Notes for Monday – December 07, 2015

On a Sunday morning, 74 years ago, America was caught sleeping. Then there was that September morning, in 2001. Let’s pray that nothing like those days ever happens again. – JWR

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Ready Made Resources is having a special on the ITT Pinnacle 3rd Gen upgraded PVS-14 Autogated for $3149.00. Included in the package is:

  • Shipping ($50 value)
  • Weapons Mount ($99 value)
  • Shuttered Eye Relief ($40 value)
  • 2 Boxes of infrared chemical lights ($70 value)
  • Surface Trip Flare for the chem lights ($35 value)
  • 10 year warranty

They’ve been in business 20 years and a long time SurvivalBlog advertiser. Get it now because prices will be going up early next year.

Pat Cascio’s Product Review: H&K VP9

I’ve always been a big fan of H&K (Heckler & Koch) firearms, at least most of them. They’ve had a few that weren’t to my liking. One thing that most folks will agree on is that the price point on many H&K Products is very high, VERY high, and that scares away a lot of gun buyers– guys like me who are the average guy! I have to spend my hard-earned money very carefully. The H&K firearms I’ve owned in the past were all used ones. I couldn’t afford new guns from them.

Well, that is changing. H&K is listening to the gun consumer and have come out with some more reasonably priced handguns, without cutting corners. Enter the H&K VP9 – 9mm pistol. This is a striker-fired handgun, the first to come along from H&K in a very long time.

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When I spied the H&K VP9 at my local gun shop, I had to take a double take on the price of $629.00. WOW! I thought for sure it was a used gun, but it wasn’t. It was brand-new in the box. As already mentioned, the VP9 is a 9mm handgun, and they also have one in .40S&W, if that is more to your liking. The VP9 is 7.34 inches in length, 5.41 inches in height, 1.32 inchs wide, and the barrel is 4.09 inches long. The gun weighs 26.4 oz empty with a polymer frame, and it is striker-fired.

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In looking over the gun, I couldn’t help but notice that all the controls are ambidextrous. There’s no changing anything from one side to the other; it’s full-time ambidestrous. The frame has Picatinny rails for mounting lights or lasers, and the barrel is cold hammer forged. The rear of the slide has slight protrusions, or “wings” if you will, for aiding in chambering a round. Your hand won’t slip off the slide. The trigger, oh boy, what a trigger pull the VP9 has. My trigger pull broke at a tad over 4 lbs, and it is a consistent trigger pull. There is no pre-travel, where the trigger pull starts to get heavier. Nope, it is consistent and may just be one of the best trigger pulls on any polymer framed, striker-fired handgun. It is “that” good! The 9mm version comes with two magazines, and they hold 15 rounds each.

Now, as to H&K magazines, they have always been a pain to track down. Even H&K didn’t have any spares; I checked. I finally tracked some down, but they were $44 each. OUCH! However, that’s a given with H&K mags. It’s one of the draw backs; they charge a LOT for their mags.

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Now, one of the best features about the VP9 is the modularity of the gun. It comes with a total of three different sizes of back straps, which are easy to change out. Plus, there are three different sizes of grip panels– three for each side of the grip frame. If there is a more modular handgun on the market, I don’t know where it can be found. With the combination of the different sized back straps and the side panels, you can make the VP9 fit any sized hand, and I played around with this aspect of the gun a lot. I never thought about putting different sized grip panels on it at first. However, during my playtime, I discovered that I could really make the gun fit my hand perfectly by putting one sized grip panel on one side of the gun and a totally different sized grip panel on the opposite side. I was blown away!

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I found that a slightly larger grip panel on the right side of the gun really made it fill my hand, while keeping a slightly thinner grip panel on the left side of the gun. For the back strap, I used the smallest one. It worked perfectly for me, just perfectly! The trigger reach wasn’t a problem at all, and the full-time ambi mag release that you have to press down instead of into the side of the frame worked well by using the trigger finger, instead of the finger on the opposite hand. It takes a little practice to get used to this magazine release set-up, but it is very fast.

You can also see and feel when the striker is cocked; it has a red tip, and it will stick out of the rear of the slide when it is cocked. The extractor is worth mentioning, too. It is massive, just MASSIVE. I don’t see any rounds sticking in the chamber when this hummer takes a bite on it.

