Renters Can Prepare Too, by FLSnappyTurtle

Fifty secluded acres with a fully-stocked, underground bunker, an off grid cabin, and year-round clean water source is what comes to mind when I imagine my ideal prep situation. However, like many others who plan to survive TEOTWAWKI, my family cannot make this vision a reality right now. In the meantime, we rent homes. There are many reasons why folks choose to, or must, rent their living space, but that does not mean tenants cannot prepare for disasters and other negative world events. It may, however, require more creativity at times.

This article is written for the beginner survivalist and specifically for renters of apartments, duplexes, rooms, or other small spaces who wish to begin preparing for TEOTWAWKI. It will discuss four main issues a tenant may encounter and provide recommendations for each. These issues are: storage solutions, security challenges, greater food self-sufficiency, and prepping on a budget. The recommendations herein are based on my personal experiences and friends’ experiences.

Storage Solutions

Many renters are apartment dwellers who have little room for storage. Because apartments typically offer the least amount of living space, most of my solutions are tailored for this type of tenant. It is critical to make every inch of one’s rented space count.

One solution is to have furniture that is dual- or multi-purpose. If aesthetics are not a big concern for the renter, it will be very easy to add storage in a small place. For example, buy end tables that have drawers (file cabinets work well), and use a trunk or storage ottoman as a coffee table. With a little work, sofa beds can become large, secret storage areas by removing the inner workings of the bed and replacing and reinforcing the open area with a hand-built plywood box. In the bedroom, use risers to elevate the bed and create more under-the-bed storage. Big Lots and other closeout/discount stores often carry these for around $5.00. Plastic under-bed totes can be added to this system to increase organization. Another option is to build or buy a platform bed equipped with large drawers. Plans to build one’s own bed can be seen here: Platform Bed with Drawers. Again, locking file cabinets can be used as bedside tables or tucked into a coat closet for additional secure storage. These multi-purpose furniture ideas can be used to store water, first aid supplies, home protection tools, or extra food.

Every home has unused wall space. For the small apartment dweller, thinking vertically is important. If permanent anchors cannot be placed into the wall, a system of shelving units with boxes or baskets can be implemented. An unconventional approach to storage is: plastic milk jugs can be cut open and hung by the handles from a tension or curtain rod. This creates a basket where loose items may be stored for quick access. A person may sort coins, fasteners, ammunition, or other odds and ends with the jug system.

The two and a half gallon water jug can also be altered to create stackable storage:

  1. Cut the front face off (around the label) to create access, keeping the spout intact.
  2. Stack jugs two long by two high.
  3. Tie them together with cordage for added stability.

MREsand boxed or bagged instant meals can be stored in the water containers. A piece of paper can be taped over the opening for labeling or concealment purposes.

If one can use nails or tacks, hanging organization systems are very convenient. An example is a hanging file system. See one here: Hanging Storage Pockets. A possible use for these pockets is to organize the prepper’s printed guides or articles from magazines, and more. Hanging shelves may be used on the upper portion of walls where space is typically underutilized.

Free furniture can be altered into space saving storage. For example, we procured a very large executive desk and removed the legs. We first used it as a TV stand/media center, but it took up too much space in our small living room, so I took out the deep drawers and unscrewed the drawer faces from them. The remaining boxes were stacked horizontally on top of one another and fastened together with the screws, using a power drill. I created a storage shelf for my prepping library at no cost. The smaller drawers were painted and used as decorative shadow boxes on the wall.

Security Challenges

Security is a major concern for the renter. Without the ability to make permanent alterations to the structure, the renter’s adaptations must be creative and removable.

First, check all windows and doors for working locks. A renter could ask for permission to add an additional deadbolt or safety bar to the doors. Next, construct something that can wedge the door shut when placed under the door handle for each exterior door. At our last duplex, my significant other used a 4 x 4 piece of lumber and an extra rifle butt stock to create a wedge. He believed the rubberized butt stock would help absorb some of the shock if someone was ramming the front door. Sliding glass door tracks can be fitted with a large dowel or scrap of plywood to increase security. If budget and storage space allows, fabricate customized, sturdy window inserts from wood or Plexiglas.

Each room should contain at least one personal defense tool that is either hidden or “hidden in plain sight” and is easily accessible in an emergency. Knives and such could be stowed away, but baseball bats may be left out without causing any raised eyebrows from visitors. Of course, firearms should be kept out of the reach of untrained individuals and/or children at all times. If you own firearms, learn how to use them properly and practice shooting on a regular basis to gain skill and confidence with your self-defense tools. When space is an issue, it may be helpful to choose guns that use the same round of ammunition. This will require less storage space and organization on the gun owner’s part.

“Bugging in” is rarely an option for the renter, especially for the apartment dweller and especially for any prolonged amount of time. Care should be taken to have a bug out plan, and bug out bags or at minimum three day packs should be maintained regularly and kept near the door. Performing dry runs of the plan is critical for expedience in an emergency situation. Also, one must be realistic when preparing for disaster. There are situations that you may never be fully prepared for. Having a pack that covers the most basic survival needs (water, fire, shelter, first aid and food) will hopefully get one through many different disaster situations. My family has what we call the “bug in box” in addition to our bug out bags. This box contains items for longer term survival in our duplex, assuming total loss of the grid. Some of the extra items we’ve added include: cast iron cookware, siphon pumps, items to make a quick solar oven, hand crank flashlights, lots of paracord, bartering items like individual coffee packs, and an extensive first aid kit.

Having a plan for defending oneself and one’s property if trapped inside the apartment is as important as one’s bug out plan. Become familiar with the layout of the apartment and those apartments that share walls with it. Determine which areas provide the most cover if gunfire is exchanged within the home. Learn and practice tactical techniques regularly so that they will be “muscle memory” if a situation should arise.

