The Survival Mule Secure Locker/Trailer Combo

I’ve been posting SurvivalBlog for more than 10 years. I’ve seen a lot of great products come to market, but very few of them have been truly novel concepts. Most of them are just variations on a theme. But I recently had some conversations with a consulting client that amazed me. This former Marine has truly “built a better mousetrap”. He calls it The Survival Mule. This is a fantastic solution to a common prepper dilemma: “How do I get a trailer load of Get Out of Dodge gear on the road, quickly?” What he came up was a wall storage locker/gun locker that quickly converts into a versatile trailer. These Survival Mules are assembled in Minnesota with primarily U.S. and Canadian components.

These photos tell most of the story.

The Survival Mule can be towed with the weather-tight door on for secure transport; with the lid removed, turning it into a box trailer, for transporting bulky items; or with the entire locker removed and replaced by a standard sheet of 1″ plywood, turning it into a small flatbed trailer. The locker itself can be bolted to a wall or floor, making it a decent gun and ammunition storage locker. And, since it is stored vertically, it is like keeping a pre-packed trailer in your garage and out of the weather but without taking up a garage parking space. That is absolutely brilliant.

I believe that this will be a very popular product, so I recommend placing an order soon, before the company builds up a long waiting list. The first 50 SurvivalBlog readers who order will get a $500 discount. (And, by the way, the referral bonus that would normally go to SurvivalBlog will be donated directly to charity.)

Be sure to visit the web site and check out the technical details, video clips, and all of the options as well as several discounts. I highly recommend this product! – JWR

DSC_0460_zpsjpcfht4l

DSC_0448_zps6giyiqtb

DSC_0445_zpsj0eqzwui

DSC_0440_zpsc0edgqbl

DSC_0439_zpsxgyyc6y4

DSC_0403_zps5juvcqip

DSC_0393_zpsk611tjed

DSC_0386_zpspxsw7ick

DSC_0381_zpsbgltazrf

DSC_0374_zpsxsmiuwwf

Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Leatherman Tread Multi-Tool

I’m not exactly sure when I bought my first Leatherman multi-tool, but it was a couple decades ago, and since then I’ve probably owned just about every model they have manufactured over the years. There have been many imitators, but Tim Leatherman invented the original multi-tool. Leatherman is located here in Oregon– my adopted home state– and I keep getting invited to go to the Leatherman factory for a tour, but I just don’t get up into the Portland, OR area very much these days. I prefer living and staying out in the boonies. I cherish my privacy!

100_6302

Tim Leather is an innovator, and he thinks outside the box. I like that. It was on a bike tour in Europe that Tim Leatherman came up with the idea of a small, easily carried multi-tool that could make all kinds of repairs on his bicycle, instead of carrying a tool bag full of tools. You can read all about the Leatherman story on their website. It’s very interesting.

I was more than a little intrigued when I received a press release for the Leatherman “Tread” multi-tool. It is unlike anything Leatherman has produced in the past and unlike anything I’ve seen before. First, I’d like to list all the different tools on the Tread, and then we’ll go from there.

It has :

  • #1-2 Phillips screw driver
  • 1/4″ box wrench
  • 3/16″ screwdriver
  • 6mm hex drive
  • 10mm box wrench
  • 5mm hex wrench
  • 1/4″ hex drive
  • Oxygen tank wrench
  • 3/16″ hex drive
  • 1/8″ hex drive
  • 3/16″ box wrench
  • 3/32″ hex drive
  • 3/32″ screwdriver
  • 1/8″ flat screwdriver
  • 4mm hex drive
  • 8mm box wrench
  • 3mm hex drive
  • 5/16″ screwdriver
  • 3/8″ box wrench
  • 1/4″ flat screwdriver
  • #1 Phillips
  • 6mm box wrench
  • #2 Phillips
  • Carbide glass breaker
  • pick/sim card tool
  • cutting hook
  • 1/4″ socket drive
  • bottle opener
  • #2 square drive

Wow! To say the least, that’s a lot of tools to have on any single multi-tool. However, it gets even better. The Leatherman Tread, isn’t your typical multi-tool. Instead, all of these tools are manufactured into a stainless steel wrist bracelet. Yes, you read that right; all of this Is on a bracelet you can wear on your wrist! And, the Tread comes in satin finished stainless steel or black coated stainless steel. We are talking high quality and not some piece of junk, though I’m sure there will be imitators come along in very short order.

