Economics and Investing:

“Fundamental Imbalance”: The GAO’s visualization of our long-term budget crisis. – G.P.

o o o

Slavering Wolves of Inflation. – H.L.

o o o

Items from The Economatrix:

If Economic Cycle Theorists Are Correct, 2015 To 2020 Will Be Pure Hell For The United States

Global debt enters terminal velocity mode: Why central banks have no intention of slowing their public and private debt binge.

U.S. retailers probably had decent showing in April

Odds ‘n Sods:

JWR was recently interviewed by the folks at The Daily Coin podcast. The half-hour interview covered a wide range of preparedness topics.

o o o

Best concealed carry handguns. – B.R.

o o o

Policing for Profit? Lawmakers, advocates raise alarm at growing gov’t power to seize property – H.L.

While the civil confiscation and forfeiture looks cool on TV, it affects real people and the Georgia Sheriffs Association should be ashamed of their stance that curbing that law would reduce the profitability of upholding the law. What makes them different from the thugs they police in that situation?

o o o

Showing that we are apparently incapable of learning from history: Greek Supreme Court clears neo-Nazi party for EU vote – G.P.

o o o

Watch the first 45 seconds of this video and you will know why such bad legislation gets passed in congress: Sen. Rand Paul Speaks Out Against Senators Voting without Reading the Bills. – J.T.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Every time that we try to lift a problem from our own shoulders, and shift that problem to the hands of the government, to the same extent we are sacrificing the liberties of our people.” – John F. Kennedy

Notes for Wednesday – May 14, 2014:

Don’t forget Ready Made Resources Sale ends today!

o o o

Today we present another entry for Round 52 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three 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. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. 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,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

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. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis 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,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  9. Autrey’s Armory – specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  10. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  12. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate.

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,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208.
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.

Round 52 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Survival and Prepping in a Homeowner’s Association, by M.B. – Part 1

As federal, state, local, and county governments reel under the weight of reduced tax revenues, declining productivity, and impossible “unfunded liabilities” (pensions, entitlements and health–welfare services), many communities are only able to continue to operate and maintain their facilities and infrastructure due in whole or in part to self-governed Homeowner Associations (HOAs).

“The fastest growing form of housing in the United States today is Common-interest developments (CIDs), a category that includes planned-unit developments of single-family homes, condominiums, and cooperative apartments. Since 1964, homeowner associations have become increasingly common in the USA. The Community Associations Institute trade association estimated that HOAs governed 24.8 million American homes and 62 million residents in 2010”. [1]

Homeowner associations, property owner associations (POAs), planned unit developments (PUDs), or common interest developments (CIDS) may be in a unique position to take advantage of local planning, control, management, and oversight in providing both essential and recreational services to the members they represent, especially in times of disaster or severe economic downturns.

While the federal government continues to grow itself and increase the entitlement mentality, and as “professional politicians” dedicate much of their time to their reelection (and in catering to the needs of special interest groups), self-governed HOAs today represent one of the last functioning forms of representative government.

HOA Boards of Directors closely resemble the original form of representative government created in the U.S. by the founding fathers, whereby elected officials were essentially volunteers who were largely not compensated and who served limited terms before returning to their original profession, family business, or avocation.

When the ordure hits the rotating apparatus (SHTF), local HOAs with their well-established networks of volunteer committees, adequately funded reserve accounts, and proven ability to operate within a budget will be in a far better position than most towns and cities to weather a crisis and help preserve life and property.

HOAs take many organizational forms and are purposed somewhat differently from traditional municipal government entities according to the HOA governing documents (CC&R’s, By-Laws, Operating Rules), demographics of the membership, and the location and type of community (e.g. 55+, or age restricted, resort communities, large scale communities, condominium associations or high rise towers).

Many larger retirement and large scale communities have resources and business divisions well suited to serve the needs of the membership in a disaster situation, where federal, state, and local government will be overwhelmed and slow to respond effectively.