Greater Food Self-Sufficiency

Images of large, lush gardens may enter one’s mind when thinking of food self-sufficiency. While that image may be ideal when striving for food self-sufficiency, there are steps the renter can take to become less dependent on commercial grocery stores.

Many renters do not have a front or backyard, only a balcony, patio, or front stoop. Those prepping for TEOTWAWKI may grow a portion of one’s own food, even if green space is lacking or non-existent.

Square foot gardening is a gardening method that may be adapted for potted gardens. The book Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew outlines how to create a soil mixture and plant efficiently in raised beds. Obviously, the patio gardener cannot build raised beds. In my own experience, the skills outlined in the above book can be implemented successfully in self-watering containers. By using one-gallon size pots, I equate this loosely with the one square foot area Mr. Bartholomew refers to in his book. The book’s author goes into great detail explaining which plants need the most space to grow and which plants can be neatly planted together.

If the cost of one-gallon pots (or pots of any size) are a concern for the renter, one need not worry! With the right soil mix and general care, plants will grow in nearly any container they are placed in. (Just make sure that plastic containers are food-grade.)

To make a self-watering container:

  1. Obtain an empty rectangular, one gallon water jug, like the one used for Natural Alpine Spring Water.
  2. Cut the jug so that, when the bottle neck is inverted into the base, there is approximately one inch between the bottle’s pour spout and the bottom of the container.
  3. Duct tape the two pieces together.
  4. Cut a small opening into the bottom section. (This is for refilling the water reservoir.)
  5. Duct tape any sharp edges.
  6. Place a piece of weed blocker or other thin fabric to cover the inverted bottle neck (to prevent soil from falling into the reservoir), securing with tape if necessary.
  7. Add soil mixture.
  8. Plant the seedling.
  9. Keep the reservoir filled so that the bottleneck is submerged. This allows the fabric to draw water up into the soil and the roots to reach the moist dirt.

If one wishes to water the old fashioned way, nearly any container will do. Simply poke a few drain holes into any of the following for an instant planter: yogurt cups, coffee cans, bottom halves of plastic drink bottles, berry containers (already have drain holes!), old cups and bowls, teapots, et cetera.

When growing plants from seed, plastic egg cartons with the center divider removed work well as mini-greenhouses. Plastic clamshells used for prepared lettuces can also be used for greenhouses. Mark the lid with a permanent marker to remember what was planted.

On the patio, group pots to mimic companion planting. This will help the plants survive and thrive.

Another option for the space-challenged gardener is to go vertical. Similar to the options mentioned in the “Storage Solutions” section, planting a vertical garden takes up minimal space and the harvest can still lead to greater food self-sufficiency. Suspending drink bottles horizontally on the wall is an innovative and increasingly popular way to grow food. This system works best for smaller plants like herbs and some lettuces, but using larger bottles may yield larger plants.

The advice above is not meant to be all inclusive; there are many creative ways to grow one’s own plants. The point is this: the renter can rely less on conventional food supply options when growing a portion of his or her own food.

Prepping on a Budget

Many renters rent out of financial necessity. Perhaps one has difficulty saving up for a down payment on a parcel of land. Perhaps one lost the home they owned, or perhaps renting just makes the most sense for a family. Whatever the renter’s reason is for being a tenant, budgeting and being thrifty is a great way to increase one’s preps without breaking the bank.

Take first aid supplies as an example. The pre-fab first aid kit can run up to $50. This kit has limited capabilities and may only be good for treating small cuts, bug bites, headaches, and mild allergies. At a one-dollar store, $10 will buy you the same basic items plus a few more, and the quantity of Band-Aids, gauze, and antibiotic cream will be much greater than what’s included in the pre-fab kit, leaving the purchaser better prepared for an emergency. In addition to first aid supplies, the dollar store can be utilized for “just add water” emergency food, tuna pouches, containers for organizing, and other various objects ideal for bug out bags and home disaster kits.

Remember to frequent the local thrift and second-hand stores, too. Try to plan a route and go at least once a week, since stock changes frequently at these stores. Many of my family’s preparedness items have come from thrift stores. This includes items like surplus military gear, galvanized buckets, first aid supplies (sterile tubing and gauze), cast iron cookware, camping items, and other things at very affordable prices. Also, don’t be afraid to negotiate with the cashier. My bugout first aid kit is housed in a compartmentalized bag I haggled down to $1.50 because of a loose strap.

Online sites, like freecycle.org or craigslist.org, can be good resources for gear too. One must use common sense and good judgement when responding to ads or requesting items online. Some items that are typically found for “free” online include bricks (good for building a rocket stove on a back patio), furniture (free furniture may free up money to be used on other preps), pallets (for building projects), and even food plants can be found for free.

Swallowing one’s pride and garbage picking is another great way to find survival gear. Get to know the trash pick-up days in the area and create a route to follow. I recommend checking the night before pick-up or very early the morning of. Apartment complexes usually have a great selection, due to the regular turnover of tenants. I have used grill grates from the garbage on my rocket stove. I have accumulated many unwanted dead plants for their pots. I once found an entire garbage bag of clean clothing; I kept what fit, cut up the ugliest stuff for rags, and donated the rest to a thrift store. I have picked up lamps, chairs, and other furniture. Any item I get at no cost frees up money for other survival items. Many of my shelving units and file cabinets have come from the garbage too. Of course, use good judgement and be sure to clean and sanitize anything picked up from the trash.