100_6303

The Tread is designed to be taken apart with a penny, if you need to remove a link or two, to make it fit your wrist. Some of the above listed tools can probably do double duty, if you need to remove a link so that it fits your wrist. As soon as you put the Tread on your wrist, you know it is high quality, just by the weight of it.

Now, to be sure, the Tread is not designed to replace the regular multi-tools that Leatherman produces. I wouldn’t want to find myself attempting to work on my truck with only the Tread. Whereas, I’ve done some quick repairs with my Leatherman Blast on my truck as well as other household repairs. Instead, the Tread is designed to work on a bicycle, in my humble opinion, or maybe on a motorcycle.

100_6305

I stopped riding bicycles and motorcycles some years ago, but I always had a small tool kit stowed in a pouch as well as a multi-tool with me. Two wheeled vehicles always seem to break down a lot. I couldn’t tell you how many times I had one of my motorcycles quit on me when I was far, far from home. However, with a multi-tool, some extra fuses, and some electrical tape, I always managed to get going once again, short of running out of fuel, not that that ever happened to me! LOL!

100_6307

When something like the Leatherman Tread comes along, and I have to wonder how Tim Leatherman came up with this design idea. I’m not saying he’s a tortured soul, like some of the book authors whose books are turned into some really strange movies. I’m thinking those types never give their minds a rest, always turned on high and going at full-speed all of the time. However, it took some serious design genius to come up with the Tread, and it is more than obvious that Tim Leatherman’s mind is always working on new ideas and products. Just look at their website. There are so many different multi-tools, each different from the next one.

100_6308

In my carport are two, rusting 10-speed bikes. One belongs to the wife, and one to the oldest daughter. Neither have ridden their bikes for at least five or six years or maybe longer. So, the bikes are just sitting there, rusting and taking up space, much needed space, in my carport. I decided to see how well the Tread would work on the two bikes, but working on some of the nuts and bolts, even rusted, I was able to loosen them. I also tinker with firearms all of the time. When I’m out at the range, I usually reach for my Leatherman Blast to do a quick repair. Lots of times, it’s just screws working loose on handgun grips. The Tread worked fine, but I carefully used the tools as I didn’t want to scratch the finish on any of my guns, which would be easy to do, if you aren’t paying attention.

100_6309

In my neck of the woods, there are a lot of people who ride bikes these days. I don’t know if it’s because they enjoy it or because they lost their driver’s license. It doesn’t matter one way or another. However, I’ve seen more than one person either carrying or pushing their bike, because something had broke on it. I have seen more than a few broken chains, to be sure. Bet they wished they had a Leatherman Tread on their wrist for a quick repair.

100_6310

I know a lot of people enjoy riding their bikes up and down Highway 101, which runs along the coast from Washington to California. These are hard core bike riders, and they usually carry tools for repairs. To be sure, even the best bikes can and do break down. The Leatherman Tread would sure be a nice tool repair kit to have on your wrist.

As with everything I’ve seen out of Leatherman, the Tread is of the highest quality. As I’ve stated numerous times, you can buy junk, over and over again. However, if you buy quality, you don’t have to keep buying it. Plus, we have the Leatherman 25-year warranty on the Tread. If I were riding bikes and motorcycles again, you can be sure the Tread would be worn on my wrist. Tim Leatherman’s mind was working overtime when he came up with the Tread. I just can’t help but wonder how people like Leatherman keep coming up with new and better ideas in small packages. Quality doesn’t come cheap. The stain-finished Tread is $200, and the blackened model is $220. Yep, it’s spendy for sure, but if you want the best and you want the innovator, then check out the Tread. I think you’ll be saying “Why didn’t I think of that.”