While some might think it naïve to assume that a community might “come together” in a SHTF situation and others might question the wisdom of “sheltering in place”, or of relying on an HOA-supported “Bug In” scenario, the fact is many HOAs are self-contained entities; indeed, some are gated and others are isolated from metro areas or contain a large number of elderly and/or retired persons. Accordingly, many HOA residents will be forced to stay put, either by circumstance or necessity. I believe some may choose to stay to help and defend their neighbors and friends.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (KJV)

Many large HOAs have facilities and staff well suited for disaster response and grid down situations, such as:

  • Golf course/club operations and private owners with fleets of electric golf carts, charging stations, and lots of batteries
    1. Establish supplies of battery cables to enable interconnection of batteries into 12-volt configurations. The vast majority of golf cart battery bank wiring is done in a “series” circuit. To wire in a series circuit means to connect multiple batteries in such a manner that the entire battery bank acts as a single battery but with the total sum of the voltages of each individual battery (e.g. + or positive terminal on one battery is cabled to the – or negative terminal on the next battery). A common golf cart example involves: 1) six, 6-volt batteries wired in a series circuit that will act as a single 36-volt battery, or 2) eight, 6-volt batteries wired in a series circuit will act as a single 48-volt battery. [2]
    2. Stock a sufficient supply of 12-volt inverters to convert the 12-volt circuits of 6-volt golf cart batteries into usable 110-volt power. (Or, you can use the 12-volt circuits more efficiently by stocking 12-volt lighting, refrigerators, and other small tools and appliances). [3]
    3. Stock or build portable solar charging stations for the batteries to be used in conjunction with gasoline, natural gas, propane, or diesel-powered generators, if available. One Solar World 250 watt panel and one SES- Flexcharge, NC 25 A-12 Charge Controller will charge a golf cart battery set modified to a 12-volt configuration (8, six-volt batteries cabled in a 12-volt circuit) [4]. Various configurations are possible. This author simply attached the charge controller to the back frame of the PV panel and bungee corded the panel to a cheap hand truck from Harbor Freight that allows you to easily move the charging station where needed and to keep it aligned with the sun throughout the day. A few small spools of 10- and 12-gauge wire, some cable zip ties, automotive fuses, and some battery charger style clamps are all you will need. Solder all the connections if possible, and don’t undersize the wiring. Follow the directions that come with the charge controller, and remember batteries release corrosive, explosive gas and can cause sparks when handled or connected improperly!
  • Restaurant and catering business units with professional staff and access to wholesale food vendors, kitchen facilities, and large stores of food stuffs
    1. Chefs and food/beverage managers could be instructed to slowly build inventory levels of shelf-stable, dry, and canned goods in advance of an emergency situation. Proper planning and “menu engineering” will incorporate these shelf stable and canned products into recipes already in use on the existing restaurant menu. The Board of Directors and Finance Committee should be advised of the favorable inventory “carrying costs” of these items as compared to fresh meats, produce, and dairy items with short shelf lives. A well-stocked kitchen, pantry, and restaurant dry storage area could supply an additional 1,000 to 5,000 meals in an emergency situation.
    2. Wholesale restaurant food vendors (Sysco, US Food Service, MRM, et etera) usually provide two to four delivery trucks per week to high volume restaurant operations. If sufficient warning of a SHTF situation is available, chefs and managers should be instructed to order as much canned and dry foods as their credit limits will allow. These orders are usually delivered onsite within 24 hours of order placement, but without some advance warning this strategy will be subject to the same societal collapse issues the large grocery chains will experience, such as empty grocery store shelves, clogged freeways, and broken supply chains.
    3. Backup generators for food and beverage operations are not a long-term solution in a SHTF situation, since the refrigeration systems for freezers and walk-in coolers require enormous quantities of electrical energy. Chefs and staff are trained to use perishable items first in the event of power failures, along with immediately icing remaining perishable foodstuffs with the hundreds of pounds of ice in the various commercial ice machines at most restaurants, which will be soon melting anyway without electricity.
