Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:11-16 (KJV)

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 36 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $439 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) 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, C.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and D.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, and C.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 36 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Taste Tests: A Review of Survival Food From the Local Grocery Store, by M.B.

As part of our general prepping, my family has started including “survival food” in our normal diet. This gives us a chance to decide what we like to eat and to stock up on more of it for the future, rather than having to live with what we have when the SHTF. We all know that when food becomes scarce we will be thrilled to have a bowl of rice, beans, etc., but with a bit of experimentation we hope to be able to stock up on tastier foods in addition to commonly stocked staples. Rather than buy large quantities of foods we are trying for the first time, we are buying what is available locally at common grocery stores and super-stores. Since times are tough for many now, I also included some products from discount ‘dollar’ stores. These have the additional benefit of being very-well pre-packaged, so long-term storage should be good. This article describes our experience so far, and I am not in any way affiliated with any of these companies or and food distributor or retailer.

Bear Creek Soup Mixes

The Bear Creek brand soup mixes are excellent! My wife, two kids, and I have tried each of these mixes and love them. They have fair nutritional value by just adding water, but if you were in TEOTWAWKI mode adding some meat would boost the protein levels to a sustainable level. As with lots of pre-packaged meal products there is higher salt content, but no more per package than many people eat on a single large order of fries! Preparation could not be any more simple, just add water (usually 8 cups), boil a bit, let simmer and stand. The mix becomes adequately thick and ‘souply’. One thing to keep in mind is that many of these products contain very low amounts of (or no) fat, so living on this stuff alone will be unhealthy as you need a certain amount of fat to be healthy.

 

Minestrone

The minestrone is very good. When you eat a bowl you are full, end of story. The flavor is full and not at all watery or pasty. These are not ramen noodles! (although I am not knocking ramen, I eat ramen all the time). I found the soup to be great with no additional seasoning added. My wife and kids are garlic-salt addicts so they added a little and we very happy with it. Each package makes about 8 1-cup servings. Each serving has about 110 calories, 4 grams of protein, 23 grams of carbs, 2 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 870 mgrams of sodium. Additional nutritional information can be found online.

 

Vegetable Beef

This is a good soup for everyone. It’s not as rich as the minestrone with just water, but if you add the optional tomato sauce it is quite rich. My kids prefer it to the minestrone. Preparation is about the same, as is the number of servings per package. Each serving has about 110 Calories, 850 mg of Sodium, 22 grams of Carbs, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

 

Creamy Potato

This is another family favorite. If you let it sit and simmer per the directions it becomes very creamy and full, not watery at all. We add a little salt and black pepper when we make it. Preparation is about the same, as is the number of servings per package. Each serving has about 150 Calories, 860 mg of Sodium, 27 grams of Carbs, 0 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

 

“Darn Good” Chili

The kids like this, I like it, but my wife prefers canned hands-down. The flavor is mild, although the packages says ‘mildly spicy’ my family thinks it’s just mild. This mix requires a 6-oz. can of tomato paste and 3.5 cups of water. Each package makes 4 1-cup servings. Each  serving has about 120 Calories, 520 mg of Sodium, 23 grams of Carbs, 6 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.

 

Cheddar Broccoli

I like this mix, the rest of the family doesn’t, but they don’t like any kind of cheese or broccoli soup. The flavor is good, and is quite acceptable as a cheese soup. I add some red pepper to mine and it’s awesome. Each package makes 8 1-cup  servings. Each  serving has about 170 Calories, 960 mg of Sodium, 24 grams of Carbs, 1 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

 

Chicken Noodle

The family likes this soup mix very much. The flavor is good, and it cooks quickly. We add a small can of Swanson’s white chicken to it, along with some black pepper. It’s very filling. Each package makes 8 1-cup  servings. Each  serving has about 120 Calories, 760 mg of Sodium, 22 grams of Carbs, 1 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

 

