Notes for Thursday – November 19, 2015

There are less than 2,000 Rawles XL Voyager knives left on hand at Cold Steel. Because this is a limited edition knife, they are likely to sell out before Christmas. Order yours soon. All profits benefit two Christian charities.

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Ready Made Resources is having a sale on PVS-14 2nd Gen+ Autogated Night Vision. If you’ve been wanting a PVS-14 but can’t afford the Gen 3 units, this may be for you.

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The owners of Naturally Cozy (one of our long-term Writing Contest prize sponsors) have launched a new venture: PrivyPaper.com. They provide the solution to a dilemma faced by most preppers: How do I store a large quantity of toilet paper for my family in compact form, and so that it doesn’t get ruined by moisture or mice? This is also a great solution for blue water yachtsmen (who face even tougher space constraints and who have even greater worries about moisture damage). Be sure to check it out!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 61 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 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  6. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  7. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $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 November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Survival Trapping: The Efficient “Hunter”- Part 1, by J.C.

Trapping animals is a skill that is as old as time itself. From a simple stick-triggered rock deadfall to modern day legholds and automatic snares, these devices increase the efficiency of gathering that all-important meal. There are many myths surrounding trapping and most notably the modern leghold style traps. It’s best to dispel some of these myths in the beginning, so as to not bog down the discussion of their use in the field for both survival and non-survival situations. It is best to refer you to the National Trappers Association for more detailed information on the myths and misunderstandings of modern trapping equipment. Also, a quick YouTube search will pull up several videos of people showing examples of traps purposely set off on their own hands to show that these traps are not only humane but are very high quality pieces of equipment. (Search “Hand in the trap challenge” for multiple video results.) One of the most notable is of a 13-year-old girl setting off a variety of traps on her own hand with no problems at all. Now, onto the information of why trapping is important for the prepper. It all comes down to time. In any SHTF scenario, time will be one of your most valuable commodities. Gathering, processing, and preserving food will make it to the very top of the list of daily chores, and if you want to maximize your time then trapping is the most efficient “hunting” method available. Traps work 24/7 and are there when you can’t be. They are simple and easy to use and with a little skill can be highly productive. Every survival book out there seems to always have the same hand drawn sketches of those really neat snares that are made with just the materials at hand. The problem with these sketches is those traps are difficult to manufacture and will only have limited success. There are many instances where full grown animals, like raccoons, beavers, and coyotes, have damaged metal traps and snare cables. These traps are of professional quality, and they still get damaged and sometimes fail. The rope and stick trap that took you several hours to construct is going to fail. The 550 cord you have in your pack or the lightweight wire stuck back in the BOB will fail, and the nifty little wire snares you bought online will fail too. Why will they fail? It’s mainly because animals are strong. They’re stronger than most people realize. Raccoons, for instance, will tear right through metal hardware cloth to get at chickens. Imagine how much of a fight they will put up when they have a snare around their leg. This strength cannot be underestimated, and your traps need to be set accordingly. Another way they will fail is the anchor system. Traps need to be anchored securely. Most professional trappers use heavy chain or steel cables. The twine, rope, or zip ties you think will hold the snare simply won’t do the job, except for the very smallest animals.

The Basics of Setting Up Traps:

  1. Determine Target Animals in the Area and Select Appropriate Sized Traps

    All traps come in different sizes and can be matched for the size of the animals you are targeting. A good rule of thumb is you can go larger but don’t go smaller. A squirrel might easily be caught in a cage trap designed for a raccoon; however, a raccoon probably won’t be able to fit in a small cage trap designed for a squirrel. Size recommendations: All are available for purchase from quality manufacturers.

    Legholds: #1 – #2 sizes for small to medium animals, and #3 and larger for bigger predators

    Conibears: 110’s and 220’s sizes for small and medium animals and 330’s for larger animals

    Live Cage Traps: 10”x10” opening for small- to medium-sized animals is a good all-around trap size.

    Snares: 1/16” inch cable wire is a good medium strength size for many applications. 1/32” for small animals and 1/8” for larger animals. Properly built snares with slidelocks will increase the success rate.

  2. Location, Location, Location

    Knowing where to set your traps is important. Wind direction, travel routes, food sources, and water access are key factors. Places where multiple types of terrain intersect are great locations to set up traps. Fence lines and other man-made features can help funnel animals into specific travel routes. Natural cover and protective terrain, such as rock outcroppings and brush piles, are magnets for both predators and prey. Avoid just setting up in the middle of the woods or fields and hoping for the best. Traps have been known to sit for weeks even with bait and never catch a single animal. Experienced trappers will tell you that location is the most important decision that determines success. Setting a trap on the wrong side of a culvert or not using the wind to push the scent from a lure onto the travel routes can be the difference between catching dinner and wasting time. Sometimes even just a few feet can make a difference. Learn the animal, and learn the terrain.

