Notes from JWR:

Happy birthday to Ronald E. Rosser, one of America’s few living recipients of the Medal of Honor. He was born October 24, 1929.

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Today we present another entry for Round 43 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 43 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Attitude Adjustment, by Dena M.

As a single mother of two I know and live the word budget all to well. My income is limited and I have wasted a lot of time and money because I was too focused on getting ‘only the best.’ I quickly realized that the path I was on was getting me nowhere. I began to look at past purchases and realized that a lot of my purchases were unnecessary and quite frankly irresponsible. If I wanted to better guarantee the safety and sanity of myself and my young children, I needed to take a different path to self-sufficiency and quickly. In addition, this may all be common sense ideas but I know all too well that in the beginning it is extremely overwhelming and sometimes you may get caught up in all the fancy gadgets and lose sight of what truly matters.

Let’s face it not everyone can afford a retreat, with the nice solar panels’ and armored windows. However, everyone can afford a library book that will increase their skill set making them more valuable to those that can afford a retreat. If you put the effort forth there is tons of literature on tool making, canning, operating ham radios, farming, first aid, animal husbandry, firearms repair, and reloading. Pay close attention to animal husbandry, farming, and try your hand at blacksmithing (start with wrought iron then move to steel). It is critical to know what crop to plant in a certain part of the year along with knowing how to do it. You will also need to look at how you will harvest your crops without a tractor. If you do not have the money to invest in horses and the simple machines that would allow you to plant and harvest your crops via original horse power than you will need to purchase and know how to effectively use the simple hand tools. Buy a scythe to harvest cereal and practice with it. Also, invest in a few spades, pitchforks, garden forks, and some hoes. Owning simple tools and having the know how to use them will make you a great asset. In addition to your non formal training do your best to obtain certified skills, First Responder courses and to become a EMT do not take too long to complete. Even a basic Wilderness First Responder course can save someone’s life, I know because my training saved my three month old. Can’t find a group that is right for you? Plan B: Find others that are in your situation and group purchase land. Some advise against that but I have seen it work. If neither of these are options pre-position several caches in several locations as temporary retreats. Place them on land far from major cities and densely populated areas. Again it doesn’t have to be fancy. It is there to give you additional time and safety for the time being. There are bound to be retreat groups that realize that their six group members are not capable of handling the larger gangs and that they lack certain specialties. At that point if you can offer a valuable skill set and provide additional food that you pre cached away they will be more willing to accept you into their retreat group. However, you can never be too sure so the caches should be set up to enable you to set up a retreat once there is no land surveyor to come a knocking. Remember this is not the time to be picky, that apartment or home you have in the city will not suffice in a WROL situation.

When you’re prepping to bug out and/ or funding is lacking your best friend is going to be caches.  Clearly you cannot fit all the gear you need in a backpack. However, you can have a years’ worth of food and additional ammo if you take the time to bury caches. If you have joined a group that is even better. The caches should be on several different routes to the retreat location and you have the option of pre-positioning gear at the retreat. In addition, remember when I said you can cache items to build upon later? I wasn’t kidding. It may sound absurd but let’s take a minute and discuss this. Lets’ say before the collapse you made valid efforts to secure four acres of land but did not have the funding to build yet nor could you finically afford to move to the middle of nowhere. But you did take the time to cache tools, nails, food, piping to outfit a gravity fed water system and generator (watch Yukon Men — it is possible) among various other items. (Even better if you were able to secure a shed [at very low cost or free] from CraigsList. Now your family has a temporary shelter you can build upon instead of remaining out in the weather.) Once you arrive at your retreat location you can begin the feverish task of building up a retreat. It is not the ideal scenario to begin building after things have SHTF but again it is playing the hand you have been dealt. The retreat won’t be fancy, but it could sustain you & yours more comfortably with the items you cached.  Now let’s say you buried caches but you did not bury to rebuild you just buried to sustain. You are left trying to figure out how to chop down lumber for a shelter without an axe because the survival axe in your bug out bag quickly failed you, and no nails to build (safe to say you probably didn‘t cache a book on how to build a log cabin primitive style either). Now you are stuck carrying five gallon buckets up from the stream several times a day not only for the family but for the garden that you had to dig up with sticks because you didn’t cache garden tools.  See where I’m going with this? The minor preps can make all the difference and these preps do not have to break the bank. Nor does your retreat have to mimic a five star hotel to ensure your survival (in fact that would probably get you killed).

Network, network, network. Did I mention to network? The prepping community is a library in itself. Meet, talk, sit down and strategize. Not only are you learning you are establishing a relationship that could pay off in the future.

Can’t afford a AR-15 or AK? Well great neither can I. Instead I put money into ammo, and lots of it. I know you’re going to say, “Save that money that you spend on ammo and put it towards that AR-15.” Well guess what time is running out and what I can afford at this time is one to two boxes of ammo a month.

Which leads me to, “Keeping up with the Joneses.” You are not prepping to impress the Joneses. You are prepping for you and yours. The needs and income of your family are different from the next. So who gives a rats butt if the prepper over there disagrees with your purchase? He/She is not the one paying for it! Instead of trying to keep up with the latest gadgets and freeze dried storage of Joe Schmo next door focus your attention on what you can do and become efficient at it. So yea you could spend that $200 on that cool knife your bud has or you could save it and put it towards a reliable firearm or crossbow. So get rid of the notion that because the next guy over has better gear that he is better equipped. Remember knowledge is your biggest asset in a survival situation. While you are out hunting and gathering he will be fumbling to open his latest gadget and scratching his head over the instructions.

