Notes for Friday – January 01, 2016

John Cantius Garand (January 1, 1888-February 16, 1974) was born in St. Rémi, Quebec. John Garand designed one of America’s best known battle rifles, the M1 Garand. General Patton praised Garand’s design, writing to Chief of Ordnance Lt. Gen. Levin H. Campbell, Jr., (January 26, 1945): “The M1 rifle is the most deadly rifle in the world.”

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Good news for those who read SurvivalBlog on a mobile device, but whose eyes are not as sharp as they once were…pinch zooming has now been implemented on the blog.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. 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),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd 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),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus 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),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. 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, 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. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. 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 $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. 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 62 ends on January 31st, 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.

Building a Redoubt Kit, by M.C.

Anyone who has seriously considered preparation for TEOTWAWKI knows that the ultimate preparation is to have a well-outfitted redoubt, located in a remote location. Unless you’re rich and you can purchase one with all the trimmings or you’ve been working on it for several years already, you’re feeling significant apprehension as current events imply time is short and you are unprepared.

Why Have a Redoubt Kit?

Now, if you are the diligent one that built a well-stocked redoubt but find that over time civilization has overtaken the area, this is for you also. Finally, if you have your redoubt, it has not been encroached on by civilization, and you think you’re fat, dumb, and happy, you still may want to consider a redoubt kit. Why? Things change, stuff happens, and if you ever have to abandon your redoubt, you’re going to want to do it with a lot more than a bug out bag. An example of this is in Rawles’ book Patriots, where the group had to flee the redoubt because of impending forces. If that happens to you in a typical Montana winter your chances of survival are very slim, unless you have a redoubt kit.

Most of us have carefully assembled our bug-out bags, spent time educating ourselves on how to survive, and acquired new skills—all of which make us feel better. However, the more educated we become, the more we are confronted with the reality that true survivability is attained by reaching a state of “sustainment”. Unlike having a year’s worth of supplies stored, sustainment serves to provide an endless or perpetual supply. Growing and preserving food while harvesting the seeds for the next season is an example of a sustainable supply. Having a solar electrical system to provide power for lights and other amenities is another. A redoubt contains these and many more products and processes, that when put together provide a relatively comfortable and sustainable living. This is not to say that bartering with others for expendables or skills you don’t have is a failure to reach sustainment. On the contrary; this factors in the larger concept of a redoubt community.

I believe the redoubt to be essential to sustainable survival, though it can take different forms. Native American tribes demonstrated this before the explorers disrupted their way of life. Everything they needed came from the environment where they lived. Some were nomadic hunters, and some were farmers of the land. There were those, like the Apache, who lived in high mountain deserts of the southwest, and by contrast there were the Inuit, who traveled the icy sub-zero temperatures of the arctic. Survival sustainment can be achieved just about anywhere, but you must have the skills and knowledge of the environment you’re in to be able to be successful. It’s a lot of work, and it’s a full time job, make no mistake.

The natives made their own tools out of what was available, and these served them well until the invaders came with firearms and cannon, which were a definite game changer. I bring this up because acquiring the skills of the Native American in an environment of your choosing would not be enough today. The population expansion in the United States alone is a game changer in that it leaves fewer places for a redoubt to exist and in harsher environments. So, there’s no doubt you need a redoubt (pun intended). I believe time is short and if you don’t have a lot of money or you haven’t been working your redoubt and are nearly complete, there is an alternative for you to consider– a redoubt kit.

What’s a Redoubt Kit?

The redoubt kit is like a big bug-out bag, except that instead of being designed to keep you alive for a short term, it’s designed to get you into a state of long-term sustainment. The kit can be a small-to-medium sized trailer, depending on what items you need to support yourself in the environment you choose. It could also be buried in or near your location or some combination of buried and trailered. Maybe instead of a trailer, you need a boat. There are too many variables to cover here. Folks want to be in an environment they are comfortable with, because that’s what they know. From a Louisiana swamp to the mountains of Montana, it’s really about where you choose to find your redoubt and for that reason the first step is to identify the location. You really can’t plan or build your kit unless you know where you’re going.

Selecting a site for your redoubt kit is very similar to buying one except you won’t own the land. You’re not even going to rent it. For this reason, your target areas should be places like national forests, BLM, state preserves or reserves, and other governmental lands. Why? Because unlike private properties that will likely be protected by hostile owners, the government employees entrusted with managing these lands are not going to be working after TEOTWAWKI debuts. Their posts will very likely be abandoned.