  3. Attractants

    Baits: These can be almost anything that would represent a food source– meats, fruits, shellfish, fish, cookies, candy, oils, left over or spoiled foods, and other animal parts. The list is almost endless. Many commercially-available baits are excellent and are stable for longer-term storage. However, be aware that any bait that is rotting will reach a point where it is not palatable and may cause the animal to shy away. Something else to consider is the time of year you are trapping. Spring, summer, and fall will have you fighting off insects from many of your baits. Ants, flies, and other insects will immediately come after food/meat baits and make them useless for trapping. This is one aspect that most winter fur trappers do not have to contend with and can be difficult to overcome. When using baits, it is important to not overdo the amount used. A small amount will go a long way, and sets can be productive with only a tablespoon or less of bait added at a time. Refresh the bait as needed, but waiting days and even weeks to add new bait is acceptable if the weather doesn’t interfere with them.

    Lures: These are different from baits as they are more about the scent that will draw a curious animal to investigate. Lures may have a very strong odor for an attractant and will often work with just a few drops in the right place. Some lures are made with using glands from specific animals. Canines, beavers, and scavengers are some that respond well to lures. Skunk musk is another ingredient used for lures as the odor is a strong curiosity scent for many animals. Still others may have fruit scent extracts added for scavenging animals. Animal urine can be put into this category; however, urine can be over-used easily and is hard to gather in the wild. Curiosity and territorial behaviors help these attractants become very effective when used correctly.

    Physical items: Feathers, fur, bones, skulls, turtle shells, tinfoil, and even paper bags are items that are used to attract an animal from a distance. Many nuisance wildlife trappers know that human trash is a major source of food for wildlife. Roadsides littered with fast food wrappers will draw animals for miles. Using those local items around your set can increase the activity and the catch rates. Animals will investigate anything and everything in their range for a chance at a free meal. Even a freshly dug hole is enough to bring some animals in for a quick check. Learn to use them to your advantage. Once you have picked your trap, location, and attractant, it is time to set up and go to work. A very basic trapping preparation kit can be made from the average garage and kitchen. Here is what would be considered a minimum set up:

    1. Shovel – small hand trowels will work, but larger garden shovels will make life easier. This one piece of equipment will allow you to start almost any style set.
    2. Gloves – to protect your hands but also to keep your scent to a minimum when putting in the trap.
    3. Screen sifter – for leghold traps you will need a way to put clean, loose material over the traps. A colander from the kitchen will do a suitable job or anything with ¼” or less holes.
    4. Cable or chain with attachment hardware. D-rings or split rings work well, but avoid lightweight materials as discussed earlier. Closed link chain is best as types like swingset chain can be twisted open if the animal is determined enough and left alone for any length of time.
    5. Axe or hatchet – for removing and adding limbs and cutting roots out of the set area. For snares you will often have to move a large limb into a specific location, and this is where an axe will come in handy.
    6. Kneeling pad– Save your knees and reduce the human scent by having something like a foam square to kneel on while working on the area.
    7. A way to dispatch the animal when caught. A .22 caliber firearm is a good choice for this task.

    Other items that are useful: screwdriver, pliers, hammer, hand pick axe, and a small rake to clean up debris. Five-gallon buckets are excellent to carry the supplies and baggies or jars are perfect for storing baits and lures.

Letter: Unintended Exposure Through Bank Debit Cards

All,

When giving an analysis of bank debit cards and the advantages and disadvantages of their use, we come across quite a bit of useful information. There is indeed a shift from the use of checks and cash towards debit cards. According to the Federal Reserve Payment Study (2013) “Over the years, payments have become increasingly card-based. Card use may have replaced check use for certain payments” (P.6). The use of cards is of great end use convenience to account holders as swiping a debit card is faster than writing checks. Debit cards are almost universally accepted in today’s market, and most vendors do not overtly charge usage fees. However, many businesses have in fact increased prices slightly to offset the costs of maintaining an electronic payment network. The most common overt increase of payments is at service stations where the price per gallon of fuel is slightly increased with debit/credit payment. Also some business have instituted minimum purchase prices in order to utilize debit or credit cards. The use of a debit card also decreases bulk the end user must carry as a check book is significantly larger and heavier when compared to a debit card.