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H&K, during their testing, ran more than 90,000 rounds through the octagonal barrel, with no wear to speak of. What’s not to like about this? You aren’t going to wear the barrel out in a lifetime of shooting, if you’re an average shooter. H&K says that they used the same steel in the VP9 barrel as they use on cannons!

Regarding the sights, you can get night sights for a bit more money. The gun retails for $719.99 with the glow in the dark sights that you have to charge with a bright light. However, in my testing, I found that I only needed to charge these sights every couple three or four hours. They really stood out when fully charged, too. If you’re a police officer or in the military, it’s not a big deal to take the gun out of your holster once or twice during a shift to recharge the sights. If you find it a problem, then go with the night sights for a bit more money– about a hundred bucks more.

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The VP9 was very accurate. No groups were larger than three inches, and most groups were down there at about two inches. That is better than match-grade accuracy. I would have been very disappointed with H&K if this gun didn’t really show me some serious accuracy potential.

I fired more than 500 rds through the VP9 with zero malfunctions. I would have been surprised if the gun gave me any problems, because H&K firearms are know for their great reliability. From Buffalo Bore Ammunition, I had their 147-gr JHP Subsonic load, 147-gr Hard Cast FN +P Outdoorsmans load, 115-gr Barnes TAC-XP, all-copper hollow point +P+ fodder, and their 124-gr FMJ FN “Penetrator” +P+ load. From Black Hills Ammunition, I had their 115-gr FMJ load, 115-gr JHP +P, 124-gr JHP +P, and their 115-gr Barnes TAC XP all-copper hollow point +P loading. So, I had a great selection of ammo to run through the VP9. During my testing, I did mix different brands and bullet types in the magazines, which is always a great test as to how reliable a gun will feed. I had no problems at all.

All my firing for accuracy was done, as per my usual testing method, over a rolled-up sleeping bag, over the hood of my pickup truck. I don’t use anything like a Ranson Rest for my accuracy testing. You aren’t likely to have it with you during a gun fight, but you could possibly have a jacket with you that you could use as a rest, once you find some cover to get behind. The Black Hills 124-gr JHP +P load gave me the best groups, which were slightly over two inches at 25 yards, so long as I did my part. I did all my shooting during one day. Towards the end of the day, I was fatigued and getting groups in the 6-7 inch range; it was not the gun and not the ammo. It was me getting tired and careless after long strings of shooting. The Buffalo Bore 147-gr JHP Subsonic load came in a close second to the Black Hills load. I’ve found that many of the 147-gr Subsonic loads are capable of outstanding accuracy. Many police departments are going to JHP Subsonic 9mm loads these days for greater penetration, and the bullets still mushroom at the lower velocities, too. I’m still out on this one. I prefer 115-124 gr 9mm loads for self-defense. It’s just my personal opinion on this.

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I carried the VP9 in a ballistic nylon, 3-slot pancake holster from Blackhawk products for the better part of three weeks. I normally carry a test handgun for at least two weeks, but I loved the way the VP9 rode nice and high and snug against my body. I don’t especially like ballistic nylon holsters for everyday carry for one reason– after you draw your handgun, it is very difficult to reholster it one-handed, and you don’t want to take your eyes off of a potential threat to see if you are getting the gun back into the opening of the holster. I prefer leather or Kydex holster for this reason. Still, the VP9 rode nicely on my right hip.

I did like the “wings” on the rear of the slide. My hand just went to the rear of the slide and stopped when it hit the wings. This may not sound important to many people, but in my handgun classes, which I rarely give any longer, I’ve seen a number of people, when attempting to chamber a round, have their hand slip off the slide. There are also serrations on the sides of the slide for added gripping surface.

As you’ll notice in the pics of the night sights, they are slightly blurred. It is extremely difficult to get pics in low light with glowing sights; however, you can see how brightly they were shinning. They’re very easy to pick up on in low or no light conditions.

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The only “negative” about the VP9 I can mention is the cost of additional spare mags. At least the gun came with two magazines. If you live in one of “those” states, which only allow 10 rounds, you can get your VP9 setup that way. If you live in a state that only allows seven rounds, you are out of luck. There is no VP9 for you.

I was very impressed with the performance of the VP9. It never missed a beat during my testing, and I sure can’t complain about the accuracy. It was there, when I was on my game. The gun feels great in the hand, and if you can’t customize it to fit your hands, no other gun will fit either. Check one out at your local gun shop. I think you’ll be impressed with the fit, finish, and feel of the gun.