Budgeting may also include an allotment for prepping. Set aside a certain amount each week specifically for the purpose of preparedness. Creating a list of items to purchase or projects to complete, with approximate costs, can help the renter organize his or her needs. The renter can then list the items in order according to priority and do them as he or she can afford.

Renters are able to work towards self-sufficiency and preparedness just like homeowners do. With some creativity, planning, and trial and error, tenants can create a portable prepping paradise under someone else’s roof.

Letter Re: Scepter MFC and Water Can Repairs and Parts

Dear Hugh,

I remember reading a post from JWR some number of months ago in which he was asking any of the blog readers who had a spare new Scepter MFC nozzle to contact him. I recently had my Scepter MFC can nozzle hose crack and split. A search of the Internet located this source.

I ordered a few items from this source including a nozzle that supposedly worked on Scepter MFC’s. It did! Upon closer examination, I noticed that this vendor’s MFC nozzle used braided hose and that the hose contained markings indicating its size – 3/4in OD by 1/2in ID. Great! That hose turns out to be PVC braided hose that has many applications including pressurized hydraulics. Much better than the hose used on the Scepter MFC nozzles which use just a clear PVC hose. After a couple of trips to nearby Lowe’s stores (first store was out of stock), I found the 3/4in OD by 1/2in ID PVC braided hose – $1.29/foot. Bought several feet more than I needed – after all, the time to buy is when you see it!

The only thing I thought was a bit “short” in performance on the JAGMTE fuel nozzles was that their hoses are only 12 inches long. 18 inches is a much better and handier length. I repaired my Scepter MFC nozzle using 18 inches of the hose purchased from Lowe’s. The hose purchased from Lowe’s is identical to the hose used on the JAGMTE MFC nozzles except for the date of manufacture stamped on the hose. Fit nice and snugly into my Scepter MFC nozzle base. Now I have a great spare MFC hose. Bottom line: If any of your readers need parts for their Scepter MFC’s and water cans, JAGMTE is a possible source. Don’t forget Lowe’s for the hose! – J.M.

Economics and Investing:

When The Global Silver Shortage Arrives… It Will Be Too Late

o o o

The casino of Wall Street enters official correction territory: S&P 500 has increased on the back of a massively expanding Fed balance sheet.

o o o

Items from Mr. Econocobas:

No Bullard Bailout Today: Unscheduled Fed President Comments Leave BTFDers Bent Over

Is the Fed Looking for Excuses to Not Hike Rates? – This poor Mickey Levy guy just doesn’t get it.. The fed is not looking economic cover to raise rates. They are looking for cover to not raise rates, because they can’t unless they plan to bring down the entire economy with it.

How Much Longer Can Saudi Arabia’s Economy Hold Out Against Cheap Oil?

Weekend Reading: Is This The Big One?

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” Deuteronomy 16:18-19 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – August 21, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $10,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  9. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  4. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value).

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 60 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Multiple Families on Your Retreat, by Farmer Brown

When our family moved to our ranch/retreat, we spent the first year living in a 30-foot travel trailer in the barn. With five kids, ages fourteen down to one years old, it was a tight squeeze. That was some good rustic living experience; we used a wood stove for cooking, an outhouse as our toilet, solar showers, and solar power. We gained a lot of new skills and gained the motivation to get the old farm house fixed up and livable. Living in the barn also gave us and the kids a new appreciation for hot water, flush toilets, and gas cook stoves. Even running water at times was a luxury. Electrical power was a challenge, and getting the solar system working properly has been a learning curve that I am just getting the hang of after two years.

We spent weeks cleaning up the old farm house, beating back the weeds and blackberries, and fixing broken windows, pipes, and sagging floors. Needless to say it has been a lot of sweat equity, passion, tears, and work at side jobs to get to where we are today. There is still a lot to do, and I’m sure it will never be all done. However, that is okay, since this has always been a dream of ours to work together as a family in a situation where Dad is neither gone all day nor Mom run ragged trying to keep up with all the extra-curricular activities. A lot of sacrifices have been made along the way to get out of debt and downsize to break free from the golden handcuffs. This allowed me to retire from the corporate world and pursue our dream of homesteading. What an adventure it has been and will continue to be.

There has been no shortage of things that we have learned, surprisingly many of them the corporate world doesn’t prepare you for. In the books and articles, there seems to always be a reference to multi-family retreats, but typically it is only briefly touched on in the context that one family alone cannot keep up with all the chores and security. I would like to focus on our most recent experience with having another family live on our retreat. This article is written with the idea that things don’t always go as planned and the more you can outline and identify pitfalls ahead of time the more likely your multi-family experience will succeed.

We have a 140-acre ranch that is also our retreat. We recently invited another family out to live, work, and enjoy being off grid in the country with the intention of a long-term relationship. Before we made this move, we talked about a number of topics regarding family, faith, and preparedness, and after six months we came to a mutual agreement that they were going to find another place.

These are our lessons learned about establishing a multi-family retreat.

Relationships

Good relationships are going to be one of the most critical things to have in a multi-family retreat set up. It won’t matter that the hordes of people are trying to rob and kill you, if you’ve already killed each other. I’m only half joking; the stress of living with another family can be very real, so don’t overlook this part of planning.

When we invited the other family to join us on the ranch/retreat we assumed a lot. Even though we did sit down and talk about some things, like logistics and living arrangements, we didn’t spend enough time on the more daily things like schooling, family time, lifestyles, and beliefs. These daily items were the source of a lot of our heartache.