Gumbo

This is my favorite, although the rest of the family wont touch any kind of gumbo. The flavor is good by itself, but is fantastic when you add some small chunks of sausage. I add some red pepper and paprika sometimes too to kick it up a notch. Each package makes 8 1-cup  servings. Each serving has about 130 Calories, 990 mg of Sodium, 26 grams of Carbs, 1 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

 

Navy Bean

This mix is very good if you like bean soup. I do, my family does not. It cooks up nice and soupy, not watery or thin. Although I have not tried it yet, I am sure a few small chunks of ham would probably add a tremendous amount of additional flavor, not to mention some additional fiber. Each package makes 8 1-cup servings. Each serving has about 130 Calories, 940 mg of Sodium, 26 grams of Carbs, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 5 grams of protein.

Split Pea

This was a bust, none of us liked this, but to be fair we don’t eat split-pea soup at all, it was just an experiment. Each package makes 8 1-cup servings. Each serving has about 110 Calories, 810 mg of Sodium, 20 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

 

Tortilla

This is another tasty soup mix that is on the lower end of the dietary scale. Cooked as directed it’s a little thin, but no more than many tortilla soups I have been served when dining out. Maybe ideal for food you can drink on the run from a thermos bottle. I add a little cayenne pepper to mine, and I think some Swanson’s canned chicken cooked and added would make this a complete meal. Each package makes 8 1-cup servings. Each serving has about 90 Calories, 830 mg of Sodium, 22 grams of carbs, 5 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

 

Alessi Soup Mixes

I had the Zuppa Toscana and it was great. The packet makes 1 quart of soup. Each serving has about 150 Calories, 660 mg of Sodium, 28 grams of carbs, 7 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein. Compared to other mixes this soup packs a bit more nutritional punch. I found it a bit more expensive as well.

 

Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes

My kids love these! They eat them like ice cream! Sometimes they add a little garlic salt and sour cream, but just as often as not they eat them as-is. Prepared as directed they are very good. They get thick and creamy and actually taste like mashed potatoes, not sawdust or chalk. Since you mix these with hot water and don’t boil the mixture, I tried an experiment by putting the mix and hot water in a 1-gallon freezer bag to mix them. With a little gentle shaking motion they mixed up just as well as in a pot.

 

Idahoan Instant Mashed Potatoes

The kids didn’t like these as much as the Betty Crocker’s, but I did. They have a bit more ‘potato’ taste (you know, like dirt). Same as the others, they are better if you add a little garlic salt and sour cream, but it’s not a must. Prepared as directed they are very good. Like the betty Crocker, these get thick and creamy and actually taste like mashed potatoes, but I had to cook them a little longer than directed. very good instant potatoes.

All in all, these seem to be decent products that I would eat on a daily basis, not just in an emergency situation. With a little care and planning, you should be able to buy these both locally at retail stores and in bulk from distributors. They will store well as packaged, and fit well into backpacks and fanny-packs. I have already started stocking up on these mixes, and I actually look forward to eating them.

Letter Re: Some Defective Lots of Black Berkey Water Filters

Dear JWR:
I just cleaned my Royal Berkey and noticed that 3 of the 4 filter elements (the Black version) were loose. The adhesive that attaches the end-cap to the carbon filter came loose. So I called the vendor and they said Berkey will send free replacement filters for all of the filter systems I purchased. A remediation is in effect with manufacturer lots beginning with June. So if you have a black Berkey filter that was made before June of 2011, then check to see if the cap is loose. You may be drinking unfiltered water! – Ken C. in South Carolina

Letter Re: Some Experience With 7.62mm NATO Battle Rifles

If one is planning to stock .308 Winchester or 7.62 mm NATO for SHTF, old West German 7.62 NATO ball ammo is the stuff to look for as warshot.  During the adoption phase of the M16 in Vietnam, West Germany and Sweden complained that the [55 grain] M193 round that shattered at the cannelure was inhumane and a violation of the Hague Conventions.  The US Army’s Natick Research Center did tests with Swede and German .308 to prove that it did the same thing.  Of course they stopped complaining.