– Senior Product Review Editor, Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Venison, Sausage, and Cabbage Soup, by OkieRanchWife

This is a hearty soup for the beginning of the Fall season, and it harkens back to the type of soups that my mother, grandmother, and even great grandmother would make. Grandmother, my Baba, and great grandmother cooked on a coal burning cook stove. I hope you like this as recipe as much as I do.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground venison, beef, bison or turkey
  • 7 oz link of your favorite sausage– smoked or Polish Kielbasa, thinly sliced in rounds
  • ¼ head of green cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cups cold water
  • 1 can (14 ozs) tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp whole caraway seeds (omit if you don’t like the taste)
  • 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 – 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp smoked Hungarian paprika
  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. In a large, heavy bottom soup pot, brown the ground meat for about 5 minutes or until no longer pink.
  2. Remove from pot and drain the grease.
  3. In the same pot and over medium heat, add butter and allow to melt.
  4. Add sliced cabbage and a pinch of salt.
  5. Sauté cabbage until tender about 10-13 minutes.
  6. Add in the browned ground meat and sliced sausage.
  7. Heat and stir for about 5 minutes.
  8. Add the remaining ingredients.
  9. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  10. Adjust the taste with more Worcestershire sauce and vinegar. (This should be a slightly sour soup.)
  11. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Enjoy with a dark brown or Russian Black bread or even a sourdough.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: Captain America Is Coming For You!, by N.E.

HJL,

In his letter, N.E. refers to the fictional “Sons of the Serpents” from Marvel comics as right wing conservatives and puts the term “evil” in quotes as though they are not actually evil. They are clearly written in the comics as white supremacists. Let’s not help the Left blur that line any further. – Z.A.

HJL Responds: Another SurvivalBlog reader sent in a link that actually responds to this statement rather well. While Marvel indoctrinates our children by linking conservatives to hate groups, this article asks some hard hitting questions like these:

  • Where are Captain America’s missions with Joint Special Operations Command?
  • Why isn’t he working with Ranger-run task forces to take down individuals in the Haqqani Network?
  • Why have we never seen Captain America in Kandahar province, Afghanistan?
  • Why have we never seen Cap on a mission in the Sulaiman Mountains?
  • Why have we never seen Steve Rogers perform a HAHO (high-altitude, high-opening) jump into Abbotttabad, Pakistan?

When you produce products targeted for our children, you carry a moral obligation to use that influence for the betterment of society. Regardless of your opinion of war, how does picturing Captain America riding on a float in a Gay Pride Parade inspire moral and ethical behavior in line with God’s commandments?

Interestingly enough, the linked article contains a cross link to Captain America exists — and his name is Kyle Carpenter Now that is an inspiring story! There’s a young man who puts the lives of others before his own. That man is a hero in any sense of the word!

Economics and Investing:

Is OPEC Losing Influence? If one thing from the OPEC meeting becomes clear, it is that OPEC’s respect for a production ceiling does not exist anymore, the question rises whether OPEC is still able to regulate prices at all

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

U.S. News

How Much Does a Boeing 747 Cost? (24/7 WallSt) Notes: An interesting read and a little insight into both the increasing cost of commercial aircraft over time and aviation economics.

Non-Borrower Backed Mortgages? (Zero Hedge) Commentary: Taking into consideration the post-crash mortgage mind-set (and call for larger down payments and stricter lender guidelines), this is a strange turn indeed.

Congress Contemplating Massive Deficit Finance (Washington Examiner) Commentary: It’s curious that creating an environment of greater certainty (and stability) for taxpayers with respect to tax cuts is referred to as a “cost” to government. Perhaps the conversation should be recast such that government spending is referred to as a cost to taxpayers.

Barclays Plans Several Thousand More Job Cuts (Bloomberg)

Chicken of the Sea and Bumble Bee Tuna Abandon Merger Plans (CNS News) Notes: Assistant AG says further consolidation of the market would further reduce competition. This is an interesting development given the number of recent proposals for corporate mergers and acquisitions. Readers interested in this area of economic study might want to seek out more information on the subject of anti-trust economics.

International News

Greek Parliament Approves Austere Budget for 2016 (Reuters)

Venezuela is Spiraling Further Into Crisis Ahead of Elections: Economy May Contract 10% in the Coming Year (Washington Free Beacon) Commentary: Venezuela is confronting very difficult (even devastating) economic and political conditions with significant potential for adverse geo-political consequences.

