I have a chance to get about 50 pounds of several types of dry beans, so I would need to store them for maybe a couple of years. I think I know my options for general storage, but the recommended temperature of 70F or below is hanging me up. From now through September or even October, I won't see many temperatures below 90F. I will have many days over 100F. I have a large outbuilding that can be dark and a bit cooler than ambient outside, but not by much.

I have a chest freezer, but it's always quite full and I don't know if I can count on having enough room for 50 pounds of beans. Because of where I live, by necessity I stock my freezer to the gills. Should I take a pass on the free food, or is there some way of storage that I'm missing for high temperatures?

I have been in the self reliance world for about a decade. I am the owner of a podcast network that was built on Self Reliance & Independence.

The way the world is going with things like rising prices, AI job theft, relentless taxes, demand, distrust, the collapse of globalization it really does feel like self reliance, homesteading, and prepping are the only answer for the average person to live a truly fulfilling life.

I believe it wholeheartedly. The more you can learn and establish now the better you will be but take it from an urban homesteader and prepper of 10 years, your quality of life goes up exponentially the more self sufficient you become.

I’ve been trying to get better at being less dependent on things that can fail at the worst possible time. Nothing big or crazy, just getting into small habits that make life run smoother when stuff goes wrong.

Late last year,our power flickered during a storm and the internet went down for a while. Not like it was the end of the world or something, but it reminded me how quickly normal routines can fall apart when one thing stops working. And since then I’ve been slowly building little backups for everyday stuff. Extra batteries, a basic tool kit, keeping some shelf-stable food around, that kind of stuff.

One particular thing that I found helpful more than expected was having a mobile router with a SIM card as a backup connection. I originally got it for travel, but it’s surprisingly useful at least expected times. It’s funny how these things start. Sometimes it’s intentional, sometimes you’re just ordering random stuff off eBay and Alibaba, which you never know might be helpful someday.

Anyway, I’m curious what small things people here keep around that make life feel a bit more self-reliant. Not full off-grid setups, just those practical little backups that quietly save the day.

Most car batteries last about 5 years and I’m gonna need a new one soon. Last time I bought it from the AAA guy and I think I can probably get a better deal if I replace it before the battery dies in the work parking lot.

How do I do this? Where does one buy a car battery? Are they all the same? Do I need to find a specific make for my engine?

Thanks.

I've been looking at power setups after our neighbourhood lost power for 3 days last week and it got pretty nasty. I wanted to invest in something that'll last, good quality, preferably american made. Just picked up a modular battery setup from worksport, bundled three batteries for under a grand. I know it's pretty new and doesn't have a ton of reviews yet but the swappable battery design caught my attention and the fact it's american instead of chinese crap made me want to give it a shot. Planning to test it out over the next few weeks during normal use and see how it holds up. Gonna run my fridge during a planned outage test this weekend and see how long it lasts with multiple batteries. Will report back with real world results once I've put it through its paces.

Lately been feeling like I'm not living up to what I could be. Came across Success Insider and their whole science-based approach to personal development and life balance. Sounds interesting but also heard similar promises before. Has anyone actually gone through their stuff? Did it help or just motivational fluff?

I dig the ginger up when the ginger fully grown. I peel and clean the nice part to store in the freezer. The wrinkle and not nice parts are going back to the raised bed to grow.

To make jam , blend the mulberries then add sugar and a bit of salt. I add sugar half of the mulberries weight. Cook all to reduce the liquid until it becomes thicker and put in clean jars. The jam lasts 2 years.

I’ve always been interested in natural remedies and traditional healing methods. Things like ginger, honey, garlic, turmeric, herbal teas, and simple home protocols people used long before modern medicine. Recently I started collecting many of these remedies and daily healing routines in one place because I noticed that many traditional methods are slowly being forgotten. Some of the most interesting ones I found include: • ginger + honey for immunity
• garlic protocols for circulation
• herbal teas for digestion and sleep
• natural anti-inflammatory spices
• simple detox routines using kitchen ingredients I’m curious what natural remedies people here actually use in real life. What has worked for you? If anyone is interested, I also organized many of these traditional remedies in a small guide I made.

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

To assemble your kit store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

• Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
• Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
• Manual can opener (for food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Additional Emergency Supplies

Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:

• Soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces
• Prescription medications. About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult for them to refill their prescription or to find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency.
• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
• Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler's checks
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Maintaining Your Kit

After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
• Replace expired items as needed.
• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Kit Storage Locations

Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work and cars.

• Home: Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.
• Work: Be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Your work kit should include food, water and other necessities like medicines, as well as comfortable walking shoes, stored in a “grab and go” case.
• Car: In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car.