Another great aspect of debit cards is almost real-time payment posting/authorization. This allows for very accurate and timely electronic account balancing and a more robust option to balance accounts accurately. The record of transactions is also easily searchable depending upon your financial institution’s electronic platform. The downside to this is the system is wholly electronic based with backup procedures that are largely institutionally chosen and not standardized.

One major drawback however to debit/credit cards is financial and personal data security. Debit cards operate on an electronic system that is much more susceptible to fraud, and according to the Federal Reserve Payments Study (2013) “In 2012 cards had substantially higher total unauthorized transactions by number and value than ACH and checks. Card fraud rates by number and value were also substantially higher” (P.6). So the convenience doesn’t come without increased risk to fraud and identity theft as the magnetic strip contains personally identifying information.

Within the last couple of years we have also seen an increase in exploitation of date storage facilities and payment processing websites. All of these convenient systems create a huge amount of exposure, often times creating huge liability for both parties to financial fraud and leaked personal information. If you are unfortunate enough to be targeted for this type of financial fraud, the path to recovering your money and credit can be quite time consuming and difficult. According to PrivacyRights.org (2015) “Debit cards typically put consumers at much greater risk than credit cards, because they offer less legal protection in the event of a loss. And because debit cards access funds directly from your bank account, your money will remain missing while you and your bank sort out any theft, which could mean bounced checks, late fees, and numerous other problems” (P.1).

Scarier still is the knowledge that not all nefarious parties involved in such schemes are seeking financial fraud alone. On the rise are government sponsored hacks that target monstrous amounts of data to create databases of sensitive information. According to CNN (2015) referencing a recent breach “the goal behind the attack is to build a database of federal employees using stolen personal information to fool and impersonate government workers, to set up future insider attacks. By revealing who has security clearances and at what level, the Chinese may now be able to identify, expose, and blackmail U.S. government officials around the world, the experts added.

Ladies and gentlemen we are currently at war with China; this may be a soft or non-kinetic war, but it’s war nonetheless. The war we fight currently against China and potentially Russia is being fought on the front lines of the Internet and other Internet-type systems of data storage and sharing. The financial/personal identifying information data breaches are just another aspect of the exploitation of our lust for easy to use convenient systems. So I submit to you that perhaps the ease of using that credit/debit card or your favorite website might not be worth it after all. Don’t be complacent.

The information I obtained for this posting I believe is both accurate and relevant. The sources were reputable and within the referenced documents was additional source material and reliable research.

S.M.

References:

Liu, M., Berkenpas, J., & Chen, M. (2013, December 19). The 2013 Federal Reserve Payments Study. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from https://www.frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/research/2013_payments_study_summary.pdf

Liu, M., Berkenpas, J., & Chen, M. (2013, December 19). The 2013 Federal Reserve Payments Study. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from https://www.frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/research/2013_payments_study_summary.pdf

Liptak, K., Schleifer, T., & Sciutto, J. (2015, June 6). Experts: China might be building database of federal worker info – CNNPolitics.com. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/04/politics/federal-agency-hacked-personnel-management/

Unknown, U. (2015, August 1). Fact Sheet 32: Paper or Plastic: What Have You Got to Lose? Retrieved October 17, 2015, from https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs32-paperplastic.htm

Economics and Investing:

War on Cash: Here are the latest disturbing developments Sent in by D.S.

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

Requiem for QE: Seeds Sown for Future Economic Troubles (Cato Institute)

DC Settles Civil Forfeiture Suit for $855K (Forbes)

Value of Civil Forfeitures Exceeds Burglaries (Zero Hedge)

Rent Control Policies: Ineffective and Unjust (Washington Examiner)

Restoring Federal Fiscal Sanity Requires New Approaches and Strong Leadership (Washington Examiner)

Oil Production in North Dakota Falls YOY for First Time in 11 Years (Business Insider)

A Billionaire’s Post-Apocalypse Shelter: Here It Is (Zero Hedge)

Puerto Rico is Running Out of Options (Bloomberg)

Greece Reaches Deal with Creditors Including Compromise on Home Foreclosure Protections (Market Watch)

U.K. Treasury Chief Sells 13B Pounds in Mortgages from Financial Crisis (Houston Chronicle)

These Indicators Suggest China’s Economy Isn’t Growing Anywhere Near 7% (Business Insider)

Can China’s Consumers Save the World Economy? (CBS News)

Odds ‘n Sods:

From the desk of Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large comes this link showing groundwater resources: New study maps Earth’s hidden groundwater for the first time

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Four Dead, 1 Million Lose Power in Destructive Northwest Windstorm (Article and auto starting video)

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Emphasizing the need for situational awareness, SurvivalBlog reader T.Z. sent in the link to this article on the Paris attacks: Paris attack witness says black Mercedes pulled up and shooters fired rifles from the hip

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Only hours after “He who must not be named” taunted the GOP with being afraid of widows, a female suicide bomber exploded in Paris Sent in by P.M.