– Senior Product Review Editor, Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Spaghetti Casserole, by L.H.

This is a flavorful, simple, and inexpensive casserole for any occasion where you’d like to provide a meal to someone in need, such as when there’s a new baby, or a medical or condolence call. I like to make it in a disposable aluminum pan, approximately 10” x 12” in size, so that the recipient doesn’t have to be concerned with returning a dish, and I deliver it with a loaf of store-bought French bread on top. Voila! It’s a complete and comforting meal for the family. It also freezes well (along with the bread, too), if it’s not needed immediately. I usually deliver it uncooked with directions for both immediate baking and also for freezing and baking later.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef or bulk sausage
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 c. chopped onion
  • 1 c. chopped green pepper
  • 2 cans (14.5 oz. ea.) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (4 oz.) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
  • 1 can (4 oz.) sliced black olives, drained
  • 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 lb. spaghetti pasta
  • 2 c. (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 can (10.75 oz.) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/3 c. water, more or less
  • 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
  • non-stick cooking spray

Directions

  1. In large skillet, cook and crumble beef or sausage; drain grease and remove meat from pan.
  2. In same skillet, melt butter over medium heat and sauté onion and green pepper until softened (about 3-4 minutes).
  3. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, seasoning, and reserved meat.
  4. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti pasta, according to package directions to al dente and drain.
  6. Spray 9″x13″ (or aforementioned 10″x12″ disposable) casserole dish.
  7. Spread half the spaghetti over the dish; top with half the tomato mixture and then half the cheddar cheese. Repeat layers.
  8. In small mixing bowl, whisk together the soup with just enough water, a little at a time, to make it where it can be poured.
  9. Drizzle soup mixture over casserole.
  10. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  11. If delivering, wrap tightly with foil and refrigerate. If serving, bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or till hot and bubbly. If not cooking immediately, wrap tightly and freeze; then thaw and bake as directed above.e

o o o

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

Letter: A Note on Infant Nutrition

Dear Sir,

Regarding the very helpful letter on alternatives to commercial baby foods, I wanted to add the widely-used practice sometimes called “baby-led weaning”. This consists of introducing a six-month or older child to larger chunks of soft foods that they can grab, manipulate, and gum on their own. The two keys to make this practice safe are that the chunks be too large to aspirate (perhaps the size of a large french fry), and soft enough for the baby to mash or dissolve with their tongue or gums.

Banana and avocado are often used as first foods in this method, but cooked sweet potato, carrot, apple, or other appropriate foods would also work well in a situation where imported foods are not available.

Since baby’s “chewing” and swallowing skills usually develop in tandem with their motor skills, this method actually reduces the chances of choking on spoon foods that can sometimes go down too quickly or be aspirated. It also reduces the need for special equipment or steps in pureeing foods, and it allows baby to feed themselves (with supervision, of course!) before they can handle utensils.

We used this method with both of our children, alongside conventional baby foods, and we all preferred it for simplicity and lower frustration for everyone! More information about baby-led weaning can be found at http://www.babyledweaning.com/

Economics and Investing:

US labour force participation stays at a 38-year low Only 62.4% of American civilians over the age of 16 are either working or looking for work. – G.G.

o o o

Biderman: “Welcome To The First Global Recession Created By Central Bankers” Sent in by G.G.

o o o

Items from Professor Preponomics:

The Fed Desperately Tries to Maintain the Status Quo (Mises Institute)

Ensure Your Financial Strategy Passes the Sleep Test(Christian Science Monitor)

Collapsing Obamacare Co-ops Signal Big Trouble to Come(Fiscal Times)

U.S. Debt Ceiling Has Risen No Matter Who Was In Office (Visual Capitalist)

How One Retailer is Preparing for the Apocalypse(Zero Hedge)

Bank of England Pushes Out Timing of Rate Hike(Market Watch)