Communication

We allowed our decision/assumption to be formed on, of all things, social media. Even though we were not close friends, we considered ourselves friends and had communicated a lot through Facebook and email in the past. Social media is not a good judge of who a person really is. We typically only post what we want people to see and know. Like all things, we should have made a list of musts and wants. What must all of your retreat families have? They must have good communication– the ability to discuss difficult topics and objectively look at yourself and others without becoming bitter or angry. Are you aligned on important items that your retreat is founded on?

You need to be very clear what is expected of each family, even though it may sound overbearing. You need to agree to who will clean the corrals, pick up all the dog poop, weed the garden, maintain the generator, and service the solar system batteries? You are setting up the ranch/retreat, and you will need to make your expectations clear for other families to either be able to accept or not. Letting things be unsaid or unknown only leads to frustration down the road when it doesn’t work out how you planned.

Conflict Resolution

A clear conflict resolution process needs to be laid out as well and all parties agree to follow it. I would go as far as having families sign an agreement on how resolution management will be handled. Just saying “we can work through anything if we just talk about it” is not enough. Some retreats have bylaws, memos of understandings (MOU’s), and standard operating procedures (SOP’s), which are all good things. You will have to decide how much or little you need. I have decided, after our experience, to always have more procedures and details for operating in close confinements with another family instead of less.

Children/Schooling

Another topic under relationships is children. Living together on a ranch/retreat with multiple families with children means your kids will be spending a lot of time together. We both home schooled and had kids in similar age groups and thought we were aligned but found we had completely different takes on schooling. Our routine consisted of book schooling (reading, writing, and arithmetic) in the morning, and the afternoon was spent on life schooling (animals, gardening, construction, and equipment operation). My nine year old is better than I am on the excavator, and our 14 year old can run the 10-speed split rear-end dump truck like a pro. We enjoyed this time together as a family and didn’t realize how much it would change with another family at the ranch/retreat.

Our new family also home schooled, but their daily schedule was a lot different than ours. The kids did three pages from their workbooks and spent the rest of the day playing and exploring. By 10am the constant back and forth in front of the house on bikes and four wheelers was enough to end our morning session, since it is almost impossible to focus on school when you want to be outside with your friends. In the afternoons we had life schooling, only after prying the kids apart. The time of wanting to work and be with mom and dad became a chore instead of a joy.

So don’t fool yourself and say we do it different, but it will work. You will succumb to the least common denominator. So you need to either be okay with this or define the expectations ahead of time, because after you have moved another family or two onto your retreat, it’s a little late to change the rules.

Livestock and Animals

On our ranch, livestock and animals are a big part of the program. An added benefit was that our new family brought a couple of dairy cows, pigs, and chickens as well as three dogs, two cats, and a bunch of ducks. We had previously discussed what space the animals could use full-time and some temporary space they could use until pens could be built. What we didn’t discuss was how long “temporary” meant and to what standard the space would be kept. We assumed they would be like us and do things to our standard. We quickly found that our standard for cleanliness and upkeep was quite different than theirs. This became an area that brought with it stress and division. We ultimately had to take a hard line and lay out the new requirements when our suggestions were not heeded. This would have been avoided with a much more detailed discussion in the beginning. Going forward, the plan is for the ranch/retreat to acquire and own all animals. This will allow them to be managed to our standard and ensure cleanliness, animal health, and the assurance that proper feed will be provided. This also allows all families to share in the care of and benefit from the milk, eggs, and meat, instead of each family providing their own animals. Another consideration is if a family decides to leave and they own the animals, as in our case, a large part of your food source may walk away as well. A better solution is that the ranch/retreat acquire the animals so they are a permanent part of the program. At this point, we are in the process of filling this void so that we won’t be without eggs and milk for very long.

Whether you decide to have individually owned and cared for or retreat-owned animals, be sure to spend the time to clearly outline and define the expectations of how animals will be penned, fed, cleaned, and their health maintained.

Work Assignments/Load

As with any ranch/retreat there will be no lack of work to do. Who will be responsible for what jobs needs to be on your prescreening interview list.

If it is your ranch/retreat, you will be used to doing everything yourself. However, a big reason for having multiple families is to share the work load. We had discussed this before the second family moved in. Once again, we did not go to the next step of defining the roles and responsibilities of all parties. This is a must do. What you think is common sense and obvious may not even occur to your new family. We found that they were good at taking care of their things, but when it came to the ranch facilities and equipment it fell below our standards. We discussed with the new family and agreed that 32 hours per month of work was fair. Unfortunately, we had to implement a weekly job review and clearly define timelines, since things were not getting done. Don’t be afraid to have a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule, and then be prepared to have to be the manager to keep people on task. I know ideally all parties would self manage their time and productivity, but we are all human and need some encouraging to stay focused. A set time to sit down and review the schedule, touch base on current projects, and just connect for fellowship would be a must on my list.

Finances

Finances are one of the unspoken issues for any ranch/retreat. There is a growing fad to unplug from the rat race and just homestead. The challenge is then how do you make enough money to provide the basic needs of your family and pay for the mortgage on your ranch/retreat, insurance, fuel, food, repairs, improvements, and the things that will come up monthly. No matter how passionate you are about prepping or homesteading, the bills will not pay themselves. A source of income is a must. If you can earn enough from a ranch/retreat-based business, you are very fortunate. We have hay and cows that we raise to sell and eat, but this only brings in about 25% of our annual budget. Until we can grow the ranch-based business, we are dependant on side work in town. I was fortunate to find a niche market in the aviation industry and am able to do a couple of jobs a month to supplement the ranch income.