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C.L. sent in this link to an article showing the map of states and their stance on accepting refugees.

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G.P. sent in this link to a short film on the new generation of farmers: Where Have All the Farmers Gone? It’s really good to see young people expressing concern about farming.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“In third world countries a traffic stop can be made to ‘go away’ for ten bucks or so. In the good ol’ USA, land of the free and home of the brave, it’s an opportunity to take everything in your wallet, everything in your car and maybe the car too. No warrant, no charge, just straight up theft. Congress—the people’s representatives, ask ’em—thought this up. The Supreme Court says it’s legal because it’s the property being charged, not you. It’s a legal concept from Medieval times. Karma awaits, and it’s never disappointed.” – Ol’ Remus, writing again in The Woodpile Report blog

Notes for Wednesday – November 18, 2015

On this day in 1978, Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones led hundreds of his followers in a mass murder-suicide at their agricultural commune in a remote part of the South American nation of Guyana. This incredibly tragic occurrence introduce the term “…drink the Kool-Aid” into our parlance, since poison-laced punch was the vehicle behind most of the deaths. This serves as a stark warning and reminder to those in the prepping/survivalist community who would join with like-minded friends under the leadership of a charismatic leader. Always know who you are following!

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There were several mistakes in the PDF of antibiotic dosing guidelines in the article “Infectious Disease in the TEOTWAWKI World- Part 5”, by Militant Medic. Those mistakes have been corrected, so make sure you get the latest version from the website.

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Pantry Paratus is having a sale on the Solarbag Water Purifier. $10 dollars off each bag purchased. They make great gifts so get yours now.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 61 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 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  6. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  7. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $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 November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Raising Angora Rabbits as Part of a Well-Prepared Homestead, by J.R.

1

Previous Survivalblog articles have focused on raising meat rabbits as part of a well-prepped homestead. Raising multi-purpose angora rabbits takes this aspect of preparedness to the next level. I’ll start with a quick review of the benefits of raising meat rabbits and then transition into the advantages of raising angora rabbits.

Rabbits are indeed the most efficient of domestic livestock in converting feed to growth, meaning that it takes less feed per pound of mass produced to grow them out than it does for other animals. They are manageable in an urban situation, even an apartment, where other livestock are not an option. Rabbits produce just the right amount of meat for a family meal if refrigeration is not available. And because they are smaller, they are manageable for older people or children for whom wrangling a goat or cow is out of the question.

As also mentioned in previous articles, rabbit droppings are the prime manure for gardens. It is perfectly packaged in pellets for easily spreading among plants and releases its nutrients in a time-release manner. Because it is not “hot”, it can be placed in the garden as soon as the bunny deposits it. However, fresh manure still carries pathogens and should not be placed directly on salad greens or strawberries. (Put manure in beds that will be growing those two crops in the fall and work it in, and then let it decompose over the winter to be ready for planting in spring.) Finally, rabbit droppings also function as a highly desirable treat for dogs. While we may find the idea revolting, the dogs do not. Vets say that no self-respecting dog will pass up the opportunity to snack on rabbit droppings. They’re full of vitamins.

In a time of stress or turmoil, which most of us here anticipate to be in our future, a pet is therapeutic for everyone. Sitting outside petting rabbits is very calming for those who are stressed. Knowing this “pet” is a useful, productive member of the farm is even more de-stressing. In this household, our working pets will be wearing a few hats, and one of those is as a laboratory test animal. My husband is a type-1 diabetic. While we have stored a very good supply of insulin, it may not be enough. Insulin, unfortunately, does have a shorter shelf-life. Our plans include being able to produce insulin for him, and we will need test subjects before using our DIY insulin on him. (While not germane to this article, there is a precedent for people in desperate situations making insulin. Eva Saxl and her husband kept Eva and over 200 other diabetics alive during WWII in Shanghai using DIY insulin.)