Am I advocating that you be a “squatter”? I have no right to give you permission to do so. It is not the ideal solution and carries potential legal ramifications, depending on where you go; you should know that. If you have financial means to purchase a property, then do it. If not, you have to consider less than ideal options and your alternative is staying in a city under siege where your family will eventually succumb to looters or worse. I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.

Where?

The same rules that apply for a conventional redoubt, also apply here. Start looking in locations or areas that are just over the distance that a tank of gas would get you from a large-to-medium sized city– about 350 to 400 miles. This a bit different for those using a boat, but the idea of separation is the same. Those who would come to steal the provisions of others will think twice if their chances of success are slim. Imagine you are a pillaging thug and you have a vehicle with a full tank. Would you risk extending yourself to a one-way trip, if you didn’t have a reasonable assertion of finding fuel and provisions when you arrived?

Thugs aren’t the only ones who will trouble you either. Imagine a reasonable upstanding citizen who flees the city to get away from the thugs, but he carries only what he can get in the vehicle, which is probably food, water, some camping equipment, and maybe a gun or two. It’s all good, until he runs out of provisions and becomes desperate. He will impose on those who have achieved sustainment, and he won’t come alone. You may not have to go so far away, but you will have a better chance of avoiding conflict if you do.

What?

What goes in a redoubt kit? That will depend on where you’re going. Mountains will require different items than the prairie, and a swamp is different than a desert. Your personal needs also factor in. Do you have medical issues, physical restrictions, or special care needs? Those have to be considered as well. The best place to start is with the “List of Lists” offered for free on the survivalblog.com website. It’s very comprehensive and covers most all the bases. I know it’s overkill for a redoubt kit, but you can use it as a prompt to identify items you may not have thought of or included in your kit. Unless your bug out vehicle is a semi-truck, you couldn’t carry everything on the list anyway. Imagine yourself at the redoubt and consider the activities you would need to accomplish in order to sustain yourself. Also, consider your arrival at the worst time of the year—what would you need? Let me use my own circumstance as an example.

I live near the Rocky Mountains so the worst time of year to bug out is winter. I’ve already chosen a place that has water nearby and good hunting. I also considered a low enough altitude to have a growing season for a garden. It’s the onset of winter, and the snow is already a foot deep. First, I need to get there safely. I have a four-wheel drive vehicle, not a sports car. Next, I’m going to need shelter for the entire winter. My choice is a canvas lodge tent with a wood-burning stove. Do not consider a stove requiring fossil fuels, as you would eventually run out. (Remember, think long-term sustainment.)

I’m already near water and I can hunt, but I need food to sustain me until I can bag some meat. Also, I can’t live on meat alone, I need other nutrients and vitamins—so, I need to bring enough food to get me through a growing season. After that I can sustain myself with vegetables from my garden. Of course, after I harvest my garden, I’ll need to preserve my harvest in order to sustain myself until the next growing season. This little exercise just prompted additions to my list– tent, stove, food, vitamins, cooking items and utensils, gun, bullets, knives to skin and butcher, axe for wood, garden tools, seed for crops, roll of chicken wire to protect crops, way to irrigate crops, canning jars to preserve crops, canning equipment, and the list goes on. The more you think about it, the more you’ll add to the list. Don’t worry about organizing the list just yet. The important thing is to get it on paper.

Now, you need to consider how you’ll accomplish sustainment. You need to accumulate knowledge. Going back to our little exercise, do you know how to hunt, maintain guns, butcher, garden, process seeds for the next season, or can food? Did you get heirloom seeds? Missing that little item could cost you and your family their lives. If you don’t know what they are, you need to do more research. What if you have an accident with the axe or knife? Do you have medical training? If you don’t have these skills or knowledge, then you must acquire them. Add that to your list and insure you get paper books, as the Internet isn’t going to be available. In short, increasing knowledge is likely the most important thing you can do, and it’s the most neglected.

The canvas tent was good for a temporary home, but now you need to consider building a more permanent one. For me, it’s a log cabin. I had to educate myself on how to build one and discovered I needed log togs, chisels, hammers, and a few other things as well as a blueprint. Maybe you’re planning to be on the prairie, and you need sod house tools and plans. Your tool set will be different from the guy who lives in the swamp. Adjust accordingly to your redoubt circumstance.

Prioritize

After you’ve compiled your list, you’re going to have to prioritize. If you’re like me, you have about a half of semi-truck worth of materials. It’s time to cut down. Start with identifying items that are essential for establishing long-term sustainment, followed by “nice to haves”, and finally (if you have room) comfort items. Some of your essential items do not qualify for sustainment, like the tent, but are required until you can sustain with a permanent structure.