Personal Economics and Household Finance

Grocery Stores Have Deployed Spy Tech to Get You to Spend More (Business Insider)

12 Ways to Save Money During the Holidays (The Daily Clutch)

6 Things that Help Me Stop Worrying about Money — Almost (Clark Howard) Suggestions: From a debt-free lifestyle and modest tastes to a financial plan with a shock absorber and more, these suggestions are well worth considering as we move through the holiday season and into the New Year.

Odds ‘n Sods:

The long-awaited Ghost Gunner automated milling machine is now in large scale production. These compact machines provide a means of completing “non-gun” 80%-complete aluminum alloy AR-15 receiver blanks into finished receivers, even for people who are not mechanically adept. There are plans to soon provide software that will allow the machines to also finish AR-10 receivers. I have heard that folks who were on the waiting list from 2014 are now receiving shipments of their Ghost Gunners. This venture was launched by Cody Wilson of Defense Distributed– the designer of the much-publicized 3D-Printed AR-15 lower. The cost of a Ghost Gunner is $1,500, starting with a $250 deposit to put yourself in the production queue. Every prepper group in the U.S. should acquire one of these mills! – JWR

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A repost of a relevant article on gun control

“Some have made the argument, bordering on the frivolous, that only those arms in existence in the 18th century are protected by the Second Amendment. We do not interpret constitutional rights that way. Just as the First Amendment protects modern forms of communications, e.g., Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 521 U. S. 844, 849 (1997), and the Fourth Amendment applies to modern forms of search, e.g., Kyllo v. United States, 533 U. S. 27, 35–36 (2001), the Second Amendment extends, prima facie, to all instruments that constitute bearable arms, even those that were not in existence at the time of the founding.”

– See more at Mike Williamson’s Blog

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I just heard about a great home-based business: Extreme Edge Custom Kydex. Their “automatic” sheaths for folding knives are amazing. – JWR

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I do not fear terror because I am redeemed, and I have been predestined to this war A different take on the irrelevance of the NYT editorial. As C.S. Lewis would say, the “deeper magic.” – Sent in by H.S.

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Finally, a university president calling it what it is: This is Not a Day Care. It’s a University! – Sent in by PLC

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Healthcare should be based on consent and private transactions. Medicare, Medicaid, and other government programs should be privatized and marketized. HAS’s and privately operated health insurance are fully legitimate as long as they are consensual. Licensing should be ended as should all healthcare subsidies, taxes, and regulations.” – David J. Theroux

Fighting Words: An Open Letter to Publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.

The New York Times just published the newspaper’s first front page editorial in 95 years. It urged America’s legislators to outlaw civilian ownership of semiautomatic battle rifles. This editorial twisted words to castigate our militia arms as follows: ” These are weapons of war, barely modified and deliberately marketed as tools of macho vigilantism and even insurrection.”

The editor went on to urge: ” Certain kinds of weapons, like the slightly modified combat rifles used in California, and certain kinds of ammunition, must be outlawed for civilian ownership. It is possible to define those guns in a clear and effective way and, yes, it would require Americans who own those kinds of weapons to give them up for the good of their fellow citizens.” [Emphasis added.]

Those are fighting words. They’ve made it clear: These statists want to enact a law forcing civilian disarmament. This would of course be enforced under color of law, by their recently militarized bully boys in black. (Formerly in blue.)

I have a few terse points for Publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., Editor Dean Baquet, their subordinate editors of The New York Times, and all others of their ilk:

  1. The words of our Founding Fathers were unequivocal: “…the right of The People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Those words can only be taken one way.
  2. There are more privately-owned guns in America that there are inhabitants. The task of attempting go out and collect them is a Fool’s Errand.
  3. These are indeed ‘”weapons of war.” They are in fact our most important militia weapons. It was the specific intent of our Founding Fathers that our civilian populace be armed on an equal footing with any standing army. They have their M4s and we have ours. And by the way we also have even more powerful scoped deer rifles with 500-yard effective range. Millions of them.
  4. Even if just 3% of the citizenry were to take up arms against your intended tyranny, we would still outnumber the combined strength of the police and military by a substantial margin.
  5. There are 10.3 million licensed deer hunters in the United States, and around 22 million military veterans.
  6. Not everyone in law enforcement and the military will go along with your scheme. Many of them will have the backbone to stand against you.
  7. Any attempt to disarm the citizenry by force will surely be met by a matching resisting force. Aggression begets aggression. It will be you and your minions who will be the first initiators of force, not us.