We take our rabbits to rabbit shows. While this aspect of raising rabbits does not appear to fit well with a prepper lifestyle, shows are a wonderful place for learning more about raising rabbits successfully. We learn something new and useful at every show.

Raising angora rabbits for their fiber is the focus of this article. Angora fiber is eight times warmer than sheep’s wool, and four times warmer than alpaca. And like wool and alpaca, angora keeps you warm even when wet. Because it is very warm and very lightweight, a little goes a long ways. In addition, angora is highly water resistant. Knitted items can be felted to become almost waterproof. Angora fiber is extremely soft and very lightweight. For these reasons, for many years it was the fiber of choice for thermal underwear and baby clothing; it is that soft.

Unlike other animal fibers, angora does not need to be washed or carded prior to spinning, and you do not need a spinning wheel. Instead, the fiber can be spun on a drop spindle. Drop spindles have been used for thousands of years to turn fiber into yarn. They are very portable, basically a wooden dowel, a wooden wheel (the wood wheel turnings used to make little cars or trucks), and an eye hook. You may stain or paint them, if desired. Drop spindles can easily be made at home, a dozen for about $6 and one hour of time, though you don’t need that many.

Spinning the fiber, any fiber, is a very therapeutic, meditative endeavor. Historically, spinning was a woman’s activity, and for good reason. Most women benefit from having a creative outlet. Women need to be able to create something useful and beautiful. We need to be able to complete a project. Some of the stress in a woman’s life is that laundry, cleaning, and cooking are never done, and they are often quickly undone. We need to have something to show for our efforts, and this is especially true in times of stress.

Angora yarn can be used to quickly knit up the very softest and very warmest mittens. If the mittens are knit extra large and then felted (thoroughly wetted and then dried/shrunk in a clothes dryer to the desired size is one way of felting), they will also be nearly waterproof. Angora socks (I use a 50/50 blend of merino wool and angora) can be an absolute godsend for those afflicted with cold feet. I put a pair of angora socks on when we had a cold snap a few weeks back and I was too cold to sleep but too stubborn to put an extra blanket on in September. My toes were instantly warm and I was almost as instantly asleep. Angora sweaters and shawls will keep older women warmer without having to be bundled up like Eskimos. Put an angora blanket on a baby, and one need never worry about keeping him or her warm.

Now that you have become intrigued by the possibilities and desirability of adding some angoras to your homestead, it’s time to consider the various breeds. I will only cover the breeds available in the United States.

English angoras weigh 5-7 pounds. They have fiber everywhere, including their ears and faces, and they look rather ridiculous. Because they lack guard hair, they mat easily and require up to 30 minutes of grooming per day. As such, this breed is not practical and should be avoided at all costs.

Satin angoras are a little bit larger than English and look more like a normal rabbit. However, they also lack guard hair and mat easily. These should also be avoided.

Giant angoras weigh ten to fifteen pounds. They come in white only. Again, they also lack guard hair and mat easily.

German angoras are rare in this country, because they are not recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association and thus cannot be shown. As showing is one reason people raise rabbits, if you can’t show a rabbit, you lose out on a lot of sales. However, if I were only raising for fiber and meat and I could find a breeder, German angoras might be the way to go. They weigh up to twelve pounds and can produce up to an amazing 4-5 pounds of fiber per year.

English, Satin, Giant, and German angora varieties are all sheared.

We chose to raise French angoras because of the low maintenance requirement—2-5 minutes of grooming (combing) per week. Senior rabbits require only 2-3 minutes, and juniors up to 5 minutes because their baby coat is softer and finer and their guard hairs grow more slowly. That’s it. Honest. If you are raising French angoras, the fiber is harvested about every three months by simply combing or plucking out the loose fiber. The rabbit is not hurt in this process at all and usually rather enjoys it. French angoras produce an average of 16 ounces of fiber per year. That may not sound like a lot, but remember, a little goes a long ways. When I spin fiber for a sweater that is one ply of angora and one ply of alpaca, I use only 2-3 ounces of angora for a woman’s cardigan. One ounce of angora in a pair of socks, and half an ounce for mittens. It is that warm and that lightweight.

Assuming you’re considering acquiring a few of these multi-purpose rabbits for your homestead, I’ll briefly cover some of the basics for their care. Should you decide to raise angoras, you need to do more in-depth research, but this will give you a start.

