Kenneth Olsen

I've always wanted to do things my own way. When I was 7 years old, I decided I’d waited long enough to learn how to ride a bike, so I taught myself. My dad tried to help, but I insisted on doing it myself. Practice mostly consisted of falling over (thankfully, dad did manage to get me in safety gear), but eventually, I was riding up and down the block. I remember that sense of pride. I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.

I was lucky to have parents that encouraged this trait in me. We were an outdoorsy family, so most weekends in the summer were spent camping. I learned how to build a fire, identify edible plants, and use a compass. For a while, I didn’t really think about the idea of prepping at home. That changed when my dad suddenly lost his job when I was in high school. I immediately began worrying that we would run out of money and we wouldn’t be able to buy enough food. When I expressed my fears to my mom, she showed me her emergency pantry. It was full of canned and dry goods. “We’ll always have enough to eat, Ken,” she comforted me. “We’re ready for anything.” The wave of relief that washed over me was powerful. I decided then and there that I would always make sure I thought ahead and anticipated emergencies.

I’ve kept up my self-sufficient habits. In college, I challenged myself and camped alone for a week. I still go camping regularly with my family, but I’m more focused on preparing our home for whatever the future might hold. That means building lots of shelf space for food, mastering my sewing skills, and working toward one day getting off the grid. I’m very lucky to have the support of my wife, who is just as passionate about prepping as I am. We’re proud to raise children who will be able to take care of themselves.