US 7.62 mm NATO Ball is much tougher built and simply plows through the target.  But the West German ammo goes in a few inches, tumbles sideways, shatters into two pieces and a storm of lead and creates a massive wound channel, offering the best terminal effects of 5.56 NATO combined with the power of 7.62 NATO. – Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large)

Odds ‘n Sods:

If you have any recommendations for items that we should add to The SurvivalBlog Amazon Store, please mention them in an e-mail. Note that if you click on one of our Amazon links and then “click through” to order ANY product from Amazon.com (not just the ones listed in our catalog), then we will earn a modest sales commission. So please bookmark one of our Amazon links. Then use that as your starting point whenever you plan to place an Amazon order. Thanks!

   o o o

Jonathan B. sent this: Inside the secret world of hackers Computer hackers are frequently denigrated as mere digital pranksters. But some are now finding they have the power to change the world for good

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My #1 Son spotted this: Pirate-Fighters, Inc.: How Mercenaries Became Ships’ Best Defense. My son’s comment: “Sounds like something out of a novel.”

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John M. sent this news from Idaho: Grizzly shooter garners support. (BTW, there is now a legal defense fund being raised.)

   o o o.

Reader Craig R. advises: Check your airspace before building your retreat

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“[[To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.]] In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee [as] a bird to your mountain?

For, lo, the wicked bend [their] bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The LORD [is] in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne [is] in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.

For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” – Psalm 11 (KJV)

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 36 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $439 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) 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, C.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and D.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, and C.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 36 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

How to Handle Fear and be Stronger for the Experience, by P.G.T.

I am out of my comfort zone. We executed a move and I have to battle fear. I am afraid that we will fail. I am afraid that our plans have been too costly. Our “threes” have been reduced to one – and we all know that one is none. We no longer have three ways to heat, cook or travel. We don’t know the terrain well, nor do we know the roads.  We do not have all of our supplies here with us. And, to top it all off, today I opened a package of spiced almonds only to find they have gone rancid. What of the rest of our stored food that we lugged across country? We do not have our support group. We do not have quite a bit of our savings – moving costs a lot. Wow! I’m scared and discouraged. What if? Did you read the news? Are you watching the world as we know it unravel at a spectacular pace? What to do?

Praise, pray, re-evaluate and trust. That’s what we do. Thank God for where we are and what we do have. Thank God that we are finally in the American Redoubt. We are tough, we are faith filled, and we are not alone. I do not feel any of these things right now – I feel vulnerable, weak and very much alone. More than I ever have in my life, and I have been alone in some mighty places (like a very small village on the Arctic Circle to name one). So, maybe you, too, feel this way. Remember we do not live by feelings, but by faith. Here are ways to move beyond scared.  Be encouraged with me.

First look to God. Not to ask for more, but to –

  1. Praise God! I start at the beginning. Give praise when it does not easily flow. I stand on Matthew 6 – do not worry about these things. In my mind’s eye I see the unbeliever running after all that God will provide like a dog chasing his tail. I do not want to be like that, instead I see myself standing strong through God’s strength. He is the steel in my straight back, the iron in my muscles and the smile on my face.
  2. Believe…in Jesus, in your ability to do all things with the Lord’s strength and in the divine plan of God. Prioritize. First are the things of God…
  3. Have faith that no matter what happens, God is still in control. Psalm 91 promises that if we are in God’s secret place, we are protected. Move from depending on the world into God’s secret place (see Psalm 91). It is called prayer. Resolve to pray. Be determined to pray. Take a hiatus from the news and the concerns of this world and focus on God. There are times when it is prudent to withdraw from the concerns of the world for a bit. God instructed us to be still and hear His voice. Practice being still.

