In To Start a Fire, Jack London exemplified the difficulties one faces when starting a fire in a seriously adverse survival situation. Since we always plan for the worst, our fire starting tools must be up to the task. All survival tools, including fire starters, should have the following characteristics.

- They should be capable of functioning in as many situations and conditions as possible. I refer to this as versatility.

- They should make minimum use of breakable mechanical parts. You need something reliable.

- They should be of a practical size for their given purpose. Portability is extremely important in a survival situation.

- They should be durable-something that can be used over and over again.

- Your tools should all have a long shelf life; they might have to endure harsh conditions in long-term storage.

Now let’s discuss the three most common types of modern fire making tools and see how each fares under the above criteria.

- Matches – Matches are the simplest modern fire starters. They are simple and contain no moving parts. They are small and extremely portable.They function well under most conditions, but not all. In wet and humid conditions, one must be extremely careful with matches, or you can quickly waste an entire box. As far as durability goes, you are limited by the number of matches you carry. Hope for one match per fire, but don’t plan on it. Also, matches leave something to be desired when it comes to long term storage. If not properly stored and cared for, matches can become damp and useless.

- Lighters – There are a variety of powerful butane survival lighters on the market. They function better than matches under most conditions. They are relatively small and portable. If properly cared for, they can be stored for long periods of time, and are basically impervious to water. Their durability is lacking since they are limited by the amount of fuel they contain.

- Flint and Steel (firesteel) – The modern method uses a piece of steel to ignite a shower of intense sparks (5000 degrees F) from a solid block of material, usually magnesium. Firesteel functions in all situations. If it becomes wet, it can easily be dried with material or in the open air. It uses no moving parts so it is reliable. It is small and can easily be carried in a pocket or pouch. One small block of the ignitable material will start somewhere around 5,000 fires. Plan on at least 10,000 matches and several butane lighters to do the same. Firesteel can be stored indefinitely and is immune to the effects of water and time.

Given the comparrison of the three methods, it is clear that firesteel is the most reliable, durable, versatile, and portable. Though extremely simple to use, as with all your survival tools, you should practice using firesteel before your life is on the line. A great firesteel can be found at Firesteel.com. Short of that, a combination of lighters and matches should prepare you for almost any situation.

For A Great Fire Starter, check out Antler Fire Starter

There are five different types of carnivorous plants. The well known type, the same family that the Venus Flytrap contains, is the snap trap family. Snap traps rely on a mouth that closes in around its victim, where the plant will eat anything it catches.

Next are pitfall traps. These traps rely on food tumbling into the plant and being unable to get out. These types undergo frequent evolution, as water can gather in the pitchers of the plant and also the bugs that the plant eats. These plants range from colorful to ugly, and do not have moving parts like their snap trap counterparts.

Flypaper traps are among some of the most unique carnivorous plants. These plants spew forth a glue which traps and consumes insects for food. These carnivorous plants should be treated with caution in the home, as the secretions can cause irritation to the skin.

Bladder traps are quite fascinating. These plants function through the osmosis of water to create a suction within the body of the plant. Once an insect or aquatic species has been trapped within, escape is difficult. Unlike many carnivorous plants, these are more commonly found underwater than above ground. Some classifications of the bladder traps, like the Bladderwort, don’t have roots, which makes them quite a creative addition to your collection in the garden.

Last but not least, the lobster pot traps are among some of the most odd appearing carnivorous plants that you can buy. These plants can make it through by allowing insects an easy way to gain entry, but little chance of escaping. In the case of the corkscrew plant, the internal structure of the plant have downward pointing obstructions and a y-shaped leaf form that prevents the escape of its prey. The unusual shapes of lobster pot traps are directly related to their evolution to halt the escape of bugs.

For those wanting a plant even more unusual in their herb gardening pots, there are several varieties of plants that do not meet all of the requirements of carnivorous plants, but have sharing characteristics. Such plants include the Brocchinia Roridula and the Martyniaceae species. These types of plants lack one of the three required aspects, which is to attract, kill and digest prey, to be classified as a proper carnivorous plant.

In making your herb garden, carnivorous plants should be tended where young children and babies cannot touch them. While quite a few of them are mostly harmless to humans, the consumption of these species should be avoided, due to the digestive enzymes that the plant utilizes to eat their victim.