DON’T MISS: YOU NEED THESE MAPS IN A CRISIS

HOW LONG WOULD

YOU LAST IN A
BROKEN-DOWN CAR?

IN THIS ISSUE: DECEMBER 2018

STAYING SAFE IMPROVE YOUR

WHEN THE SITUATIONAL
STREETS ARE NOT AWARENESS

CHALLENGES TO A TIPS FOR

SUCCESSFUL BUG CREATING YOUR
OUT PLAN SURVIVAL GARDEN

KEEP YOUR INCREASE YOUR

CHICKENS ALIVE LONG-DISTANCE
DURING WINTER RANGE TO HUNT

and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

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Contents
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HOW LONG WOULD YOU LAST IN YOUR BROKEN-DOWN VEHICLE?

FEATURED I don't know about you, but I put a whole lot of trust in my car. It's my lifeline. Where we live in
the states it's a pretty remote area, and once you get out of the villages the cell service is…

FORGET GPS - YOU NEED THESE MAPS IN A CRISIS

page 4 I'm not going to lie. When I'm in a new city, or exploring a part of town I don't know my way
around, I've become a rather heavy user of Google Maps. It's just so damn convenient…

IMPROVE YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

page 5 I've lost count of the amount of times I've slipped over the years. I make it a conscious effort to
remain situationally aware, but it's tough. Even for me. To anyone new to the blog, situational…

SIMPLE TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN SURVIVAL GARDEN

page 6 I'm a big fan of gardening, and I think it's critical every survivalist have their own garden.
There's a certain element of serenity to working with your hands, and there's nothing better…

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR LONG-DISTANCE RANGE ON A HUNT

page 8 Hunting season is one of my favorite times of year. It's the perfect excuse to head off into the
wild, becoming one with nature again, and perhaps even bring home a nice feed. My dad…

STAY SAFE WHEN THE STREETS ARE NOT

page 9 I shouldn't have to tell you the streets are no longer safe. Heck, you just need to turn on the
evening news and you'll get your choice of armed robberies, assaults and much worse. And…

DON’T LET THESE CHALLENGES OVERCOME YOUR BUG OUT

page 10 Bugging out is a core element of nearly every survivalist's bug out plans. It seems almost
everyone has the plans to head up to the country, pick a remote spot on the mountains, and…

STEER CLEAR OF THESE POISONOUS PLANTS IN THE WILD

page 11 Getting lost is a frightening experience. I'm grateful that I've never had the misfortune to be
stranded in the wild unintentionally, but I've done my fair share of training missions. And after…

KEEP YOUR CHICKENS ALIVE DURING THE WINTER COLD

page 13 With winter soon to hit in full swing, it's important you start getting on top of all those jobs
you've been putting off all summer. This last weekend I spent most of my time getting our…

1
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

HOW LONG WOULD YOU LAST IN YOUR BROKEN-DOWN VEHICLE?

I don't know about you, but I put a
whole lot of trust in my car. It's my
lifeline. Where we live in the states it's a
pretty remote area, and once you get
out of the villages the cell service is
patchy at best. I've been fortunate that
I've not suffered a breakdown, but that
doesn't mean I'm not prepared.
I'd like to ask you, what would you do
if your vehicle broke down in the
middle of nowhere?
I'm asking as I've seen two horrible
reports in just the last few weeks from
Australia.
People who died from exposure after
being stranded in the wilderness.
The first, a young family of four were
found dead after making it only 11
miles from their vehicle towards help.
DON’T RIDE AROUND WITH
AN EMPTY TRUNK
What good is your bug out bag if it's
sitting in a closet in your home, miles
away from being of any use to you?
Your first task is to create a bug out kit
for your car. Start with enough food
and water to last you at least 72 hours,
along with a change of clothing, some
cold-weather gear, and a sleeping bag or
two. I've also got a fire making kit, a
small tent, and some signal flares that
are all packed in a large plastic trunk,
that essentially lives in my trunk.
And if I'm heading somewhere remote,
I'd also throw in at least a week or two's
worth of food and water. No matter
what, even if my bug out bag is at
home, if I'm in my car I know I've got
the gear I need to survive.
I've also got a spare bottle of oil, brake
and power steering fluid, and some
coolant ready to use should any of
these ever drop to dangerous levels, and
may keep my car going just a few miles
longer.
DON’T LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE
FOR ANY REASON
Let me make this very clear, as often
people think their best course of action
is to hike to civilization.
The reality is the opposite.
“you’re

The other, a solo motorcyclist was

STOCKPILE BASIC
NECESSSITIES FOR YOUR CAR
going to be
found dead next to all of his gear.
Of course, you won't be able to fix in big trouble
How does this even happen? everything in a breakdown, but if
you've got a few key items you may be if you ever
Simply put, they weren't ready. able to limp yourself back to

As harsh as that sounds, if you want to

survive no matter what, your car needs
to be equipped with the gear you need
to last in the wild. There are also a few
key things you can do to help rescuers
find you, and I'll cover these too.
civilization. Check your spare tire is
roadworthy, and you've got a small
find yourself
compressor to inflate it just in case. It
goes without saying you should also stranded…”
have a jack and a tire iron, and I'd also
throw in a pair of jumper cables and a
tow rope.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

cont.

Your best chance of survival is to stay

with your car.

Do not, under any circumstances, leave

your car and try to hike to town.