You’re stuck on new. Folks that are so fixed on having the pretty aspect they forget that getting certain items second hand saves you a lot of money. Doing so you just might be able to afford that AR-15. Again when you’re in the field you will be kicking yourself in the hind end for only having that .22 because that is what you could afford at a retail price. Network; find an individual that knows guns. See if they are willing to look at a few used firearms in return for a service you specialize in. In certain disasters old is worth more than new.  That Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is as good as scrap in an EMP situation. Garage selling is a great way to find preps for cheap. For example, I recently purchased a camo waterproof bib and jacket set for ten dollars at a garage sale, an insulated bib for five bucks, and camo pants for a dollar. With that said there are some items that deserve more of an investment.

Name brands….yes some items are worth their investment. For example if you are prepping to bug out an adequate sleeping bag is a must (if you live in a large populated area such as Denver let’s face it you have to leave). There is a huge difference in a Wiggy’sbrand sleeping bag versus a Wally World sleeping bag. Another area that should not be skimped on is boots. You will be doing a lot of walking/ running and the last thing you need is to be trying to do so barefoot. Trust me…those Wally World “waterproof” boots are only waterproof for the first few uses. However, do you really need that fancy $300 flashlight? Probably not. Buy two headlamps and put the rest aside for an adequate sleeping bag. When it comes down to it don’t get stuck on the latest fanciest gadgets with that expensive price tag due to the name. When deciding on a product you need to look at longevity and reliability and ask yourself can I get the same quality if I buy an off brand?

Priorities. You need to sit down with your partner (or a pen and piece of paper if you’re like me) and discuss what follows: water purification, shelter, food, and self-defense. Clearly you will have to set priorities within those categories’ to.  A priority should not be fancy shelving if you are on a budget. “Sorry baby boy we can’t eat next month because I wanted my prepping closet to look nice.” That money you spend on those shelves could buy your family an additional month of food or even a firearm in some cases. Call the bakeries and ask for buckets, buy five dollar totes are even better go out on trash days…you will find a ton! People throw away the most useful and expensive items. I once went to the dumpster and found several books that retail well over $15 a piece and name brand clothing such as Under Armour with the tags still on! 

She’d cook a dish and we’d go ‘Mama, w’ats this here, hanh?’ And she’d say, Children, that’s a mus-go. It mus’ go down yo’ throat.” – Justin Wilson

Adjust your skeptical eaters’ view of food now! My family began that at an early age.
Half of the time I did not know what type of meat I was eating…and for that fact if I’m eating at my fathers these days I still don‘t. If it was brown it was beef, if it was white it was chicken or turkey flavored differently. We raised rabbits and I never knew until I was older that I was eating my ‘pet’ rabbit. Dad would simply make sure that he replaced it with the same color rabbit which explains why I was only allowed to have one specific color….

Statistics show that you may have to offer a child the same food fifteen to sixteen times before they will accept it. So offer your local game now. Get a cookbook and learn how to work with it. If you have an infant and have the ability to breast feed, do so. Formula is expensive, it is easier to put aside some to supplement your child’s diet than to store one years’ worth. Can’t afford to stock up on freeze dried food items? For me that wasn’t a big deal. Down here it’s, “What would you like with your rice tonight?” You can pretty much guarantee that either rice or beans (or both) is in a dish from jambalaya to gumbo, to red beans and rice, all the way to black eyed peas & rice. And it is soooo good! These can be some of the simplest dishes to the most complex, figure out how you like them now.

Before you begin purchasing preps do a inventory of the items you have. Since my son has a skin disorder I already had a pretty decent stash of medical supplies. Far from enough but more than most. However, it will expire or run out no matter the amount I store. Knowing this I’m trying to find alternative ways to treat his skin with what nature provides.  Doing this I have taken one step closer to the realization that the supply chain may not be reestablished before my stockpile has run out.  Your preps should reflect that chance also. In each category you need to address the what if scenario of the grid being down for a decade or two. Yes you may have food and supplies to last for a few years but do you have the knowledge to live off the land once it runs out? Realize material items are just that…items. Knowledge and know how will outlast any material object.

Just a few additional tips to make your money go further. If I receive change I ask for it in nickels. Since nickels are 25% nickel and 75% cooper they are worth more than their face value yet you pay no more for it. It is real easy to get lost in the beans, bullets, and band aids prep list; however, there are plenty of other preps that are needed. Go to garage sales and pick up clothing for your children in every size you can. It is better to spend ten bucks on twenty outfits for the future now than having to barter precious ammo later. Also, tents, lighting, and shoes are a great addition to your preparations and are usually found cheaply at garage sales. I check CraigsList a lot and I can always find free firewood and pallets. Even if you just have land it would be wise to stockpile fire wood there. The McCormick brand seasoning packets are relatively cheap and are a great way to add flavor and calories to bland dishes. Even now my children and I enjoy rice and a beef burger smothered in brown gravy. In addition, I was unaware until I read a article that individuals on food stamps could purchase plants and seeds as long as they produce food. My local Wal-Mart sells a small variety of heirloom seeds and Whole Foods sales bulk wheat along with various other bulk items. Obviously, if you are on food stamps your budget is tight but try to set aside a few dollars in your budget to purchase some fruits for the future. Always look for multipurpose items to get more for your money. The WhisperLite International by MSR burns white gas, kerosene, unleaded gasoline and IsoPro Butane. It would make a great addition to your Bug Out Bag or even your retreat. With the bountiful of vehicles that will line the roads you could have fuel for a while. In addition, there are a few other common places that allow for cheaper purchases. Sam’s has great deals on long term food storage especially on wheat if you cannot get into a LDS cannery soon (ours has a nine to ten month waiting list). No the wheat is not organic and non-GMO but you won’t starve to death. Visit your local dollar stores. I purchased over twenty seed packets for under three dollars because it was the end of the season. Also, eBay is a great place to pick up items. For your bug out bag you can obtain a large Alice pack and frame for under thirty dollars, it is cheap and has proven its’ keep. There are great deals on everything from wool socks to boots to the military poncho and poncho liner.

