Americans who call themselves preppers are part of a growing self-sufficiency and sustainability movement. Don’t call them survivalists. Preppers are “regular people with normal lifestyles and jobs who prepare for a variety of reasons whether natural or man-made.” While both preppers and survivalists tend to stock up on canned foods and plant survival gardens in their cellars, survivalists tend to be motivated by the possibility of economic collapse, natural disasters, terror attacks, and asteroid strikes, to name a few impending catastrophes. Preppers tend not to worry as much about “threats” – they just want to become less dependent on a man-made system. Members of the growing American Preppers Network are teaching each other self-reliance with articles, podcasts and videos demonstrating simple household tricks like unclogging your toilet (don’t call the plumber!) and repairing a broken zipper (don’t throw away another pair of perfectly good jeans). Sure, end-of-the-world survival kits are for sale on the Network’s website, but there’s a lot of domestic, everyday information like how to grow your own potatoes, vacuum seal clothes, and how to cook with the sun. Perhaps the content reflects the growing number of women involved in the American Preppers Network.
On American Preppers Radio, female preppers can tune in to shows like the Homestead Honey Hour where guests like the Hillbilly Prepper Gals talk about what got them started prepping. Many preppers call in to share stories about how prepping helped them through long bouts of unemployment, getting out of debt, and convincing their kids (particularly the grown kids still living at home) how to start prepping.