This is a recipe for disaster.

Once people start looking for you they

will always find your car first, so your
best chances of being "rescued" is to sit
tight, get warm, and munch on your
rations until help arrives. Don't try to
be a hero.

LEARN HOW TO MAKE

SIGNALS FROM YOUR CAR

One of the key reasons your car will be

found first is that it's highly visible. To a
chopper from the air, it's much easier to
spot a vehicle on the side of a road
than it is to see you in the woods.
Especially if you're camping out under
a makeshift lean to.

But you can also make it easier to spot.

When you're in danger and signaling for
help, the rule of threes is what you
need to remember. Three means you
need help. Light three signal fires.
Create three big "X" marks on the
ground. Whatever you can.

ENSURE THERE’S ALWAYS

SOMEONE EXPECTING YOU

This last one is a habit I got into with

my folks many years back.

You could do it with your family, a

friend, whoever.

Whenever I'm headed off somewhere

far, like driving a few hundred miles to
a new hiking spot, or picking up a great
deal from a random on Craigslist two
towns over, I let my dad know.

It's a good way for us to stay in touch,

and it's as simple as this. I'll send him a
text like:
"Hey dad. Headed up to Jumbo Rocks
at Joshua Tree. Will get in a bit later
tonight and stay two nights. Be back
home on Sunday by 9pm."
He'll hit me back with some random
string of emojis. But it's important.
Beca use n ow th er e' s so meo n e,
someone who isn't with you, who
knows where you are, where you're
planning to go, and when you're
planning to be back.
If my plans change, I make sure to find
somewhere with enough signal to send
an update.
Of course, there's not always signal to
send updates when you're in a truly
remote area, but dad knows that if I've
not checked in when I'm supposed to,
he's going to start following up on me,
and eventually getting the authorities
involved.
If my car happens to break down in the
middle of nowhere, with no signal and
no hope of getting it started again, I
just need to wait, and help will come.
My plans ensure I could last at least a
week in my car, perhaps even much
longer if I've got enough food and
water.
How about you? If your car broke
down in the middle of nowhere
tomorrow, how long would you last?
And how long would it take your family
to raise the alarm that you were
missing?
That's what's really important, and if
you can't make it at least a few days,
you're going to be in big trouble if you
ever find yourself stranded in your car.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

A ROAD ATLAS OF THE USA

FORGET GPS - YOU
NEED THESE MAPS
IN A CRISIS
I'm not going to lie. When I'm in a new
city, or exploring a part of town I don't
know my way around, I've become a
rather heavy user of Google Maps. It's
just so damn convenient. With GPS
and mobile technology, you can get
directions anywhere, from a device
you've always got with you.
It's unlikely you're going to be
venturing cross country when a crisis
hits, but I think it's important to have a
understanding of where everything is.
If you hear mention of a safe haven, a
disaster area to avoid, of whatever it is,
you can use a road atlas to get a general
idea of how far away it is, and the path
you can take to either plan your route
(or avoid it altogether). It's also smart
to use the road atlas to double check
your planned bug out route isn't listed
as a major thoroughfare. If it is, you
may want to have some backup options.