It takes work, time, sweat, blood, and some tears occasionally. And a lot of prayer. But if you are willing to work overtime, pick up a second job, get up early and hit the flea market and garage sales. It is possible on a low income. Bartering, second hand, and education is going to be your Emancipation Proclamation or Thirteenth Amendment, whichever you see fit. What it boils down to is having the motivation to work towards becoming a asset without having a hefty wallet. An the willingness to look at alternative ways to prep without allowing others view to dictate your path to self sufficiency.

On a deeper note, I would love to keep my children’s lives normal after the SHTF but after realizing the harsh reality of my budget and knowing how the majority of the population will act I realized that I couldn’t. The reality was hard to swallow as much as I wanted to save for all the luxuries that a retreat offers. My fears of the chaos that will ensue after SHTF is justified, the nation witnessed that during and after Hurricane Katrina. So I regrouped, re-strategized and began thinking logically on how I could best keep food in my babies’ mouths and keep them safe, the best I could. No it is not glamorous nor will it be as comfortable as it would be if we had a retreat set up but at least I’m doing my best to prevent them from starving. So please don’t put off prepping because you can’t afford the best or you feel you just don’t have the money. Spend a few extra dollars and do your best to get your beans, bullets, and band aids in place prior to the coming collapse. Because in the end eating rice and beans is better than watching your children starve to death.

Lastly, I have a question. BriteLyt lanterns advertises the ability to burn a variety of fuels including kerosene, diesel, gasoline, white gas, biodiesel, paint thinner (not to sure how I feel about that one), mineral spirits, charcoal lighter fluid, lamp oils, Coleman fuel, and JP fuels. However, due to the price I have not had the ability to try one. My question to SurvivalBlog readers is, have you tried one and if so are they worth their investment (for me the price tag is a couple months of my prepping budget)?

Letter Re: Another Hidden In Plain Sight Storage Tip

Howdy,
Great site, thanks for a wonderful resource.

My tip of the day for hidden in plain sight storage, is a hollowed out heavy bag. I mean one of those ubiquitous kickboxing bags languishing in so many garages, covered with dust, and often stuffed into a corner and unused for years. These can be found used and cheap and have minimal resale value, thus a low likelihood of being taken in a burglary, especially as they are usually quite heavy. If there is no food or anything inside attractive to a dog or a bear, that is good of course, so nothing leads an intruder to it.

So, if you have some padding around a large tube hidden in this bag, it still can be punched, but can hold rifles, ammo, etc in a fairly large amount, and in fact should be so heavy, that its a pain to move from its dusty spot in the garage. Just re-lash the top (or perhaps re-stitch it, depending on the design), put the hanging chains back on and it hides in plain sight! Happy Trails – Eugene

Economics and Investing:

When I last checked, spot platinum had plummeted to $1,569 per ounce, while gold was more resilient at $1,707. This disparity is attributable to the platinum price being driven by its industrial uses. (And the global industrial forecast presently looks grim.) But, as I’ve mentioned before: whenever you can buy platinum for less than the price of gold, it is a good time to diversify your holdings. (Geologically, platinum is 16 times more rare than gold, so in most years it sells for a 20% to 150% premium over gold. The times that platinum has sold for less than gold, such as 1991 and today only come rarely. A 2009 article by Eric Bolling is instructive.) We can count on the long term historic ratio being restored, eventually. The current price inversion (with platinum selling for $138 less per ounce than the price of gold) is unprecedented. My advice: If you are currently holding more than six ounces of gold, I recommend swapping half of it into 1/10th ounce or 1/4 ounce U.S. Mint-issued Statute of Liberty platinum coins that have been authenticated by PCGS or NGC. (Commonly called “slabbed” bullion coins.) If you shop around, you can probably find a coin dealer that is willing to trade straight across. (Or you can sell your gold to one dealer and immediately buy platinum Statute of Liberty coins from another.) At the far end of the global financial crisis, you’ll be able to trade back into gold or silver, and make a handsome profit. Ratio trading isn’t just for the gurus at the COMEX desks. In exceptional times like these, the little guys like us have a good opportunity. Oh, and if you plan to marry soon, buy platinum wedding bands.

Should Congress Avert the “Fiscal Cliff”?

SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate G.G. sent: Pay gap between government, private sector widens to 34 percent

Believe the hype in hyperinflation

Items from The Economatrix:

Stock Market Suffers Worst Day In Months On Bernanke Separation Anxiety

FedEx Predicts Busiest Day With 10% Gain On Holiday Peak

Gold Slumps to 6-Week Low, But Should Hold at $1,700

FDIC Closes Bank In Florida Raising Total Number Of Bank Failures In 2012 To 44

Odds ‘n Sods:

Potassium permanganate fire lighting. [JWRs Safety Proviso: If you carry both chemicals, of course carry them in well-sealed sturdy containers in well-separated compartments of your pack!]

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Greg P. suggested this article: The Nuts and Bolts of a Fallout Shelter

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Also from Greg: Will the Apocalypse Arrive Online?

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A free book on Kindle, for a short time: The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door. These traditions are crucial for establishing a sense of community!

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NRC Whistleblowers: Risk of Nuclear Melt-Down In U.S. Is Even HIGHER Than It Was at Fukushima. (Thanks to reader A.K.H. for the link.)

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A coupel of news articles to file under: Worlds Apart. First from England: Man jailed after repeated attack on his wife with a shoe. And from Florida: North Lauderdale man accused of beating wife for not making his coffee. (I guess they both missed those muslim clerical “only use a short rod and don’t leave any marks when you beat your wife” lectures.

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 43 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and G.) A $200 gift certificate, donated by Shelf Reliance.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, E.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 43 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Survivor Mindset: One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure, by J.A.P. in New Mexico

We have all heard the old idiom: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” This basically means that something that one person considers worthless may be considered valuable by someone else. This could not be further from the truth in the mind of any survivor. You could branch out into every aspect and area of survival with this mindset at your core. Water, food, fire, shelter, and security can all be obtained with this in mind.
 
I believe that in a survival situation and in everyday life that everything around you is valuable and has multiple uses. I also believe that everyday life is survival. From the moment of your birth until right now, you are in a survival situation. If this weren’t the case you would not be here. It is just that in an actual “survival situation” that the stakes become higher. It is how you perceive things around you, and how you choose to use them that will give you the edge in a “survival situation”.
 
Preparing and being prepared for any and all situations is something that I highly recommend. However, this may not always be conceivable, or you may not have certain items with you at the time of need or when disaster strikes. In certain survival situations you may not be resupplied for a great length of time or not at all. It is imperative in those moments that you and I think outside of the box. Virtually everything around you and I has multiple uses and purposes, but it is up to you and I to use our most important survival weapon and tool to discover those other uses for those items. This weapon and tool is our minds.

For years I have slowly integrated all parts of a “survivor’s mindset” into my wife and kids, but I always try and reinforce keys aspects to them, and one of those main aspects is the mental ability to “improvise”! For a long while I had shown my son that there are multiple uses for any single item or thing he comes across. I have also shown him many survival techniques over the years. To drive this point home to my 12 year old son I took him to a picnic campsite up in the mountains. The point of the trip was to show him that he could survive even if he lacked certain items. He didn’t know what we were taking the drive for until we got there.  After arriving at the campsite I told him, “Pretend right now that you were in a survival situation or that you got lost up here in the woods. What would you do?”

To my amazement he just gave me a grin, stopped and sat down. He then thought about what I had just said for a moment. Next he pulled everything that he had out of his pockets and took inventory which consisted of the following:
A survival whistle which had a compass, magnifying glass, and thermometer.
And a stick of bubble gum
He then looks at me and says, “It’s not much is it?” I told him, “Nope it sure isn’t” He then said, “Well, I suppose I can do what you taught me to do.” “And what’s that?” I asked.
“I can forage around and see what I find.” he said.

He first walked around the campsite and found a plastic bag, 3 metal bottle caps, a lighter with no fuel but flint still sparked, a used 3 foot piece of multi-strand white rope, a torn piece of paper, and a large coffee can. He then walked along the nearby creek with me in pursuit. Along this creek he gathered up an empty plastic water bottle, a glass bottle, a tangled wad of fishing line which had 2 hooks attached, a small bait container with cotton and 2 weights inside.  On the way back to the campsite he found a broken piece of a vehicle side
mirror on the road.

Then my son took inventory of what he had again. I then asked him, “What can you use that stuff for?” How will all this stuff help your situation?”
“For food I could try using the hooks and weights to catch fish with bugs as bait, or at worst I could try making lures with the hooks and metal bottle caps,” he said
“I know I’ll need water and I could collect it from that creek using the plastic or glass bottles. Maybe after I got a fire going or I found some charcoal around the campsite I could make a water filter. I’d have to use the plastic water bottle for that. The coffee can would be for boiling the water and cooking food.
“For fire I think I could try putting some sparks on that cotton as long as it’s dry and hopefully it will turn into a flame.” I also have this piece of paper to help me along with the magnifying glass on my survival whistle.
“Shelter would have to be made using the rope or rope strands and maybe tying branches together to make a simple shelter.” He kept on glancing up at me as if to see if I approved, but I kept quiet. I wanted to hear what he would come up with. I was thinking in my mind as he talked,” Not bad, not bad at all kid!”
He continued:
I guess the fire would give me some sort of safety and security. I could use the broken piece of mirror for signaling or use my whistle to try and get someone’s attention.
For the rest of the afternoon I watched as he put his plan for each aspect of survival into action. He succeeded in every one of them by himself. (Keep in mind all local and state laws were kept during this exercise.)
At the end of the day he said, “The plastic bag is pretty much useless.” “What are you going to carry all this stuff around in?” I asked. “You’re right dad. I guess there is no such thing as trash!” he said. We both laughed as he enlightened us with that final comment. Not only did my son gain additional confidence that day but we also picked up what most others would consider trash or litter and we cleaned up that area.