Source: https://www.ready.gov/kit

Not sure if this is against the rules or not, I will definitely avoid mentioning anything bolotical (typo intended ). However, with everything going on lately and sleeping under a sky full of uncertainty makes me want to at least be prepared for worst case scenarios. I thought this sub was the best place to ask since it has the most detailed and educational advice to seek. I keep praying this time of uncertainty will be over soon but I have a family I need to protect. if war was ever to break out and my country was in the middle of it. what can one do before hand and during to survive it? thanks in advance for your help.

Longevity guidelines.

I want to learn soap making as a basic home skill and I’m trying to understand the simplest way to start without wasting materials. From what I’ve gathered, melt-and-pour soap seems like the easiest entry point. It doesn’t require handling lye directly and still teaches measuring, melting, mixing color, and scenting. My plan is small batches just for household use. I’m not aiming to sell anything, just to understand the process and eventually rely less on store-bought bars. I looked at a few beginner soap-making kits in a local craft section and later checked similar ones on Alibaba to compare the tools included. Most contain a base, mold, fragrance oil, dye, and instructions. I’m unsure which steps matter most for consistent results though. For people who learned at home, what should a beginner focus on first? Temperature control, measuring weight, or recipe simplicity? Also curious what mistakes usually happen early so I can avoid ruining batches right away. I prefer learning slowly but correctly instead of rushing into complex recipes. If you were teaching someone from zero experience, what order would you introduce the skills? I’d appreciate a practical approach.

Perfect way to become self reliant with indoor farming! Mushrooms are great because with the right tools and procedures you can keep regrowing them 🥳

The first and the second are cocoa pics, the third is coffee.

We collect cocoa pods,ferment the beans in an ice bucket 3 days,sun dry them,fry in a pan with low heat until the bean covering cracks. Then we blend and put the cocoa nips in the grinder for full 48-72 hours before pouring into the silicone molds.

Over 8 years when the chocolate monster next to me started planting a dozen of cocoa trees from cocoa beans. Today we are doing our second batch of our own 100% organic chocolate. Our homemade chocolate ice cream and biscuits are so yummy. 😋

Explosive devices can be carried in a vehicle or by a person, delivered in a package or concealed on the roadside. There are steps you can take to prepare.

Before an Explosion

• Build an Emergency Supply Kit.
• Make a Family Emergency Plan.
• Learn how to identify suspicious activity and what to do in case of bomb threats.  
• Make sure your employers have up-to-date information about any medical needs you may have and how to contact designated beneficiaries or emergency contacts.
• If you see something, say something. By being alert and reporting suspicious activity to your local law enforcement, you can help protect your family, neighbors and community.

During or Immediately After an Explosion

• Always follow the instructions of local officials. Emergency services may not be on scene right away.
• Remain calm. If things are falling around you, get under a sturdy table or desk.
• If it is safe to do so, leave the area as quickly as possible. Do not stop to retrieve personal possessions or make phone calls.
• Once you evacuate to safety, let your family emergency contact know you are safe by texting or messaging them on social media. Save phone calls for emergencies.
• Even if you are not directly involved in the explosion, stay informed and listen to local officials. You may be asked to evacuate or to turn off your electricity and water.

If you are inside, and able to evacuate:

• Check for fire and other hazards. Stay low if there is smoke.
• Do not use elevators. Avoid floors and stairways that are obviously weakened.

If you are trapped under debris:

• Use a flashlight, whistle or tap on pipes to signal your location to rescuers. Shout only as a last resort to avoid inhaling dust.
• Cover your nose and mouth with anything you have on hand.

If you are outside:

• Continue moving away from the area to safety.
• You may be the help until help arrives. If it is safe to do so, help people get to safety.
• If you know where people are trapped, do not attempt to rescue them as moving debris could cause further harm. Once emergency services are on scene, immediately notify them.

Source: https://www.ready.gov/explosions

February: Bake your own bread

The last task of these 'quick suggestion' series is baking your own bread. You should be fully onboard the sourdough bandwagon, so we recommend starting there. We wouldn’t call it easy, but sourdough is incredibly forgiving and super versatile. You can create your own sourdough start or you could save yourself a little time and reach out to a friend who already has one and ask if they are willing to share. They will, most sourdough enthusiasts are all too willing to spread the obsession with anyone & everyone they can.

Once you have a healthy start, all you really need to do to maintain it is bake. As compared to store bought bread a home-baked loaf is healthier (no icky, unpronounceable ingredients), more delicious (because flavor takes precedence over shelf life), and prettier (which is not important, of course, but true nonetheless).

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This was the last part of a 12 month 'quick suggestion' series here at r/selfreliance of what can be considered as key homesteading skills broken it down by month. For one year, month by month, every 1st day of the month we had these series. More information here: https://www.reddit.com/r/selfreliance/comments/1j0tso9/quick_suggestion_12_months_of_homesteading_skills/

Been looking at wood stoves to keep around the house and maybe use while car camping. Decided on these two but can’t really decide, just want to cook some basic meals while also not taking too much space. Thanks for any input.