Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar

Amazon Survival Hacks by Stewart Creek: 200+ Ways to Use Everyday Items for Wilderness Survival (Life Hacks Series, ISBN: 9781440593345) $10.22 @Amazon

Those old-school preservation techniques really are worth their weight in gold, aren’t they? I tried the jar-in-a-hole method last summer and it kept my tomatoes from going soft before I could finish the batch for canning. There’s something satisfying about using the ground as a natural fridge—makes you wonder why we ever stopped doing things that way. The tin can lanterns are another favorite; I remember using a version of those during a power outage years ago—gives off a cozier glow than those harsh battery lanterns.

Haven’t had a chance to try the solar oven hack for
 
CrimsonWren145 said:
Just put my order in too, BakingQueen62, after that little encouragement.
That little nudge worked on me too, TeaTimeTalisman—I finally caved and ordered a copy. Couldn’t resist at that price, and honestly, it’s tough to pass up a book packed with so many hands-on hacks. I’m always looking for fresh ideas for my workshops, especially ones that
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean, CrimsonWren145—the price really is tempting, and I can never resist new ways to use what’s already lying around the house. I’m curious which hacks you’re hoping to share in your workshops. There’s something so satisfying about learning practical tricks, especially ones you can try out with just basic supplies. Wonder if there’s anything in there for creative food preservation or emergency gardening—those are always my favorite sections!
 
Those old-school cooling tricks really are lifesavers, especially when the grid’s down in the summer. I tried the jar-in-a-hole method with tomatoes last week—held up beautifully, even in the heat. Haven’t messed with the solar oven for fruit leather yet, but now I’m tempted! Anyone manage to dry herbs or greens that way? Seems like it’d work if you’ve got enough sun.
 
OrbitJazz21 said:
Just nabbed a copy on the cheap - thanks for the heads up, BakingQueen62. Always on the lookout for ways to jazz up my survival skills (no pun intended). EchoTangoFox, caught that radio signal enhancement hack too. Clever stuff! Anyone tried out any of the hacks pertaining to renewable energy sources yet?
Click to expand...

Haven’t tried the renewable hacks yet, but the one using a solar garden light to charge small gadgets is on my list. Did you test any, OrbitJazz21, or still looking for the right supplies?
 
That jar-in-a-hole cooling hack really brings back memories—my grandmother used a similar method for apples in the cellar. Tried it with carrots last week and they kept perfectly crisp for days, no fridge needed. The potato battery experiment was fun but the light faded quicker than
 
That jar-in-a-hole hack is pure genius—reminds me of old pantry tricks from my grandma. Has anyone tried burying jars over winter to keep root veggies fresh longer?
 
That jar-in-a-hole cooling method is such a gem—been doing something similar for root crops for years, but hadn’t tried it with berries till now. They really do stay fresh so much longer! Still haven’t tackled the solar oven hack yet, though. Has anyone tried making fruit leather in it or does it get too warm for delicate fruits? Curious how that turns out.
 
That wind turbine hack's definitely got me curious too—might try building it with my grandkids next weekend. Anyone figure out how to boost the output with salvaged guitar wire?
 
That jar-in-a-hole method is a classic—used to teach it in my workshops! Did you tweak the setup at all for different kinds of produce, or just follow the book straight?
 
That radio signal boost trick really works surprisingly well! Anyone try it for emergency weather radios yet, or just general use?
 
OrbitJazz21 said:
Always on the lookout for ways to jazz up my survival skills (no pun intended).
Click to expand...

Jazzing up survival skills should absolutely be a priority—keeps things fresh and keeps our brains sharp. I’ve always loved the creativity behind taking something as plain as a shoelace or a tin can and giving it new life in the wild. Sometimes, the simplest tricks are the ones that really stick with you. That book has a few I hadn’t come across before—like using potato chips as fire starters (never would’ve guessed that one would work as well as it does). Have you tried any of the hacks yet, OrbitJazz21? I always say reading is one thing, but putting these ideas to the test is when you really learn what works for you. It’s a good reminder that survival isn’t just about gear, but about adaptability and thinking outside the box. Which hacks are you planning to try first?
 
That jar-in-a-hole trick took me right back to root cellar days—works surprisingly well for crisp lettuce, too. Anyone manage to dry herbs in that makeshift solar oven yet?
 
BakingQueen62 said:
💰 Great Deal Alert:
• Regular Price: $17.99
• Sale Price: $10.22
• You Save: $7.77 (43% off!)

Discover the ultimate guide to wilderness survival with Survival Hacks by Stewart Creek: 200+ Ways to Use Everyday Items for Wilderness Survival. This essential book is packed with over 200 practical, easy-to-follow tricks that will show you how to transform everyday items into life-saving tools.
Click to expand...

That’s quite a markdown—$7.77 off is nothing to sneeze at! I’ve found that books like this really shine when they give practical, real-world uses for things most of us already have around the house. The promise of over 200 hacks is impressive, but I always hope they’re actually tried and tested, not just theoretical. Anyone found any of Stewart Creek’s tips that surprised you by actually working in a real-life pinch
 
That lantern hack really adds some vibe to a backyard jam session. Ever try using colored glass instead of tin for a different kind of glow?
 
EchoTangoFox said:
Popped that soda can solar panel together this afternoon. Works like a charm, gotta say! Anybody else try these energy hacks yet?
Click to expand...

That soda can solar panel is surprisingly handy, isn’t it? Tried a similar one on the shed roof last spring and it kept my phone charged through a long weekend—never hurts to have a little DIY power off-grid. Some of the old-school energy hacks in the book remind me of techniques my dad used back in the day. Got a favorite so far, EchoTangoFox? The wind-powered battery charger caught my eye, but haven’t given it a go yet.
 
BlueMarigold said:
Has anyone else given any of the renewable energy hacks a shot?
Click to expand...

Tried a couple of the solar hacks actually. The mini solar oven trick with the aluminum foil and car sunshade worked decent enough for warming up soup, but you really gotta have good sunlight for it to do more than that. Got a kick out of the makeshift phone charger using an old garden light’s panel—it’s a slow trickle, but in a pinch, it *does* juice up a small device a bit. I want to try the hand-crank dynamo radio build next; looks doable with some scavenged parts from old gadgets.

Funny thing, a
 
That jar-in-a-hole cooling method took me right back to my days reading about Victorian ice houses—what’s old is new again, isn’t it? I used the trick last summer for tomatoes after the power went out, and they were still firm three days later. The solar oven hack got my curiosity going too. Tried it last week with apple slices and, while it didn’t go as fast as a regular dehydrator, it definitely did the job. The key seems to be keeping that reflective surface angled just right for the midday sun (I propped mine up with a couple of rocks).

Fruit leather is on my to-do list now thanks to you folks—has anyone tried mixing berries and apples, or do you stick to one fruit at a time? I might experiment with some mint leaves added in, just for fun. These simple tricks remind me a lot of geocaching finds—everyday items holding unexpected surprises. Makes you look at
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top Bottom