My son was absolutely right in saying “there is no such thing as trash”, and in a survival situation there isn’t! Everything becomes useful. In our day to day lives we throw things away in the garbage all the time. Have you ever stopped to think what other uses those items might have? It is absolutely mind blowing all the ideas that will flood to your mind if you asked yourself this question every time you open the trash can to throw something away! You could save yourself hundreds if not thousands of dollars in thinking like this. I’m not telling you to be a messy, disorganized hoarder, of course not. What I am saying is to stop and readjust your way of thinking about everything around you and their potential uses. In a  TEOTWAWKI scenario you will be glad that you started thinking this way. There is no such thing as trash! It’s all treasure in some form or another. It’s just up to you how you use and apply those items into your situation. By all means start preparing. Educate yourself and your family about survival, prepare your survival kits and bug out bags, and store up emergency supplies and food but remember this simple yet effective core idea that there basically is no such thing as trash. You can recycle and reintegrate almost anything back into your inventory and situation to help you. You can combine what others consider junk items together and make useful things to help you and those around you. For example if you needed an alternative source of power you could make a simple generator using a motor, an alternator, electrical wires, a V belt, a cast iron pulley, and some mounting brackets.  However keep in mind that you may have to obtain these items from different places and different items. The motor could be obtained from a lawnmower, the alternator from an old car, the pulley from a beaten down belt driven air conditioner, etc. What others have considered to be their trash could now become your treasure! In its simplest form this would be a DC charging system but with the addition of a DC to AC power inverter it also becomes an AC generator system with battery back up. In simpler survival ideas using this mindset you could make a simple water filter using a plastic water bottle, sand, and charcoal, a thrown away soda pop can could be used to start you a fire by polishing the bottom and using it like a reversed magnifying glass with the sun. There are endless ideas, tools, weapons, and survival supplies that can be made or obtained with items around you.

In a  TEOTWAWKI scenario the average person who is not prepared and survival minded is limited by their supplies. Society has too many people accustomed to turning on the faucet and expecting water, going to the nearest store when their pantries and refrigerators supplies run low, going to a restaurant when they get hungry, and filling up their vehicles with gas when needed. These people sadly will not be ready for a TEOTWAWKI situation. The ease of society I believe has weakened and blinded the average person into thinking that the comforts and convenience of everyday life will always be there when needed. It’s not impossible for the average person to pull together and survive this type of situation but it will be that much harder for them since they are so accustomed to the ease of societal living. It’s not a matter of if something of this scale will occur but just a matter of when. For the survival minded person, survivalist, or prepper at least you will be that much more prepared than the average person. However, please keep in mind that if the economy collapses, or there is a nuclear catastrophe, a world wide viral outbreak, etc, etc, that known commerce will come to a halt. Supplies as we know it will come to a halt. At least those who have prepared will have a greater chance versus those who have not. Never deceive yourselves into thinking that you have prepared supply wise for everything, and indefinitely. At some point you will have to resupply something. You will either have to barter and trade, or forage for what items you need. Keep in mind that God gave us all our most important piece of survival gear and it sits right above our necks. Our brains and our minds are an awesome tool if we are willing to see through the right lens. Most of the world has been explored by man. Man by nature leaves things behind either by throwing them away or seeing things as junk and abandoning that stuff for others. How you see that stuff and what you do with it can help you greatly.

Over the years I have used the term survival extensively but I don’t want you and I to just hang by a thread surviving. I don’t want you and I to just survive. I want you and I to THRIVE.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of survive is:

  1. to remain alive or in existence: live on
  2. to continue to function or prosper

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of thrive is:

  1. to grow vigorously : flourish
  2. to gain in wealth and possessions: prosper
  3. to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances

These two words sound the same but quite surprisingly they are different. I would rather thrive than just survive. I don’t just want to exist or continue on but rather I want to flourish and prosper despite my circumstances. My friends we need to think outside the box. We need to improvise when necessary. I believe the key to thriving rather than just relying on supplies and surviving is the ability to improvise. These two sayings go hand in hand and they are:
Necessity is The Mother of Invention and One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure. Both require you and I to think outside the box and realize that if you really need something that you will find a way to do it or acquire it. The items you need could be right in front of you and you may not yet realize it. Some uses for things may be obvious but they may require a little elbow grease to get them working. For example a few weeks ago on my way to the city dump I noticed a wheelbarrow on the side of one of the large dumpsters that was going to be thrown away. Upon inspecting the wheelbarrow all it needed was a new tire and handles and maybe a new paint job. After asking permission I immediately took it with me and fixed it up. The cost was about $5 for a can of spray paint since I already had a tire for it. It looked and functioned like new. I just saved myself at least $145-$150 for this particular brand of wheelbarrow. See not only can you apply this concept in a survival situation but in your day to day life. The money you save in day to day living using this way of thinking could be used for additional supplies and gear, bills or a vacation.