    4. Dishwashing machines will be inoperable without electricity, but if water is available, all restaurants have three compartment pot and pan sinks and large quantities of dish soaps and sanitizing chemicals that will be a valuable sanitary resource in a grid down or emergency situation. “To go” boxes, napkins, hand wash towelettes, plastic utensils, condiment packs (sugar, honey, jellies, salt, pepper, mustard, mayo, and ketchup), and paper plates are all normally stocked in quantity by restaurants and will be valuable resources.
    5. When and if natural gas supplies are interrupted or lost completely, alternate sources of energy for cooking will be required. Many restaurant operations use commercial-quality gas fired, portable barbeques or wood-charcoal fired outdoor char-broilers for catering and outdoor functions. Sufficient supplies of charcoal, wood, and propane should be stocked. Propane burns more efficiently and provides more BTU’s than natural gas for those HOAs located in mountain areas above 5,000 feet. Portable butane cooktops for buffets and cases of “sterno” type gel fuel (used for banquet chaffing dishes and warmers) are common restaurant supplies and should be stocked in quantity, due to their long shelf life.
  • Recreation facilities that can double as shelters and triage centers, and swimming pools and recreational lakes with edible fish and/or stores of water
    1. HOA clubhouses, ballrooms, and meeting rooms will provide shelter, and they usually have ample sources of natural lighting during the daytime due to designs using large exterior windows. Procurement and storage of cots or foam pads for creating impromptu bedding should be considered. Many exercise groups (flexibility, yoga, jazzercise, zoomba) frequently use exercise mats and pads that can double as emergency bedding. Those facilities with elevators usually have backup electrical generators, which will have fuel supplies and monthly maintenance programs to insure operation when required. Overriding automatic startup of these gen sets should be disabled after insuring no elevator entrapment has occurred and then provide for close monitoring of generator use to insure actual run times are dedicated for essentials (battery charging, emergency lighting, et cetera) until fuel is exhausted or replenished.
    2. Almost all HOAs have a community swimming pool, even those small 30-unit condo associations. Swimming pools are a valuable source of potable water, following proper treatment and provided you are certain of what chemicals have be introduced into the water prior to loss of electricity. The FDA considers chlorine concentrations in fresh water of up to 4 ppm safe to drink, while many municipal water treatment plants treat their drinking water to a level of 1 ppm and most commercial pools are required to maintain pool chlorine levels at 3 to 5 ppm. Depending on the outdoor temperature, sunlight, time of year, and number of days without mechanical filtering, algae will begin to grow. Covering the pool will help slow this process by reducing the sunlight. Sunlight degrades the available chlorine and helps the algae to grow. Floating chlorine tablet dispensers will help extend the useful life of this water for drinking; however, the best approach is the use of a multi-stage water filter designed for untreated, raw water sources (think Big Berkey or Katadyn types). Finally, boiling the swimming pool water for at least one minute before consumption will help insure the removal of as many pathogens as possible. Pool water for bathing and sanitation can be used right from the pool, but insure that the resulting grey water is not allowed back into the pool. Think of conducting bathing and dishwashing near your vegetable garden, where this water can be used for irrigation, although you should limit the amount of commercial soaps that are used for bathing as large concentrations will be harmful to the plants.
    3. Recreational lakes and other impoundments owned and maintained by HOAs (such as boating lakes, golf course water hazards, and flood control or groundwater recharge basins) will also contain useful quantities of water that may be treated and used as described above. These water sources often also contain sizeable quantities of fish, edible amphibians, and waterfowl that can be harvested in an emergency. Fish and Game laws in a TEOTWAWKI situation will probably be superseded by the need to harvest and consume protein. In those situations, methods such as netting, fish traps, and shocking will be useful in gathering food. In locations where man-made lakes and ponds are artificially fed with pumped water, the water levels will decline (rapidly in desert areas) to the point where harvesting fish will be a necessity to avoid waste of the stranded fish, and the fish will be much easier to catch as water levels decrease. Smoking or drying of unused fish will extend the shelf life of this important protein source. Why not use the cooking fire smoke or portable Barbeque for this purpose, while cooking the daily meals?