    Lastly, and most importantly:

  8. You hint of “insurrection.” Yea, if you continue using such fighting words and if the fools in Congress do indeed enact such unconstitutional legislation, then by God, you will spark an insurrection of the sort that has not been seen in this land since 1781. There will be a second Civil War, and it will be concluded in a matter of weeks, not years. There will be blood, and that blood will be on the hands of the tyrants, not We The People.

Tyrants deserve to have their bodies dragged through the streets. It happened to Benito Mussolini. It happened to Nicolae Ceau?escu. It happened to Muammar Gaddafi. Be warned: History does not precisely repeat, but it often rhymes.

If you want my guns, sir, then come and take them. But when you send your thugs to my ranch, tell them to bring plenty of body bags and extra grub. Because they’ll certainly need them.

Sincerely, – James Wesley, Rawles
Founder and Senior Editor, SurvivalBlog.com
Author of the novels Patriots and Land of Promise

Notes for Sunday – December 06, 2015

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. 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. 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 61 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.

Homesteading for a Single Female Senior Citizen, by V.P.

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Yes, it is possible to make your dreams come true at any age! Twelve years ago, at age 52 and after 31 years of marriage, I found myself divorced and ready for a new chapter in my life. I had always been rather self-sufficient, so being alone was not a daunting situation. My former hobby– singlehanded sailing– gave me the courage and confidence to start a new life. After the divorce, I lived aboard my boat for a couple of years, but something in my spirit kept telling me to go back to the land. When I was a child, a lot of my relatives lived in the country and were always self-sufficient. They had gardens, cows, chickens, and lived rather simply. I remember those wonderful Sundays when we would leave the suburbs, drive out to their places in the country, and share a meal with them. The afternoons consisted of rifle practice, milking the cow, taking a horseback ride, and enjoying the country life. So, whether it was a yearning to return to a less hectic life or God telling me to prepare for what may be coming, I don’t know. I just know it was the best decision I have ever made. Although my friends and family would prefer for me to be a “cougar” and find a young man to do the chores, I have found my life as an SFSH (Single Female Senior Homesteader) quite rewarding!

I started with six acres. It was in rough shape, and my family pitched in to help. At that time, my 70ish year-old step-dad and mom came out every week to help. I could not have done it without them. We would work hard and then sit down and laugh about all of us old people doing such physical work. We weren’t going to let our minds tell us we were too old to start something new. I had a RV shed constructed, and I moved on the property to live while I started to develop a plan! A year later the land next to me became available, so I purchased an additional 5.5 acres. I converted the metal RV building into a small house a few years later. I put in a wood stove for heat, and the nine foot ceilings and lots of insulation helps to keep it cool in the summer time.

Simplicity, self sufficiency, and safety are the keys to having a homestead as a senior. I think about all projects with this in mind. Except for a few things, everything here is designed for someone who isn’t very strong, is mechanically challenged, and is concerned more about function than looks! I want to be as self-sufficient as possible for as long as possible. Yes, it is hard work, but that is what keeps you healthy!

I purchased a small tractor in the very beginning with the idea of using it to till, clear the land, cut the weeds, et cetera, but I quickly found that attaching the implements to it was quite an effort if you are alone and not very strong. I use it mainly to haul stuff in the bucket or pull small downed trees out of the woods so I can use the fire wood. Tilling and clearing brush is only done when I have help. It had a mechanical issue last year, and I realized that while it is a wonderful tool to have, I cannot repair it. So I started to really think about how I would need to operate if I could not use “the beast”. I think we all need a bit of Amish cultural thinking at times! A garden that requires a tiller, a pasture that requires cutting, heavy stuff that needs lifting– all of this is dependent on the use of a mechanical thing. What happens when you can’t call the dealer and have them come pick up the non-working equipment? This is something most of the prepper community needs to address. A lot of us just can’t fix the complicated mechanical equipment found in most cars, trucks, and farm tools.

I opted for raised bed gardening and small animals. Attaching the tiller, brush hog, or middle buster to the tractor was not going to be an option, so I needed something simple and sustainable. I started with 4 x 4 beds with concrete block perimeters. Then, I added row type raised bedding using 8″ x 10′ x 2″ lumber. The rows are far enough apart that I can use a self-propelled mower between them. After four or so years of raised bed gardening, I prefer the concrete blocks. I need help to make repairs or replace the wooden ones, but I can put the individual blocks in place without assistance. So, all future beds will be concrete.