Amazon-Killer “JET” is Running Out of Cash(Business Insider)

My 8 Tips for Simple Living(Frugal Family Home)

6 Spending Habits of Fiendishly Frugal People (Mighty Bargain Hunter)

Dave Ramsey’s Get Out of Debt Snowball Plan(Dave Ramsey)

Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog reader R.F. sent in a link to this instructable on creating a Water Treatment Train.

o o o

One drawback to municipal water systems? You have to trust those who manage it to keep your health in mind, acting in your best interests. Officials Secretly Added Cancer-Causing Chemicals to City’s Water Supply Fail! – Sent in by T.A.

o o o

More details are beginning to emerge in the death of an Idaho rancher: Idaho rancher’s wife: ‘I saw them (cops) murder my husband’. Investigators are actively seeking eye witnesses. Sent in by RBS.

o o o

The Federal Bureau of Investigation processed a record number of background checks in the month of October, indicating that gun sales were at an all time high for the sixth month in a row. Sent in by G.G.

o o o

SurvivalBlog reader GJM sent in this little jewel. Just an all-around class act: You Stop Paying My Bills, I Have You Investigated There are an awful lot of dead people still waiting for a Clinton investigation. (That is, they’re waiting for a Clinton investigation in a rather different sense of the term.)

Notes for Sunday – November 08, 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.

My Experiences And Lessons Learned As A Suburban Prepper- Part 2, by CGman

Lessons Learned and Important Experiences (continued)

Food and animals. When you start storing food and grains, be prepared to defend it against hungry critters. I’ve had a mouse that got into one of my bug out bags and ate through all the MRE packages. (I now store all dry goods in plastic totes.) I’ve had neighborhood dogs smash through fences to eat my chickens. (I now use chicken wire with electric wire on the outside.) I bought full-size metal trash cans to hold dog, fish, and chicken food and keep it away from rodents. I lost numerous fruit and other trees to insects because I try to stay away from insecticides. I had my heart broken when I came back from summer vacation to find I had experienced an algae bloom that suffocated all the fish in my pond ($2000+ worth). I also realized that the runoff from the chicken pen probably amplified the algae bloom, so I decided to purchase a commercial grade fountain pump to keep the pond aerated. (That was not cheap!) I found that one day of mild frost can ruin your whole year’s fruit harvest but leave your neighbor’s trees untouched. However, trees are pretty self-sufficient and require little overall work. Chickens give eggs every day, but they also need attention every day with food, water, and shelter. (Hauling water by hand is NOT fun!) I learned the hard way that one good rain storm can put your low-lying garden under water and ruin any chance for that year’s harvest, but putting it high means you will have to haul water to it rather than use gravity if the power goes out. I now have two refrigerators and a small deep freeze that I use to take advantage of good sale prices on food staples as well as provide space for locker meat. I have experienced butchering a pig from start to finish and decided it is hard work! I’ve learned that my fish antibiotics, store bought medical supplies, and injectable penicillin can save me quite a few trips to the vet. I learned that if you’re planning on eating the chickens, don’t let your kids name them. I also learned not to wear flip-flops while you’re feeding them!

Fitness. I’m a middle-aged sized XL guy. I always have been, always will be. I love to cook, and I love to eat, but that’s about the only bad vice I have. I’m large-trunked and short legged (thanks to my northern European heritage), which means my BMI score is far into the obese range. My main form of exercise is from jogging and soccer, which I referee, coach, and play. I’ve definitely noticed that in the last 10 years my body is changing. I’m taking longer to recover from injuries, and it takes much more effort to get back into shape after the holidays. I’m not under the delusion that I am going to hike 20 miles with a full pack or be able to outrun a mountain lion, but I did hike 10 miles at 10,000 feet elevation in the Rockies this summer with my daughter. I’ve also noticed how various pairs of shoes will differently affect my feet, knees, and ankles. So make sure you’re not completely out of shape, you have good shoes, and that you’ve tried them out before TEOTWAWKI.