    4. Golf courses are usually comprised of hundreds of acres of irrigated land that will be without irrigation in arid areas and will decline and turn brown rapidly without electricity to pump water. Portions of this land, particularly in the “rough”, or edges of the golf fairways can be converted in part to vegetable gardening by simply removing some turf, loosening the topsoil, planting and watering the crops by hand. Many HOAs have homes along their golf courses and, in a true emergency, the removal and use of a portion of the dead, brown turf behind a home will be a small price to pay aesthetically for a source of fresh food. Of course a source of irrigation water (lakes, streams, ponds, or wells still able to produce water) and a means to transport the water will be required. Water hauling for all uses will require a significant commitment of time and labor to insure a sufficient quantity for drinking, cooking, sanitation, and garden irrigation; however, the nature of a golf course lends itself to cultivation and ease of access, without having to “build” the soil to immediately support vegetables. Residual fertilizers will probably support at least one “first year” crop with a small amount of additional nitrogen (compost, manure, blood from harvested game, fish entrails, et cetera), but proper care and amendment of the soil going forward will insure future crops will produce. Fruit and nut trees on golf courses and throughout the HOA community should be prized and protected as food and seed sources and hand irrigated and fertilized occasionally in arid areas without sufficient natural rainfall.
  • Maintenance and janitorial staff trained and equipped with sanitation supplies and repair and emergency response equipment, such as generators, lighting, pumps, welding, and machine shop operations, automotive repair facilities as well as craftsperson’s such as electricians, plumbers, mechanics, machinists, welders, and carpenters
    1. HOAs employ a variety of contracted and “onsite”, skilled maintenance and janitorial personnel, with the related supplies and equipment that may be dedicated by the Board of Directors to community uses in an emergency. Those personnel may not be receiving a paycheck in a TEOTWAWKI situation, but their position as a representative of the HOA and as a member in the community will lend itself to their continued participation in the organized activities of the HOA in an emergency situation. After insuring the safety of their families, their participation in the “new” services provided by the HOA will hopefully be a win-win for the community and the individual “ex-employee”, who will then become a volunteer like everyone else.
    2. Most large scale communities, country clubs, and resort-style HOAs own and maintain extensive fleets of “rolling stock” and powered equipment, including trucks, tractors, excavators, golf course mowers, ditch witches, specialized turf equipment, boats, ATV’s and snowmobiles, “Snow Cats”, and other types of transport and snow removal equipment for those HOAs located in areas with significant annual snowfall. Most have on-site equipment service technicians and repair shops with stocks of repair parts and maintenance supplies. Security and maintenance of these valuable assets and their operators should be a priority to management and the Board of Directors in a SHTF situation.
    3. Along with the rolling stock and equipment, HOAs usually maintain bulk supplies of lubricants, gasoline, and #2 Diesel and “Red Dye” diesel fuels. Except for very cold areas, all diesel fuels in the U.S. are ASTM #2 Diesel, including farm diesel. On-highway fuel must be low sulfur and be undyed to show that it was taxed (Federal and State highway excise taxes). Farm Diesel or Off Road Diesel will contain red dye to show it was not taxed and may have a higher sulfur content than is allowed for on-road use. Maintenance staff is usually responsible for the dispensing and accounting of fuels and the maintenance of the storage tanks. In an emergency situation, the security and OPSEC involved in safeguarding these valuable assets will be paramount.
  • And of course, a functioning governing body made up of interested and dedicated volunteers, who live in the community in which they serve
    1. A duly-elected HOA Board of Directors is usually comprised of from five to seven members who serve one to two year terms, similar to the U.S. House of Representatives; however, that is where the similarity ends for the most part. The author has served as an “ex-officio” board member of a large resort-style HOA community in the past and as a management team member (General Manager) at several Large Scale HOA Communities in California over the last 15 years. During that time I have worked with many Boards of Directors and have, with few exceptions, found these people to be honorable, moral, just and fair individuals who follow State Law (Civil Code or the “Davis-Sterling” Act, as it is known in California), and have the interests of the community first in their list of priorities.
    2. My experience has shown that, unlike many “professional” politicians, the HOA Board members I have had the pleasure of working with follow at a minimum, the Community Associations Institute “Model Code of Ethics” for HOA Board members.

