9 Unbelievable Ways to Use Leaves For Survival

9 Unbelievable Ways to Use Leaves For Survival

using leaves for survival

You’re probably heard about life hacks, but did you know there are leaf hacks for survival too?

It’s true.

Sure, fallen leaves can be a little annoying when you have to rake them up from your yard, but they can also make your life much, much easier in a survival situation.

9 Unbelievable Ways to Use Leaves for Survival

1 – Prevent Blisters

leaves to prevent blisters

When SHTF, people will probably be spending a lot more time on their feet than normal.

Instead of spending hours in a car or sitting at a desk, your survival will require hiking, patrolling, hunting, and more.

Luckily, you can help relieve some of the strain on your feet using natural leaf insoles.

The leaves of the mullein plant can provide some extra cushion and help prevent blisters when placed flat inside of your shoe.

Not only are the leaves soft and absorbent, but they’re also antibacterial.

In a crisis, you can also use mullein leaves as a substitute for toilet paper and napkins.

2 – Insulation and Padding

leaves for insulation and padding

Leaves are a good insulating material that can help keep you warm when bugging out.

You can also use a pile of leaves as padding underneath your sleeping bag to make spending the night on the ground a little more comfortable.

In fact, that’s exactly what we recommend people do when using one of our Tact Bivvy Emergency Sleeping Bags.


3 – Cooking Supplies

Basswood leaves make excellent improvised plates if you find yourself stuck in the wilderness.

Sure, having a plate to use isn’t as important as finding food, but having a clean surface to eat off of shouldn’t go unappreciated.

Basswood leaves are a safe way to keep your food away from dirt and other contaminates. Plus, the leaves themselves are safe to eat

Before you sit down to eat, use burdock leaves to help cook your dinner over a fire.

Simply wrap your meal in a few layers of burdock leaves the same way you’d wrap food in tin foil before cooking. Like with regular tin foil, the burdock leaves help to keep food juicy during the cooking process.

4 – Source of Food

leaves for survival - food

If you don’t want to cook with leaves, you can also just eat them.

You do have to be careful to make sure you only eat leaves that are safe for human consumption, but there are plenty of wild plant leaves that meet that criteria.

Edible leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and can even be used to brew tea.

5 – Rope/Cordage

Fibrous leaves can be used to create cordage in an emergency.

This natural rope can then be used to help you set up a shelter or catch animals in traps.

6 – Bandages

The plantain herb has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that you can use as a remedy for small cuts and scrapes.

All you have to do is chew up one of the leaves, spread it on the wounded area, and then use another leaf as a bandage to hold everything in place.

7 – Shingles

Finding suitable shelter is a top priority in a survival situation, and leaves can work as a replacement for expensive construction materials.

Large, durable leaves can be used as shingles for a lean-to and offer protection from the elements.

8 – Harvest Water

harvest water

I’ve written a blog post on all the equipment you’d normally need to harvest rainwater, but leaves are a great way to collect rainwater in an emergency.

9 – Tinder

Dry leaves work well as tinder if you find yourself in a situation where other fire making materials are scarce.

Published on by Survival Frog.
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