Faith. Our new church is very active in obeying the Word, when it comes to helping widows and orphans (James 1:27), and we felt God pulling us towards helping with foster care. Let’s just say that the list of requirements for foster care housing is not conducive to a prepper household, and it took quite a bit of time and money (and an extra gun safe!) to meet all of the requirements We were nearly forced to put a chain link fence between our house and our pond! Also, we were still subject to spot inspections from the state agency. I was more than a little upset by all of the regulations, so when we discovered there was a large sibling set that had been split up that needed a permanent home due to all the parents being out of the picture, we knew what we needed to do. By last Fall, they had all moved in with us and everything was starting to move forward… Then in January, I was laid off (along with about 700 others) from my job of 23 years. “How awful!” you say? Not me! I praise God for knowing my heart and the needs of my family. While many of my co-workers were crushed by this event, I was able to collect a sizable severance package that has allowed me to stay at home with a three and four year old all year while my wife was able to move to a higher paying job that had a steep learning curve that required her to work seven days a week for several months. I was also able to roll my trapped money out of the Wall Street (401K) casino and into an IRA. I went with a SurvivalBlog precious metal advertiser and their recommended self-directed IRA company to move a big chunk of money into a completely legal, physical gold and silver holding at an approved vault. I also now have additional money ready to quickly use if I want to cash out other IRAs when TSHTF.

Future Plans

Energy/security. Depending on my tax refund this year, I would like to install a mid-size solar system with off-grid capability and/or look into wind turbine usage. Another goal is to expand my fuel storage capability with the addition of a second propane tank and an elevated diesel fuel tank. I’m not planning on storing additional grain onsite due to potential rodent and mold/mildew issues.

Finances. This year has been rough on our finances, and my main concern will be finding an acceptable job next year. We hope to have all of our consumer debt paid off by the middle of next year, which should allow us to have an achievable budget while still not requiring me to find a high paying job again (if it comes to that). The budget is getting complicated by our goal of having all the kids in private school in the near future. This could add up to $40k per year to our budget requirements when they get to high school.

Food and animals. My only plan for the immediate future is to plant a variety of additional fruit trees to try to expand my potential of achieving a significant fruit harvest. I also need to update and repair my fishing gear. It has not seen much use in several years, and I will a get a bigger deep-freeze when this one stops working.

Although I have all the equipment I need to hunt most any animal in my area, I do not have any experience in hunting the vast majority of them. This is something I plan on changing in the near future, as I want to be able to experience hunting/butchering deer and game birds in the next couple of years. However, finding public land where I can do this for free can be problematic, even in the suburban/rural area I live in, because I don’t plan on spending hundreds or thousands of dollars just to eat wild game from a private land owner hunting lease or a paid hunting trip.

I’m also currently experimenting with several different methods of pumping water from my windmill outlet to storage tanks (275-gallon IBC totes) for the animals (and the house, if required). These include small DC pumps powered directly from batteries or AC pumps using inverters or motor generators connected to a vehicle.

Fitness. My main aim is to try to maintain or decrease my weight and to get my wife (who is in worse shape than I am) to do the same. Luckily, I have pretty good genetics, so my blood pressure, blood sugar, and fat levels do not mandate take any medications. If that becomes the case, I know it’s time to start hitting the gym!

Faith. This is one area that I think divides the prepper community. You can probably tell by now that faith/God/religion plays a big part in the life of my family. Many of you reading this will never consider spending money on private school for your children or grandchildren or dedicating part of your life to help others less fortunate, purely because of your desire to “be prepared”. This mostly revolves around having time to work at a job to make more money (to buy more stuff) or needing more time to work on “stuff” that you’ve already bought. Many people will even legitimize their Christianity by buying more “stuff” so they will have some to give away after TEOTWAWKI. None of us know whether a super-volcano, EMP attack, financial collapse, NBC attack, or something else horrible is going to happen before we die. However, we do know that death and taxes are both guaranteed, so make sure your soul is prepared too. Find time to help those less fortunate, read your Bible, go to church regularly, and make it a priority to give money to charities and tithe right now rather than after TSHTF.