In summary when something thrusts us into a major survival situation you and I will already be thinking this way and you and I will go from just surviving to thriving. This article could go on describing hundreds of thousands of things around you in a survival situation that may help you but it is up to you and your ingenious and inventive mind to figure those things out based on your particular needs. Remember if my 12 year old son can put this mindset into action then so can you and I. It’s not the one with the most toys and ready supplies who wins in the end but the one who can use his or her mind and faith that will endure to the end. Thank You for taking the time to read this article and as always, “Take Care, Be Prepared and May God Lead and Guide You in every situation that you face!”

Letter Re: Observations on the Price of Milk

Dear Editor:
In the 1880s milk sold for $0.56 per quart or $2.24 per gallon which at the time was 0.112 oz of gold per gallon of milk.

To put that in perspective today, it would cost $190 for a gallon of milk.

So if you had a cow producing 1 gallon per day 10 months out of the year, it would have been the equivalent of having $57,000 / year in revenue today. (You have significant capital and labor costs gathering hay and water for just one cow not to mention the distribution costs and short shelf life).

At that same point in time, rent would cost $16 per month (equal to $1,360 today) and you could have paid your rent with the equivalent of less than 2 gallons of milk per week.

With prices like these it is no wonder that every family had their own cow which would have cost $70 dollars or 4.3 months of rent or $6,000 in today’s dollars.

So today a cow costs $2,000, raw milk costs $10 / gallon and industrial milk costs $4 / gallon. This shows you just how much our economy has grown in the past 130 years, the relative price of milk has fallen to 5% or less of what it use to cost.

This also shows you how valuable a cow and the milk it provides would be if the global food distribution system were to have any significant problems as a result of hyperinflation. – Daniel L.

JWR Replies: While a comparison of prices before the days of electric refrigeration might not be completely fair, your illustration at least shows the long term erosive effects of chronic currency inflation. It also gives a glimpse of what people might be willing to pay for milk in the event of a grid-down collapse–when reliable refrigeration will presumably once again be scarce.

Nine Letters Re: Concealed Carry Permits–Pros and Cons

Jim:
I too live in an open carry state where it is also allowed in private vehicles and have chosen not to apply for a concealed carry permit. According to the most recent CDC data, West Virginia has the greatest proportion of homes with at least one gun East of the Mississippi and the fifth highest in the entire country. During a recent discussion with a local LEO, he didn’t even look twice at the 9mm on my hip. We even have two rifles on our flag and the mascot of our flagship university is authorized by state law to fire his muzzleloader on the football field.

Another concern is that in many states allow public access to lists of concealed carry permit holders. Property crimes went up 11% last year according to the DOJ and if the trend continues we may see thieves targeting homes from available lists of licensees like concealed carry and ham radio. – Allen C.

James:
I have the following comments on the letter: “Concealed Carry Permits – Pros and Cons:”
 
Most people that frequent James’ web site would agree that carrying a weapon, openly or concealed, is our natural right, and a plain language reading of the Second Amendment makes it clear that this right was intended to be unencumbered in the United States.  I have no ethical or moral objection to those who chose to exercise their natural rights without consideration of the current legal climate.  If you do that, however, please make sure you have to understand the risks of becoming part of the criminal justice system.
 
I have CCW permits in five states, which through reciprocity entitles me to carry in most jurisdictions.  I originally obtained my CCW in my native California because open carry, while at the time legal, was not practical for me, and I did not want to violate the law in order to carry concealed.  For professional and family reasons I am not able to move right now, and many people find themselves in this situation.
 
If you live in a Constitutional Carry state – lucky you! – and you do not travel regularly outside the state, then don’t bother.  In this situation there are two things to consider:
 
(1)     When you obtain a CCW they make you take training, and that is a good thing.  For most of my life I had ignored pistols – I spent my time and money trying to be a better rifleman – but being forced to take the very limited CCW training got me started, and I am now a combat pistol training junkie – and I think that the training does make me more qualified to be an armed citizen on a day-to-day basis. So if you begin to carry please dedicate yourself to becoming better trained.
 
(2)     Secondly, don’t think that you are actually escaping the notice of local, state or federal governments by not having applied for a CCW permit or recently purchased a firearm.  In fact, a police officer friend of mine comment that we are fast approaching the time when you will attract more attention by not being “part of the system,” and that it might be easier to escape negative attention by going ahead and becoming one of the rabble that has some sort of record, albeit a “peaceful” one.
 
(3)     And lastly, even if you don’t travel regularly, you might want to do so but without sufficient notice to get your local CCW, so why not get it and have it in case you need to jump in the car and head out?
 
Good luck! – Bill C.

Dear James,
When a police officer pulls over a car in the Redoubt, he/she calls in the license plate and in reply, dispatch tells the officer that the occupant has a carry permit.  This allows the officer to know that the owner is carrying but is a vetted non-felon.  Now whether the car has it’s owner driving is another question.  Most officers I talk to, (I’m an ex-cop) assume that the occupant of any car is carrying.  There is a survival benefit to that thought as a cop.  Remember that having a CCW means you have to tell the officer up front anyway in most states.  It’s a good idea even if it’s not required by law to inform the officer.  

You, having a CCW allows a gun dealer, not to have to run a background check on you if the national “instant” check system is down.  If the phone system isn’t working and the internet is down, even if you throw silver coins at your dealer, they can’t let you take home guns without a CCW.  In Wyoming (not necessarily all states), The dealer can sell you a gun as long as you present me a CCW (even an out of state one) without having to do a background check.  So if the system isn’t working, you can still get a last second purchase before the infra-structure stops working completely .   If the whole system goes hard down and resets, I doubt that many dealers will worry much about the existing rules and continue business as usual albeit with somewhat higher prices.  If we can’t renew their stock, things will get expensive fast so get your defensive preparations settled sooner than later. 