Do the same with acquisition of knowledge and skills. Home-building, canning, and medical training rank higher than basket weaving and stitchery, though those things are very desirable. Start learning now!

Test

This is a very important step and can be challenging depending on your circumstances. If you own a property, that’s ideal. Use the kit to establish the redoubt. Make alterations or changes as you go. If TEOTWAWKI doesn’t happen before you finish your redoubt, good for you. Your kit is perfect, because it was responsible for actually building it. Now, reassemble it, and prepare for a potential bugout. Locate a future location in case you are forced to leave your redoubt, and keep it updated. Your kit is ready.

If you can’t afford a property, as described in the beginning of this article, take your kit to an area where you can practice and maybe camp for a few days without drawing undue attention. Getting a wood-cutting permit for public lands is a good choice here. This is where I was reminded of an item I didn’t have on my list by the blisters on my hands—a good pair of leather gloves. I also added a chainsaw and container of stabilized fuel. I know it’s not a long-term device, as it has a limited supply of fuel, but it sure kick-started the effort. I could have done it with hand tools, but it fell in the category of “nice to haves” and I had room for it.

Start Today

There’s no time like the present. Do not procrastinate! Whether you already have a complete redoubt or you’re just starting out, you need a redoubt kit, no doubt. Everyone is vulnerable.

Letter Re: Some Harsh Lessons of Beekeeping

Keith K,

Thank you for that informative write up on beekeeping. I’m jumping in to beekeeping this spring with an innovative new hive called the Flow Hive. You can check out their product at honeyflow.com. I have no experience with beekeeping, but this seems to be a revolutionary product that might make enough of a difference to you that you’ll give it another try. I think the non-invasive method of collecting the honey may help with your mortality rate and level of effort since you don’t need a bee suit, smoker, or honey extractor. The method also doesn’t remove the honey comb or disrupt the structure of the hive, so it’s much less “stressful” on the colony. Good luck! – Gilpin Guy

Economics and Investing:

‘Cash has run out’: Debt-ridden Puerto Rico heads toward New Year’s default – RBS

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Reader GP sent in a link to this map showing which states are in the red: Is Your State Busted Or Busting Loose?

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

US News

The Formlessness of Progressivism (Mises Institute) Excerpt: “As vague and misty as most modern leftist ideals can be, they do share one solid, bedrock principle: the need for continuous expansion of the government’s role in our lives. The government’s heavy handed regulation of our industries has imposed unbelievable barriers and costs to the supply of goods and services.”

Now Comes the Great Unwind: How Evaporating Commodity Wealth Will Slam the Casino (Contra Corner) Excerpt: “But the point here is that China is not some kind of one-off aberration. In fact, the less visible aspects of the credit ponzi exist throughout the global economy and they are becoming more visible by the day as the Great Deflation gathers force.”

Oil Prices Become a Problem for US Steelmakers (Bloomberg) Excerpt: “…makers battered by plunging prices have been quick to blame a flood of cheap Chinese shipments. But with imports nearing four-year lows, another culprit is emerging: the energy collapse.”

International News

China’s Unprecedented Real-Estate Bubble is Collapsing (Business Insider) Excerpt: “Guess what happens when the bubble wealth in real estate that has built up in China finally collapses?”

Saudi Arabia Says It’s Ready to Meet Any Additional Oil Demand (Market Watch) Excerpt: “We will satisfy the demand of our customers. We no longer limit production. If there is demand, we will respond. We have the capacity to respond…”

IMF’s Christine Lagarde Warns: Economic Growth Will Disappoint Again in 2016 (The Telegraph) Excerpt: “Rising U.S. interest rates, a Chinese slowdown and disappointing world trade will all weigh on growth prospects in 2016…”

Personal Economics and Household Finance

21 Ways to Deal with Your Post-Holiday Financial Hangover (Living on the Cheap) Excerpt: “This year’s hangover may be the last straw for you. If you’re tired of going through this every year, use this as a catalyst for permanent change. It can only make your life better in the long run. There are more important things in life than having a lot of stuff.”

Odds ‘n Sods:

The story of Obama’s executive end-run around the constitution (yet again) are starting to become known: Obama set to unveil curbs on gun sellers

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Chuck Baldwin has written an excellent treatise on how the Republicans have sold out the American people who put them in place to stop Obama: Republicans Write Obama A Blank Check

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A little humor for the new year. (You can’t make this stuff up!) Fight breaks out at Newark anti-violence rally

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Run and Hide! It’s a sad state of affairs when we teach people to run and hide and to be a passive victim: Demand for ‘panic rooms’ growing – Sent in by G.G.

