Innovative survival ideas or tools? « Thread Started on Mar 20, 2012, 9:37am »
I am doing some research about new groundbreaking tools, technology and tactics that are being developed to counter inevitable apocalyptic scenarios [anything from nuclear and bioterrorism to catastrophic natural disasters to zombie attacks to uprising of nanotechnology, etc etc].
Have any you come across any really ingenious, prescient (even unconventional?) survival gear/products?
tistine is a troll. No matter what you say, he will find a way to ridicule it. I encourage everyone to simply boycott him. Witness the responses I got from him. He's not worth the effort.
Re: Innovative survival ideas or tools? « Reply #3 on Apr 17, 2012, 1:58pm »
Not really technology. But a cheap means to grow food during the winter. The last cut of the summer, keep your grass clippings and pack them in troughs (Kinda like a compost heap) Soak em wet and let sit for a few days (as its getting cold into fall. Dig small holes and plant things like beats carrots and what not. Fill with potting soil and cover with plastic wrap. The heat from decomposition will keep the plants warm enough to grow through most of the winter. You can also use pine needles and dead grass from overgrown ditches to add to the clippings. And some people have also used bailed hay for the same purpose.
Not really technology. But a cheap means to grow food during the winter. The last cut of the summer, keep your grass clippings and pack them in troughs (Kinda like a compost heap) Soak em wet and let sit for a few days (as its getting cold into fall. Dig small holes and plant things like beats carrots and what not. Fill with potting soil and cover with plastic wrap. The heat from decomposition will keep the plants warm enough to grow through most of the winter. You can also use pine needles and dead grass from overgrown ditches to add to the clippings. And some people have also used bailed hay for the same purpose.
I really like this idea, I think I am going to take a crack at it at the end of the summer because the decomposition of those clippings generates a good amount of heat. I am worried the cold slow decomposition and also the heat generated from the process. Have you tried this?
Joined: May 2012 Gender: Female Posts: 93 Location: California, USA Karma: 5
Re: Innovative survival ideas or tools? « Reply #6 on May 31, 2012, 1:56pm »
The best survival tool I've found is a book containing all the wild plants in the western United States, southwestern Canada and northwestern Mexico. (All one book.) It lists the plants picture, a description of the leaves, different uses (Based on native american records and accounts) for every part of the plant, from the top to the bottom.
Knowledge is power! And knowing is half the battle!
There's no greater feeling in the world than to watch as your creations grow and become mature. Anything from art, to vegetables, to children, it's the greatest feeling in the world to just stand back and have confidence when you say; "I made that."
The best survival tool I've found is a book containing all the wild plants in the western United States, southwestern Canada and northwestern Mexico. (All one book.) It lists the plants picture, a description of the leaves, different uses (Based on native american records and accounts) for every part of the plant, from the top to the bottom.
Knowledge is power! And knowing is half the battle!
Like to know the title - any color plates? Good pics are a must for plants/mushrooms IMO. otherwise you could eat something that makes you sick or worse.
tistine is a troll. No matter what you say, he will find a way to ridicule it. I encourage everyone to simply boycott him. Witness the responses I got from him. He's not worth the effort.
Like to know the title - any color plates? Good pics are a must for plants/mushrooms IMO. otherwise you could eat something that makes you sick or worse.
It was one of the Peterson Field guides. I went to Barns & Noble one day, just to look around and ended up buying it for like, $15. It's waterproof too... Even the pages. I'll try and find the name for you, I made the mistake of lending it to a friend right before I moved.
There's no greater feeling in the world than to watch as your creations grow and become mature. Anything from art, to vegetables, to children, it's the greatest feeling in the world to just stand back and have confidence when you say; "I made that."
Trying to stay one step ahead of the hordes of the undead [F4:mithrilwisdom][F4:mithrilw isdom]
Joined: Jun 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 9 Location: Cardiff, United Kingdom Karma: 0
Re: Innovative survival ideas or tools? « Reply #9 on Jun 21, 2012, 3:27am »
One of the best things I've heard for getting water in hot places is to dig a hole, put a bowl/mug/whatever into the hole and cover it over with clingfilm/seran wrap. Once the heat of the sun hits it, it'll produce condensation that'll drip down into the bowl/mug/whatever and you've got yourself some water.
One of the best things I've heard for getting water in hot places is to dig a hole, put a bowl/mug/whatever into the hole and cover it over with clingfilm/seran wrap. Once the heat of the sun hits it, it'll produce condensation that'll drip down into the bowl/mug/whatever and you've got yourself some water.
Never tried it, but it sounds legit.
Yep, I've done this as part of survival training when I was in the Australian Army but there are a few clarifications needed.
1. You still need a source of water to put into the pit, even if it's nothing more than grass (you need fresh vegetation) or even just muddy creek water. Urine, animal blood and other liquids such as these can also be used but fresh cut plants are probably going to be the most abundant source.
2. It's worth putting a small weight onto the plastic sheet/clingfilm etc. that you're using so that you can force the water to collect at one point - otherwise it just drops down anywhere. You also have to make sure the edges of the plastic sheet are weighed down so that the moist air doesn't escape from the pit (sand/soil is best for this).
3. It will produce enough water to keep you alive but not much more. You will not be filling up canteens with this technique unless you have a lot of them running at the same time.
4. If you have to use clingfilm and so on, double it over so that it's tough enough to survive the wind blowing crap onto it and survive frequent handling.
5. It takes time to produce the water via condensation, this is not a technique that will "just take a couple of minutes", you'll need to be there for hours and sometimes, the whole day. If you're using vegetation to provide the water, you'll need to change it frequently as it dries out (hence why the plastic film you're using needs to be tough).
Can't think of anything else to add, I'll have to find my course notes to refresh my memory - however, any good survival book should have this technique written up in some detail.
« Last Edit: Jun 22, 2012, 10:23am by KevinTheCynic »
Joined: Aug 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 5 Location: Michigan Karma: 0
Re: Innovative survival ideas or tools? « Reply #11 on Aug 25, 2012, 3:54pm »
This could come in handy for getting fresh water out of salt water. Could probably use it the same way as the jar and seranwrap method as well. Still trying to find out where to buy one, one site said they were selling for $60, kind of pricey, but may be worth it in the long run.
Same ideas, different methods/inventions. Not sure if they were ever made or just ideas. Can probably whip something up at home. I want to try the second one.
Someone used this idea in a life raft invention, could be useful if there were some kind of flood or maybe if you're just an avid boater. Just make sure to pack a fishing pole.
Re: Innovative survival ideas or tools? « Reply #13 on Oct 2, 2012, 12:10pm »
take whatever kind of waterproof container you can collect (think water bottles) Set them up in a wooden crate or container. Take some glass and put at a slight (15 degree) angle toward the front of the container, and then seal it, allowing the container to open. Take other bottles, cut the tops and bottoms off, then cut the cylinder in half. At the front of the contraption, at the lowest point of the glass, plact the water bottle halves in a shingle patern to flow to one side, and then place the contracption in the sun with whatever kind of liquid or fresh vegetation you can find in the original bottles. Condesation gathers on the glass from whatever is inside, runs to the bottom, where it drips into the trough, and runs into a collection device. This process will remove ALL contaminents, including radiation and bloobborne pathogens. I have already set this up, and it produces the best tasting water you can imagine. I used 20 20 ounce bottles half full, and got about a full 20 ounce bottle of pure water after one day, about 90 degrees outside. Best device for water, cheap to make, easy to tote around.
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