Times are tough, and they’re getting tougher. Gas prices keep going up, as do the costs for basic necessities. Many people are being squeezed. But what can they do? First, they can learn how to take care of themselves and their families. A good survival course can go a long way toward this goal of learning what are core necessities and what is extraneous and unnecessary.

Our push toward self reliance and small scale organic farming is a lifelong passion. But as times change, it becomes more appropriate for the majority of people to learn some simple self-reliant skills that can make the difference for them or their families. These include what to do when the power goes out, how to get and purify water, how to deal with human waste, creative ideas for recycling household trash, how to start seeds, how to grow food, which food plants give you the biggest bang for your buck, how to preserve the harvest, and many others.

The question you should ask yourself is am I prepared? If the answer is no, you should start taking steps to remedy the situation.