Frequently asked questions

No. Most of the program (pantry, water, power, planning, records) happens indoors. For growing food, the program covers pots, windowsills, balconies and shared community plots. If you rent, check your lease and local rules before building anything permanent.

Yes. The assessment and the free checklist focus on low-cost, high-value steps first, such as filling clean containers with water, adding a few extra cans or dry staples each shop, writing down contacts on paper and agreeing a household plan. Spending more helps, but is not required to begin.

Official agencies such as Ready.gov commonly suggest starting with at least three days of food and about one gallon (roughly 3.8 litres) of water per person per day, and many encourage building toward two weeks. Your own needs depend on household size, ages, medical or dietary needs, climate, storage space and local guidance, so treat these as starting points, not guarantees.

Yes. Many herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, peppers, beans and root vegetables do well in containers when they get enough light, drainage and water. What suits you depends on climate and sunlight; your local agricultural extension service is a good source of region-specific advice.

Often, yes. Seeds from open-pollinated varieties generally grow true to type, while seeds from hybrid (F1) plants may not. Some varieties are protected by plant variety protection or patents with restrictions on saving and replanting, so check the seed packet or supplier terms and local law.

Keep fridge and freezer doors closed, use flashlights instead of candles where possible, never run generators, grills or camp stoves indoors (carbon monoxide risk), check on vulnerable neighbours, and follow local utility and public-safety guidance. If anyone relies on powered medical equipment, plan with their clinician in advance.

Keep paper copies of key contacts and records, agree a household meeting point and out-of-area contact, consider a battery or hand-crank radio, hold a modest amount of cash where practical, and avoid depending on a single payment method or account.

No. We do not predict catastrophes. Local disruptions such as storms, equipment failures, cyber incidents and supply interruptions do happen, and modest preparation makes them easier to handle. The program is about household resilience, not fear.

Yes. It is structured step by step, assumes no specialist knowledge, and starts with the simplest, cheapest actions.

That is the design goal: printable checklists and worksheets that work without internet. The free checklist on this site is printable today. Other materials are labelled as planned until they are finished.