Until of course, it stops working. SATELLITE MAPS OF THE

Whether it's a full-scale EMP attack
that renders your smartphone into
nothing more than an expensive
paperweight, or the fact you've simply
got nothing to keep it charged, smart
survivalists pack maps into their bug
out kits. But not all maps are created
equal. And if you're planning a bug out,
or want to find your way around in the
aftermath of a disaster, there's a few
key maps to get your hands on.
DETAILED MAPS OF YOUR
CITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD
The most important map to get your
hands on is your neighborhood. Most
people typically only know the routes
they drive frequently, like the way to
and from the office, but beyond that
things aren't all that clear. When you
can study the local street map, you'll
notice a bunch of different ways you
can get to your destination, that you
may have never realized. In a crisis,
having alternate routes could be your
saving grace getting out of town safely.
TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF
YOUR ENTIRE STATE
Next, it's important to know what's
going on in your state. Get a detailed
one for your car, as it'll show many
minor roads that don't get a lot of
traffic, which is perfect if you're
looking for a discreet alternative when
driving to your bug out location. I
actually sat down one night and
planned out all the different routes we
could evacuate on, with an emphasis on
finding roads that aren't listed on major
road atlases.
That way we're more likely to actually
make it to our final bug out location,
instead of being stuck in gridlock on
the major highways.
AREA NEAR YOUR BUG OUT
Google Earth is a godsend if you're
smart and use it strategically for
survival. Because anyone can get on
there and download high-quality
satellite images of almost every square
mile of land on the planet. What I've
done, is taken printouts from all of the
area surrounding my bug out location,
giving me actual photos of the land.
Using this technique, I've discovered
little streams that never registered on
the forestry maps, and some abandoned
structures we've shored up as survival
caches on our land.
LOCAL FISH AND GAME MAPS
I've also purchased every map that was
available from our local state fish and
game agency. The survey maps are what
you're looking for, as they have been
used by the fish and game officers to
identify the best spots for fishing and
hunting. Using these maps, I can
pinpoint the best areas I'm likely to
land my family a decent meal, and get
back fast. Of course, these maps are
available to everyone and I do realize
that over a long-term SHTF event these
"prime" hunting spots will lose their
appeal, but it's a great start.
NATIONAL PARKS FORESTRY
MAPS
If you live in an area like me, there's
probably also a wealth of national
parks, and often the state maps don't
do these areas justice. Take the time to
visit the field offices in any national
parks in your area, and get the most
detailed maps they have available.
Knowing the trails and paths through a
forest could prove a godsend in an
emergency, and if the SHTF it's
another area for you to explore for
valuable resources that may have better
yields than elsewhere.
SAFETY WITH YOUR MAPS
As a final point I just want to make one
thing clear. Safety.
Marking too many marks on a map is
an operational security breach, because
if it falls into the wrong hands it's a
path to your doorstep, your bug out
location and all of your supply caches.
You don't want to leave a valuable piece
of intel just laying around. The only
map that lays out all of our routes is
the one in my bug out bag. Of course,
if I'm ever in a situation where I'm
being forced to hand over my bug out
kit, I've got bigger problems to worry
about than a map. But all the copies in
our cars, and the other maps we have
are all clean. No identifying marks, so
that if they're ever stolen, the thieves
aren't getting intel on us.
With technology advancing as fast as it
is, it's important to have fail safes in
place with your survival planning to
ensure you're not completely screwed if
you happen to break or lose your
phone.
Maps are a key part of this, and every
smart survivalist will have these six
maps in their kit.
It may just help save your life.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018
IMPROVE YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
I've lost count of the amount of times
I've slipped over the years. I make it a
conscious effort to remain situationally
aware, but it's tough. Even for me. To
anyone new to the blog, situational
awareness is the ability to know what's
going on around you, at all times. Being
situationally aware allows you to react
faster, anticipate people's actions, and
perhaps even step up to diffuse a
problem before things get out of hand.
Almost like a superpower.
First though, I want to make this clear.
I'm not paranoid. Being situationally
aware is the complete opposite to
paranoia. You’re simply staying truly
alert to your suttoundings. Here’s the
exercises I conduct on a daily basis to
boost my ability to stay alert. I hope
they help you.
SCAN THE ENTIRE AREA
No matter where you are, the first step
is to understand what's going on
around you. Say I've just parked my car
and am headed to a coffee shop. Are
there any people hanging about the car
park? Do they look like a problem, or
are they relaxed? Is there security
guards in the booth, or are they off
doing rounds? Are there any CCTV
cameras? Pay attention to the things
around you, but don't make it obvious.
Quick scans with your eyes to take it in,
don't stand there like a zombie.
DON’T LIMIT YOUR VISION
The next step is to ensure you've always
got the best field of vision. That way
you've got the best possible chances of
seeing something "off" while there's
still time to act. Taking my visit to the
coffee shop, I've got the mirror behind
the counter I can use to see behind me,
so there's no problem leaving my back
to the door while I'm lining up. Once
I've got my drink, I'd choose a seat
where I can put my back to a wall (solid
brick so no one can sneak up behind
you), where I've still got a good field of
vision to any and all exits. If I can't
choose my table because the hostess
has seated me, I'll choose a spot on the
table where I can still see the exits.
FIND THE COMMON NORM
Now you need to pay attention to the
people. Because it's the people who will
cause the vast majority of problems.
Take note of those who are in close
proximity, and start counting. I like to
figure out the number of employees,
the number of people in a restaurant,
those kinds of things. It helps me to
remember to look if I’m counting.
Now to find the common norms. In
the coffeeshop there are probably a few
people on their phones, maybe working
on a laptop, a first date. These kinds of
things. Once you know what's what, it's
easier to spot the outliers.
5
PAY ATTENTION TO THE
OUTLIERS
An outlier is a person acting in a way
that's different to everyone else.
Perhaps they're being argumentative
and raising their voice over the hushed
chit-chat of the coffee shop. Or in the
case of the Boston Marathon bombers,
the police noticed the two suspects
were the only two acting calm, while
everyone else were running in panic.
The outliers are important. Because
once you notice someone acting
strange, it gives you a target to focus
on. You can pay attention to this one
person, and perhaps notice something
far quicker. Like if they reach for a gun.
You were watching, and you can react
faster because you're seeing it happen.
PLAN A RESPONSE STRATEGY
Here's where things get a little fun.
Once you've settled, you need to run
through a few scenarios in your head.
Imagine an active shooter walks
through the front door and opens fire.
What would you do? Is there a booth
you could dive behind and get out of
site? Or is it possible to dive behind the
counter and make a run for it out
through the kitchen? Think about what
you would do, and plan it all out. This
is probably the most important step in
the entire process, as it allows you to
anticipate and react with lightning
speed. If you know already "what to
do," when something bad starts to
happen your body will spring into
action while everyone else is frozen in
shock.
TRUST YOUR GUT
Finally, I want to reinforce the
importance of listening to your gut. If
something simply doesn't feel right,
there's probably a reason. Your
subconscious can (and does) pick up on
these same clues we're trying to
practice, and will warn you if things
aren't quite right. It's your job to listen.
Of course, your gut isn't always right,
but I like to give mine the benefit of
the doubt. It's better to be a little
cautious and avoid a somewhat dodgy
situation, than to find yourself staring
down the wrong end of a gun.
Staying situationally aware is a survival
skill that requires a constant practice.
It's not enough to know "how" to do it.
You need to follow these exercises on a
daily basis, whenever you're out-and-
about, to ensure you're never caught
off guard. That's smart survival.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018
SIMPLE TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN SURVIVAL GARDEN
I'm a big fan of gardening, and I think
it's critical every survivalist have their
own garden. And once you start
harvesting the produce you've grown,
well there's no better feeling.
When the SHTF things are going to be
bad. And what's going to disappear first
is the food.
So, it stands to reason that if you want
to actually survive once your stockpile
of food is gone, you're going to need to
grow it yourself.
Right?
I mean, you could always forage for
what you need, but that's highly risky.
Risky you're caught somewhere you're
not meant to be, you're captured by
other survivalists, or worse, some bad
guys follow you home and you lead
them straight to your family. Or simply
risky you can't find enough food. The
best option is to be self-sufficient. And
that's where your garden comes in.
HAVE A PLAN TO KEEP YOUR
GARDEN WATERED
Probably the most important aspect of
growing a successful garden is water.
For anyone planning a big garden,
remember you're going to need quite a
lot of water to keep it flourishing
during the dry summer months.
Because of this we've installed extra They'd been genetically modified,
water tanks on our property, and as a which means the seeds don't really
backup we've also got a pump house continue to work well season after
setup on our pond so we can keep our season.
garden watered no matter what. In our
planting boxes I've also connected a What you want is to buy non-GMO
small sprinkler system, that we can seeds.
switch on and easily ensure that our
plants are watered and happy. Sometimes these are called heirloom
seeds.
DON’T FORGET TO FEED
YOUR PLANTS These days we only ever use these types
of seeds, and we're slowly building our
For your plants to produce enough supply of seeds from every successful
fruits and vegetables, they need food harvest we do. Just in case.
too. Food in the form of compost.
We've got our own composting system
where pretty much all organic food
matter (except meats) gets taken out of
our trash, mixed in with grass and leaf
clippings, and is left for a couple of
months to break down into compost.
It's one of the best sources of nutrients
you can give your plants, and the best
“what’s
part is you don't need to spend money
on expensive fertilizer. Composting is a
going to
solution you can continue to follow
even once the SHTF. disappear
ONLY EVER BUY NON-GMO
SEEDS
first is the
When I first started gardening I used to food…”
collect the seeds out of the produce I
bought from the supermarket, only to
realize later why the plants all looked
sickly and never produced enough.
6
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