The reality is that you will not just head to the hills and be self-reliant without an income stream. It takes money to set up a ranch/retreat, and you will need to have a discussion with the family you are considering about whether they can support themselves. If they can not, then are you willing to fund the extra expenses they add in exchange for work on the retreat/ranch? There may be times when you would consider a family that may not have adequate resources because they brings enough skills and ability to offset the extra expense. Either way, go into it with your eyes open and not hoping it all works out. We found very quickly that we were not prepared to carry the extra costs and our new family was not able to provide for their added expense. One of the biggest expenses when you are operating off grid is the electricity. You have a limited power supply, unless you spend the big bucks to upgrade your solar and battery bank. If not, then you are left with operating a generator to make up the difference. Running a generator daily becomes a very expensive process very quickly. On average we were using three gallons a day of fuel/propane. This was not something we had budgeted for or anticipated. So look at your power consumption and estimate high when looking at bringing a new family on board.

Since you are going to all of the effort to plan for a time when self reliance is a must, you will want to discuss individual responsibilities with potential families. What are the group expenses that will be shared and what are the individual responsibilities? Talking about money is not always a popular topic, but going over someone’s budget and finances will tell you very quickly how serious someone is about living on a ranch/retreat. If they are carrying a huge debt load and living pay check to pay check, then you can be sure that living off grid is not going to be sustainable, unless they are working full-time in town. How much are they currently putting into preparedness? They won’t last long, if they are not committed to this lifestyle with their finances. As the saying goes “put your money where you mouth is”. I’ve talked to a number of people who are very outspoken on the trials to come and how bad they think it is going to be, yet they have not put a single dollar into the three B’s– beans, bullets, and Band-Aids. Just because somebody can talk the talk doesn’t mean much, if they haven’t put their blood, sweat, and tears into preparing.

References

You may also benefit from checking references. I thought I knew our friends better but we had never worked on any real jobs together or seen how they handled finances, home schooling, and many other aspects of life. Had we been more inquisitive we would have been a lot more prepared for how things turned out. In all reality, we probably would not have gone ahead with moving them out to the ranch/retreat. I ran into a previous employer of his who also was an acquaintance and asked a few questions regarding work ethics, self motivation, and whether he would employ him again. This would have been good to know before spending six months finding out first hand. I understand that you may not have access to past employers or be able to get any more information than what the state says they are allowed, but you can ask potential families for personal references that don’t have the same limitations and can talk more frankly about the prospective family. The more you do upfront toward vetting potential families, the better shot you have at succeeding. This doesn’t mean you will not have challenges or disagreements, but if you have all agreed on how those are to be handled ahead of time, you will at least be on the same page. Even with all your lists, questions, SOPs, and outlines, sometimes people are just not a good fit. Be willing to let someone go their own way if it is not working. Remember, this should be an enjoyable experience for all.

So, keep updating that list as you learn some more do’s and don’ts for multi-family living. I know I will be.

Letter: Notes from Jack Hinson’s One-Man War, A Civil War Sniper

Hugh,

I recently read Jack Hinson’s One-Man War, A Civil War Sniper by Tom McKenney; I also like when I read JWR’s books, so I took down a few notes.

This is a story of prosperous happy times that degraded into pestilence, war, famine, and death. It is also a story of survival, in a very dangerous time.

Body, Mind, and Soul – Hinson had a good physical condition with great upper body strength, exceptionally long arms, and excellent eyesight. He was of pioneer mindset, sharp minded, had good business skills, yet soft spoken and reserved. There is little mentioned of church attendance, but it seems like his family was religious and they enthusiastically celebrated Christmas. They may have had homestead services? At times, they did some praying. like when a loved one left to return to the war.

Neutrality – Jack Hinson tried to stay neutral as long as he could, but the actions of the occupation soldiers forced him to take sides. So, many folks decide that they are just going to sit this one out, only to be drawn into events.

Martial Law – Occupation forces conducted summary executions, imprisonments without trial, and other atrocities. Martial law lasted for a long time, twelve years beyond the end of the war.

No Amnesty – Hinson was a fugitive from the occupations forces, even after the end of the war, when most combatants were pardoned and paroled.

Recognition – There were several examples of how the occupation forces were unable to identify folks they had in custody. Of course, this is before finger prints, voice and photo recognition, communications, databases, and DNA testing.

Homestead – The Hinson’s had a large tract of land, with a large staff, houses, barns, and shelters that facilitated food production, food preservation, food storage, cash crops, and lodging income. They were very self sufficient.

Bug out – The Hinson’s had a bug out plan that allowed them to escape execution and imprisonment after being warned of an impending raid by occupation forces. However, children died from pestilence, shortly thereafter at the bug out location.

Cover of night – When visiting friends and family, Hinson always arrived just after dark and departed before sunrise. He traveled at night while bugging out and sometimes while traveling to ambush sites. He didn’t have to contend with night vision, thermal imaging, electric lights, trail cameras, Dakota alerts, or aviation assets like drones, helicopters, gunships, and satellites, et cetera.

Cache – At several points, firearms, food, wealth, and valuables, were successfully cached away from buildings, quarters, and shelters to prevent seizure by occupation forces.

Marksmanship – Hinson had exceptional eyesight, excellent marksmanship skills, even in old age, and a long range capability that allowed him to engage forces when it was hard for them to counterattack, one against many. Although Hinson had no mentioned military training, he seemed to have a very good understanding of military tactics. Maybe back then, military history and training were considered to be part of a normal education, more so than today?

Scouting – Before the war, Hinson was a land speculator as well, so he traveled all over the countryside as well as on hunting trips. He had a great knowledge of the area, which he used to plan his operations and later used to help Gen. Forrest win the Battle of Johnsonville, Nov. 4–5, 1864.

Wealth – The Hinson’s retained their wealth in silver and gold coins, which were still valuable after the Confederate currency was destroyed. This allowed them to relocate after the war to a more remote location.