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Tennessee troopers set up ‘no refusal’ checkpoints with mandatory blood draws through Jan. 4 “The assault on basic human rights in this country continues as Tennessee troopers will be conducting mandatory blood draws at ‘no refusal’ check points through Jan 4th. If you’re one of the lucky drivers who get caught in this dragnet, just remember that giving up your rights for safety is the duty of a slave.” – Link sent in by D.W.

Notes for Thursday – December 31, 2015

December 31st is the birthday of Dr. Cynthia Koelker, SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor. It is also the birthday of Frederick Selous (born 1851, died 4 January 1917).

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Reader J.K. sent in Jim Sinclair’s excellent article on preparedness that goes well beyond the usual financial things covered in his blog: Be Prepared!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. 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),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd 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),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus 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),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. 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, 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. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. 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 $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. 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 62 ends on January 31st, 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.

Some Harsh Lessons of Beekeeping, by Keith K.

I would like to share my experience with beekeeping to help others decide if it might be for them. My initial interest in beekeeping began before I moved to the Redoubt. My wife and I attended a beekeeping night at a local library and later took a four-day (four Saturdays) beekeeping course. We learned a lot. We found that beekeeping hobbyists were very enthusiastic and touted the many benefits of beekeeping along with the fun of it. It was very easy to be influenced by all of the positive and energetic people. Ultimately, we decided that beekeeping would be part of our efforts when we found a homestead.

We eventually moved to a homestead in the Redoubt and began the work of transforming a rural plot of timber with an old, overgrown pasture into our version of a homestead. We began by planting a small garden (including both traditional and raised beds), berry bushes, and fruit trees and installing a deer fence to keep the larger critters away from our efforts. We also purchased a small 8 x 10 greenhouse for starting plants and storing tools.

I offered my services as free labor to a local commercial beekeeper in order to learn more about bees first hand. It was a great experience and very hard work. One day, the two of us collected over 400 pounds of honey from about fifty hives located in different locations around the county. I knew right then that I did not want to be a commercial beekeeper, but I was very thankful for the experience. I eventually purchased the equipment I would need to maintain two hives on my property at a cost of approximately $500, which included hive bodies, tools, smoker, bee suits, feeders, et cetera. The following spring, I purchased two nucs (nuclear hives) for about $125 each. A nuc is a starter colony with five frames already drawn and populated with larva (or filled with honey and pollen). Package bees are less costly but are only the bees with queen, so the colony must start from scratch.

We brought the nucs home in early April, so I had to feed the bees until flowers began to emerge in quantity toward the end of May. I tried various methods of feeding the bees with different types of feeders. There were pros and cons to each. Some were messy. Some drowned more bees than others, and some required daily refilling, while others allowed for a more hands off approach. One thing I learned during this period was that beekeeping is not always the “put ’em in place and leave ’em alone, there’s no effort to it” hobby that so many of the enthusiastic hobbyists had led me to believe.

All was going well into early August. Both hives were collecting pollen and making honey at a good rate. Then, one day, I noticed that one hive had more bees flying around it than the other. There seemed to be no diseases and there appeared to be brood on the frames. I asked my friend, the commercial beekeeper, to inspect the hives. The conclusion was that one of the nucs I had purchased had a queen that was only laying drones (male bees who only have one purpose– mating with queens. They do not labor to benefit the hive, like workers which are all female. This meant that workers were not being created to replace those that died from age or loss while out foraging. One solution would have been to re-queen the colony (a new queen can run about $30) and another was to kill the bad queen and let the colony raise a new one. The colony knew it was in trouble and had already begun to raise a new queen, so I decided to take that option to see what would happen. The eventual outcome was that the newly raised queens either died or did not mate, and that colony died out in late August. I chose this path without input from the commercial beekeeper, which was a bad decision. In hindsight, I have figured out that if the bad queen was only laying drones, the remaining workers’ efforts to raise a replacement queen were doomed from the start because the selected larva, even if fed royal jelly (a substance bees use to transform a worker larva into a queen larva), was likely missing the right bee DNA to produce a viable queen.

The other colony had been doing well. Bees were everywhere, and they seemed very strong, so I only checked on them every two weeks. During one inspection, in September, I noticed that there were considerably fewer bees in and around the hive. We determined that the hive had swarmed, meaning that the queen decided to move elsewhere and take half of the workers with her. Swarming is not uncommon. The remaining bees were attempting to create a replacement queen, but that late in the season it was unlikely that they would succeed in time for her to mate. I also was not able to locate a queen to purchase that late in the season either, so that hive also died out.