cont.

KEEP THE NASTY PESTS AT

BAY

Caterpillars are going to be the death

of me. Those fat little monsters sit
there chewing out my cabbages, and
ruining the best crops we have.

Planting and growing a garden is only

the first step. You've got to protect it
from the birds, insects, and animals like
deer who will wreak havoc on all your
work. T here's nothing more
disheartening to see months of work
destroyed. We've got most of our crops
fenced off in four separate enclosures
(it was how our land was originally split,
we simply kept the fences up), to keep
the deer out.

Companion planting is another great

way to attract insects that will eat the
caterpillars. We plant flowers to bring in
the wasps to eat them all.

DON’T MAKE YOUR GARDEN

TOO OBVIOUS

This goes double if your home is

visible from the road.

Forget deer and the other nasty pests,

when the SHTF your biggest problem
is going to be other people.

And if they can see all your netted off

fruit trees from the road, you can bet
they're going to come in for a feed.
What we've done is to leave much of
the natural vegetation along out
property lines, even planting thorny
blackberries as a deterrent, to create a
natural barrier that eliminates the line
of sight to our home.

Our house is so deep behind the wile

brush, it's effectively completely
invisible from the road.

Just how we like it.
FIND HIDDEN SPOTS FOR
YOUR GARDEN
Having your garden pillaged before you
can eat it would suck. But in a crisis,
you never really know what could
happen. The authorities could come by
and confiscate your food. A lone deer
could get into your garden and destroy
it all. Or you could be unlucky and have
a group of looters come through and
take it all.
What we've done is rather sneaky.
In addition to the rather large garden
we've got growing, I've made a point to
plant little hidden gardens, all over our
property. Certain plants, like asparagus,
potatoes and sweet potatoes can blend
in easily with the weeds and brush.
You've just got to get them started.
We've also planted a ton of bush beans
that are extremely difficult to find and
pick, even when you know where to
look. We've also strategically placed a
number of fruit trees about, so they
can grow and mature on their own, and
are hopefully overlooked if our main
garden is targeted.
Long term survival requires more than
a basement full of ready-to-eat meals.
You need to create a sustainable
lifestyle so you and your family can
survive indefinitely.
And you'll need food.
Use these tips and start your own
survival garden, and ensure there's
always enough to eat.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR LONG

DISTANCE RANGE ON A HUNT

Hunting season is one of my favorite times of year. It's the perfect excuse to head off into the wild, becoming one with nature
again, and perhaps even bring home a nice feed. My dad taught me how to hunt, and his father before him. As a kid they were
my heroes, and they knew everything when it comes to bringing down a big buck. We head out as a family every season, and as
I've gotten older and my daughters are starting to grow, I've started focusing on the shooting techniques that I can pass down to
them. To help my girls become better marksmen in the field. And after just finishing a course on long-range marksmanship, I'd
like to share with you the techniques I discovered in the training.