References

[1] Wikipedia – Homeowner Association

[2] Golf Cart Battery Bank Wiring in Series

[3] DC to AC Inverters

[4] Sunmodule Plus SW 260 mono and NC25A Ultra High Efficiency Charge Controller (Regulator)

Letter Re: Low Calorie Diet

Hugh,

In response to the low calorie diet, I would like to put my wife’s experience as an example. She is allergic to wheat and as such has converted to a paleo diet. Google “paleo” if you have wheat issues. In her case when going off the high sugar, starch, and carb diets she experienced the weak and low energy days too. However, as her body adapted to it in about 3 or four days she felt normal. Your body will adjust and “retool” to the new foods as well as the lower calorie intake. You may not have stayed with it long enough. I know it’s easier to write it than actually do it.

Of course the benefits for her were of a different issue not a weight issue. So dropping to a lower calorie diet may feel lethargic for a bit, but you will adjust when the time comes or get on it at a slower pace, drop 500 calories a week to get there. If it helps just consider the spare tire (in my case) as just my “on board” GOOD bag worth about an extra day of calories. America’s six pack mentality isn’t the only “healthy” out there. Stay healthy and active. S.P.

Letter Re: Letter on Harassment of Front Lawn Farmers

HJL,

In Victorian times, front lawn vegetable gardens were common, even within towns and villages. The way it was done was to use curving, attractive beds where the vegetables were interplanted with flowers, with the mixed beds surrounding patches of lawn.

This can also make for good OPSEC: carrots and cosmos have similar leaves, cherry tomatoes do not require staking and are unobtrusive when interplanted with similarly colored low growing flowers. Lettuces, spinach and other greens can also be gracefully scattered about.

Most of the harassment of suburbanites who are farming their front lawns appears to be due to aesthetics. The horrible truth: Straight rows, bare dirt, and things tied to wooden stakes aren’t all that pretty. Raised beds made of plywood look awful, but the same raised beds edged in rocks or brick look nice.

The Victorian solution should solve the problems for most, though not all types of vegetables.

On the other hand, I have noticed over the years that once preppers get working on solving a problem, creative and clever solutions crop up like weeds.

Dr. J

Odds ‘n Sods:

Mayors Feel Misled, Quitting Bloomberg’s Gun-Control Group

Comment From JWR: I hate to sound so endlessly perturbed about millionaire former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s flawed political plaything called Mayors Against Illegal Guns, but the whole concept of his cabal really grates me. Granted, mayors are entitled to hold personal opinions, but that is not what they are elected to do. They are public servants hired to administrate legislation and rulings from city councils, who represent the will of their masters, the voters. They are NOT legislators. They are paid administrators elected to do our bidding. They are not tasked with envisioning legislation, not debating it, not drafting it, nor molding it, and certainly not enacting it. There is another branch of government specifically chartered to do that.

There are about 70,000 mayors in the United States, but only around 1,000 mayor members of Mike Bloomberg’s agitprop club. So to have 1/70th of America’s mayors who mostly represent urban crime dens speak as if they represent all American cities is absurd on its face. It is the other 69 out of 70 cities where crime is much lower, where streets are much safer, and where the citizenry is much better armed that are a more representative sample. They whine about crime statistics (blaming inanimate objects instead of the people who misuse them), and fail to recognize the simple fact that the majority of violent crime in America consists of repeat offender unlicensed street pharmacists Getting Medieval on competing repeat offender unlicensed street pharmacists. (If those statistics were removed, our crime statistics would be even lower than in the alleged utopias of Denmark and Sweden.) So spare us your agenda-pushing rhetoric, shut up, and do your administrative jobs! Ditto for America’s loud-mouthed big city Chiefs of Police.

For statist-leftist urban center mayors to speak as if they represent Mainstream (or Mainstreet) America is a lot like hearing millionaire Hollywood actors speak as if they represent the Average Working Man.

o o o

Creative Improvised Backpack – Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog Editor at Large

o o o

Warren Buffett has given $1.2 billion to abortion groups . The lives of 2.7 million children snuffed out to serve the whims of the third richest man in the world. – P.M.

o o o

Video: New Jersey Senate passes magazine ban; Bill limits capacity to 10 rounds – B.B.

o o o

EMP Attack On Power Grid Could Kill 9-In-10

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“The teachings of the Fathers are to be received only when in accordance with the Scriptures; that the essential doctrines of the faith are presented in the Bible in a clear and simple manner, so that all men may understand them.” – Olaf Petri

Notes for Tuesday – May 13, 2014:

Today we present another entry for Round 52 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three 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. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  10. 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,
  11. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

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. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis 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,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  9. Autrey’s Armory – specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  10. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  12. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate.

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,
  5. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  7. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208.
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.