Second, look at the practical –

  1. Plan – dig out your written plan and list of lists and look it over. Check off the items that have been accomplished. Edit, rework and rewrite your plan. Don’t have one? Well, there is no time like the present. Get started today.
  2.  Focus on what needs to be accomplished.  For example, after our move we needed to look around first. Did you eat up as much canned goods as possible as we did? Then make a list and take the opportunity to shop around for the best prices. Except for amazing sales, nothing need be purchased at the moment. Just do the scouting. What are the prices and quantities? While you are out and about, look at the quality of fresh foods and meats. Find out if you need a card to purchase items at the sale prices. (I do not like to be tracked, so I choose to not shop at these stores unless I am willing to pay full price or the store will swipe their card for me. Usually, I just avoid these stores.) What other stores are in the area? A shoe repair shop? Where can fabric and sewing notions be purchases? Where are the gun shops and how extensive are their inventories? What are the locally owned places? Where do the locals shop? How far will you have to drive for bulk shopping, and is it a feasible drive during winter? Get your bearings.
  3. Does your overall plan look overwhelming? Then, put it away and just write a list for this day. Accomplish that list just for today.  I like to categorize my list into different areas of responsibility and commitments. For example, I am responsible for feeding, clothing and nurturing my family. I also run the household budget and pay the bills. I am the family secretary and keeper of the family calendar. I hold the office of chief logistics officer. I need to be in better physical condition. In addition, I am returning to teaching and finishing an advanced degree. We have barely recovered from a couple of disasters. This was not the ideal time to move across the country. However the rapid disintegration of our nation necessitates such a move. Therefore, my list of lists has different categories and under each category is a long-term list of what needs to be done for that particular area. When there is too much to be done, keep your master list out of sight. Work only with what needs to be done for the day or week. In this way, you will be able to concentrate and focus on what most needs to be done. Accomplishments provide motivation to keep going.
  4. Turn off the television, limit computer usage and movie watching . It is too much of an opportunity to waste time and not do what needs to be done right now. Besides, I find the shows on television so depressing.  Reading through Proverbs daily will help keep your perspective. I also like to remember that as in the days of Noah, the time is growing shorter. I do not want to be perceived as a “whacko” and draw unwanted attention to my household, but I also do not want to spend my time eating, drinking and being merry.  As it states in Sirach 4:20, Use your time well; guard yourself from evil, and bring upon yourself no shame.
  5. Turn a bit inward – toward your family. Now is not the time to be knocking on your neighbor’s doors and espousing your preparedness doctrine.  Look for like-minded individuals, but keep to yourself. Your family’s survival may depend on your discretion in the far too near future. If you, like me, left a close-knit group who provided emotional support for your ventures, remember that at some point we all need to learn to be self-sufficient. This may be just the opportunity for such practice. I know I had gotten complacent and thoroughly enjoyed the companionship of those who could see the coming darkness and were standing firmly in their faith.
  6. Improve your skills wherever you are. Now is the time to get better at something. If, like us, you have just moved and are not able to garden, then use the extra time you have wisely. Here are but a few ideas if you are having difficulty thinking of new skills you want to know or have not yet made a list of skills that your family needs to learn.
    1. Ham radio operator
    2. Wilderness first aid
    3. Sign language or lip reading
    4. Learn a foreign language
    5. Morse Code
    6. Practice bartering
    7. Lifeguard skills
    8. Any level of firearms skills above where you are now
    9. Self-defense
    10. Archery and bow hunting
    11. Fishing and preparing fish for eating
    12. Car maintenance
    13. Small engine repair
    14. Learn how to “read” others and practice the body language positions and facial expressions you desire to exhibit
    15. Sewing, knitting and mending
    16. Animal husbandry
    17. Knot tying
    18. A new musical instrument
    19. Cooking,  canning and other food preservation skills
    20. Leather working
    21. Welding