Throughout this experience, I also found that the first, weaker colony was under constant pressure from ants and yellow jackets. (A strong, healthy hive can deal with these attacks, but weaker colonies struggle from the pressure.) I learned about and employed a number of actions to discourage the ants and yellow jackets. These efforts were mostly but not completely successful.

The many, enthusiastic beekeepers I had met always said to begin with at least two hives in case one did not survive. Still, the “insurance” of a second hive did not work for me. Perhaps it was just bad luck, or perhaps I was a failure as a bee dad, but the end result was loss of the productive part of my investment. After much reflection, I decided that beekeeping was not for me, and I sold my equipment to another individual who wanted to give beekeeping a try.

Finally, the reason I am sharing this experience is to provide the following for consideration by anyone thinking about beekeeping:

  1. If all goes well, you will be able to harvest honey and add pollinators that will presumably help with your fruit and vegetable success.
  2. Beekeepers, particularly hobbyists, will simply gush with enthusiasm, because they love the hobby. They will also tell you bees are very little work. I found beekeeping interesting and approached it as something beneficial to the homestead but not as a hobby that I enjoyed. I actually found bees, like other livestock, to be a lot of work. To me, the bees were just another chore; maybe that is why I did not make it as a bee dad. Hobbyists, in contrast, love their chosen hobby and do not view any of the upkeep as work.
  3. I had a 100% loss rate. The commercial beekeeper that I worked with told me that his colony loss rate is in the 60% range, due to disease, predators, weather, environmental issues, et cetera. What other livestock has such a high mortality rate? My guess is that mortality rates may be less in warmer areas, but even a 30% loss rate would be huge in comparison to other livestock.
  4. I found that my area has strong populations of native pollinators (other bee species, bumble bees, certain types of flies, butterflies, and so forth). I discovered that I did not need honey bees to ensure good pollination for my garden. Although honey would be a nice benefit, the bees’ work is not necessary in my area. I suspect that honeybees, which are not native to North America, are viewed as necessary for pollination of crops because factory farming has destroyed environments suitable to maintain thriving populations for native pollinators. That is probably true in areas mostly devoid of natural habitat because of large-scale farming. This is just an informed observation; it’s not meant to be an attack on farming. No flames, please.
  5. There are alternatives to honeybees. As mentioned earlier, there are natural pollinators. Also, orchard bees can be purchased to add to the native pollinator population in your area. Orchard bees do not produce honey and do not require hives. They are purchased in tubes that serve as their home or as individual cocoons, if you want to populate tubes or other nest sites that you already have. I have not purchased orchard bees but understand that they are an alternative to honeybees without the upkeep.
  6. In making my decision not to put further effort into honeybees, I considered whether the benefits of honeybees were worth the effort and expense to maintain them. I also considered that with the high mortality rate, would honeybees be a reliable source of food (honey) and pollination in a TEOTWAWKI situation in which bee medicines, bee food (pollen patties, sugar for syrup, et cetera) would be hard to find or not available at all. I concluded that, for me, keeping honeybees was not worth the time, effort, and expense.

I did not write about my experiences to discourage anyone from becoming a beekeeper. I just decided that I would share my experiences so that others will be better informed in their decision to keep bees or not.

Two Letters Re: Good Samaritan Bag

HJL,

As an addition to the note on a “Samaritan Bag”, I have had good results using a food vacuum sealer with the longer rolls of plastic to shrink and seal heavy winter jackets and blankets. The items are well protected by the heavy plastic and can fit in small locations in your car, such as under the seats. They are low bulk, out of the way, and there when you need them. – Tom

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HJL,

We try to keep a few gallon Ziploc bags in our vehicle to hand to beggars with peanuts, trail mix, hand wipes, crackers, granola bars, soap, tooth brush, razor, band aids, Kleenex, wash cloth, mints, bottled water, comb, et cetera. We usually also include a couple of dollar’s worth of quarters. I know pay phones have pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur, but the idea is to enable them to call family if necessary. Sometimes we’re able to add in a $5 McDonald’s gift card. – J.P.

Economics and Investing:

No Inflation, No Interest, No Recovery. Printing Money Enslaves the Middle Class – T.A.