Round 52 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Trades for Surviving After the Collapse, by A.W.

1

You have been preparing for the unknown– economic collapse, social unrest, nuclear war, or even just a downsize at work– for quite awhile now. Perhaps you are feeling confident in your ability to survive a catastrophic event by putting to use your survival know-how and stores of food. You even learned valuable gardening skills that will ensure your long-term survival. Now, imagine what life will be like after the collapse for which you have diligently prepared. You will be surviving, but will you be thriving? You will be eating, but will you be contributing to the rebuilding of your region by way of trade, commerce, and productivity? You will be alive and relatively well, but will you be cementing a positive future after a collapse?

    There is a divergence of opinion as to what the world will look like after a disaster or collapse. Some survival experts see the population reverting back to a 19th century agrarian-based existence with blacksmithing, cobblers, and tanners making the biggest economic comeback. Others look to the examples of more recent collapses in Russia and Zimbabwe to see that the affected societies did not descend into a near-medieval subsistence but rather adapted their personal trades and subsistence to the heightened government oppression. No one knows exactly the situation society will be facing after a collapse, because that will depend entirely upon the impetus for the collapse itself. A slow and gradual economic decline will present its fair share of hardships but will look nothing like the aftermath of an EMP or nuclear detonation. The focal point for your own preparations will guide your vision of the post-collapse world.

    In truth, the two seemingly disparate views can be reconciled if you have a mind geared toward adaptability and diversification. Many lucrative and useful trades can transcend the divide and be profitable to you in the aftermath of any collapse. You might find that you have a knack for one, or hopefully more, of the post-collapse trades in the following list:

  • Gunsmithing and Ammunition Production. Experts from both schools of thought agree that in any post-collapse emerging market, those who are equipped with the knowledge and tools to repair firearms and manufacture ammunition will be the most sought after for barter. This trade is also useful in light of the increasing restrictions put on firearms trade due to government control. This means the guns already out there are not likely to be replaced by purchase, rather people will be looking to repair theirs. You can begin learning these necessary skills by taking a class at your local community college. Classes on industrial design, machining, and woodworking are readily available and would be invaluable in getting you started on your new trade. There are also online resources available if you live prohibitively far from someone who can teach you the trade. The National Rifle Association can be contacted for a list of accredited programs for machining and tooling, if you are very serious about delving into gunsmithing.
  • Carpentry. As with gunsmithing, carpentry will be a valuable trade in any of the predicted post-collapse scenarios. While today’s society relies mainly on furniture and cabinetry from big-box home improvement or retail stores, such large-scale manufacturing may be non-existent in a fallen economy. Local carpenters will then be called upon to fill that void. The reliability of electricity in a post-collapse world may be suspect, so when learning carpentry it is wise to also learn to use traditional tools and techniques. Finding and purchasing the older tools, such as hand planers, a mitre box, a treadle lathe, and other traditional tools, would be worth your while, rather than relying solely on modern tools that may become obsolete, if only for awhile. There are a number of ways to learn the skill of carpentry. As was mentioned above with gunsmithing, you can take a community college’s series of classes or join a local carpentry guild. Members are usually very willing to take an aspiring woodworker under their wings for the small cost of yearly dues. Specialty woodworking shops offer classes, and many rent you hourly use of their tools for your projects and practice.
  • Household Product Manufacturing. In light of the necessity of the security and manufacturing skills noted above, it may seem a small thing to talk about home products such as soap, detergents, and hygiene. However, you should not discount their importance. In a post-collapse market, people will have to adjust to a different status quo with regards to their personal and home hygiene. Yet, the fact remains that we will still need to wash our homes, our clothes, and ourselves. Homemade soap making has seen a resurgence in popularity recently, mostly being sold in boutiques for upwards of six dollars per four ounce bar. Its value will most likely increase if we are hit with hyperinflation or a total collapse. Learning to make soap and other cleaners is not difficult. It is probably the easiest when compared with the other trades suggested, but it takes practice. You can learn easily now through books at your library, coupled with watching reliable videos available online. Consider deepening your skills by learning to make your own lye with rainwater and wood ash. Something else to think about if soaping is in your future is your long-term source of fats and oils, essential in soapmaking. Expand your production capabilities by storing the necessary items to make other necessities like toothpaste or salves.
  • Electronics Repair. As was mentioned before, the reliability of electricity after a collapse may be dubious, but people’s reliance on electronics will continue. Small radios, televisions, and even food dehydrators will continue to be used and will need repair eventually. If this is your chosen trade, consider widening your field of opportunity by obtaining and learning to use solar-powered chargers to recharge people’s batteries and other electronics. To learn to repair small electronics, you may follow a similar path to gunsmithing and carpentry. There are multiple ways to go about it, but it might be simplest to enroll in a local class. You will begin by learning the basics, what a resistor is, what a capacitor is, how to calculate wattage, and many other things. From there, consider the many reputable online courses available to build on that basic foundation. Take apart some of your obsolete electronics (old video game consoles, telephones, et cetera), and be careful to note the design and function of each component. Your own personal observations will be useful to you as you use this “self-taught” aspect in your trade approach.
  • Fruit, Vegetable, Seed Production. As a survivalist or prepper, you probably already know the dire importance of keeping a garden now and learning the skills necessary to be successful at growing food for you and your family. You probably have a stash of heirloom seeds, a garden plot outside, and the know-how to obtain a good yield from your labor and resources. Consider expanding your plot and resources so that in a post-collapse market you will be equipped to trade profitably with your fresh produce. Imagine the trading capability you will have with the folks who have stored dry goods or who have relied only on their hunting skills to put food on their tables. They will be needing fresh nutrients and fiber to keep them healthy and strong, and they will want to trade with you. Widen your own market by learning how to collect and store seeds from your produce so that you can sell and trade those precious commodities as well. Expand your possibilities. Even if you do not prefer eggplant, growing and trading those purple veggies with those who do will yield you more than if you had foregone storing those seeds. While gardening is a skill best learned through practice, your skills can be honed and augmented by attending classes given by your County Extension Office or by joining a gardening club. If this is your intended trading skill, consider well your means of transporting your produce to a market or trading post.

