Emergency Ideas: 36 DIY Weekend Projects for Preparedness and Survival

Have some extra time and looking for some cool projects? Need a preparedness project you can do this weekend, or even several? Hoping to learn a new skill in the process?

Look no further. I’ve spent a lot of time lately researching cool projects, and I want to share with you these 36 great weekend preparedness projects I found. It was hard to decide, though. I found a ton of good ones. I may have to do a series like this.

Some are projects on the diyready.com site, some on other sites I like. Preppers, survivalists, and anyone who wants to be a little more prepared at the end of the day can get a lot from making these. All of these projects are low budget, many practically free. Most will not take more than a couple of hours, and some are faster than that.

Try them out and let me know what you think. I certainly know I learned a lot from trying them, and am happy to feel so much better prepared.

Here are my top 36 DIY Weekend Projects for Preparedness and Survival:

1. Make a how to make a rocket heater

You can use paint cans for this, or you can use soup cans. Rocket heaters get super hot. Check it out.

2. Make your own homemade survival bars

Perfect for stocking your emergency kits as well as taking on camping trips. These have a long shelf life- 20+years, but I have to admit, I have been eating mine as snacks.

3. Add some “earthquake proofing” to your food storage shelving.

Learn how just a few changes can help you store you food more safely. I was surprised to learn some of these.

4. Make a DIY Pallet Smoker: How to Build A Smokehouse

For less than $100, you can build your own DIY Smoker. This is awesome, big enough to smoke an entire animal! We are about to smoke meat in it and make another cool DIY and video. Follow us on Facebook to get latest updates.

5. Learn how to make fire starters

This is a fun little project, really fast, with impressive “fire” power.

6. Learn how to make a paracord belt

This is a rescue belt. Learn how to make one, and you will have the fastest quick deploy belt I could find- it uses Slatt’s rescue weave and gives you instant access to 1o0 feet of paracord.

7. Start composting. Build a DIY Pallet Compost Bin

A great big bin for your composting needs. Assemble in minutes.

8. Learn how to make a monkey fist with a steel center

Great weapon on a keychain, one you can keep at all times. This one lets you use a steel ball bearing center. Clear instructions and lots of photos.

9. Build a solar cooker- basic version and more advanced version

I looked at a couple of different designs. One uses a car window shade, the other one, recycled CDs.

10. Make a solar USB charger

11. Learn how to make an oil lamp

Perfect thing to know how to make for emergencies, as it uses olive oil and things you should have on hand. Pretty, too. Make one now and use it for home decor, keep it around in case of emergency.