Farm animals are small and easily managed. Rabbits, Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats, chickens, and ducks can provide milk and eggs. While I do use the rabbits and chickens for meat from time to time, I have become mostly a vegetarian, simply because I don’t like to process the animals. The rabbit manure is fantastic for the garden, and I do sell rabbits if we have several litters at the same time. Providing for the animals in my care, during a grid down situation, is a major concern. I am slowly transitioning the rabbits to a more natural diet, so I can feed them without using much of the commercial pellets. This is a long process, because most rabbits will experience extreme digestive distress (often fatal) if you try to switch them to a grass and vegetable diet quickly. You also must make sure you provide a variety of wild plants to make sure they get the proper nutrients.

Chickens are free roamers, so they get a little commerical feed just to keep them close to the barn. Otherwise, they can manage well foraging on their own. The goats and miniature donkeys get a commercial feed daily, but they also graze to keep down the grass and weeds. If necessary, they could survive without the feed. I do keep a variety of grass seed on hand to reseed pastures.

Fencing and cages are always in need of repair. When I can, I hire help to take care of fence issues, but the electric netting mentioned below allows me to contain the animals if help isn’t available. Cages for small chickens and rabbits can be made with PVC pipe and the appropriate wire. I am currently getting about five years of use out of cages before they need repair or replacement. I keep PVC pipe, connectors, and wire on hand so I can make new cages or containment pens.

Necessary Items

Below is a list of items that every single senior homesteader, male or female, will find helpful:

  • Dip nets– They are not just for fishing! I catch wayward chickens and rabbits with them, because I can’t chase down escapees! Get one with the longest handle you can find.
  • Small live traps– Again, these are for catching escapees or small predators.
  • Electric netting fence– This stuff has made my life so much easier. I can set up a temporary containment pasture all by myself using this netting and a 12-volt battery! It will contain goats and fowl with clipped wings.
  • Scythe– Yes, I’m talking about the old fashioned type of grass/hay-cutting hand implement. I really hate a weed eater! The noise, vibration, and difficulty of starting them drives me crazy. This is quiet, quick, and keeps me in shape. In a grid down environment, I do not want to use my precious gas for weed/grass control. I can keep a pathway open to the barn, house, and elsewhere using the scythe. I gave up keeping the fence rows clear of grass. I get as close as I can with the scythe or mower and have learned to live with that.
  • Headlamps– You may feel dorky using them, but they keep us old folks from tripping over stuff with our hands free and still able to see.
  • Baby monitors– I put one in the window of the barn, and I can hear everything that goes on at night. A simple $30 investment gives me a great sense of security. I can hear a car coming up the drive or a goat bellowing in labor.
  • Hand Carts– Why strain your back, when you can use a tool to do the work for you! As we get older, lifting and carrying heavy objects can be a daunting task and puts us at risk for injury. I have two– one large and one small hand cart!
  • Small generators– I have two Honda 2000 watt generators that have proven themselves over the years. You can purchase an additional parallel kit to combine the two and have 4000 watts readily available for larger energy needs. These small, quiet generators allow me to pick them up and move them around. They weigh under 50 pounds! Also, they are very energy efficient. They will run four hours on one gallon of gas at full load or eight hours at 1/4 load! So, if you just need lights and a fan, they will run a long time!
  • Power Gear Loppers– I have tried a lot of loppers, pruners, etc. and these, made by Fiskar, allow me to cut through 2″ branches with ease. I use them almost daily to cut branches for my goats when they can’t graze freely and to keep our trails open.
  • Home Defense Plan – I have a concealed carry permit and always have a shotgun or carbine with me, when I am working in the woods. However, I prefer to deter than to defend! The best thing for this is a big dog! I have several. Nothing comes on this property without all of them sounding an alarm. They are not grid dependent so if the lights go out, I still have an alarm system.
  • Simple Handguns– I like revolvers, because I don’t have to worry about springs, et cetera, found in the semi-automatic models. It is easy to clean, and speed loaders act like magazines! I prefer them for safety reasons and reliability.
  • Small Electric Chain Saw– My lightweight little Honda generator runs an electric chainsaw with ease. I load the generator in the bucket of the tractor and take it to the location where I need to cut the small downed trees for firewood. I don’t need huge logs for the wood stove. Again, I can do this without help!