DON’T STICK TO THE BENCH PRONE SHOOTING POSITION S TA N D I N G S H O OT I N G

When you head to the range the easiest
position to shoot from is the bench.
Once you've sighted in your rifle, it's
easy to just punch out a bunch of
rounds right into the kill zone. The
trouble is, shooting from the bench
isn't an accurate representation of the
shooting conditions you'll face in the
field. You need to practice a variety of
different shooting positions that you're
likely to experience when you're
hunting. Without practice, you can't
replicate these shooting positions with
any success in the real world.
GET USED TO YOUR
SHOOTING REST
One trick I picked up is the importance
of a good shooting rest. The key to
consistent shooting is comfort. You
should know every piece of your gear,
inside and out, so it becomes a second
nature to use it. Of course, in the field
you may not always be able to find the
right shooting rest, tree branches and
your backpack isn't reliable. My advice,
is to buy a portable solution, like our
rifle rest sand bags. So you've always
got a reliable base, no matter where
you're hunting.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE,
PRACTICE
There's nothing better than good
practice for improving your shooting
skills. Use these different positions you
in your training sessions to ensure
you're able to maximize your accuracy
when you're hunting long range.
This is my favorite for big distances,
and the one I'm most comfortable with.
Lay flat on your stomach, with your
right shoulder pointing towards the
target. Extend yourself, and take a
breath to relax. Bend your elbows and
rest on them, and curve your shoulders
forward ever so slightly. This helps you
to tighten your core, and provide a solid
base. Your arms will support your rifle,
and you can use your shooting rest for
more stability.
SEATED SHOOTING POSITION
Look straight at your target, then turn
about 30 degrees to your right. As you
sit down and cross your legs, place your
left elbow onto your left knee, and tuck
your elbows in and under the rifle as
much as possible. Take a breath and
strengthen your core, resting your right
elbow on your right knee. With both
elbows resting on their respective
knees, you've got a solid base.
KNEELING SHOOTING
POSITION
Look straight at your target and turn
about 45 degrees to your right. As you
drop down put your right knee to the
ground, and leave the left knee raised
with your foot forward. Sit on your
right foot so you're stable, and lock
your left elbow in as a base of support
for the rifle on your left knee.
Take a breath, and solidify your core,
and you're ready to shoot.
POSITION
Look straight at your target and turn
anywhere from 60 to 90 degrees to your
right. Position your feet shoulder-width
apart, and bend your knees ever so
slightly. You don't want them locked.
Supporting your rifle with your left
arm, tuck your elbow in close to your
body to create a stable base, and pull it
in tight against your right shoulder.
KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS
Before you head off on a hunt, what's
critical is you understand your own
limitations in each position. There's no
point trying a 100-yard shot while
standing in the field if you're not able
to keep your groups on a paper target
at this distance in the range. Take the
time on the range to determine where
your limitations are, so you're not
"pushing it" when you're trying to take
down a real target. The key to being an
effective hunter is knowing your
maximum hunting ranges, and ensuring
you're close enough to effectively make
the kill shot when you get the chance.
Becoming an effective long-range
shooter isn't rocket science.
But it does require practice.
So, kit yourself out with the right gear,
and get down to your local shooting
range and start practicing. Just
remember to get out from behind the
bench, and practice a few different
positions. You'll be shooting accurately
at range in no time.

