Since isolation, we’ve come to see ‘home is our sanctuary,’ and we can make it even better! While getting out is important, we can prepare for success and survival by adding some small DIY survival projects to our to-do list.
From leisure activities to practicing survival skills, let’s explore small and simple survival projects. These aren’t big DIY builds needing plans and lots of tools.
You might see limits when you look at your property, thinking you’ve done all you can. In reality, there’s much more you can do with just a few small spots in your yard or nearby woods.
The First One![Small Survival Projects You Are Missing On Your Property](https://b3677113.smushcdn.com/3677113/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Small-Survival-Projects-You-Are-Missing-On-Your-Property_1.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Making fire and cooking over a fire are essential skills for any survivalist. Creating your own firepit is as simple as stacking some stones in a circle in your backyard.
You could also repurpose items like cast iron grills to use for burning.
Your firepit can be as basic or creative as you want, but having one lets you practice starting fires and cooking over them regularly.
Be sure to understand local burning laws and avoid using river or creek rocks, as they can contain water and burst, causing hot rock fragments to spray. Fire bricks are the best material for the inside of a firepit.
A Protein Source On Your Property
Keeping hens has greatly improved my overall preparedness. Having a daily source of protein from the eggs produced means we have a reliable food source. We’ve also taken steps to manage predators, planted trees for natural food, and set up a chicken coop.
Building your own chicken coop is simple. Even without building skills, you can convert an old shed into a coop. The shed must be secure, draft-free, and able to lock tightly at night to protect against predators.
Small shed coops are easy to clean and spacious for the birds, even on rainy days. However, you’ll need to make some modifications:
- Cut and screen windows
- Add roosting poles
- Create nesting boxes (you can even repurpose old bowls and chairs)
- Set up a feeding area
- Install a water container
Alternatively, you can build a small coop from scratch using various coop-building plans available. This can be a fun project with many design options to choose from.
An Ingenious Project![Small Survival Projects You Are Missing On Your Property](https://b3677113.smushcdn.com/3677113/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Small-Survival-Projects-You-Are-Missing-On-Your-Property_3.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Smoking meat has been a preservation method for thousands of years. It’s effective and produces delicious results. Having a small smoker in your backyard allows you to smoke ribs or chickens and is a useful off-grid cooking option for any homesteader.
To build a simple smoker, use a cinderblock base and an A-frame smokehouse. Here’s how:
- Construct a 2-foot-tall cinderblock base.
- Frame the A-frame smokehouse with 2x4s and place it on top of the cinderblock base.
- Attach a firebox to the base to create smoke. Use a small metal or brick firebox with a door or opening that can be closed.
- Install a flue to direct hot smoke from the firebox to the smokehouse. Ensure the materials used can withstand the heat.
- Add hooks to your smokehouse instead of racks. These are cheap, easy, and can be forged at home if you have blacksmithing skills.
This setup allows you to smoke meat efficiently and is a valuable addition to your survival preparations.