Priority List

One item that is not a “tool” but certainly necessary when you are alone is the “Priority List” that will help you manage your day. I used a “to do” list, when I was working, so why not here! If we treated our homestead as if it were our paying job, then we would get far more accomplished. There is always an abundance of work, and I find that I am easily distracted. A good list keeps me focused. It helps me purchase the right material, look for sales or used items, and shift my efforts from Plan A to Plan B when necessary. If I can’t plant those seedlings today, then I go down the list and find something else that needs to be done! Remember TIME is your most precious commodity. It is limited and non-renewable.

Homesteading is always a learning experience. Gardening isn’t for sissies. Animal husbandry can be heartbreaking (when the goat kids you have been anxiously waiting for are stillborn), and maintenance is a challenge. The physical demands keep you in shape, and there is no time to fret over things you can’t change, thus reducing emotional stress. I have been blessed with good health, so I can take all of this in stride. I always want to depend on God for his mercy and blessings, and I pray God will allow me to be self-sufficient for a very long time.

Letter Re: Things to Prep For

Just thought I’d send a note to let you know some thoughts.

  1. I use my hands for everything. One of the biggest things I would say to stock up on is rubber gloves for yourself and the kids. It hurts to do the dishes with cuts on your fingers. Rubber gloves take care of that problem, but they do rip easily. You need another pair for changing the composting toilet, another for doing laundry by hand when you have bleach in the water, and another pair for anything gross that comes up. Also we have used the disposable gloves quite a bit for animal related jobs. It also hurts quite a bit when your finger splits due to dryness. Anything that bumps it hurts, and you’re always bumping your fingers. Hand cream and something stronger to put on the split fingers is good. Here is what I do: When my hands become very dry, I put some strong, thick hand cream, like Petro Carbo or the equal, on and then put on medical disposable gloves and let the cream work all night long. In the morning, it usually helps. Of course you need garden and work gloves, but I thought people may overlook the winter indoors and how drying it is, especially if you are doing dishes, cleaning, and laundry by hand.
  2. Slippers wear out way too fast. They are not as reliable as I thought. A better choice would be indoor runners. When it is cold you are going to wish you had slippers, but it’s not even Christmas and everyone has holes in theirs. Just letting you know.
  3. Dice and cards are probably the most bang for your buck. We play all together, and it’s something that involves the whole family. However, stock up because as soon as a card is missing you need a new deck.
  4. It takes about 20 days in the dark winter to go through a a 9.46 liter jug of Kerosene. That will light up about five lamps. One of our lamps (for the table) is a double wick, bought from Lehmans. It gives off the most light and is our best lamp. Glass lamps are better in my opinion, since it is easier when filling to see how much oil you are putting in. I’ve spilled over the other metal ones, and it makes a mess. Kerosene can give people headaches, as compared to lamp oil (which is more expensive). We had this at the beginning, and now it doesn’t seem to bother us. It helps to have a window a crack open, but that may be too cold in the winter. You should practice now and see, before stocking up on the wrong thing for your family.
  5. You need to now practice quick suppers/meals. You will be so busy that you are not going to have alot of time to put into meals. Everyone comes in hungry, and you will not have fruit. Too much flour in recipes make people feel sick. Here is something I have learned: Day 1 cook a chicken. Make something with chicken over rice. Day 2 boil the bones all day and make chicken soup (double batch) Day 3 use the left over soup and put that in a casserole dish and just add a drop biscuit recipe by putting spoonfuls of the dough on top and cook it in the oven. Note: The soup must be boiling hot first, so I put it in the oven and then make the biscuit topping. When I’m ready with the biscuit dough, the soup is boiling. (Otherwise the bottom of the dough is not cooked and the top looks done.) Day 4 serve chicken fried rice. This is how I get four meals out of one chicken for a family. We just add diced chicken to the meals; we don’t eat it as a main course.
  6. If you are tight for money, here are my ideas: Truth is, if you are really tight for money you can’t afford meat, fruit, and veggies and expensive healthy breads. You can only afford a little bit of it. So how do we do this for our family?
    1. Don’t eat meat as a meal; everything needs to be diced up. Here are some ideas: casseroles, fried rice, soup, pizza, quiche, pastas, salads with diced meat, sandwich melts, and macaroni/potato salads.
    2. When you go shopping, look at the meat and ask yourself how many meals can I get out of this package. Pepperoni sticks are great. You want meat with a lot of strong flavor when you are adding it to meals. I can make two large pizzas by dicing up one piece of smoked sausage. Garlic sausage is good too. Imitation crab meat can be made into a soup, sandwich, or salad. Think of how many ways to use it so that it doesn’t feel like your eating the same thing. So maybe you will spend $6 on a piece of meat and get three meals.
    3. If your family complains because they are used to better, do your practicing on lunches so as to get them used to eating some new recipes. If someone doesn’t like something, just because they are picky, they are just not hungry yet. However, it really bothers me when parents make their kids eat. Some times people really do have a hard time with foods, and it is really rude to think that just because it doesn’t bother you it shouldn’t bother them. I just let them dish out their own. You can tell the difference, if you watch their attitude.
    4. Start gathering recipes to bake that require no butter, eggs, and milk. Learn how to make these. Often you can run out of something, then at least your not stuck. They will also save you money. Cookies, cakes, and breads can be found.