8
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018
STAY SAFE WHEN THE STREETS ARE NOT
I shouldn't have to tell you the streets
are no longer safe. Heck, you just need
to turn on the evening news and you'll
get your choice of armed robberies,
assaults and much worse. Any time
there's a natural disaster or a cause to
riot, the streets aren’t safe.
Our society is on edge, and it's up to us
to be prepared for the inevitable. You
need to know how to stay safe.
GET YOUR STOCKPILE IN
PLACE
Barricading yourself and your family
inside your home is one of the safest
strategies. But you need supplies. It's no
good trying to do a grocery-store run
when the shelves are stripped bare. The
trick is to plan in advance, so you've got
at least a few months' worth of food,
water, and survival items. Yes, I said
months. If you've only got enough
food to last a couple of days, you're
going to be in big trouble should an
event send your family into lockdown.
GET YOURSELF HOME
Now to make it to your safe haven.
Your home. Of course, in a perfect
world you're already home, but life is
far from perfect, and it's most likely
you've got kids at school, and you and
your wife are both in the office. That's
our reality anyway.
So, we've got to get the kids and get
home. We've got multiple routes we can
follow (that we've already practiced) so
we can avoid any blocked streets, and in
both our cars are bug out kits, packed
and ready to go. If we decide to escape
the city, we've got a primary (and two
secondary) rendezvous points, where
we can all reconnect and bug out.
GET HIDING PLACES SCOPED
OUT
Now we assume that getting home will
be possible, but this may not be the
case. A thousand different things could
go wrong, from police road blocks to
washed out bridges. So, it's important
you know where you can hide. A few
years ago, I started running, to build my
fitness, but it's also given me a better
feel for the city. I make it a mission to
take a different route almost every run,
but not only that, pay attention as I’m
running. Looking for places I could
hole up for the night, whether it's a
community hall, a church, or even
empty houses for sale. Knowing where
to hide could give you the upper hand
should someone be coming after you.
Especially if you don't want to lead
them straight to your home.
GET AWAY FROM PEOPLE
To me there's nothing scarier than mob
mentality.
9
A group of people wound up into a
frenzy, they throw common sense out
the window. Stay away from any rioting
and pay attention to the news so you're
aware of where the trouble points are.
Our get home routes are also designed
to avoid major highways and
thoroughfares, sticking to backstreets
that will hopefully get us home safer
(albeit a little slower) than taking the
main roads. Our goal is to keep away
from as many people as possible.
GET UNDER THE RADAR
Operational security is key when chaos
is on the streets. You don't want to do
anything that attracts any attention.
Simple things, like having the lights on
when your whole street is dark is like a
beacon. It shows you have a generator,
and probably means you're better
prepared than any of your neighbors.
Where do you think any group of
thieves is going to target? Be smart, and
don't do anything that sticks out. Like
having a barbeque in your yard that can
be smelt blocks away. The last thing you
want is to catch unwanted attention.
GET YOUR HOME SECURED
Lock down your home. Windows and
doors shut, and depending on the scale
of the crisis, boarding these up too.
We've got "decorative" metalwork over
ours, making them impossible to get
through without an angle grinder. Use
duct tape and black plastic to stop light
escaping, and use common sense. Don't
open the door to strangers, and keep
your pets inside.
GET A MEANS TO DEFEND
YOURSELF
Finally, it's important you're ready to
defend yourself and your family. Invest
in a firearm and take the appropriate
courses and training on how to use it.
No matter what steps you take to keep
yourself safe, sometimes the fight will
come to you. Be prepared to fight back.
I'd also recommend keeping your
firearm on you at all times, because it
takes just seconds for your home to be
breached. Your gun won't help you if
it's locked in the bedroom safe.
When the streets aren't safe the key is
to stay home. Don't partake in the riots
or the chaos that ensues, and you stand
the best chances of making it through
unscathed. The trick is to have enough
food and supplies to outlast whatever
comes, have a plan to get home, and
know how to defend it if trouble comes
knocking. That's how you'll stay safe.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018
DON’T LET THESE
CHALLENGES
OVERCOME
YOUR BUG OUT
Bugging out is a core element of nearly
every survivalist's bug out plans. It
seems almost everyone has the plans to
head up to the country, pick a remote
spot on the mountains, and live out
their days in a glorified version of "the
simple life." It's to the point these days
it's almost a fantasy. Bugging out is
becoming a solution to escape, to leave
behind the trappings of modern life.
But it's a piece of the survival puzzle
too many people aren't adequately
prepared for. I'd like to run you
through some of the challenges, as I
see it, that every survivalist will need to
overcome in their bug out plans.
THE REST OF SOCIETY
The biggest danger you're going to face
in a SHTF event is other people. The
ones who failed to prepare. The ones
who are starving and lack basic
necessities within just a couple of days.
The ones who are willing to do
"whatever it takes" to put food on their
table. These are the people who won't
think twice about looting. And that's
not to mention the bad eggs who take
advantage of the chaos to riot, and
conduct unmentionable atrocities.
Your bug out plans need to take
security into account, and ensure you've
taken steps to both conceal and protect
your location from anyone intending
you and your family harm.
“too many
people
aren’t
adequately
prepared…”
THE PATH TO YOUR BUG OUT
Ever tried to go anywhere at rush hour?
In a crisis the traffic congestion will be
a thousand times worse. Our roads just
aren't capable of accommodating this
amount of traffic. Expect highways to
be gridlocked, and potentially even road
blocks from the authorities.
Your bug out plans need to follow a
route that avoids highly populated
areas, traffic choke points, and has
multiple back up options should a
particular route be impassable.
SUPPLIES IN YOUR BUG OUT
It's too late to do a supply run one a
crisis hits, and even if there's anything
left, you're going to be looking at highly
inflated pricing, and not even getting
enough of the goods you need. And it's
probably not going to be safe. Crowds
rushing to grab everything they can is
not a scenario I want to be in.
Your bug out plans need to include a
stockpile of food, water, and other key
pieces of survival gear to ensure your
family has the necessities needed to
survive, for however long is necessary.
THE HEALTH OF YOUR BODY
Transitioning from a sedentary office
lifestyle to one living off the land is a
major change. You're going to be
walking, running, and performing all
sorts of physical activities your body
just isn't ready for. And the shock of
this happening can lead to major health
issues. It took months for me to adapt
to our homesteading lifestyle after a
long career at a desk, and I'm still not as
fit as I'd like to be.
Your bug out plans need a fitness
program to get you in shape before a
major crisis hits, so you don't shock
your system into a heart attack, or other
issues when the SHTF.
WATER NEEDS TO FLOW
Without water things are going to get
real difficult, real fast. You need to
drink, but you also need it for cooking,
cleaning, and maintaining a certain level
of sanitation around your bug out. If
you're not able to stay hydrated, you
won't make it to your bug out location.
Your bug out planning needs to involve
water, with enough in your bug out kit
to make the hike to your location, and
enough renewable supplies to make it
more than just a couple of days.
10
THE RIGHT GEAR FOR THE
CONDITIONS
I love a good air conditioner, and
central heating in winter is a god send.
When the weather outside isn't
particularly nice, most of us elect to
stay indoors. But we can't choose the
timing of a disaster. And in my
experience, when things go wrong, it's
usually at the worst possible time. Even
in perfect weather bugging out can be a
challenge, and if it's stormy or cold it
becomes far more dangerous. Exposure
is a killer, and without the right gear,
you can get in trouble fast.
Yo u r b u g o u t p l a n s n e e d t o
accommodate the worst possible
weather conditions, so it's important
you've got the right protective clothing
and gear to stay warm and dry no
matter what.
A WAY TO STAY CONNECTED
Staying connected will be one of the
biggest challenges for families and
survival groups to overcome. Initially
you're going to need a communication
plan to gather your family, and once all
is said and done you're going to need a
means to communicate with your group
when you're getting on with your day-
to-day life. Knowing about an incoming
attack, or even staying current on the
local news can give you an edge to
survive.
Yo u r b u g o u t p l a n s n e e d a
communication strategy to ensure your
group can stay in contact at all times,
and also keep up-to-date on the crisis
situation.
When putting together your bug out
plans, make sure to consider these
seven challenges. It's vital to have
strategies and tactics in place to ensure
these dangers don't hinder you and
your family's ability to survive.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