    22. Climbing and bouldering
    23. Any number of skills from JWR’s books and this blog
    24. Purpose to read and take notes on a book from your reading list that you have not had time to pursue…there are plenty of choices on JWR’s bookshelf that are available from the local library or for purchase.
  7. Re-evaluate – Take the time today to look at where your life is and where you want it to be. Many people get into a rut and have developed habits that they would rather not have. Deal with those habits (especially time wasters and ones that lead to poor physical conditioning) and actions (i.e. complaining, gossiping, and money draining actions that have little benefit). It takes effort, time and perseverance to look clearly at your own life and decide where you are.
  8. Purpose to succeed – success is not easily doing something for the first time, but having the persistence to continue at something until it is accomplished. If your re-evaluation of where you and your family are at this precise moment is not where you want to be. Do not despair, but carefully move on from here. Is your salvation secure? If so, that alone is to be celebrated!
    1. Clean something – make your living room and kitchen sparkle. Wash the windows and let in the sunshine.
    2. Mend something – almost everyone I know has some mending to do, and having broken items, gaping fences or unusable clothing can weigh heavily
    3. Make your bed – that surely is one way to feel successful
    4. Send out the forgotten card, letter or email – make someone’s day better
    5. Go the extra mile at work
    6. Update your resume and reference list – remember what you have already accomplished
    7. Work on your plan and list of lists
    8. Read a biography of a successful person that you admire
    9. Be determined to pay your bills and tithe before squandering even one penny
  9. Smile – this cannot be repeated enough! Purpose to have a merry heart. Purpose to bring sunshine to others. Purpose to be quiet rather than tell others their faults – they already know what they are. Purpose to treat yourself better by expecting that you will be diligent, seek excellence, strengthen your willpower and build endurance. A smiling person also interacts with others more positively resulting in better relationships.
  10. Surround yourself with inspiration. Spend time in a good church and with faith filled optimistic fellow believers. Remember those who have gone before you if they inspire. My relatives resettled by wagon train, survived the first depression, helped those less fortunate, overcame addictions, educated the women of our family since the turn of the last century, and built a town. Read the comics and look for good, clean fun. Play games with your children. Go to the local fair and laugh at the greased pig contestants. Smile even when you do not feel like smiling. Go outdoors and hike to the mountain top. Worship God in song, prayer and by reading the Psalms (try Psalm 103) for the bible tells us in Psalm 84, “Happy they who dwell in your house!” Learning to be inspired in our everyday life is good practice for learning to abide well in times of trouble. Besides, it does set a good example for our children.
  11. Exercise, eat right and get some sleep – it is evident by the massive research in this area that exercise and healthy eating have positive results. A regular regime and balanced meals help dispel fear. Well-toned people portray confidence, have perceived higher intelligence and elicit more positive interactions. They also deter those who only prey on the weak and infirm.
  12. Get outside and get some sun – How much fun can a family have being together in the great outdoors while soaking in the sunshine? There are plenty of opportunities for skills building in camping, hiking, boating, yard work, construction, biking and such. Just going for a walk together and pointing out edible plants will build muscle while providing lifelong knowledge. Lewis and Clark’s expedition would not have been successful had it not been for these skills. Much depends on knowing the right things at the right time. Start now, time is of the essence.
  13. Give – of your time, of your talent, of your treasure. But remember that your priorities are God and family first.  Keep your priorities straight or you will find yourself in a whirlwind situation where you are severely over-committed to others and have not time for yourself, your spouse, your job, your family, or for learning new skills and laying in supplies. Been there, done that.
  14. Control your thoughts – Chose what you will think about and what you will not. Do not allow yourself to dwell on the leeks and onions of Egypt. Instead, get busy making this day the best day you can. It is not always easy to make good thought choices, but be determined to keep at it. Do not ever give up.