Acquiring a CCW requires one to have a training certificate in most states.  That is a good thing because most people need a training course (or 5 or 6) under their belt before strapping on a Glock.   I would say that 2 out of 10 people that buy guns, have a clue how to use them.  The other 8 should get trained fast.  What you do under stress mimics your lowest level of training.  Get your training up to snuff please soon.   

Getting a Wyoming Resident CCW and a out of state Florida CCW will give you 40 states to carry in.  Only Illinois is the hold out at this point.  The reciprocity map to look at is at:  http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

BTW, congratulations, Wisconsin is now a “Shall Issue” state and they even have reciprocity with some other states.   Ye,s Freedom is marching on. – F.B. (15 miles from asphalt)

Dear JWR,
After reading the letter about the pros and cons of a CCW permit, I thought I would weigh in with my comments. To start out, I agree that carrying a concealed weapon is a right that some sort of government entity does not have the right to give permission to do. That being said, however, in Nevada here, and especially Clark County where Las Vegas is, the consequences of getting caught carrying a concealed pistol without a permit can be quite severe. I am sure you could fight a conviction in court, but that could be costly and take much money and time for an unknown and possibly bad outcome. I have held CCW permits in four separate states including Montana, Utah, Arizona, and now Nevada. Quite frankly they were all very painless to obtain. The hardest portion was shelling out the money (Almost $100 here in Nevada for the government fees alone!). I know some people are afraid of the government having your name and the fact you carry a weapon, or at least the ability to do so (Most people I know and the ones I have met in classes, don’t carry a gun on a regular basis or at all. That in itself is a topic worth discussing: the mental mindset to go from sheep to sheepdog and consciously choose to be able to protect yourself and others!). Some will tout open carry as a way to go about without a CCW permit. I do believe open carry has its place. On a hike in the woods, yes, to open carry. Work around the ranch, yes to open carry. Wal-Mart on a busy afternoon, probably not. I do want people to become more comfortable with guns in our culture and to respect them. Not fear and shun them. I do believe open carry in urban centers can bring unwanted attention and negative attention, whether it be from a anti-gunner or prospective criminal. Concealed keeps them unaware and you in total control. The pros of the permit do outweigh the cons in my opinion. My having the resources available to defend myself is paramount. If I have to get a permit to do it, I will. In the meantime I will fight for Constitutional Carry laws ()where citizens don’t need a permit to carry a gun, concealed or not. As you said, Freedom is on the march! God willing we will have our rights restored as they should be. – Steve in Nevada

 

Hi Jim,
I find it amazing that after decades of people fighting to prevent the government from having a list of gun owners and their guns that people now line up and pay the government to get on that list.  The government is changing how people think.  With a CCW card people are thinking of it like a drivers license, which is a privilege not a right.  We are already seeing how things like the TSA are changing what Americans are now putting up with and accepting as the new “norm”.

Some people think that when they buy a gun from an FFL dealer that they are on the “list”.  They are not.  Your on the form in the files of the firearms dealer.  This is why in the original “Red Dawn” movie the Cuban commandeer tells his men to go to the sporting goods store for the firearms 4473 forms  to find out who has guns.

Once the government has a list and then decides to outlaw gun ownership (UN small arms ban possibly) they will have a pretty good start to confiscate these weapons.  You also have to deal with LEOs who don’t think you average citizen should have a gun.  Now that our law enforcement agencies have become more militarized this is more frequent than you think.  When a LEO runs your plate or automatically scans it as he drives by you, it tells him all kinds of information, including if you have a CCW.  So if you are trying to stay under the radar the fewer lists you are on the better. Keep your powder dry, – Karl G.

 

Good Day James,
I wanted to touch on the pros and cons of CCW permits in North Carolina.
 
The county I reside in requires certificates issued by the Sheriff’s office. It’s a cumbersome process that requires one to go downtown, apply and pay a fee ($5 per certificate up to 3 maximum). After a background check that takes a few days (5-10 if memory serves) the certificates are available for pickup at the same downtown location. Once these are in hand, firearm purchases are cash and carry. Re-apply as needed.
 
This method allows one to carry openly, which means non-concealed (including car glove boxes, consoles, under seat etc).
 
However a CCW permit, while more costly eliminates all of the above, with one exception. A class is required ($80-$120), and certification is granted. That document is then taken to the same downtown office where a major background check is performed, for a $90 fee. Once passed, the permit is ready for pick up and finger prints will be taken.
 
Once this permit is in hand, firearm purchases are cash and carry. The firearm maybe concealed (law permitting) including those car compartments mentioned above. the permit is valid for 5 years and can be renewed without going through those steps again.
 
I saw the benefit, mostly, in the ease of purchasing firearms, including private sales (not legally required, but may sellers will not sell without one). Being able to keep the firearm car compartments was also a big “selling” point for me. 
 
No doubt agree it is not as ideal as the American Redoubt (and other areas). However, at least in the Tar Heel State,  I believe having one certainly out weighs the consequences of going without it. – Drew D.

