Introduction
If national distribution slows or shelves run empty, what will you do? Out here on the Great Plains, miles from major hubs and with weather that can swing from blistering heat to ice storms overnight, supply chains are fragile. One disruption at the national level can quickly leave families stranded with empty shelves and little outside support. That’s not fear-mongering—it’s reality, and it’s why we prepare.
The answer isn’t to wait and hope. It’s to build the skills to provide for yourself and your family. That means knowing how to make light when the power goes out, how to purify water when the tap runs dry, and how to repair or build tools when the store is closed. On the plains, neighbors help neighbors, but that only works if each household brings strength to the table. That’s where this new series comes in.
Welcome to How to Make It—a step-by-step journey into the practical skills that keep your family resilient when the rest of the world is scrambling. This series isn’t about theory. It’s about doing. It’s about reclaiming the know-how our grandparents and great-grandparents lived by, updated for today’s realities. The goal is simple: if you can make it, you can make it through.
Building Real-World Skills
Prepping isn’t just about storing food and supplies. Those run out. Skills don’t. With this series, we’ll tackle projects that turn raw resources into the essentials of life—glass from sand, rope from plants, soap from lye and fat. These aren’t gimmicks; they’re the foundations of self-reliance.
Take cordage, for example. A reliable length of rope can mean the difference between securing a shelter in high wind or losing it to the storm. We’ve already walked through that process in detail on the blog, and it’s one of many practical guides we’ll expand in this series.
To get traction fast, keep these points front and center:
- Start small: Don’t wait for an emergency to learn. Practice now with simple projects like candles or hardtack.
- Use local resources: The Plains offer natural materials—wood, clay, native fibers, and dependable water sources—you can put to work.
- Share knowledge: Teach your family, involve your community, and strengthen the network that carries everyone through.
Facing the Harder Challenges
Some skills in this series are advanced—and that’s intentional. Distilling kerosene or forging iron tools isn’t a weekend hobby you master once and forget. But they’re worth learning in stages, practicing safely, and understanding for the long haul.
Historically, small towns on the Plains thrived because they had blacksmiths, millers, and radio operators. Today, those roles are rare. This series will outline how ordinary preppers can reclaim pieces of that lost knowledge. You don’t need to be an expert to be useful—you need the basics, the safety habits, and a plan.
Use this three-step principle as your guide:
- Learn enough to begin safely: Understand hazards, PPE, and legal boundaries before you touch a tool or flame.
- Collect deeper resources: Keep print or offline guides accessible for when the internet isn’t.
- Build a local bench: A neighbor may already know what you need—trade skills, learn together, and cross-train.
Staying Practical and Safe
It’s worth repeating: this series is not about playing hero. Making lye, distilling fuels, and forging metal carry real risks. We’ll emphasize safety, provide historical context, and link to reliable resources. Use appropriate protective gear, follow local laws and regulations, and know your limits. Preparedness is about survival, not recklessness.
Safety doesn’t mean standing still. The more you practice now, the more confident you’ll be when it counts. Something as simple as trying a rope-making jig with your kids or melting candle wax in the backyard teaches lessons no book can match.
Every project—big or small—builds capability. Each skill you develop is one less thing you’re forced to buy or do without. Out here on the Plains, we can’t afford to sit idle. Preparation is protection and peace of mind.
Follow the Series
We’ve set up a running reference page that tracks every published guide in this series and shows what’s coming next. Bookmark it, share it, and use it as your hub as new skills go live:
👉 How to Make It — Series Reference Page
The world may be uncertain, but your ability to create, build, and provide doesn’t have to be. Start learning now, and when the shelves go bare, you’ll be the one who can still say: we’ll make it.
Safety Reminder
Many projects involve tools, heat, chemicals, or electricity. Use appropriate protective gear, keep a first-aid kit within reach, maintain fire safety, follow the law, and consult qualified professionals when needed. We’re not claiming to be the ultimate experts in every area—we’re curating research and pointing you to respected practitioners so you can learn and practice safely.
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