James 2:14-17 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (KJV)

Two Letters Re: Love Thy Neighbor…Trust No One

HJL,

The writer of this letter is waking up to the unfortunate reality that, thanks to our national leadership or lack thereof, the law only applies to those who adhere to the law. Lawbreakers have been taught by our own government that there are no consequences for breaking the law. On the contrary, lawbreakers are now actually being REWARDED for breaking the law. This will only get worse. As the author of the letter has discovered, we’re going to have our hands full in the coming times. May God be with us all. – Pete H.

o o o

HJL,

Before he confronts the trespassing neighbors, I would suggest doing online research to find out what kind of people they are. Google their names and see if they have a social media presence. Most courts have searchable online dockets. Search the court in your own community and in surrounding jurisdictions as well. Look at both the civil and criminal dockets. On Ancestry.com, you can find any previous addresses. Search the courts there, too. (Libraries often have a version of Ancestry.com you can use for free.)

I learned this the hard way. I have a neighbor who is engaging in dangerous and illegal open burning practices. I politely expressed my concerns to him, but he became enraged and threatened me. Ironically, I was trying to be nice about this and did not want to get him in legal trouble. After this incident, I searched the court sites. He has a lengthy criminal record in the town where he used to live. Had I known that, I would not have approached him.

Now the only thing I can do is wait for the Darwin Awards to claim him and hope he doesn’t hurt any innocent parties. – V.L.

HJL Responds: I certainly agree that a bit of background research can go a long way in helping a person decide how to handle the situation, but I would caution against just letting the person do whatever they wanted. It is, after all, your property. It sounds like your neighbor is being a bully, and ignoring the situation never resolves it in those cases. Conflict should be a last resort, but sometimes it is unavoidable to establish firm boundaries. You can’t always choose your neighbors, but good boundaries always make them better neighbors.

Economics and Investing:

There is new data showing that the new typical home buyer in America is much older. When in 2005 the typical buyer was between 35 and 40, the typical buyer today is now closer to 40 or 45 (and older in some regions of the country). What this signifies is the pent up demand of young buyers never materialized because of high student debt and stagnant incomes: The typical home buyer is now a lot older than just a decade ago: Recent buyer and seller data shows an older population purchasing real estate across the country. We also see this taking a hit with housing starts. (A decade ago housing starts were at 2.2 million a year, and today they are at 1.2 million.) This is the case with a growing population as well. – B.H.

o o o

SurvivalBlog reader JBG sent in this link to Breitbart where you can have a large order of McDonalds french fries in Venezuela for only 800 bolivares (~$133 USD at the “official” exchange rate.)

o o o

Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Congress Proposes A Chilling Resolution On Social Security – Like most of our problems, the answers are painful and there is no easy way out. As usually, the government has promised more than it could deliver and stolen money on top of that.

Video: Peter Schiff on CNBC on the Fed and Rate Hikes

Video: Congressman to Yellen ‘God Wants You to Hold Off Rate Hike’ – Don’t even know what to say here, other than “WOW!”. I have now heard all the reasons possible as to why this government doesn’t want to raise rates, despite jaw boning that it will…

US Gross National Debt Jumps $340 Billion in One Day

Odds ‘n Sods:

Sent in by GJM: When Collapse Is Cheaper and More Effective Than Reform

o o o

As the White House continues with its headlong charge into stifling small business and generating tax revenue with the “climate change” narrative, yet another blow is dealt. Apparently, the decision is: Who needs facts when they don’t support your desires.

o o o

FOAB: The Armament In The Hands Of The World Leader Who, You Know, Actually Goes Out And Accomplishes Stuff… Just In Time For The Christmas Shopping Season—The Russians Have A New “Green-Friendly” Bomb and An Even Newer Incentive To Use It (I didn’t say what he accomplished was GOOD stuff; I just asserted at least he got his Slavic rear-end off of the golf course and did it.) – Sent in by GJM

o o o

Nearly 600 Earthquakes in San Ramon During Recent Swarm. Sent in by G.P.