Three Letters Re: A Treasure-Hunting Prepper

Hi James.

I only have a few comments on Greg’s treasure hunting article.

First! All people new to metal detecting need to know the first rule is: what ever you dig- fill in your holes, please fill in any holes you make, learn to dig a ‘plug’. You Tube has a ‘how to’ do it the right way video. (Note: He’s using a Mine Lab detector in the video)

Damaging the grass in your own yard isn’t a big deal, but if a million people (since Greg posted on a very popular blog, and people might rush to buy a new detector!) started hunting the parks they will become closed to metal detecting forever in no time. Just think OPSEC. New people just don’t know how to camouflage their digs, this is a major concern to everyone in the hobby. What should happen is the ground should look like it never happened when your done recovering your treasure!

I personally don’t want to be banned from my local parks and when I leave they look better then when I find them. I pick up trash while walking around looking for targets. If everyone did this, no one would be thinking that we just trash places where we recover coins. I tend not to use the word ‘dig’ when asking for permission to recover coins also. People get the idea that you have a really big shovel and are going to leave a hole you can hide a body in.

People everywhere are watching us like hawks, so I totally agree with using head phones – it annoys people to hear beeps and squeals, it’s really distracting as they think your finding treasure while in reality your digging pull tabs and bottle caps! 🙂 They are really watching you because your walking around with “that Geiger Counter-thingy”, detecting is weird and unusual to most people- understand that everyone is watching, wondering what your doing. Some people will stop and ask you if your finding anything. Think smart security before you answer. My stock answer is “I’m finding mostly trash, some change.” and I show off the pull tabs, rusty nails, and other junk I recover. One sure time going detecting with little or no hassle is when people are scarce like early in the morning, or for me later at night. Got headlamp? 

As a beginner metal detectorist, I starting this year I’ve found some good stuff (keepers!) and a lot of trash. it amazes me to see that people have hit areas leaving uncovered holes and trash they decided they didn’t want, even missing targets and giving up all together after digging a hole!  The quickest way to get metal detecting banned in your local park it to dig holes and leave messes for some poor grounds keeper to deal with- city workers and grounds keepers hate dealing with messes they didn’t make. They already have to deal with picking up after other people’s kids. So they won’t be very tolerant of any problems. 

Next to the purchase of a quality metal detector getting a pinpointer should be next of your list of needs.

The Pro-Pointer from Garret is the best pinpointer on the market- it isn’t cheap at $130 but it helps you zero in on your target making you able to dig smaller holes. Meaning less chance your work will attract negative attention from making big two foot wide bomb craters. Some people will even use a screwdriver to pop out targets. This tool is a must! with it you can figure out depth with out digging, and zero in on your target without digging a crater.  It’s one of my “must haves.” In fact if I didn’t have this tool I’d consider taking a pass from detecting until I had one again- it’s that important. I know, people that detect can zero in on coins with practice, but with this probe you can zero in with ease!

My experience is I started out with a cheap detector in the spring time of this year (so I’m no twenty year vet or anything) -I first purchased a bounty hunter for $200 and I was totally disappointed with it – I backpacked up to remote coal mining camping area and ghost towns here in PA and after five outings it broke. The cheaply made connecter failed on it. Sadly a cheap Chinese machine is just that cheap. My calls to the company were never returned and since it was still in it’s warranty period I returned it to the store where I purchased it. I’m sure some people have good luck with them, but I did not.

And it was a good thing, since I traded up to something better. Don’t go cheap when you first start out, you’ll only regret it later.

I purchased a Garrett Ace 350 Metal Detector from a company in Florida called Kellyco. (It is a good company, and they have been in business since 1955 according to their web site.) My finds of goodies continued and I decided that I enjoyed the hobby enough to purchase a Mine Lab E-trac from Mike Post at Woodland Detectors. He gave me a great deal, I called him when I received my detector and he walked me through the setup of the new ETrac. His customer service is tops!  (I am a happy customer, and have no financial incentive with this company) No other company does what Mike does, and he’s been Mine Lab salesman of the year a few times for a reason. He’s about one of the best in his field, and he isn’t just selling the products, he’s using them -as this is his hobby too – he’s got over five thousand hours on the ETrac. If you ever have a question just call or e-mail him.