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$2,957,000,000: U.S. Taxpayers Will Fund Lion’s Share of UN Budget Again in 2016 – RBS

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

US News

Puerto Rico is on the Brink of a BIG DEFAULT (CNN Money) From the Article: “I don’t take risks – at least I didn’t think I was taking a risk…” Commentary: This is a story that could easily repeat itself across the U.S., and there are lessons to be learned for everyone from this report. Many people are financially invested in ways they do not understand and facing risks about which they may lack information. If you’re an investor… Get the facts. Know your risks. Understand your worst case scenario. Govern your choices, and plan accordingly.

The Guy Made Famous by “The Big Short” for Predicting the Housing Crash has a DARK WARNING (Business Insider) From the Article: “We are building up terrific stresses in the system, and any fault lines there will certainly harm the outlook.”

Oil Producing States Battered as Tax Gushing Wells are Shut Down (Bloomberg) It’s a radical idea, but perhaps government offices dependent on the property tax base for revenue might consider reducing their costs? From the Article: “In Kern County, California, one of the nation’s biggest oil producers, tumbling energy prices have wiped more than $8 billion from its property-tax base, forcing officials to tap into reserves and cut every department’s budget. It’s only getting worse.”

Lax Auditing Encouraged Overcharging by Medicare Advantage Plans (Taxpayers for Common Sense) Another example of financial exsanguination. From the Article: “Despite facing mounting evidence federal officials were overpaying some Medicare health plans by tens of millions of dollars a year, the government dialed back efforts to recover as much of the money as possible…”

International News

China December Official: PMI Likely to Show 5th Month of Contraction (Reuters) From the Article: “Activity in China’s manufacturing sector is expected to have contracted for a fifth straight month in December, a Reuters poll showed, likely consigning the world’s second-largest economy to its slowest annual growth in a quarter of a century.”

Shale’s Running Out of Survival Tricks as OPEC Ramps Up Pressure (Bloomberg) From the Article: “For an industry that already was pushing its cost-cutting efforts to the limits, the new declines are a devastating blow. These drillers are “not set up to survive oil in the $30s…””

Personal Economics and Household Finance

Couple Duped by Fake Craig’s List Movers Lose Everything (Clark Howard) Be very careful. From the Article: “The U-Haul truck – and the couple’s estimated $30,000 worth of stuff – never made it…”

Odds ‘n Sods:

Should Christians be Encouraged to Arm Themselves? John Piper, chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary, recently wrote an article challenging Jerry Falwell’s speech at Liberty University in a campus chapel service in which Falwell encouraged his students to obtain CC permits. Piper’s argument is centered around the concept of turning the other cheek. However, SurvivalBlog reader R.N. wrote in with an excellent refutation of Piper’s argument: “Should Christians lock their doors? Should Christians install home security systems? Should Christians dial 911? Should Christians vote for laws that protect the innocent? Christianity is not advanced through force, nor do we take revenge on our enemies. But these are not the reasons Christians arm themselves. We do so for the protection of the innocent (1 Tim 5:8) and it is hypocritical to oppose gun ownership while expecting others to use them on your behalf.” Definitely something to think about…

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A bit too close for comfort. This is the type of incident that starts World Wars. U.S. Carrier Harry S. Truman Has Close Call With Iranian Rockets

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Turns out that that “robot mule” brays just a bit too loudly for the U.S. Marine Corps…Robot Mule Put Out to Pasture by Marine Corps. Apparently the gas engine that powers the robot is just too noisy, and the marines were afraid it would give away their position. – GJM

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Now in Kalifornia – Coming soon to a state near you: New law lets cops confiscate guns without notice. – D.S.

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Well-Armed Activists Openly Defy Texas Law to Feed The Homeless – When feeding the homeless becomes an act of civil disobedience, Americans have been asleep for far too long. – H.L.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Government seems to operate on the principle that if even one individual is incapable of using his freedom competently, no one can be allowed to be free.” – Harry Browne

Notes for Wednesday – December 30, 2015

December 30, 1865 is the birthday of Rudyard Kipling. I should mention that his writings about Afghanistan have sparked a modern-day revival of interest in Kipling among British, Australian, and American officers and NCOs deployed to Afghanistan.

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Senator Rand Paul Announces Senate “Audit the Fed” Vote (Warning: Requires a Forfeiture of Privacy Facebook account to access)

JWR’s Comment: This is great news. Among other things, I am confident that a full forensic audit will reveal that the “ended” rounds of Quantitative Easing (QE) in fact never really ended. They were replaced by secret debt swaps between the central banks of several nations. This de facto QE is bigger than QE2 and is continuing apace.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromelined 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),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd 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),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus 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),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. 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, 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. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. 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 $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. 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 62 ends on January 31st, 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.

