Off The Grid

Mud Brick Houses: Building Sustainable Homes from Earth

Published

2 years ago

December 19, 2023

As the world turns its attention towards sustainable living, it’s time we rediscovered one of humanity’s oldest building materials: mud. This humble substance, underfoot and often overlooked, has been providing us with shelter for thousands of years. Today, in the spirit of self-reliance and respect for the environment, we’re going to delve into the art and science of building mud brick houses.

Mud brick, also known as adobe, is an incredibly versatile and environmentally friendly building material. It’s made from a mixture of earth, water, and usually some form of fibrous or organic material such as straw or dung. This combination is then shaped into bricks and dried in the sun. The result is a sturdy, cost-effective, and sustainable building material that’s been used in construction across cultures and continents.

Building a mud brick house isn’t just about going back to basics; it’s about harnessing the earth’s natural resources in a sustainable way. The materials are readily available and require little energy to produce, making mud brick an excellent choice for the environmentally conscious. Moreover, mud brick houses have excellent thermal properties, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of building with mud bricks. The first step is to find the right soil. A good mix for mud bricks is typically around 70% sand and 30% clay. This ratio might vary depending on your local soil composition, so it’s a good idea to do some tests before diving into construction.

Next, you’ll need to prepare your bricks. Mix your soil with water until it reaches a moldable consistency. Add your fibrous material, such as straw, to help bind the mixture together and prevent cracking during the drying process. Once your mixture is ready, pack it tightly into your brick molds.

Drying is a critical part of the process. It’s best to dry your bricks slowly to prevent cracking. This can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on your climate. Once your bricks are dry, they’re ready to be used.

Building with mud bricks is a bit different than working with conventional materials. The bricks are laid with a mud mortar, and the walls are usually thicker than those of a standard house. This requires careful planning and design, but the result is a sturdy and durable structure.

One important aspect to consider when building with mud bricks is maintenance. While mud brick houses are durable, they do require regular maintenance to keep them in good condition. This usually involves applying a fresh coat of mud plaster to the exterior walls to protect them from the elements.

Building a mud brick house is a labor-intensive process, but the rewards are worth it. Not only will you have a sustainable and cost-effective home, but you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve built it with your own two hands.

Remember, building with mud bricks isn’t just a construction method; it’s a philosophy. It’s about understanding and respecting the materials that the earth provides, and using them in a way that minimizes our impact on the environment.

So, whether you’re planning to build a mud brick house or just curious about alternative building methods, I hope this guide has given you some food for thought. Building with mud bricks might not be for everyone, but for those willing to get their hands dirty, it’s a rewarding and sustainable choice.

In the wild, you learn to use what nature provides, and there’s no greater provider than the earth beneath our feet. Building with mud bricks is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the human spirit, a trait that every survivalist holds dear. So, here’s to mud, to sustainability, and to the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Off The Grid

10 Survival Items Hiding in Your House Right Now

Published

2 weeks ago

November 7, 2025

Grits and Gear

Your kitchen drawer might just be the best survival kit you never built

You don’t need to live in the wilderness or have a fancy bug-out bag to be prepared for an emergency. Most people already own half the tools they’d need to survive they’re just scattered across kitchen drawers, garages, and bathroom cabinets. The secret is knowing what you have and how to use it creatively. Here are ten everyday items that can turn into life-saving tools when things go sideways.

1. Garbage Bags

A simple trash bag can do more than hold waste. Use it as a rain poncho, emergency shelter, ground tarp, or even a water collector. Heavy-duty contractor bags can be stuffed with leaves for insulation or turned into makeshift sleeping bags.

2. Aluminum Foil

Foil is basically metal in your pocket. Wrap it around food to cook over open flame, fashion it into a bowl or wind guard, or use it to reflect heat toward your shelter. You can even fold a small square into a mirror for signaling.

3. Shoelaces

Strong, lightweight, and easy to find. Shoelaces can tie gear, hang food from trees, fix broken zippers, or become makeshift tourniquets. In survival situations, cordage is priceless and you’re probably wearing some right now.

4. Bleach

Unassuming but powerful, regular unscented bleach can disinfect surfaces and purify water. Add just 8 drops per gallon of clear water, mix well, and wait 30 minutes. (If it smells faintly of chlorine afterward, it’s safe to drink.)

5. Coffee Filters

Coffee filters aren’t just for caffeine lovers. They make excellent pre-filters for dirty water, help start fires when dry, and can even work as disposable plates or wound covers. Lightweight and cheap, they’re worth tossing in any emergency bag.

6. Duct Tape

If something’s broken, duct tape can probably fix it. Patch holes, secure splints, seal windows, or twist it into rope. It’s waterproof, durable, and compact a survival MVP in any scenario.

7. Plastic Bottles

Empty water bottles are more useful than they look. Use them to carry and purify water, as makeshift funnels, or to store dry goods. Fill one with water and set it in sunlight for a few hours the UV rays can kill bacteria naturally.

8. Vaseline and Cotton Balls

Together, they’re an instant fire starter. Coat a few cotton balls in petroleum jelly and store them in a small bag. Even in rain, they’ll ignite easily and burn long enough to get a fire going.

9. Paper Clips

A tiny metal multitool. Paper clips can pick locks, fix zippers, clean small gear, or act as hooks and fish lures. They’re proof that even office supplies can have survival value.