STEER CLEAR OF THESE POISONOUS PLANTS IN THE WILD

Getting lost is a frightening experience.
I'm grateful that I've never had the
misfortune to be stranded in the wild
unintentionally, but I've done my fair
share of training missions. And after a
couple of days without food, your
entire body aches for something to eat.
It's a feeling that words simply don't
give justice to. Hunger drives people to
do some crazy things.
Like Christopher McCandless.
Eating the wrong thing sent the 24-
year-old survivalist past the point of no
return, and he died.
Now back to you.
In the wild things aren't always as they
seem. You should already know to not
just stick anything in your mouth, but
when starvation is the alternative you've
g ot to be willing to push the
boundaries. J
ROSARY PEA
These seemingly innocent little red peas
contain a deadly toxin, and if you chew,
ingest, or even get the juice from a seed
in a cut, you're in big trouble. It takes
only 3 micrograms of arbin, the toxin
inside, to kill an adult, you'll face organ
failure within four days.

A tragic story of a man seeking to
return to a simple life, ultimately
inspiring the film 'Into The Wild."
On finding his remains inside a rusted-
out bus in the Denali National Park, he
had succumbed to starvation, and the
debate rages to this day on the actual
plant he consumed that led to his
demise. In his own words from his
journal,
“extremely weak. fault of pot[ato]
seed. much trouble just to stand up.
starving. great jeopardy.”
ust make sure you steer clear of these
plants.
“things
RHUBARB
aren’t
It's highly likely you'll recognize this
plant in the wild, and without knowing
the danger could find yourself in
always as
serious trouble. Rhubarb stems are safe
to eat, but the leaves are poisonous. they
Once ingested you will have difficulty
breathing, nausea and vomiting, feel a seem…”
burning sensation in your mouth and
throat, and if you've consumed too
much it can lead to seizures and death.

11
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

THE UNIVERSAL EDIBILITY TEST

Right. Now let's imagine for a second you are lost and you've got nothing that can help you to identify
which plant is edible or note. That's where the universal edibility test comes in. Of course, this test isn't
100 percent foolproof, and you'd be much better suited if you had spent the time to learn what's edible
or not. But in a pinch, here's what you do:
1. Don't eat anything for 8 hours
2. Separate the leaves, stem and roots of the plant
3. Break up each part of the plant so the sap comes out
4. Rub each part of the plant on your body (inside wrists, or elbows) for 15 minutes
5. Wait another 8 hours for any reaction to occur. If none, you can continue.
6. Test a piece of the plant on your lips. Hold for 3 minutes, and stop if it starts to tingle.
7. If none, place a piece in your mouth. Hold for 15 minutes, and stop if any reaction occurs.
8. If none, chew the piece in your mouth for 15 minutes. Stop if any tingling or reaction.
9. If none, swallow the small piece of the plant.
10. Wait another 8 hours, eating nothing else, and drinking only water.
11. If no reaction, prepare ¼ of a cup of the same plant, the same way, and eat it.
12. Wait an additional 8 hours. If no reaction, you can eat it.
13. If you feel any sort of reaction, or nausea. Induce vomiting immediately.
14. Repeat as necessary on all parts of the plant you plan to eat.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE HORSENETTLE POKEWEED

The sweet berries that look remarkably
like cherries is often what lures
unsuspecting hikers to try this plant.
With dull green leaves and shiny black
berries, once ingested the poison will
act fast to cause paralysis in the muscles
of your body. It will cause your heart to
stop. Even the leaves are an irritant, and
you will feel it, so steer clear.
These fruits have tricked many people,
as they look remarkably similar to
heirloom tomatoes. But they contain a
poisonous substance that causes
massive abdominal cramps, and even
circulatory and respiratory issues. Do
not eat anything in the wild that looks
like a tomato, unless you're absolutely
sure it is.
Don't be fooled by these appetizing
berries, they're poisonous to humans
even though deer, bears and many
other animals can eat them safely. A
handful of these is enough to kill a
child, a little more and it's enough
poison to take down an adult. Look out
for the grape-like clusters of purple
berries, with the purple-pink stalks.

WATER HEMLOCK DOLL’S EYE (WHITE BUCKEYE

One of the most violently toxic plants
in North America, what gets many
people confused about water hemlock
is it so closely resembles parsnips and
celery. But make no mistake, despite
being a member of the carrot family,
water hemlock will rapidly generate
fatal symptoms in anyone who eats it,
with painful convulsions, abdominal
cramps, and death.
BANEBERRY)
Another berry that looks tempting,
with white flesh and a unmistakable
"dot" for the eye. But despite the looks,
it can lead to immediate death when
eaten. The berries contain high levels
of toxins that will shut your muscles
down, slowing your system until you
slip into a coma and die.
Similar to hickory nuts, the shiny brown
shell of the buckeye is often confused
with chestnuts. But it's not a mistake
you want to make. Buckeye nuts are
severely poisonous, and shouldn't be
consumed at all. You can tell the
difference as the buckeye nuts husk is
smooth, while the chestnut husk is
covered in needles.

