Jade Helm Reporting From Leakey, Texas, by S.

[Editor’s Note: This letter is run in its entirety; however, it is important to note that there are several assumptions made in the letter. A basic tenet of research is the understanding that “correlation does not necessarily mean causation.” Just because two things happen at the same time does not mean one has caused the other. Internet and telephone communications go out all of the time and providers are often reluctant to accept responsibility, especially if it is only a temporary disruption. There are also many reasons that Internet can go out, from work crews replacing amplifier modules to overheating components. Our brains like patterns and latching on to the closest explanation is easy to do, no matter how far-fetched it may be. Jade Helm is not normal to most people. Those who live in areas that have normal military traffic have probably not seen any difference in the day to day operations, but because this is hyped in the media, we tend to focus on it. It’s similar to a pregnant woman suddenly noticing how many other pregnant women there are around her. Her pregnancy has no connection to the other women, but her attention is drawn to it because it is a significant life event for her.

The Jade Helm exercise has no significant negative short-term issues for the American populace. It is what it appears to be– a training exercise in which the terrain is similar to where the world hot spots are and it also represents the military attempting to stay ahead of the curve on the coming civil chaos. The danger right now is not from the military but from the urban gangs and rioters that the military knows they will be called on to deal with when TSHTF. Ferguson and Baltimore are just warm-ups.

That is not to say that there is no danger presented by this or similar exercises though. If this exercise or future exercises develop working relationships with local, county, or state law enforcement agencies, it will be paving the way for the federalization of the all law enforcement, and that does pose a significant threat to the constitutional rights of the American populace. That is the long-term danger posed by these large scale urban training operations.]

As most of you are aware by now, Jade Helm military exercises that began July 15th are in full swing. The states that were chosen included Texas, with most towns and cities spread out over the state, but the Patriot-filled, constitution loving, gun-toting town of Leakey, Texas (population 450) became ground zero for the Texas Hill Country.

The towns in the Hill Country region are extremely conservative, with the local church banner proclaiming in big, bold words: “CONSERVATIVE, CHRISTIAN, PATRIOTS” on the side of the building. The banner was taken down before Jade Helm arrived.

This is also where most young men proclaim their own independence by flying “Don’t Tread on Me” and “Come and Take It” flags flying in the back of their pickup trucks. Here it’s an everyday occurrence, and some are Hispanic.

The Texas Hill Country region is old school Texas: a Republican stronghold that threw out Common Core, are un-apologizing Christian guns owners who still hold Tea Party meetings and put constitutionalist Ted Cruz into office. This is where you find the most “Secede” bumper stickers on the back of pickup trucks.

So when the newspapers broke the story that our small town would be part of the military exercises, the residents responded with a standing room only packed crowd attending the city council meeting where a military representative explained to residents they had nothing to fear.

Every single city council member voted to allow the military operations to proceed, regardless of those opposed and the remaining few who were uncertain as to the real reason why they were here. The military countered that our local economy would benefit financially.

My husband and I decided with a few patriotic neighbors that we would not attend the meeting, as we felt it would put targets on our backs and that anti-Jade Helm citizens would go on a list for future reprisals.

The first thing that occurred before the official start of Jade Helm was a full range of different law enforcement agencies booked local vacation rentals over a weekend in a nearby town from Leakey; that town, with a population of 150, is a popular tourist destination on a river.

I personally spoke to a few who were lost, and I gave them directions to where their meeting was located and bantered with them a few minutes, noticing they were in plain clothes and their unmarked car was definitely law enforcement.

Since we only have state highway patrol or county sheriff way out here they stood out. These wasn’t our typical agencies (border patrol and ICE). This coordinated weekend event finished on Sunday morning, and when they pulled out of town in mostly unmarked cars, multiple law enforcement agencies of between 50 and 100 law enforcement officers drove by our home.

Next came an interesting report from our neighbor whose family has been in the area since they were given a Spanish land grant in the 1800’s. His brother had been outside and a drone was flying over his hillside surveying their property. This occurred twice.

Next military jets started flying over more active than normal. San Antonio is 90 miles away and has a military base that trains pilots. Those F18’s travel in pairs and are pretty loud. The flight pattern is always the same– south to north. Normal flyover is about every other month or so, but in just one day my husband counted six fly overs. Once military actions began, helicopters began flying overhead as well.

