Knowledge is power and this power will bring you up when everything around you crumbles. We stockpile food and water, we hoard the things we might need during a disaster and we equip our armory so that we could fend off a small army. What are you doing about hoarding knowledge? You’ve started learning about first aid, about gardening, about wood crafting and other skills you might need, but one cannot learn everything. This is why you need to build your own SHTF library.

Today, we have all sorts of books that have gathered the hard-learned lessons of the previous generations, you can learn about gardening, about off-grid living and about anything you desire. And the best part is that this knowledge is available to you for literally pennies.

Every prepper should put some effort into developing his own how-to library, including how to books with things that you never thought of doing. You don’t have to go for the survival books or the newest field guides, since most of these books are either too specific or are just re-cycled old books in new clothes and with “updated” prices.

You should pick up books on gardening, building a root cellar, composting, gunsmithing, etc. – actual skills that can be used regardless of the area you live in. You never know what the future will bring and you might have to bug-out at a certain point. If that will be the case, you need to bring with you a set of skills or proper knowledge that can help you survive and thrive with what can be found in your new environment. Knowing how to fix a flat tire will help you regardless if you are in the desert or in the mountains. A good SHTF library will help you survive and thrive in the end.

You should concentrate on collecting the following types of books:

First aid books

When it comes to first aid books there are a lot of choices and you have training manuals for anything, from disaster preparedness to how to deliver a baby. You need to get the books that cover most of the medical emergencies, you may encounter and the books that provide solutions to the illnesses you or your loved ones are suffering from. In my collection, amongst other books, I have The American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook, which can be purchased from Amazon, for a few pennies. Once you’ve got your first aid books, don’t put them on the shelf like most people who get them. You should read them and try to become familiar with their content and every time you have the occasion, you should practice! You should try to treat your wounds every time you can, unless of course, it’s a medical emergency that you can’t handle. You should also try to attend to as many first aid classes as possible, because besides gaining useful knowledge you will also get the reading material offered during these courses.

Cooking books

Cooking is art and cooking with scraps is survival. But who says you can’t have both? There are thousands of books available out there, that will teach you how to cook new dishes from the same old stuff. You should get books that are general, that do not cover cooking with a stove or a microwave since those facilities will not always be around. Get the books that offer a large variety of recipes. You should look at the ingredients from your pantry, at your family habits and then you can select some books that cover all your needs. You should try cooking more at home and gain experience when it comes to mixing ingredients. You don’t need to become a chef, you just need to be sure you know enough so that cooking will not be a problem WSHTF.

Canning and Food preservation books

This is a hot topic for preppers and being able to preserve food in good conditions and enjoying it during a time of need is something everyone wants. Safety should be a priority when it comes to canning as you don’t want to get sick from eating spoiled food. One or two general canning books should be a must for every prepper. Besides teaching you the techniques, these books will also provide you with a wish list containing all the items needed for canning. You should also get some books that cover specific topics such as making jellies, curing meat, preserving dairy and so on. The American diet varies from region to region and it’s best to know how to prepare and preserve foods that are grown locally. Supermarkets will not always be there and you will have to make use of what you grow or trade with your neighbors.

Related reading: How to can fish, Food preservation with oil, How to make jerky, Dehydrating food.

Crafts books

The future may bring back the doings of the old days and handiwork will play a major part in the life of every prepper. You will need to learn how to craft a chicken coop, or learn basic camping crafts. Here everything goes and it’s better to pick the books you think may come in handy one day. Maybe you’re not into woodworking, but once you read a book about this skill, your perception will change and you could find a use for this skill in the future. If you will have to barter and when you will be running low on supplies, putting your skills at work will be your only chance of doing business.

Nature books

Books about wild plants and animals will be of great help for you and your family when foraging and hunting will be the main food procurement method. It doesn’t hurt to know which are the wild edible plants, where to find these plants and when to harvest them. Knowing the difference between an edible mushroom and a poisonous one will save you a lot of trouble. The same goes for hunting and fishing, you are never too old to learn a thing or two about how can you hunt or fish.

Related reading: Forage during summer

Homesteaders’ encyclopedias

You need some good books that can provide you with information regarding livestock and gardening. When it comes to homesteading, you want your books to cover as many subjects as possible since you will be taking decisions based on the learning it provided. There are also a lot of homesteading communities on the internet that provide good reading materials, that you should print and store for later use. The more information you have about homesteading the easier it will be for you to face an unknown scenario.

Gardening books

Your homesteading books should cover all the basic steps of gardening and you should be able to work with those books. However, after some time you should change your perspective and get some specialty books that can help you get a better crop. Try to get some books on composting, soil management, seed harvesting, natural pest control and companion planting. If gardening will be your main source of food you want to gather as much knowledge as possible regarding gardening, otherwise you will starve.

Read more about what other types of books you should have in your library here: http://prepperswill.com/build-your-own-shtf-library/

For other survival and preparedness articles visit us at Prepper’s Will.com

Stay Safe and Good Bless!

Other Prepper’s Resources:

Blackout USA (EMP survival and preparedness guide)

Survival MD (Knowledge to survive any medical crisis situation)

Backyard Liberty (DIY Cheap Aquaponic system to assure food for your family)

Drought USA (Secure unlimited fresh, clean water)

Sold Out After Crisis (Best 37 Items To Hoard For A Long Term Crisis)

Bullet Proof Home (Learn how to Safeguard your Home)

Conquering the coming Collapse (The #1 Financial Guide for Preppers)

Family Self Defense (Best Crash Course To Keep Your Family Safe For WSHTF)

Survive The End Days (Exposes Obama’s cover up)

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