Hope this helps, – LM

Economics and Investing:

Obama Care Will Implode and Kill the Economy-Karl Denninger – Link sent in by RBS

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ISIS is obsessed with gold currency – Link sent in by G.P.

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

U.S. News

Travel Tab for the Obamas and the Bidens: $70,563,336.75 (Waste Fraud and Abuse) Commentary: This article details yet another way the federal government spends the hard earned money of the American people.

Top 10 Wasteful Government Expenses (National Review) Commentary: …and yet another example. Among the programs described in this piece is one designed to answer the question of what bugs do near lightbulbs. The cost? $65,473.

$1B Inept BioWatch Does Not Work. There is NO Plan B. (Judicial Watch) Commentary: We may shake our heads in disgust and sometimes even laugh at the absurdity of the programs on which our government spends money, but this article details a billion dollars in waste for a failed program that should be protecting the literal lives of large numbers of American people.

Mises Institute’s Week in Review (Mises Institute)

International News

The Never Ending Story of the World Economy (The Economist)

Japan Urges Its Companies to Help Stimulate Economy (New York Times)

The Forgotten Greek Economic Crisis (The Greek Reporter)

Brazil Recession Deepens, Worst Annual Drop on Record (Reuters)

Personal Economics and Household Finance

The Jackal of Wall Street: George Graham Rice (Market Watch) Teaser Quote: “Before Bernie Madoff, before Charles Ponzi, there was George Graham Rice.”

FBI: Understanding Financial Fraud & Protecting the Public (FBI) Resource: Link for information about a variety of fraudulent financial schemes for the benefit of public education, awareness and safety.

Clark Howard’s Credit Freeze and Thaw Guide (Clark Howard) Resource: The “Credit Freeze” is one of the most effective tools available to consumers in the prevention of identity theft. Link here for information about how to freeze and thaw your credit via ClarkHoward.com

Odds ‘n Sods:

Former Congressman DARES Loretta Lynch to Prosecute Him in Scathing Rant – Submitted by RBS

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One key point that can be concluded from the San Bernardino terrorist attack is this: The attack took place soon after an argument at a social event, but the Farook couple already had some bombs prepared, and the parts to build more. So it is likely that they were a sleeper cell and that self-activated, ahead of schedule. I suspect that they were actually intended to be part of much larger simultaneous attacks–perhaps even by dozens of sleeper cells–all across the country, at a later date. That attack is very likely still in the works. Be vigilantly prepared for a defensive response locally, folks! Be armed. – JWR

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A consulting client in the UK asked me about the availability of the Rawles XL Voyager knife, which was made to my specifications. They are indeed available in England, but be prepared to pay 97 British Pounds ($147), plus another 20% in Value Added Tax. (A total of around $177, plus postage. Ouch!) Readers in the U.S. will find them much more affordably-priced at the Lynn Thompson Special Projects web site. Be advised that this is a limited edition knife and that Cold Steel now has less than 1,500 of them left on hand. Once they are gone, they are gone, so don’t hesitate to order. Also note that 100% of the profits (both mine and Cold Steel’s) are going to Christian charities. – JWR

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Gun-free zones? Why not disease-free zones? – Link Submitted by Avalanche Lily

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From the office of Krayton Kerns, DVM (the Conservative Cow Doctor): Christmas Wishes – Link submitted by L.A.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” John 2:12-17 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – December 05, 2015

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. 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. 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.