Aside from these are many other viable trades one could consider. When you are choosing, think carefully about what you think a post-collapse environment will look like. Though we all share a similar environment now, after a collapse your region and sub-region may look vastly different from someone else’s depending on several factors. Urban versus agrarian regions of the country, for example, will deal with a collapse differently. Areas of the country with populations used to growing or killing their own food will have less call for a produce stand but may have a higher demand for a gunsmith. The point is that each area is different, and you and your trade must be prepared for the specific results after society’s downturn.

First and foremost, take the time now to use your new knowledge in practical ways in your own home and life on a regular basis. Be constantly thinking about how you could adapt your trade to a post-collapse world. Many of the questions you may ask yourself regarding your trade can be applied to a trade in today’s economy: How prevalent is this trade? Is there enough of a market to support this trade? Are there many others out there who can provide this skill or would you have the corner on that particular market? Other questions you should examine would obviously be situation-specific and therefore a bit more difficult to answer: Can you obtain the tools you would need to perform this trade without electricity? In a fuel shortage, how could you maneuver to perform your skill or deliver your goods to others?

    Preparing for surviving the collapse is a necessity. There is no doubt whatsoever about this. Still, preparing for surviving after the collapse should be on everyone’s mind as well. Take the time, right now while resources and time are available, to learn a profitable, productive trade that will see you and your family through the hard times after the collapse.

Five Letters Re: The Circular File

Sir,

I have apparently been selected to participate in the U.S. Censes Health of America survey. The other day a representative showed up at my door. I had previously received a letter, which I filed in a certain circular file. I politely told the representative I did not wish to participate. She was very insistent. After she saw I would not budge, I was threatened with “hounding until I submitted.” I could not believe it. All I could say was “Yeah, well that’s what lawyers are for, huh.” Has any other reader been threatened with this? Is this part of Obama care or what? Thanks, Rick

o o o

HJL,

I will confirm this writer’s point. 2010 census had invasive irrelevant questions, which I refused to answer. (I don’t recall if had the standard or in depth form). I “roundfiled” the form letter and subsequent followup. In due course, an Obama acolyte appeared with a clipboard in hand. I tallied the number of residents at my property and sent her down the road. I have heard nothing. 2010 census numbers do reflect my information, as my household is the only property within city limits that is also within County X. (The remainder of the city is in County Y.)