o o o

Reader D.S. sent in this disturbing article: Cops Now Stealing Your Stuff to ‘Protect You’ from People Who Might Steal Your Stuff

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Matthew 2:13-15 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – November 07, 2015

November 7th is the anniversary of the death of actor Steve McQueen (born March 24, 1930, died November 7, 1980). The many well-publicized exploits in his tempestuous life and his enduring persona are well known. However, the end of his life is actually the most noteworthy part of his legacy, even though it seldom gets much publicity outside of Christian circles; he came to Jesus after he had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. He died with his forefinger pointing to his key verse in his Bible– Titus 1:2.

o o o

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.

My Experiences And Lessons Learned As A Suburban Prepper- Part 1, by CGman

As I sit here typing I wonder again what has taken me so long to write down these thoughts. I think this website is one of the most important places on the Internet for people who are actually concerned for the future of their family and this country. I cannot begin to write down all of the things I have learned and used from reading the articles on SurvivalBlog. My reason for typing this article is not to win a prize but to try to pass some important information along to others who are in similar circumstances. As an upper-middle class, suburban parent to six who lives in the Midwest, most of this article may be irrelevant to other hardcore preppers. This article is not intended for them but for the inexperienced family that’s just starting to learn about prepping.

Family History

Less than 100 years ago, my family consisted of poor hillbillies on one side and first generation immigrant farmers on the other. They didn’t know what prepping was. They lived that way all of the time. After WWII, everyone moved to the “city” and the “kids” (my parents) were the first ones to go off to college. Many skills and tools were lost during this time, but some things remained. As in many families, fishing, sewing, gardening, hunting, canning, and the frugality that can only come from living through The Depression were still practiced by my grandparents. However, neither my wife’s nor my parents had any interest in these things, so there was little support or knowledge to lean on as my generation became young adults. Many prepping skills had been completely lost.

First Steps As a Prepper

I would say my first action as a prepper was buying my first firearms during the Clinton years. During one of the gun restriction scares, I decided to “bite the bullet” and buy a pistol and rifle that had the potential of being banned. My life-long passion for “fire sticks” had started.

I didn’t even realize I was taking a giant step towards prepping when my wife and I made the biggest (most expensive) decision of our life. We moved from our small town/yard/house to a rural house with acreage, stocked pond, outbuilding, and windmill. Although we moved less than 10 miles, our phone company, electric company, area code, school district, and zip code all changed. We also became propane users, which was absolutely terrifying to my wife. This was worrisome to me also, due to concerns of running the tank dry. We now had well water and a lagoon. The thought of drinking water straight out of the ground with no filters or chemicals was a little disconcerting to this city boy. I was also quite concerned when I realized that the basement bathroom was below the lagoon level. (After having to work on the sewage lift pump several times now, I realize my original impression was accurate!)

One of the first decisions I had to make was how I was going to mow the yard. Zero turn mowers were all the rage, but I decided I wanted to be able to do many things with my tractor, so I ended up purchasing the smallest 4WD, diesel tractor with a CAT 1 three-point hitch that was made. I’m able to use a front loader, 60-inch mowing deck, and numerous three-point implements. A second concern I had was that there was no other heat sources except for propane. (It was actually a cost concern and not a multiple source concern, at the time). After a little bit of research I found something that I had never heard of before. It is similar to a wood pellet stove, except that it burns whole, shelled corn. In our area we have grain elevators full of the stuff, and in the Fall you can buy a pickup truck load for $100; however, there are drawbacks, described below under “Lessons Learned”. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I now had control of three heat sources (electricity/propane/corn), two safe water sources (electric well pump and windmill), and a stocked pond to get fish from.

