Survival Training How-Tos
How To: Identify tinder fungus for fire starting
This is a short video showing what tinder fungus is, what to look for, and how it is used. Tinder fungus is nice to have because it does not combust quickly, but rather smolder for a long time.
How To: Identify fatwood for fire starting
This is a short video to help in identifying a fatwood stump. Fatwood is what happens when a tree dies a sudden death, and the roots continue sending resin to the rest of the tree, which creates resin-rich fire starting fatwood.
How To: Put together a good fire starting kit
This is an instructional video on how to put together a fire starting kit. The kit includes everything from a lighter to fatwood. The second video in this sequence will show you how to use the items detailed in the fire starting kit.
How To: Use a Wind King rope lighter
This video is a short demonstration of the wind king rope lighter, a small lighter that uses a length of cloth rope and a flint to create an ember for fire making. With this helpful lighter, you can make fire in places where the wind would normally destroy your lighter's flame.
How To: Light a self starting lighter
This video is a short demonstration of a self-starting lighter from the New Method Co. in action.
How To: Use an empty lighter to create fire in an emergency
Even when your lighter (whether piezo or flintwheel) is empty, you can get another light or fire! The Isobutane propellant and flammable base gives you a temporary ignitable fuel source.
How To: Use garlic and ginger for a cough remedy
Garlic ginger syrup is an herbal cough remedy. This cough home remedy would make use of cough herbs such as garlic and ginger. Learn how to make this garlic remedy that is garlic ginger syrup.
How To: Use rose hip recipes
The how to video contains rose recipes, such as making herbal vinegar and honey. This rose recipe makes use of rosehip. Learn some of these rose recipes by watching this video. Rose hip honey can heal a sore throat.
How To: Treat coughs and fever with elderberry
The elderberry is an excellent herb and can be used to treat cough and fever. This video shows how to make cough syrup using elderberry.
How To: Dry stinging nettle herbs
Learn how to dry herbs, particularly nettle. Yay! This how to video is a great step-by-step tutorial on drying stinging nettle. Nettle is a great spicy herb that can add extra flavor to any dish.
How To: Prepare for Y2K
Tim Carter of AsktheBuilder.com demonstrates the best way to prepare for Y2K.
How To: Make a paracord using a knitting spool
This short video shows how to get started with 550 paracord and a 3 peg/nail knitting spool made from a wooden napkin ring and 3 nails. This just show you how to start. Follow these steps: After the initial wrapping of the nails with the paracord at the bottom of the nail, you take the working end to the next nail above the cord that's wrapped around it, use a hook of some type to lift the lower cord up and over the top cord and the nail. Continue from one nail to the next, up and over with t...
How To: Make a round sinnet paracord fob
You'll need two pieces of gutted paracord, one 30 inches the other 25 inches. This will make a finished fob with a 3-inch loop and a 2-inch body. You'll also need scissors and a lighter.
How To: Tie a monkey's fist
The main trouble spot in making a monkey's fist is in tightening up the knot. The key is to gradually tighten it by working the slack out. Do just a little at a time, following it all the way through your fist.
How To: Tie a lanyard knot
This video tutorial will show you how to tie a lanyard knot with a loop. You can try with an 18 inch length of paracord for the demonstration, but this will work with various lengths and diameters of cord.
How To: Make a cool oil emergency lamp for under a buck
See how to make a very cool oil lamp for just under one dollar. This emergency lamp will help you out in emergency power outages, or if you're just getting sick of normal candles. Make a cool oil emergency lamp for under a buck.
How To: Make a "primitive" cane arrow
Make an arrow using a type of cane native to the Mediterranean (Arundo donax). This bamboo-like plant is an introduced, invasive species in the U.S., and is considered a pest in most areas.
How To: Use atlatl accuracy tips
Check out a few accuracy tips for those who are having a tough time learning to make and throw atlatl darts.
How To: Fletch atlatl darts with no glue
Check out this method of fletching atlatl darts with no glue. Start by trimming feathers.
How To: Eat American Lotus
Learn with Green Deane about a prime wild edible, the American lotus, cousin to the lotus in Asian cooking.
How To: Eat duck potatoes
Learn from Green Deane about duck potatoes, a wide-spread highly-esteemed root vegetable.
How To: Eat Spurge Nettle
Learn from Green Deane about Spurge Nettle, a root that can be eaten all year round.
How To: Eat lichen (Cladonia)
Learn from Green Deane about lichen, a potential food found everywhere on earth.
How To: Eat Amaranth
Learn from Green Deane about Amaranth, a long-cultivated but also wild vegetable and grain.
How To: Eat cactus (Opuntia)
Learn from Green Deane about edible cactus, far more common than people think..
How To: Eat Spiderwort (Tradescantia)
Learn from Green Deane about Spiderwort a spring green that is available for two or more seasons of the year.
How To: Eat Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
Learn from Green Deane about Henbit, a spring green you might not have noticed. It has a slightly different taste than other new greens.
How To: Make pine-pitch adhesive
Watch this short video on how to make pine-pitch adhesive (a natural hot-melt glue using dry/solidified pine sap as its main ingredient).
How To: Eat thistles
Learn from Green Deane how to identify and prepare thistles, which are spring time greens from around the world.
How To: Eat rumex (Sorrel)
Learn from Green Deane how to identify and prepare Rumex (Sorrel) a spring time green around the world.
How To: Eat wild lettuce and sow thistle
Learn with Green Deane how to recognize and prepare wild lettuce and sow thistle, lactuca and sonchus.
How To: Build a primitive bow
Make a bow using Stone Age tools. You don't have to find a cave or anything--you can always do it in your backyard!
How To: Straighten a cane to build an atlatl
Check out this video on making a cane atlatl dart, starting by straightening the cane dart blank. Part 1 of 3 - How to Straighten a cane to build an atlatl.
How To: Make an atlatl
Make a generic North American style atlatl from the American Southwest with advice from this "paleo" survivalist.
How To: Identify and avoid poisonous plants
Learn how to identify and watch out for poisonous plants of the Eastern Woodlands, especially poison ivy, of course.
How To: Build a wikkie shelter for outdoor survival
Check out this video to learn how to make a wikkie shelter if you need to spend the night in the woods.
How To: Make a wilderness quiver
Check out this video to get tips on how to make a wilderness quiver. Watch to learn what materials to use, including a PVC pipe.
How To: Haft a primitive point
Haft primitive points for hunting with tips from this video. Start by making a fire.
How To: Collect wild edibles
Check out this video to learn how to find and gather wild edibles and medicinal plants. First, learn how to identify the toothwort plant. If you don't already know how to recognize the wild lettuce plant, keep watching.
How To: Learn the witchery of archery
Check out this video on the witchery of archery. First, learn about the recurve bow. Part 1 of 3 - How to Learn the witchery of archery.