Holocaust – The period of time after the war that was one of great hardship under occupation and martial law. It is never referred to as the holocaust in TN, but the book mentions a twelve year period. My FL relatives mention a ten year period and refer to it as the Holocaust. Some folks called it Reconstruction, and others the Holocaust. Regardless, those 15 to 17 years were years of great hardship for those in occupied lands.

Shortened Life Expectancy – Hinson, his wife, and veteran son all died early deaths attributed to the strain of combat and the occupation.

It would be interesting to hear from other SurvivalBlog readers who have read this book, as to what they have gleaned from it. – T.J.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Bedtime Stories for Young Brains – D.C.

o o o

Young people: read this before you mess up your lives – S.B.

o o o

Meet The Scary Little Security Robot That’s Patrolling Silicon Valley – P.S.

o o o

Social Security Admits Plan to Add Recipients to Gun Background Check System – G.P.

o o o

Mexico now inspects passports at land border crossing from US, and charges $20.00 fee to enter – time to boycott this cesspool? – P.M.

Notes for Thursday – August 20, 2015

20 August 1935 is the birthday of former Congressman Ron Paul. He recently retired from Congress. Dr. Paul is to be commended for fighting the good fight for many years.

August 20th, 1866 is also the day that president Andrew Johnson formally declared the Civil War over.

o o o

Today, we present another entry for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $10,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  9. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  4. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value).

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 60 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

How to Obtain Your Amateur Radio License, by N.M.

This article will provide you with some information on how to study for and obtain your Ham/amateur radio license and what to look for in your first radio.

License Classes

The amateur radio (aka “Ham”) licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are issued in three classes– Technician, General, Amateur Extra (usually just called Extra). Each license class brings increasing privileges of frequencies that can be used. There are three grandfathered licenses classes called Novice, Technician Plus, and Advanced. The Novice license was issued to those who passed the old five word per minute (wpm) Morse code test but not the written test for the Technician. The Technician Plus was issued to Technicians who passed the five wpm Morse test. The Advanced was a class between the General and Extra. There is no longer a Morse code test for any of the license classes.

Testing

Testing for the FCC license is conducted by at least three volunteer examiners, otherwise known as VEs. VEs submit test results through a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, also otherwise known as VECs. The VEC is an organization that creates and administers tests based on FCC guidelines and submits test results to the FCC. The FCC authorizes the VECs to charge a fee for administering exams, currently up to $15. The fee is per sitting of the exam; in other words, if you pass the Technician you can take the General for the same fee. In fact you could take all three exams for $15 if you pass the preceding one. You have to answer a certain amount of questions correctly to pass each licensing test, which is listed below:

  • The Technician exam is 35 questions; you need to get 26 correct to pass.
  • The General exam is 35 questions; you need to get 26 correct to pass.
  • The Amateur Extra is 50 questions; you need to get 37 correct to pass.

The license is good for 10 years. If you wish to renew, you simply apply to the FCC.

There are a number of VECs. The two most commonly known ones are the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) and W5YI. A full list of VECs is available.

There are usually exams monthly in most areas of the country. Exams can be found at:

Studying for the Exams

There are a number of websites that offer free study material and sample tests. I have included the links to some websites below. Additionally, ARRL and W5YI sell text books as well as audio and video material.

Some study sites include:

I Passed! What Do I Do Next?

You will receive a Certificate of Successful Completions of Examination (CSCE) when you take your test. You may begin using your new Technician privileges as soon as your name and call sign appear in the FCC database. You do not need your license in hand to begin using your Technician privileges. The FCC no longer issues paper licenses, so you can go online and print from their database. Check the FCC database. (or Google “FCC ULS” and follow the prompts to search the Amateur database. If you previously had a Technician or General class and upgraded, you can begin using your new privileges as soon as you pass. The bottom of the Certificate of Successful Completions of Examination indicates the actions you need to take to correctly identify your station until the upgrade appears in the FCC database.

Find a Local Club

A Google search should reveal clubs in your area. You will probably find they have a repeater, or several. You should not have any trouble finding an “Elmer”– an experienced Ham who is willing to give you advice. Your Elmer can help you program radios and may give you advice on what to look for in a radio, including the different radio (repeater) systems that are in your area. A local club might also run classes for licenses.

What Frequencies/Bands Can I Operate On?

Band plans show what frequencies you can operate on depending on your license. These can be found at:

Most newly licensed Hams start out using voice, mostly through repeaters. A repeater is usually located on a mountain or other high place. It receives the “weaker” (five watts for a hand-held) signal from your radio and retransmits it, usually somewhere between 50-100 watts. This means you can talk to someone 50 or more miles away. Some repeaters are linked by radio, microwave, or Internet. You talk on one, and you could be heard on any number of repeaters around your state or multiple states.

Other systems link repeaters across the country or even the world. Therefore, with a Technician license you could be talking on your hand held to someone on the other side of the world. Some of these linked systems allow you, the user, to select which other linked repeaters you want to talk to, such as Echolink[1], IRLP[2], and D-STAR[3]. Others are permanently linked, such as DMR[4].

D-STAR and IRLP are interconnect systems that are connected to an existing repeater. Simple codes let you connect to other repeaters. Echolink is usually connected to a repeater but also has an application you can download to your computer, and after verification that you have a license, allow you to connect to other repeaters through your computer.