Later Prepping Changes

My prepping activities took a back seat for several years as our first children were born but went into high gear after several like-minded individuals joined my group at work. One individual was a serious precious metals guy who started getting others interested in buying silver and gold (just as they started to run up to historic highs!). Another guy was a serious gun guy who started me shooting sporting clays, which is a serious addiction that can get very expensive! For food security, I started stocking up on freeze-dried and other emergency foods, planting fruit trees, and raising chickens. (I’ve now built two different chicken coops myself, and I’m becoming an expert on figuring out why the electric fence isn’t working.)

Facilities wise, I found a used PTO-powered generator for my tractor that can run all the vital items in my house, and I now keep extra diesel fuel to provide for extended power outages. (Our local farmer’s Co-Op carries offroad or “dyed” diesel, which does not have the Fed highway tax included.)

Financially, I got rid of the safety deposit box and started putting an occasional new coin or two into our new gun safe. I made it a habit to start keeping more cash at the house and more funds in the “savings account”. (This has paid dividends several times, as I was able to raid the cash fund to make a quick garage or estate sale deal.)

Family/spirituality wise, we ended up moving our children into private (Christian) schools, keeping active in God-fearing and Bible-believing churches, and making sure our kids were raised to be responsible adults. Then last year, our whole world changed. There is more on that later.

Lessons Learned and Important Experiences

Energy/security. Physical security is a weak spot with our current house and location, and there’s not much I can do about it. Several large dogs, an alarm system, and two experienced shooters with CCLs is all we have for now. Energy availability (due to storms, solar issues, or EMPs) is one of my biggest concerns and where we have spent the biggest portion of our prepping dollars. I’ve had our house electrical system modified so that it has an external plug for the PTO generator with an internal disconnect switch and dedicated circuits for the important items. If power goes out, I hook up the PTO generator to the tractor, pull the tractor to the house plug, and flip the disconnect switch. A concern is that if the power is off for a long time, guarding the tractor/generator becomes a major concern.

I’ve also learned that although I love my corn stove, it is still a lot of work to transport, sift, clean, and move the corn. (The good thing is that I rarely operate it unless it’s forecast to be in the mid 20’s or below, because I use it mainly as a supplemental heater in the walkout basement.) To properly and quickly clean the corn (to prevent clogging your stove auger and heat vents) you need screens to remove large debris and a large Shopvac to suck away all the small debris. You can make a cleaner yourself or buy a small one on Ebay. The alternative is to pay 50% more and buy “cleaned” corn or “deer” corn. My corn stove will burn a minimum of 20-30 lbs of corn over the course of a 10-hour workday, so if you work all day you need to fill it before you leave and refill it when you get home. If you don’t want to clean corn every night (think 10 deg F with a foot of snow and 30 mph winds blowing), you need to plan ahead and clean several days worth at a time. (This is a hard, dirty job that can create a LOT of dust.) I usually clean three large storage totes worth at a time and use the front loader to help transport from my outbuilding to the backdoor (this is approx 3 X 100 lbs of corn). This will usually last me four or five days when running at low setting. My 1980 Toyota pickup will hold 600-800 lbs of corn per trip, but since in my area the cold snaps are usually less than a week long I can make a trip to the elevator about once a month. Don’t forget, any pellet stove (including corn) requires a considerable amount of electricity to power the auger, fans, and circuit boards, and if the power suddenly goes out, the smoke may start escaping into your house. I have a large computer APC connected to my corn stove, and it will only last 10-15 minutes during power outages.

Another thing I have done is to purchase my own used propane tank and ditch the rented one that made me dependent on one company. Although I have to be more alert to the propane level, I can now shop from many different sources and order more propane when I want to (before the price goes up in the winter).

Finances. Wow, where to begin! Nobody ever has enough money, do they? We were doing very well last year with two good paying jobs. Our main expenses were housing, cars, insurance, private High School for two, and church tithing. I was able to start purchasing a few silver coins on a regular basis. and even pay off the wife’s credit card! Then we learned that things change, and sometimes multiple things change very quickly, so it is very important to be financially nimble. No large consumer debts, and don’t have all your money tied up in cars and house payments; leave yourself a cushion. There is more on that later.