Seven Survival Tips For the Modern Feminist- Take II, by J

Greetings,

Following-up to a previous article submitted with the same base title, I decided to continue the discussion. The modern feminist is a hindrance to survival and preparedness in our society. This essay is much harsher and more straight-forward than the last, because frankly there is no time to waste. It does no service to a hard-core feminist to be soft spoken and patient now, especially knowing that she needs to hear the cold, hard truth!

With the recent graduation of two female Rangers, this country has quickly propelled itself towards a full-speed push for women in combat. Who is behind this push? WOMEN! The hard-core feminists and the men they push around are now exposing more American women to combat. Ironically, women are encouraging other women to fight and die in combat. The feminist agenda is coming to fruition. They are finally getting what they want, equality. What does this mean for those who are currently seeking ways to survive and prepare for the unexpected? It means that men have already bought into the feminist ideology and these particular neighbors, co-workers, et cetera will be useless if the need arises to protect women and children. It means that the massive numbers of Americans who accept political correctness, supporting these extreme women’s rights, will not be prepared to activate common sense survival skills in the worst case scenario. They suffer from a mental disorder, you could say, that needs appropriate therapy– reality!

Modern feminists are behind some of the worst aspects of our society: abortion, gender equality, feminizing boys, and now a complete vision for women in combat. More frightening is that many men are not willing to or not interested in resisting and correcting these hateful women. Essentially, we’ve given over and allowed these “sick” feminists to have exactly what they want, like spoiled brats in a candy store. Their incessant nagging and harassment has produced quick results; a large, brainwashed populace no longer comprehends the natural roles of men and women. This causes instability when a society or small community is under duress, due to some unforeseen event. Perhaps large numbers of men will not immediately stand up to defend those who are weaker because they may no longer understand the skills and equipment necessary to do so. After all, feminist women don’t like anything that makes them uncomfortable, including aggressive, defensive postures or (“God forbid”) guns! Furthermore, women in our society who have adopted this feminist ideology will be stark raving mad in emergency scenarios and may quickly become a liability to the community. Moreover, they won’t be able to rely on intimidating those who “trigger” their anxieties any longer. Their dark magic won’t have the same effect on those who might have given them the time of day before. They won’t have a leg to stand on. It is going to get ugly!

Feminists will be a problem if we go dark, and the men who support the feminist ideology will also be a problem. Women who have already decided to run a household by overpowering their man or oppressing their male co-workers will be the main liabilities. These are the type of women who care nothing about natural roles and will do anything to get what they want. In an extreme large-scale emergency, they will not know how to handle themselves and may become unstable. Their foundation of truth is warped and their morals are frayed. Think about how many of your neighbors would vote for a female president or encourage their daughters to fight in combat to support equality and political correctness. Think about how many men have encouraged their girlfriends, wives, and daughters to have an abortion because the baby would mess up their lives. (We all know that women are not meant to have babies; they are uniquely designed to make a large income and live like bachelors.) A feminist wants to have her cake and eat it too, but a feminist won’t be eating any cake if she is desperate for someone to come to her defense.

There is the rare feminist who might have had exposure to a wise teacher or loving grandfather, or who taps into the glimpses of childhood TV series that encouraged the natural role of women. These feminists are not a lost hope. They may come to their senses quickly and confess that Grandpa was right all along. However, this may not be the case for those who are one generation removed from common sense, raised on “MTV”, and ushered through the public school and university system, living as full-fledged feminists.

We have surely dug ourselves into a pit in this country, and witnessing this slow train wreck is horrifying. What do we do about this pandemic feminist-disorder complex that is taking over the brains of the masses? We prepare and try to warn those who will listen. Most will hate you more for suggesting this subject to them, but there may come a day that they will beg for your forgiveness and realize you actually care about them. When they need food, water, shelter, or protection in the future, they will realize their error, quickly coming to their senses or else find themselves in a heap of trouble. The following information is a simplified list of seven survival tips for the modern feminist. Also, for those living with a hard-core feminist, there’s a brief note on how to persevere.

Seven Survival Tips for the Modern Feminist

1. Snap out of it!

Do yourself a favor and stop this common sense lobotomy you’ve signed up for. Come out of la-la land. Time is “a wasting”. If you don’t stop acting like an idiot now, your life truly may be at stake in the future. You need to come to your senses and realize that men and women were created with very different physical and mental traits. These traits are essential to the survival of a couple and family, especially under duress. Understanding and nourishing these traits will mean the difference between misery and success, if the day comes that you need to fulfill the role of a woman. So get over yourself and start accepting that you are a woman. Stop following the herd. Stop buying the liberal propaganda machine’s brain numbing agenda, and start thinking for yourself. You know deep down you are wrong! Confess, ask for forgiveness, and start doing the right thing with your life.