Dear Mr. Rawles,
I am a long time reader, first time commenter. I live in Colorado which is a shall issue state, which means that the local sheriff must issue a CCW as long as the applicant passes a CBI background check, (like we were common criminals). Along with running a family business, I am also the chairman of the board of directors of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO), Colorado’s only no compromise gun rights group. I personally believe the requirement to have a CCW is not only unconstitutional, but infringes against my right for self protection endowed by my Creator. That being said, I have a CCW because of my vocal opposition to ANY restrictions on our gun rights and the fact that I prominently open carry about 50% of the time. As far as others (family and friends) getting a CCW, I take a different position. I personally believe that concealed means concealed. Which means that no one knows if you are carrying. The state keeps a record of CCW holders, which means that LEO and other agencies have knowledge of who has been issued a “privilege” to carry. I have known of several woman who have been the subject of harassment and even solicitation by male LEO’s. (most of those have resulted in the firing and prosecution of said LEO) The last thing I would want is for that “type” of LEO to know if my daughter/wife/sister/friend, was carrying a firearm.
 
This is just my 2 cents. – Bluebleeder5.56

James:
First off, Thanks for your years of guidance and information. God bless you and your family.
I think there are numerous correct responses to Greg S about having a Concealed Carry Permit. I am in Tennessee and have had my permit for three years. I do not have to register my guns with the state. I can use the permit to buy a gun from a dealer, immediately with no three day cool down period. Also, I can buy from a private individual and show it to him to to ensure that I am not a felon. Making a private sale of a weapon can open people up to liability if it’s to the wrong person.

I have the majority of my weapons from private sales, but I keep a few “on the books” in case of a “U.S. gone wrong” gun banning and collection from big brother. Then I can turn my registered ones in and say, “See, I am a good, obedient citizen”, and stay under their radar. – John S

James,
Thanks for soliciting input on  this topic.
I have been living in Minnesota for many years now. As a recent CHL holder (less than two years), I can only add that the benefits of being able to legally carry in my home state and elsewhere far outweighs waiting for TSHTF before anyone starts carrying full time for the first time. Just like moving to your retreat pre-shtf, and learning self sufficiency skills before, carrying a sidearm will desensitize you and your family to you being armed. Case in point, my wife is opposed to owning, carrying, shooting guns herself. While she tolerates my indulgence, she has become used to me always being armed. This fact will lessen my family members from the trauma of firearms when TSHTF and it’s game on.
I don’t like having to beg for a permit with a recognized right, but it beats living in California, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, etc.

Thank you James, and all the other contributors for my education and growth. Worth every minute I spend learning!
Sincerely, – F.W. in Minnesota

News From The American Redoubt:

Wind production exceeds hydro in Pacific Northwest for the first time Tuesday.

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Reader Dave T. suggested a link to some unexpected statistics on economic equality. They show that several of the Redoubt states are among the highest scorers on an index of economic equality. Dave’s comment: “That kind of yeoman population is what our founders saw as the democratic ideal, and it’s the kind of atmosphere I would want to raise kids in if mine were still young.”

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Spokane High school Player Kicks 67-Yard Field Goal. (That distance, by the way, is four yards longer than the NFL record.) If that young man doesn’t already have an academic scholarship, I predict that he’ll be offered numerous athletic scholarships.)

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I heard about a new blog and podcast that would be of great interest to traditionalist Catholics who live in the Redoubt, or those who plan to move to the Redoubt: The Charles Carroll Society.

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Some Idaho items, courtesy of reader R.B.S.: news: Idaho lawmaker’s wife hurt in gun room explosion. And here is a follow-up news story that suggested as possible cause of the explosion. With new geology map, Idaho rocks. (And here is where you can order a copy.) And lastly: Idaho’s low wages and agricultural roots play a role in workers holding multiple jobs.

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Here is a link to the latest newsletter from Oasis Montana. (A photovoltaics and off-grid appliances dealer located in Stevensville, Montana.)

Economics and Investing:

Is A Debt Jubilee The Next Big Meme?

The World Is Moving Closer To A Full-Blown Currency War Just Like The Great Depression of The 1930s.

Repo Man Goes to Ghana to Tow Away Argentinean Navy’s Flagship

Eric G. sent: 10 nations that control the world’s gold

Unless We Act, High-Frequency Trading Will Crash The Stock Markets

Items from The Economatrix:

Existing U.S. Home Sales Decline As Supply Drops

Weekly Jobless Claims Drop Proves To Be Short-Lived

Morgan Stanley Posts Loss in Q3 on Debt Valuation Adjustment

Odds ‘n Sods:

I just heard about a new company that makes an interesting hidden storage compartment that fits between standard 16 inch-spaced wall studs: TacticalWalls.com 

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Another great post over at the popular Paratus Familia blog: Reloading in the Living Room

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Reader R.B.S. sent: The tsunami debris washed from Japan to Oregon

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F.G. sent this article from an Australian newspaper: In gun-loving America, the Kalashnikov conquers

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Yet another Self Reliance Expo announcement. (They certainly are popular, these days!) This one will be in Mesa, Arizona, on Oct. 26-27, 2012, at the Mesa Convention Center.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare." – Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”, Section II (Waging War), Item 6. (From the Lionel Giles’ translation.)

Note from JWR:

Ready Made Resources has started their last sale of 2012 for Mountain House long term storage foods. They are offering 25% discounts and free shipping for Mountain House foods in #10 can. The sale will run from October 22nd to November 5th.