10. Hand Sanitizer

Besides keeping your hands germ-free, sanitizer with alcohol doubles as fire fuel. A small squeeze on kindling makes damp wood catch flame faster. Keep a travel bottle in your car or pocket, it’s hygiene and ignition in one.

Final Thought

Survival isn’t about buying gear it’s about using what’s already around you. The next time you open a junk drawer, look again. You might not see a mess; you might see a ready-made emergency kit hiding in plain sight. Being resourceful isn’t just thrifty, it’s one of the best survival skills you’ll ever have.

Off The Grid

What To Do When There’s No Water (And Everyone’s Panicking)

Published

2 weeks ago

November 3, 2025

Grits and Gear

The Water Survival Guide: Finding, Filtering, and Storing the One Thing You Can’t Live Without

You can go weeks without food. Maybe months without sunlight. But go three days without water, and your body starts to shut down. In a real survival situation whether it’s a natural disaster, a grid failure, or getting lost outdoors clean water isn’t optional. It’s the first and most important thing you need to secure.

This guide breaks it down into something simple and doable: how to find, filter, and store safe drinking water anywhere.

1. Finding Water When There’s None in Sight

When the taps stop running, it’s time to think like nature. Start by looking downhill. Water always follows gravity. Watch for damp soil, thick green vegetation, or insect activity these are signs there’s water nearby.

If you’re outdoors, collect rainwater anytime you can. Lay out plastic sheets, ponchos, or even trash bags to funnel it into containers. In the morning, you can also gather condensation by wrapping a T-shirt or towel around grass or branches and wringing out the moisture.

In urban settings, drainpipes, water heaters, and toilet tanks (not the bowl) can provide clean, stored water in an emergency.

2. Filtering and Purifying

Finding water is only half the job making it safe is what keeps you alive. Clear-looking water can still contain bacteria, chemicals, or parasites. The rule of thumb: If you didn’t see it come out of a sealed bottle, purify it.

Here are the main ways:

Boiling: The oldest and most effective method. Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute (three if you’re at high altitude).
Bleach: Add 8 drops of regular, unscented bleach per gallon of water. Wait 30 minutes before drinking.
Filters: Portable straw filters, gravity filters, or ceramic pumps remove most contaminants. Always follow up with chemical treatment if possible.
Improvised options: Pour water through layers of cloth, sand, or charcoal to remove sediment before purification.

3. Storing Water for the Long Haul

Once you’ve got clean water, store it like it’s liquid gold. Use food-grade plastic containers, glass jugs, or heavy-duty bottles with tight seals. Keep them in a cool, dark place away from chemicals and direct sunlight.

A good goal is one gallon per person per day half for drinking, half for cooking and hygiene. Rotate your supply every six months to keep it fresh.

The “Clean Water Anywhere” Method

If you forget everything else, remember this three-step formula:
Find it. Clean it. Protect it.
Locate a source, purify it before you drink, and store it safely for when things get worse.

Final Thought

Water is the ultimate equalizer. It doesn’t care how strong, rich, or prepared you are without it, nothing else matters. Learn how to find and protect it now, before you ever have to. Because when the world runs dry, those who know how to stay hydrated will be the ones who stay alive.

Off The Grid

What Would You Do If the Grid Went Down Tomorrow?

Published

2 weeks ago

November 2, 2025

Grits and Gear

How to Survive the First 24 Hours Without Electricity

Picture this: you wake up and nothing works. The lights don’t turn on. Your phone’s dead. The fridge hum is gone, and the tap only spits air. You check outside streetlights, silent houses, blank car alarms. It’s not just your house. The entire grid is down.

Sounds dramatic, right? But blackouts happen all the time, and most people are wildly unprepared for even a few hours without power. The key to surviving a real grid-down event isn’t stockpiling gadgets it’s knowing how to stay calm and use what you already have wisely.

Hour 1–3: Don’t Panic, Get Oriented

The first few hours are about awareness. Check your surroundings. Is it just your block or the entire city? Turn off and unplug major appliances to protect them from a surge when the power returns. Use your phone sparingly battery power becomes gold.

Start filling containers, bathtubs, and pots with water. When the grid fails, municipal pumps stop working fast. You’ll want every drop you can store.

Hour 4–8: Secure Light and Warmth

Once the sun starts dropping, light becomes your lifeline. Use flashlights, candles, or headlamps never burn open flames near flammable surfaces. If it’s cold, layer clothing and block drafts instead of wasting energy trying to heat a room. If it’s hot, stay hydrated and open shaded windows for airflow.

Now’s also the time to check on neighbors, especially anyone older or living alone. Community awareness is survival in disguise.

Hour 9–16: Protect Your Food and Water

Your fridge will stay cold for about four hours your freezer for about a day, if unopened. Group food together to preserve cold air and start eating perishables first. Keep bottled water handy, and if you have a gas or charcoal grill, that’s your new kitchen.

Stay inside if possible; confusion and panic can spread quickly outside when communication fails.

Hour 17–24: Rest and Reset

As night falls, light discipline matters. Too much brightness could attract attention if things get tense. Conserve power, stay quiet, and rest. Tomorrow, you’ll need clear thinking to find information, help, or supplies.

Grid-Down Checklist

✅ Store water before pressure drops
✅ Conserve phone battery
✅ Secure light and warmth
✅ Eat perishables first
✅ Check on neighbors
✅ Stay calm and rest

When the lights go out, the people who do best aren’t the ones with the most gear they’re the ones who keep their heads and think clearly. Preparation starts now, not when the power dies.