The girls feed the rabbits a combination of commercial pellets, hay, seeds, sprouted grains, and garden waste. Never feed rabbits tomatoes or other nightshade family plants. Carrots are like junk food and should be rationed carefully. Lettuce is fed only when a rabbit is constipated or has a bit of wool block. We provide only raw food, nothing cooked, except for whole grain bread. Bread can be useful in trying to get a rabbit to gain weight. When TEOTWAWKI hits, the rabbits will be transitioned off the commercial pellets to sprouted grains, hay we have grown here, seeds, and fresh grasses, in addition to the garden waste.

Cages are ideally all metal with wire mesh bottoms and pull out trays for droppings. Metal cages are lighter weight than wood hutches, easily moved when necessary, much more easily cleaned, and can be sanitized with a torch or fire. In addition, wire mesh bottoms are far more sanitary, keep the wool clean, and let the droppings fall through to the pan for easy transport to the garden.

Angora rabbits do just fine in extremely cold temperatures; however, they require protection from wind, rain/snow, and direct sun. They also cannot tolerate temperatures above 85 degrees without some means of cooling—fans, ice bottles (2-liter bottles filled with water and frozen), or air conditioning. We live in the foothills of the Sierras where temperatures only infrequently surpass 90 degrees. Before we built the bunny barn, we just brought the rabbits into the garage for a few hours when needed.

Finding a French angora breeder or two can be tricky. Checking Craigslist is the easiest and fastest way to go, but there are other options. One is the American Rabbit Breeders Association website. There are also various breeder directories online and Facebook, but I can’t recommend one over another. You can also check your local 4-H or FFA groups and ARBA shows.

How much should you expect to pay for a French angora rabbit? There are several factors that are considered here. Pedigreed and registered (not necessary from survival standpoint) rabbits will cost more. Proven (meaning that they have kindled or sired a litter) animals and those with better wool length and density command higher prices. Does also generally sell for a few dollars more than bucks. At this point in time, angoras are less expensive in Oregon and Washington; prices are higher in areas where there are very few breeders.

How many rabbits do you need? If I were only raising for spinning, I would have two does and one buck. However, if I were raising for fiber and meat or selling, I would have a minimum of four does and two bucks. Here, my girls keep five does and three bucks. Their does average six to eight kits per litter. Bear in mind that you should not plan on litters in late summer. Bucks can become temporarily sterile when temperatures rise above 80 degrees. The duration of sterility depends on the age of the buck.

Raising French angora rabbits has been extremely beneficial for our family, but particularly for my daughters. They have gained a great deal of knowledge in raising rabbits and producing garments from the fiber. We have greatly appreciated the useful contribution the younger girls have been able to make to our homestead. It’s been much easier on their hearts because rabbits aren’t butchered (yet), and in truth, they don’t desire that much meat. However, the ability to produce meat is instantly available when TEOTWAWKI hits. And at the same time, they have been able to build a very lucrative business (for 10-14 year olds).

Letter Re: .40 S&W

Hugh,

I’m in agreement with the recent postings regarding .40 cal pistols. I have been shooting .40 for more than a decade now and am a firm believer. During the shortages I was still able to consistently locate ammunition, and as mentioned by another contributor you can swap parts out on the Glock easily.

I carry a Glock 23 and run full power ammunition for daily carry, but when attending a Front Sight four day pistol course I dropped in a Storm Glock 19 barrel. The pistol functioned just as well on 9mm ammunition as it did with .40. After four days and hundreds of rounds, I have zero failures to extract or any other issues. I have shot for days on end at other courses such as Magpul, EAG, DFG, et cetera with similar results. I had no failures to extract; as some have said it’s a concern I paid special attention to it.

Also of note is that being an enlisted man and having a small family, I didn’t have enough extra cash to buy all new Glock 19 magazines. So I borrowed two G19 mags and figured I would deal with any malfunctions as a training bonus. However, over numerous courses the .40 magazines fed my gen 2 G23 just as well as the G19 magazines. I realize this may not be the case for everyone, but that has been my actual experience. My Glock has simply been reliable to the point it’s boring.

Now that funds have increased a little bit, I have added Wolf Barrels and Gemtech threaded barrels. While I haven’t had nearly as much trigger time behind the Gemtech and Wolf when compared to the Storm Lake, they all seem to be excellent quality and run just as well. – S.M.

Economics and Investing:

The Government Netted $4.5 Billion in Cash, Cars and Houses – Sent in by B.B.

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The remaking of an American housing bubble: Home prices are up 78 percent since 2000 and 30 percent since 2012.