DMR is a digital form of communications, usually on the 2 meter or 70cm bands. These radios will also do analog communications for the common 2 meter and 70cm repeaters. Connect Systems[5] sells a very inexpensive DMR radio. Colorado has one of the most extensive DMR repeater systems in the country. DMR radios take some skill to program, however the Rocky Mountain Ham Radio[6] group operates the network in Colorado, which extends to Wyoming and Arizona, and provide complete code plugs (the code for programming the radio) for most DMR radios. Most local groups that operate DMR networks offer assistance with programming.

For a more detailed explanation on radio bands, radio services, such as GMRS and FRS, and other information on communications in an emergency, please refer to the SurvivalBlog article, “Communications For When SHTF” by N.M.

What Repeaters Can I Use?

Before you buy a radio, see what is in your area so that you have an idea of what frequencies (bands) you want to talk on. Most common bands are VHF (2 meters) and UHF (440MHz or 70cm). Typically rural areas will have more 2-meter repeaters as the signal covers further. Urban areas tend to have more 440 repeaters. Other repeaters accessible with a Technician license can be found on 23cm (1.2Ghz or “1270” band), 33cm (900Mhz), 1.2 meters (220Mhz), 6 meters, and/or 10 meters.

A Technician class operator can operate in all of these bands. Some areas also have a form of digital repeaters, such as D-STAR and DMR. Both of these require a specific type of radio, which will be discussed further below. A Google search for ‘amateur repeaters’ will result is several sites that provide lists of repeater systems in your area. There are also apps for smart phones. Some repeater search sites are:

  • ArtSciPub
  • The Repeater Book shows search groups by band, type, (i.e., D-STAR, Echolink, IRLP, DMR, linked, et cetera), wide area coverage, systems (repeater groups), use such as ARES, as well as coverage of major routes, and location by towns and counties.

What Radio Should I Buy?

Note that the radios listed below are not an endorsement of any particular radio. Some are listed because they appear to be a common first purchase or because a current look up of the capabilities (i.e. bands or memory channels) appear to present a useful combination.

If you are looking at a mobile or home installation, consider a multi-band radio. Currently, Yaesu offers a FT-8900R[7], which is 10m/6m/2m/440 for under $400. This radio, with a suitable antenna, will provide voice (phone) operation on (2m/70cm) frequencies a Technician can operate on and give you a taste for HF operations on 10 and 6 meters. If you operate one of these radios with a Technician class license, make sure you have a band plan with you, as a Technician is only allowed to operate on certain frequencies on 10 meters (28300-28500MHz). Of course, if you get one of the radios listed below you can operate Morse code (CW) on several other HF bands as a Technician.

If you are planning on advancing to General and Extra class and you have the budget, there are a few HF radios that also have 2m/440 and could be mounted in a vehicle or operated at home. The only current models appear to be the Yaesu FT-857D[8] and the Icom IC-7100[9]. The IC-7100 replaced the Icom 706MkIIG[10], one of which the author operates. I’m not sure that the IC-7100 face plate could be easily installed in many new model vehicles. If you look around for used radios, I strongly suggest you get help from a local Elmer or club to make sure you don’t get sold a box of parts.

Other considerations include whether you want to use FRS and/or GMRS frequencies. (See the article titled “Communications for When SHTF” for detailed explanation on these other radio systems).

NOTE: You must have a GMRS license from the FCC to use GMRS frequencies. Currently the license is $90 and is valid for five years. In 2010 the FCC filed to dissolve the fee, but this is still pending. Another consideration is how many channels you wish to program into the radio. Also, consider your needs for emergency communications, such as the AMRRON network.

Most new Hams purchase a hand-held radio as their first Ham radio. Many are purchasing the Baofeng radios, commonly the UV5R, F8HP, and UV-82HP models. These radios work on both the 2-meter and 70cm bands and cover the weather band, GMRS, FRS, and MURS frequencies. These radios are very inexpensive but are not as good quality as some of the major brands, such as Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, and Alinco. The Baofeng radios usually have about 128 memory channels to store frequencies in. The major brands typically have larger memories. The Yaesu VX-6R[11] offers 2m/220/440 and 900 memory channels. The Yaesu FT-60R[12] (2m/440) offers over 1,000 channels. A good website to compare features is: Universal Radio[13]. If you are considering the need to use a DMR network then Connect Systems[14] has some good radios at reasonable prices, however these are single band, either 2 meter or 70cm.

If you are considering the need to use D-STAR, then you will need to purchase an appropriate Icom[15] radio. Connect Systems has reported that they are working on a DMR/analog radio that will also be capable of operating on D-STAR systems.

One band that is very much overlooked is the 1.2 meter (220MHz) band. If you have a “220” repeater in your area, you should consider a radio that has that capability. If you have a group of people and you want to be able to talk where very few people are, this is the place. There are a couple of handheld radios on the market that have 2-meter, 70cm, and 220 capability– Yaesu VX-6R[16], Yaesu VX-8DR[17] and Kenwood TH-F6A[18]. Unfortunately, the Yaesu radios only offer low power on 220; the Kenwood model has a full 5 watts on 220. Currently there are no multi-band mobile radios with the 220 band, and the only 220 mobile radios available are the Alinco DR-235T[19] and the Jetstream JT222M[20]. It should be noted that Alinco has, at least for the past 10 years or more, always offered the 220 mobile.

If you are purchasing a hand-held as your first radio, you should also purchase an extension antenna. The antennas that come with radios (aka “rubber ducks”) are not very efficient. You should also consider the ability to obtain a battery pack that will take AA batteries as these are more plentiful than the ability to recharge a radio in the fields.

You can also buy an antenna for the outside of your vehicle. While a portable radio is usually no more than five watts, putting an antenna on the outside of your vehicle will increase the range. If you do this you will need a short extension cable with a connector on one end to connect to the antenna cable and one to connect to your radio on the other, as most antenna cables are not the same connector that is on hand-held radios. If you simply buy an adaptor, the extra weight puts a strain on the connections inside the radio, and they will break over time.