2. Stop killing your children!

Abortion is outright evil. You must stop participating in one of the most immoral acts in human history. Children are a blessing. They are not a curse. Having children and raising them will mature you and make you realize what is most important in life. As a mother, you will stop hating everyone else and start loving your own. Do not abort your children; carry them to term. Either put them up for adoption, if you are simply unwilling to raise your child, or find it in your heart to care for your own DNA. If you have had abortions and you are wrought with guilt, then confess, repent, seek God for forgiveness, and move forward. Redemption is a miracle, and it is freely available to all.

3. Stop hating!

Hate will eat you up inside, make you ill, and even bring death, like a sickness that devours us from the inside. Your hatred of others is rooted most likely in a hatred of what is dark within yourself. Bring this into the light, repent, and stop hurting those around you. Be forewarned, people will not forget what you have done, and when times get tough they may not be willing to help you. You must realize the effect you have on others. It is a caustic, putrid influence that is long-lasting and has permanent consequences. Change your ways, and learn what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:39)

4. Find a woman who is not a feminist and humbly ask her for help in transitioning.

Going from feminist to recovering feminist can be an agonizing process. We all need help when leaving something that is evil. We need someone to encourage us and teach us what is right and wrong. A good, patient, and non-judgmental mentor will be your greatest ally. Do it now! Wait another day and you will be sorry. I’ll bet any heartfelt and genuine woman, who is not a feminist, would love to help another woman find freedom. Find someone who has an understanding of what it truly means to be a female. Find someone who will hurt for you and weep with you as you expose what feminism has done in your life. Feminism is behind some of the most egregious sins of our time. Find someone who understands this and will help you leave the ideology.

5. Stop taking pharmaceuticals to alter your mood or hormones (suppressing your natural cycle and brain activity).

I am not a medical professional, so seek help in how to go about this. This is not medical advice, and there are serious dangers in coming off these, so do not do this alone. The longer you stay on these drugs, the more addicted you will be and the harder it will be to get off. Also, know this: life is good lived in reality. Don’t try to live in a virtual reality because one day you may not have a choice. Suppressing your natural cycle is not going to be possible if you don’t have access to medication in the case of an emergency. Try to find a way to live in your natural state. This means limiting what type of pharmaceuticals you rely on to keep you even-keeled and highly functional.

6. Find a good man to take care of you and provide for you.

Many feminists are forever single or lean homosexual. This is not a bashing of either lifestyle, but it is helpful to go through life with someone who cares deeply for you, complements you naturally, and can physically protect you. A man who understands survival, hunting, construction, and his role as a compassionate leader will be an incredible asset if times get tough. Find someone who will forgive you when you fall off the wagon and lash out in a feminist tirade, demanding to be obeyed. Find someone who understands that you are trying to leave your old ways behind and begin anew. Find a good man, and then serve him well. Love him and respect him like your future depends on it.

7. Finally, this wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that you didn’t make yourself.

You, the splendid creation you are, did not come out of nothingness; you were created! There is a Creator! Objective truth exists. You have thoughts that are your own, and you are not simply a bundle of electric impulses and atoms. Seek out the living God, who exists in three parts– the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus was not just a nice guy; “He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again, in accordance with the scriptures.” Take this seriously! Truly, your afterlife depends on it! There is something more to this life, and we have a way out of sin and depravity if we will only humble ourselves and seek truth!

It’s a bit harsh I know, but this is the truth, and “the truth shall set you free.” (Rom 8:2) Take it or leave it, but if you are one of the hard-core feminists forcing your way through life thinking you don’t need a man, think again. Women need men! Women are made to compliment and help men, not to hurt them and break them down into nonexistence. Women have done so much damage to the men in this country. The hateful feminist agenda is horribly frightening, and this is trouble for a country in survival mode.

Are you a man married to a feminist? Hang in there. Your most powerful ally is prayer. It is my hope that all feminists married to a good man finally come to realize, through their own volition (hopefully not by force or tragic circumstance) that they have been wrong all along and repent. It is my hope that these women come to their senses, turning back to embrace who they really are– gifted, beautiful, powerful, and naturally designed to be a woman.

The truth hurts. Do something about it!