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

$195M Pension Payment May Derail Detroit’s Post Bankruptcy Recovery (Detroit Free Press)

Blackstone: Now the World’s Largest Owner of Real Estate(Business Insider)

China Welcomes IMF Backing to Make Yuan World Currency (Yahoo News)

Japan Relapses Into Recession (Reuters)

California: Study Finds Half of Illegal Immigrants Qualify for Medicaid Benefits(Fox News)

38% of All Comex Gold in Hong Kong Left the Warehouses…YESTERDAY (Zero Hedge)

Investors Face Quagmire: Falling Earnings, Higher Rates (Reuters)

Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers recommended the excellent documentary: Midnight Ride: When Rogue Politicians Call For Martial Law

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The count is now at 15 governors who have said they will reject the “refugees”. Obama faces insurrection – State governors are refusing to accept more refugees As a friend so aptly put it: “If you were given 10 grapes and told two of them were poison, and you couldn’t tell which two, would you eat any of them?”

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The “Big Boys” have the tools, now “Jr Varsity” ISIS wants them too. Britain warns of ISIS plotting deadly cyberattacks Link sent in by G.P.

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Military Armory Robbed – Haul included M4s, pistols, other rifles While nothing ties the theft directly to terrorist at this time, the timing is nonetheless disquieting. – T.P.

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Showing that the community is capable of policing its own: “World’s Worst” Firearms Instructor Stripped Of Credentials

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“A hand from Washington will be stretched out and placed upon every man’s business; the eye of the Federal inspector will be in every man’s counting house… The law will of necessity have inquisitorial features, it will provide penalties, it will create complicated machinery. Under it men will be hailed into courts distant from their homes. Heavy fines imposed by distant and unfamiliar tribunals will constantly menace the tax payer. An army of Federal inspectors, spies and detectives will descend upon the state… Who of us who have had knowledge of the doings of the Federal officials in the Internal Revenue Service can be blind to what will follow?” – Richard E. Byrd, speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, arguing against the 16th Amendment which authorized the Federal Income Tax

Notes for Tuesday – November 17, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 61 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 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  6. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  7. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $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 November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

A Solid Solution On Securing Home Defense During A TEOTWAWKI Situation, by B.M.

Currently, I reside in a suburb about 40 miles outside of Chicago. It’s just far enough in my opinion to escape the madness should the SHTF. Nobody is going to walk 40 miles out of the city to my town. What would they achieve by doing this anyway? In any case, my personal bugout plan is to bug-in should a SHTF scenario develop. I live in a typical small suburban home with neighbors all around me. It is a typical suburban American block. I have thought through many scenarios that may present themselves during times of trouble, whether it’s that our grid is down or we’re dealing with war, disease, nuclear plant meltdown, economic collapse, or you name it. I am sure you have thought through all of the potential threats that you have to be prepared for, so I won’t beleaguer this point.

The purpose of my article is to introduce what is the best, most efficient, and least costly way to defend your family against any potential looters from breaking into your home/apartment to get to your food, supplies, guns, et cetera. Remember this is based on the assumption that you plan on bugging in rather than bugging out, although this solution would work for an RV as well. Desperate people will do desperate things; we all know that. If you have something they need, they will not stop by any means to get to your goods, and if you’re in their way it may very well be lights out for you!

I would like to share with you a few of my solutions using the element of surprise, which if executed well can deter a large group and also give you the upper hand at the same time. Let’s assume for a moment it’s cold out and you have your wood burning stove providing heat to your home. This obviously creates smoke that’s visible, and the wood burning odor can also be detected a mile away in the direction the wind is blowing. Or, let’s assume you have a dog as part of your protection team and he/she starts to bark, hearing a group of looters that are coming down your street. Food smells, dogs barking, indoor lights, candles flickering, and wood burning odors all can provide evidence that your dwelling has some creature comforts in it worth fighting for.

Know Your Dwelling

Who knows your residence best, be it an apartment, condo, townhouse, rural farm house, suburban home, city bungalow or RV? You, of course. You know every nook and cranny, every window, every exit, every staircase, the basement, the closets, and also externally how things are built, including your landscape, terrain, porches, decks, garages, and all as well as where they are located. If you’re a prepper, you know your perimeter and your dwelling well. If you don’t, you best get to know every inch of your living area now. Make it a priority, because all of the supplies and food and ammo you have won’t matter if someone can break into your dwelling and take it from you. There are several good articles on the Internet on how to make your property safer from break-ins.