Another consideration is whether there is software to assist in programming the radio and whether it is included in the costs or an additional fee together with the programing cable. While programming software is helpful, you should also consider how easy the radio is to program from the keypad for field programming. The Icom and Alinco radios are a little easier to program from the keypad. Radios with D-STAR are considerably more difficult to program from the keypad, and DMR radios have to be programmed with software. Again, these are things that an Elmer can help you with.

I Have A Radio; Now What?

Listen, listen, listen! You will want to listen for a while to get a feel for how conversations usually go. Find out when local nets are. An internet search, or your local club’s website, will usually have this information. Some nets are informal, while others pass “traffic” messages that are passed from one Ham to another until someone in the intended area takes it and delivers it to the intended recipient. This is just like the old telegram system. It is practiced so when the commercial systems are down in a disaster area, such as in Katrina, messages can still be passed.

Practice, practice, practice! You need to get on and talk to people. If you are part of a group, you can ask a local repeater owner if you can use their repeater at a certain time for your own net. Remember that everyone can hear; Ham radio is not secure.

Opportunities:

Look for an opportunity to be involved with the national Field Day[21]! This will give you great hands-on experience and a chance to contest! CQ Field Day is a wonderful event to get children and teens excited about amateur radio. Field Day is usually held the last full weekend in June.

Community Service:

Your newly acquired Ham radio skills can also be used to help your community in times of emergency, such as forest fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. You can look for an ARES[22] (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) group in your area. Normally these groups are organized by county.

Other Advice:

It is strongly suggested that you now look at upgrading your license to General so that you can obtain privileges of HF (“shortwave”) and talk longer distances without the need for a repeater. Again, refer to the study material references cited earlier and look for a local club that is offering a class. There are many other areas of Ham radio that you might wish to explore. These include learning Morse code. W5YI sells some excellent CDs to help you learn. There are many other digital forms of communication over Ham radio. This web page[23] has a good summary of many of them. Another great emergency communications over Ham radio applications is Winlink[24]. Many local ARES groups use this to assist their local emergency management and other agencies in an emergency or disaster.

This article was intended as a “primer” to get you started with your Technician license. I hope you have found this useful. Good luck with obtaining your Technician license, and I hope to catch you on the air sometime.

References:

References


[1]Echolink


[2]IRLP


[3]D-STAR


[4]DMR


[5]Connect Systems


[6]Rocky Mountain Ham Radio


[7]Yaesu FT-8900R


[8]Yaesu FT-857D


[9]Icom IC-7100


[10]Icom IC-706MkIIG


[11]Yaesu VX-6R


[12]Yaesu FT-60R


[13]Universal Radio


[14]Connect Systems


[15]Icom D-STAR radios


[16]Yaesu VX-6R


[17]Yaesu VX-8DR


[18]Kenwood TH-F6A


[19]Alinco DR-235T


[20]Jetstream JT222M


[21]Field Day


[22]ARES


[23]Digital Communications


[24]Winlink

Letter Re: Low-Budget TEOTWAWKI Preps – Part 2

Hugh:

While the article discusses three specific breeds of protection type dogs, the author is incorrect in saying that German Shepherd dogs are a danger to families with small children. As a former USAF K9 handler and former law enforcement officer, we’ve now had German Shepherd dogs in our family for the past 35 years with not a single “issue”, bite, or wanton/reckless/attack to our children, grandchildren, their friends, or neighbor children. Well trained dogs do not attack at all, and even a family pet does not attack without provocation. Oh, and yes our insurer (the same one for 38 years-USAA) knows we have two and have had two pure bred German Shepherd dogs; we haven’t had an increase nor a claim from those dogs either. Have our family pets (trained protection dogs as well) stopped potential intruders cold? Absolutely. So, on that point, the author is correct. Inbred dogs are far more likely to have behavioral issues, resulting in attacking their owners; in particular, pit bulls have been horribly inbred, and most of the wanton attacks from pit bulls are not from family pets but from lowlifes who have them since they are unable to legally own or possess firearms. So, yes those dogs are usually abused by those same people, and yes, those are the dogs from my professional experience that “attack” children and seniors in the neighborhoods in which they reside. – M.S.

HJL Responds: German Shepherds are actually listed on the list of the top 10 most dangerous dogs. There is some controversy in how this list is maintained, but the fact remains that German Shepherds do account for a significant number of “accidental” injuries and deaths caused by dogs. We also have had German Shepherd dogs for several decades in our family, and I will state that if you really understand German Shepherds and people this is not difficult to see. The German Shepherd has a higher-than-average intelligence, and like all intelligent dogs they will get into trouble if left to themselves. It is a breed that is bored easily and demands a job to perform. Add to that the natural aggressiveness that they are bred for and you have a recipe for disaster, if you buy one and toss it into your backyard, expecting it to patrol your property. These dogs demand a close working relationship with their handlers and under those conditions, they make wonderful working dogs and family pets. Left to themselves, they will eventually cause issues. This is not a breed that a family who is not willing to have the dog by their side should own. I have personally seen this breed turn on children who taunted it and turn on a master who was attempting to discipline a child whom the dog felt protective of. Conversely, I have never seen a German Shepherd cut loose when it had a close relationship with an adult handler. The exact opposite is true at that point; the dog strives to please the handler.

You can consider owning a German Shepherd in the same class as a firearm. If you buy it and spend no time with it, it will probably hurt you or someone else from misuse. If you take the time to develop familiarity and a relationship, you will have one of the finest companions/helpers there is.