When you're lost in the wild and foraging for food, it's critical you know what you're eating before putting it anywhere near your
mouth. Make the wrong decision and you'll quickly find yourself in big trouble, poisoned or worse while stranded far from any
medical care and help. My advice is to steer clear of these poisonous plants, but also take the time to learn what's edible in your
local area. A little knowledge may just safe your life.

12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018

KEEP YOUR CHICKENS ALIVE DURING THE WINTER COLD

With winter soon to hit in full swing,
it's important you start getting on top
of all those jobs you've been putting
off all summer.
This last weekend I spent most of my
time getting our chicken coops ready
for winter, as one of our key sources of
protein are the eggs they lay. I'd be
devastated if anything happened to my
little flock of beasts.
Keeping your chickens alive during the
winter cold isn't rocket science, but
there's a few things you need to do
before the temperature drops below
zero. Here's what I spent the weekend
on as I worked on upgrading my coop.
INSPECT EVERY ANGLE
ADD NEW BEDDING
Frostbite is a real problem for chickens
in the Midwest, and you need to ensure
you've got plenty of bedding to keep
your chickens warm. I use hay for
bedding as it's cheap and retains the
heat a little better than wood shavings
or straw. It's also easier to clean out
when you do get around to it as spring
hits, we usually just dump it all straight
on our compost heap and mix it in.
There's nothing better for your garden
than chicken manure! Make sure your
chickens have plenty of fresh bedding.
LOCK DOWN THE COOP
Now's the time to batten the hatches. If
there's any areas that are open, seal
GET YOUR HEAT LAMPS ON
With shorter days your chickens will
produce less eggs, as they are stimulated
into egg production from the sun. To
combat this, we've installed two heat
lamps at either end of the coop. It's on
a timer, and ensures they're getting
ample light, and also extra warmth,
when the temperate drops. Of course,
we don't want to blind them, so we've
used 180-watt bulbs,. If you're wiring
these yourself be careful, and make
sure you're using external fittings and
lights that can handle a little moisture.

The first step is to pull out all the old

bedding and check the coop is still in
good working order. Wild animals are
going to get desperate when winter cuts
down their food supply, and it's
important there's no cracks or loose
wiring for them to get in. I also gave
the roof of the coop a good hose
down to see if there was any cracks,
and found one hole that needed to be
patched up. A little roof cement and it
was all good, and I even used some
leftover insulation up in the roof to
help my chickens stay warm. It may be
overkill, but I'd rather they stay warm
than find out they all expired overnight.
these up with some all-purpose ply. I
just screw on a couple of boards to “I’d be
close the windows completely. The last
thing I want is drafts getting through.
Once this is done, I've got an old tarp I
devastated
tie up around the walls. Its like gift
wrapping the coop. That's what it looks
if anything
like when I'm done. This adds another
layer of insulation to the walls, and also happened to
helps stop any drafts from sneaking in.
The tarps usually hang down to the
ground, and I toss a cinderblock on
my little
each of the corners to hold it down.
This is easier (and less disgusting at the flock…”
end) than tying it up underneath the
coop, and stops the drafts coming up
through the floors too.

13
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - DECEMBER 2018
cont.
BUILD A SUNROOM
Earlier in the year we replaced many of
the old wooden windows on our home
with thick-double glass upgrades, to cut
down on our heating losses and
hopefully save a bit of cash this winter.
But instead of throwing them out, I
kept the old windows and frames and
created a mini-greenhouse as an add-on
to the coop. It's remarkably simple, just
an "A" frame that stands about 6-foot-
high, and both sides are the windows
and glass. I closed the end with a piece
of ply and fashioned a rough door, and
the other I just wired into the wall of
their outdoor coop.
My girlsnmlove it, and they've been
"sunning" themselves already.
It's remarkable just how much the sun
heats it up inside.
DON’T LET THEIR WATER
FREEZE
This was probably the most annoying
part of this whole ordeal.
You see, last winter the water in the
coop would continually freeze over, and
checking and replacing it 10 times a day
grew old really fast.
This year I vowed things would be
different, and I built myself a simple
stone heater.
It's essentially just a cinderblock with
another light bulb inside, covered with
a thin paver. It connects in to the same
wiring as the heat lamps, but bypasses
the timer, so it's always on.
The warmth from the bulb is more
than enough to keep the water bowl on
top of the cinder block thawed.
So far at least…
14
DON’T FORGET THEIR DIET
Getting fat for winter is a joke I often
make at my expanding waistline, but
with your chickens it's also a good idea
to give them a little extra in their diets.
Mostly our chickens get feed (pellets),
and a little scratch in an afternoon. In
winter I mix in some extra corn to their
scratch, and if it's bitingly cold I'll make
them a hot batch of mash in the
morning. My girls love it.
During winter there's a lot that can
grow wrong, and as a responsible
chicken owner it's your duty to check
they're happy, warm and content in
their coop. If they're being noisy, or
worse, lethargic, something is wrong.
Make sure you take the time to check
for frostbite and with a little extra
attention, your flock will make it
through the winter.