Limit Entrances to One

Everyone’s living situation is different, but we all have one thing in common: whether it’s an apartment or a farmhouse, it’s a building code that you must have at least two entrance ways in and out of any residence. This brings me to my next point. What if you laid down a deterrent in front of any of the main floor doors or windows that are vulnerable to being broken into and select only one entranceway to enter and exit your home? You and your family cannot possibly be at every window or door that is vulnerable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That would be a poor home defense plan and rob you of valuable time that could be spent doing the hundred other things during a SHTF scenario.

Setup A Serious, Deadly, Deterrent Of Entry Inside Main Floor Doors and Windows

So how do you stop a gang of looters from busting through your windows and doors in force and in numbers? I have a solution that I have thought through, and it is very efficient at stopping large groups, deadly in nature, and cost efficient. Additionally, it allows you ample time to get into your defensive position until the right moment when you unleash “hell”. (This is assuming you have firearms to defend your family and residence as part two of this defense deterrent.) This solution will not only stop large groups of people in their tracks, it will create utter chaos and panic and take them all completely by surprise. Remember to keep in mind the mob mentality and the desperation of people who are starving or freezing to death or who are thirsty or sick. They want what you have, and they will stop at nothing to get it. We’re talking serious stuff, and it needs to be dealt with a serious and deadly deterrent. A desperate mob or one desperate person at some point can get through your doors or windows by some means of force. It’s what lies on the other side of your doors and windows that will stop them cold. I am not talking about hand grenades here.

Concertina wire, razor wire, or whatever you want to call it is a stop dead in your tracks weapon. You do not place it outside of your home on the perimeter but inside your home, just beyond where your smashed in door breaks down or swings open. Also place it on the floor just below the base of your main floor windows.

Think about this scenario for a moment. Three desperate men that are prowling the streets for food come upon your place because they hear your dog barking. They will consider eating your dog as food, because it has been a week since the crisis and they are ravenous. They find an old pipe, maybe a large rock or two or anything they can grab and start smashing away at your doors or main floor windows. They are desperate. Their adrenalin is high, and yet they know there may be an armed resident inside and certainly a barking dog, which may turn into a biting dog once they break in. That won’t stop them, however, when driven by starvation. Do you think with that mind set and that scenario that they are going to try and quietly and stealthily enter your residence? No! They will bull rush that door or window, and once broken through they will charge into the house only to run straight into hundreds of shards of slicing, dicing, and flesh ripping razor wire. The first man falls into the wire getting entangled and screams in pain just as the second man right on his tail falls on top of him also slicing him to ribbons. You get the idea. All the while you wait with your (insert your favorite defense firearm here) and blast away as the intruders who are now panicked, bleeding, entangled, and in severe pain try and escape the razor wire spider web they just rushed into.

There are several places on the Internet to order razor wire or plenty of farm supply stores that sell it. I purchased three rolls of 18” diameter Galvanized Steel Concertina Razor Wire with each roll covering 15 feet in length. The total cost including shipping was $210. That’s not a bad price considering what you get. Caution: You must purchase steel mesh gloves to handle the razor wire. It is nasty stuff, and there’s no sense hurting yourself during a SHTF situation. Roll the wire out in such a manner that it is doubled up and at least three feet high and six feet in length. No one will get through that. Again, placement of the wire is critical. It must be placed just far enough away to allow a door to swing open forcefully or to allow the door to come crashing down without it landing on top of the wire; otherwise, the perpetrator can simply walk right on top of the door with the wire beneath it and not become entangled. You decide the most likely scenario on which way your door will open when forcefully broken. Will it fall straight down, hinges and all, or will it swing open as the lock is broken? If they break through a window and step or crawl inside the opening, there is the razor wire waiting silently below ready to slice them up and stop the threat immediately.

Safety Concerns

The obvious safety concerns for using this deterrent solution is not to have your family or pets get near this indoor booby trap. Again, make sure it is strategically placed but also out of the way from the normal traffic patterns in your residence. If you’re using this on the most vulnerable entrances on the main floor, keep one door wire free so you can access the outside. Think about this as well. Would you rather be trying to defend several windows and doors or just one? With all else that you must be engaged in, wouldn’t it be easier to pick out your one strongest door or window and defend it instead of having to be in several places at once? The razor wire is a 100% dead stop for anyone trying to enter your home with ill intent.

I hope you will consider my home defense solution. The element of surprise can make the difference when outnumbered. I will be using it as described above, should a real crisis come upon us. Also, let it be known, I do not work for nor endorse any particular firm that manufactures concertina or razor wire. I just feel strongly that this is a failsafe solution if a real SHTF situation develops and you are planning on bugging in. Be Prepared.