Then the real fun began. I have a little farm store that requires me to sit for long spells between customers on a fairly busy country road during the summer tourist season. About 3:30pm I heard a jet flying a south to north route, but lower than usual along the hillside straight up to Leakey where the Jade Helm command was based. Within five minutes all Internet activity went dead. Now because we live in the country, I thought there was a possibility of something that caused my Internet service to shut down, but after work I drove down the road to some of the small tourist stores, and the cash registers were all down. I went home wondering what was going on, but by morning everything was working again.

A week or so later the same thing happened only it was a helicopter. Then last week all cell phone and Internet service was knocked out again. The entire town was effected. We called AT&T, and they said everything looked fine on their computers; they didn’t know what was wrong.

Then a few days ago the only bank in town had their phone lines stop working. It made the front page of the local newspaper. This bank is over 100 years old and NEVER had this happened before. There was no reason given.

Then my husband’s Apple computers with a big-time security wall to protect his Internet server went out four days ago. The highest level Internet technician at Apple in California said in his 28 years he had never seen a problem like this before.

When the Internet stopped working, we called our Internet carrier, which is the local phone provider. We got the same response: everything looked good on their computers, and they saw nothing but clear lines.

We took my husband’s computers to the Apple store in San Antonio. They told us it was funny that just a few days before their entire store went down without Internet service. San Antonio is heavy military town, and they are also part of Jade Helm exercises, but it’s the 7th largest city in the U.S.

My farm store has no technology or cash registers, but I do use the Square for running credit card transactions. Since Jade Helm began operations, there were two mysterious transactions of over $2,000 per transaction for “cash”. Since I only make a few hundred dollars a day, this jumped out at me. Neither has been corrected, even though I sent an email to Square.

A few days ago, I had a man with a badge on his belt come to the farm store to pick up a preorder (a phone order for pick up the next day at the store). Since we know everyone that works for the Sheriff, it was unusual to have an unknown guy who was plain clothed, wearing a badge, and driving his own vehicle. Hmm.

What does it all mean? Rural communities rely on cell phones and Internet just as much or if not more than urbanites, which lets us work and live far away from cities. Bottom line: Jade Helm is practicing how to cut all communications in and out of towns. No cell phone service and no Internet stops us from communicating what’s going on to others.

It’s pretty smart, but we have to be smarter. Now that we know what part of their plan is, we have to start to setup alternative communication devices right now; we need CB radios, satellite phones, hand-held walkie talkies, and Ham radios.

It would be too easy to just say, “Oh well, it was just a few days”, but the reality is military exercises are just that: planning and training for the day when they will use their exercises. The question is will it be against us?

When I heard how another small town like ours had the military roll into town using hay trucks and rental trucks to effectively “take over” the small town without their knowing it, this isn’t about training for Iraq. This is military training for Main Street USA.

May God bless and keep you all safe until our Saviors return.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.” Matthew 26:59-60 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – August 22, 2015

August 22nd, 1949 is the anniversary the USSR detonating its first atomic bomb and officially kicking off the atomic age-cold war, making prepping an acceptable pastime for millions around the world.

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

First Prize:

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

Second Prize:

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

Third Prize:

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

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

Renters Can Prepare Too, by FLSnappyTurtle

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

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

Storage Solutions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Security Challenges

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

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

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

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

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

Greater Food Self-Sufficiency

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

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

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

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

To make a self-watering container:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prepping on a Budget

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letter Re: Scepter MFC and Water Can Repairs and Parts

Dear Hugh,

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

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

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

Economics and Investing:

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

o o o

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

o o o

Items from Mr. Econocobas:

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

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

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

Weekend Reading: Is This The Big One?

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

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

Notes for Friday – August 21, 2015

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

First Prize:

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

Second Prize:

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

Third Prize:

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

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

Multiple Families on Your Retreat, by Farmer Brown

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

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

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

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

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

Relationships

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

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

Communication

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

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

Conflict Resolution

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

Children/Schooling

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

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

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

Livestock and Animals

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

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

Work Assignments/Load

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

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

Finances

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

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

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

References

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

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

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

Hugh,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Odds ‘n Sods:

Bedtime Stories for Young Brains – D.C.

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

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

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

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