An accurate census is a Constitutional requirement and important to local government. The next one will be starting in approximately 2018. – R.S.

o o o

Hugh,

I had this type of encounter in 2010 with the Census Bureau. I did not fill out the “provided” to me form mailed to my address. (I received about ten in total.) This spilled over into 2011, as I simply kept filing them away with the garbage pickup. My unpublished home phone answering machine soon filled up with messages, insisting that I had to provide this information by law. I returned no calls. The delete button is provided for a purpose. Census workers knocked on the door multiple times. I politely told them I was not interested in answering their questions, and I bode them upon their way.

A year and a half later, I received a call on my personal unpublished cell phone. It was a Census Bureau “Supervisor” to my surprise, who wanted to know my rationale of “not being cooperative”. I again politely explained that I was not interested in answering her questions. I got the complete spill about how I must provide this information by law, demographics, voting blocks, and per capita political representation of our local city/county/state area.

I answered ONE question of many– “How many people reside in your home?”. (They already know my SS number, I mean name?)

Haven’t heard from them since. – D.C.

o o o

Hugh,

I noted, with amusement, your reaction to all the requests for info on property you owned 15 years ago. I own a farm in Ohio and got numerous requests and demands for data on my operation in years past. I submitted them all to the circular file. After a few years of this, I received a number of calls culminating with a threat of jail time. My response was that they should give me a few days notice before they hauled me away. I never heard from them again. Al in Ohio

o o o

Sir,

We received many Census Bureau questionnaires and had several visits. The neighbors told me that the Census people had gone to them to ask for information about us, as well, and seemed particularly interested in our race and education. Finally, I answered the door. They asked many questions. I declined all of them, except how many people were in the home. They really pushed hard for an answer on ethnicity. I replied, “The government has convinced me that I should be color-blind, so why isn’t the government color-blind, too? Are you a racist?” With that the lady could no longer speak. She stormed off. Didn’t hear from them again. – M.R.

News From The American Redoubt:

North Idaho Heat (Eden Acres, LLC) offers a great many self-sufficient and off-grid items including Blaze King Wood Stoves (which do not need electricity), Morso (a really great non-electric pellet stove), and The WiseWay among others. If you’re near downtown Bonners Ferry, check it out in the Old Creamery Building beside the post office. www.northidahoblaze.com.

o o o

Rhonda sent in this website to The Woodsman’s Shop, also located in Bonners Ferry. The primary focus is to stock quality items (mostly knives) rather than the barely functional import products.

o o o

Is Montana the Next Big Data Hub?. – R.H.

JWR’s Comment: This article proves that some journalists are only good at parroting press releases.

The more important reasons why Montana will be a good place for data centers are not just cheap labor and connectivity with the Internet. They are: inexpensive and stable hydroelectric power and plentiful cooling water. Those are the two key ingredients for big data centers.

Washington, Idaho, and Montana are blessed with huge hydro power resources that give big commercial users (like the aluminum industry and data centers) access to rock solid power at less than 7 cents per kilowatt hour. Northwestern Montana has two very large hydroelectric dams (on the Clark Fork and Kootenai rivers), but they are small in comparison to the power output of Grand Coulee Dam. Together, they are tied into the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) grid. The logical place for data centers is in proximity to the very stable power source of Grand Coulee Dam–so Washington will continue to have an edge over even western Montana.

o o o

Signs of our Times… Idaho ranch upgrades to bigger horses for bigger tourists

Economics and Investing:

This Will Trigger Massive Crisis & Panic All Over The World

o o o

One in 10 Americans don’t carry paper money anymore – G.G.

o o o

Items from The Economatrix:

Roubini: We’re At The Very Start Of A Credit Bubble

Long-Term Jobless Still More Than One-Third Of Unemployed

Geithner Says Efforts To End Too-Big-To-Fail Are ‘Misguided’ Efforts to deal with corruption are never misguided.

Congress May Raise Bar For A Bank To Qualify As ‘Systemically Important’ To $100 billion If it fails because of corruption and mismanagement, it should still fail. It’s obvious the really big guys who want to keep playing the same game; that’s why this idea is being floated.