. Each is a critical skill for preppers and bushcrafters alike.

When the grid goes down or fuel runs out, food doesn’t stop being a necessity. Primitive cooking is more than survival—it’s a way to make safe, nourishing meals using only what nature provides.

On your land, these skills give you the ability to cook under any conditions. Here are the most reliable primitive cooking methods for preppers, from emergency setups to full-scale feasts.

Owning land gives you more than space — it gives you the ultimate survival training ground. Unlike practicing at a campsite or park, your land is your lab, where every tree, stream, and patch of soil can teach you something about resilience.

Whether you’re just starting your prepper journey or aiming to build advanced survival systems, here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the survival skills you need to master on your land.

When the lighter runs out or the matches get soaked, you need backup skills. Fire is life: it means warmth, safe drinking water, cooked food, and morale. On your land, it’s also a training opportunity—to test multiple fire-starting methods until you can make flame under any condition.

Here are five proven ways to start a fire without matches, with practical tips, drills, and landowner applications.

Imagine buying 10 acres of “beautiful pastureland,” only to find out later that half belongs to your neighbor. Or fencing your property line — and getting sued for trespass.

That’s what happens when buyers skip land surveys.

A land survey is the process of a licensed surveyor measuring and mapping property boundaries. For off-grid buyers, it’s your only guarantee of what you truly own.

Here’s why surveys matter, with real-world stories and guidance on when to demand one.

When buying rural land, one of the most important — and least understood — players in the process is the title company.

They don’t sell you the land. They don’t set the price. But they are the ones who make sure the property you buy is actually yours to own.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what title companies do, why they matter, and how they protect off-grid buyers from hidden traps.

Buying rural land means more than signing a contract — it means your name will be placed on a deed, the legal document that proves ownership. But deeds are full of archaic legal phrases that can overwhelm first-time buyers.

This guide breaks down how to read a land deed in plain English, so you know exactly what you’re signing — and what red flags to look for.

Buying rural land isn’t like buying a house in the city. Most rural sellers expect negotiation — and you can often save 10–40% off asking price if you know how to play it right.

Here’s a step-by-step blueprint to negotiating rural land, including scripts, tactics, and real-world examples that give you leverage.

Most first-time land buyers are shocked when they see the final closing statement. They expect the purchase price — but not the pile of extra fees stacked on top.

Closing costs can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on state, county, and deal structure. Knowing what to expect — and how to minimize them — keeps your budget safe.

Here’s a line-by-line breakdown of rural land closing costs.

Looking at rural land online is one thing. Standing on it in person is another. Photos can hide steep slopes, access issues, or even flood zones. That’s why an on-site inspection is critical before you sign any contract.

This guide gives you a field checklist of what to evaluate when inspecting rural land in person.