The Chip Monk Family Survival Podcast

Welcome to another week of the Chip Monk Family Survival Podcast.  Today I discuss in relative brief the idea of dealing with the prospect of an imminent tornado in your area and some strategies for remaining as safe as possible.  This is just a quick overview of the idea and I happily suggest you do some additional research on your own so that you can best develop a survival plan for your specific area in the event of a tornado or other severe weather

Today's episode is an overview of the 1998 movie "Deep Impact".  I first share with you a little of my own experience watching this movie, provide a plot synopsis and then pull out a few ideas relating to survival and preparedness.  Check it out if you've never seen it and watch it while you play the "what would I do in that situation" game as large chunks of space rocks hurtle towards the Earth. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CHIP MONK FAMILY SURVIVAL BLOG!: http://thechippermonk.blogspot.com

Today your lovable furball of a host discusses the advantages of woodstoves for survival and preparedness concerns.  I talk a bit about the science of how a woodstove actually works, the history of their design and considerations for choosing one as part of your survival plan.  While not the most exciting topic it's probably still a valuable one to consider in these days of rising petroleum prices

Last week's episode on "Armageddon Packs" generated quite a lot of response from the listening audience so today I begin by reading a couple of the submissions I received.  Then the rest of the episode is about dealing with the short-term issues of protecting your food supply, prompted in part by some of the dire weather we are currently seeing across the country.  Stay safe out there. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CHIP MONK FAMILY SURVIVAL BLOG!: http://thechippermonk.blogspot.com

So you've built your 72-hour kit.  And now you feel like you're ready for everything. Then "It" happens...  You have to leave your home knowing you can never go back.  And your 72-hour Bug Out Bag just isn't going to cut it...  What do you take with you?  How do you haul it, especially if you're on foot?  What do you need to keep for "the rest of your life"? On this episode I throw out some ideas about how to create an "Armageddon Pack" for the unlikely event you ever have to leave your home and never return

Quite a long time back I discussed some experiences I have had (through my wife's family) involving a pastime called "Buckskinning" or "Rendezvous Reenacting".  I didn't go much into the particulars of specific black powder firearms at that time so I thought I would discuss them a little more in-depth on today's episode.  I go over the basic types of black powder guns that are available and discuss a few thoughts on their specific survival applications, including the ability to make your own black powder, cast your own bullets, or use them as defensive options in gun-unfriendly locations

On today's episode your humble host discusses some of the steps we're doing to improve our garden soil and protect/retain the "good" elements already present.  Recently I read an article about this topic in a Mother Earth News magazine and it started me thinking about methods that replicate the processes already present in nature.  As a result that philosophy (try to do what nature does) has become one of our basic premises in running the Chip Monk Farm.  I'll be sharing with you how it well it works (or doesn't work) as this adventure unfolds

Today I discuss a book that was later made into a movie (both called "Defiance") covering the exploits of the Bielski partisans during World War II. "Defiance" is a true story of raw survival when the only alternative is genocide.  I can't help but give away a bit about the plot but I do try to avoid major spoilers as much as possible while focusing on many of the survival/preparedness lessons present in both the book and movie. Wikipedia entry on the Defiance movi

On today's episode I briefly discuss the potential for problems with nuclear-armed Pakistan and then look at some alternate viewpoints on precious metals like gold and silver.  Prompted by a post in a forum I visit from time to time I wanted to ask a few questions for you to keep in mind when buying gold and silver as part of your survival plan.  I also wanted to make certain you've looked at these important considerations in order to ensure you're spending your hard-earned money wisely

This week I begin by a brief followup to the last few episodes on calibers by talking about +P loads and bullet weights as suggested by a listener.  Then I use the rest of the episode to discuss some things we're noticing about our move to the farm.  Hopefully you'll find some of the thoughts applicable to your situation but overall if nothing else maybe you'll be inspired to keep working towards your own goals

Today is the final part in a three-episode arc discussing firearms calibers and their survival usefulness.  In this episode I cover the different types of rimfire calibers available as well as shotgun gauges while trying to give you a little bit of insight into what you need to know in order to decide what calibers will work best for you in your specific situation. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CHIP MONK FAMILY SURVIVAL BLOG!: http://thechippermonk.blogspot.com

Today is part two in a three-part arc where I talk about various rifle calibers and their potential survival/preparedness applications.  I apologize greatly that this has been so long in coming but with our recent move to the farm things have been crazy and I just Wednesday was able to get internet set up and running.  Regardless, it's good to be back "on the air" and I hope you will find this rather lengthy (1 hour plus) episode informative. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CHIP MONK FAMILY SURVIVAL BLOG!: http://thechippermonk.blogspot.com

Today is part one in a three-part arc where I discuss pertinent information about firearms calibers.  I've been asked a number of times if I would do just a basic intro to the common calibers available for firearms and try to keep it simple and understandable for gun novices.  In this episode I discuss the common handgun calibers and their survival utility, from least powerful to most powerful.  While much of this information is my opinion it is based on experience and the insight of others in the firearms field and I hope it will be useful for the listening audience.  I will cover rifles tomorrow and .22 LR as a separate topic on Thursday. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CHIP MONK FAMILY SURVIVAL BLOG!: http://thechippermonk.blogspot.com

Today I share about the efforts my wife and I are making in being self-sufficient/self-reliant and giving our kids a better life by moving to a farm.  Yes, a real farm.  Over the course of the next month or so our family is planning to pick up and relocate to a rural property located about 25 miles from where we currently live so that we can try to do the things we've always dreamed about and so I can share my experiences with all of you.  I hope this episode will inspire you to consider ways to make your dreams possible in the way others have inspired me. :) DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CHIP MONK FAMILY SURVIVAL BLOG!: http://thechippermonk.blogspot.com

Today is the second in a sequence of episodes about Survival Fiction, in this case David Brin's 1985 novel "The Postman".  Made into a movie by Kevin Costner in 1997 this is a worthwhile story for people interested in survival/preparedness topics even though the original story was written as something of a "deconstruction" of survivalism.  In this episode I discuss some aspects of the plot, a few interesting ideas you can draw from the story, and general survival principles touched on in this narrative. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE CHIP MONK FAMILY SURVIVAL BLOG!: http://thechippermonk.blogspot.com