I can say from my experience that metal detecting is hard, dirty, work! People will be discouraged over not finding goodies enough to make it worth while if they don’t have the right attitude. Persistence is key.

A friend of mine joked that I paid $1,500 to find change, and to a point they are right! it’s not always easy, as the local parks have been hit to death, but it’s fun when you hit a nickel signal and it turns out to be a gold ring, or you find your first barber dime.

There is a down side and at worst not knowing your local laws will get you in to trouble with the local law enforcement. At very worst they will confiscate your detector and your car (depending on state, instruments of crime)- detecting in state parks, or government property is a no-no and they will use your detector as evidence against you until your court date, you might get your detector back, or you might not. Never detect around rail road tracks that are ‘in use’ as the people who run those places have the local police on speed dial. Civil war sites in some areas are historical, and in some areas ‘state park sites’ that are protected, if the ranger finds you out detecting at night expect heavy fines and some kind of monetary loss.  Learn your local laws, and GET PERMISSION for posted private property in writing to protect yourself. Don’t wait until the police roll up to ask them to show you the law on the books (I’m not a lawyer, and Don’t play one on television so it’s best to find out what your legally allowed to and not allowed to do before your out actually doing it!)

I personally detect at night, since I work nights – it matters to have it in writing. if you can’t get permission to detect go some place else. I know that in the area I live there are about ten baseball parks close to my place- how did I find them? By searching using Google Earth. So if someone asks you to leave, I personally haven’t been asked to leave yet- but I’d just pack up and move on to less annoying pastures.

For the most part parks that aren’t posted specifically in their rules having signs that say ‘No Metal Detecting’ you are usually safe to detect. Just keep in mind if you cut in to their lawn and don’t clean up after yourself and they see you doing it they will likely fine you on the spot for damaging their property. I’ve noticed two extremes in my being out, either no one cares or everyone does- depending on times of day while who ever is around … it’s best to go when the people aren’t there if you can help it.

Remember most municipalities are broke and looking for excuses to steal more money from the sheeple. Don’t be that sheeple. Finding places to go can sometimes be challenging, but research is the key. Older homesteads that are now empty fields are about the best, if you have permission to hunt them from private owners. Going to the older gathering places, fairgrounds, even swimming holes no longer used might be productive.

My trash to treasure ratio improved greatly going from a $290 Ace to the $1,500 E-Trac. But if your budget doesn’t allow for this, getting an “in-water” capable detector from Garret in the $550 to $650 range is a great comprise. The Garret AT Pro is one detector you can use in fresh water, recoveries are more technical- but no holes to fill. You know the theory is cold causes fingers to shrink while people are swimming and rings fall off in the water never to be seen again. I’ve seen some websites that people will find a few rings while out diving and detecting. (I’d also say the products they are using is way more then just what a dirt hunter is using for land use, SCUBA gear and underwater probes and detectors are pricey. so things will get expensive if you want to really get serious about detecting.) your finding gold might support your hobby, but I wouldn’t count on that- my last few outings I netting about $3 both times out, no silver no gold- just clad change. it happens! I plan on going out again because it’s addictive when you do find cool stuff.   Check out this amazing video link– his finds are not typical, but wow -outstanding water finds is all I can say!

I will also say as a warning watch out for sunburn, ticks, mosquitoes, wear gloves (due to glass in the ground) and tennis elbow from digging -I have it in both arms and it’s like a toothache that doesn’t go away–ouch!, and I still go out when I can because I purchased a chest rig that basically allows you to move the detector with two fingers while keeping weight off your arms. You still have to dig! the rewards some times out weigh the trash, some weekends you just can’t win.  Other times you do find good stuff, just not every day.

Good luck and happy hunting! – Fitzy in Pennsylvania  

 

JWR:
I thought the article on metal detecting was a good read. I have owned an inexpensive model detector for a few years, which I got shortly after borrowing one to find a gold wedding ring that was lost while hunting. We knew the general area that we lost it but after sitting through a snowy winter, the Mark 1 eyeball wasn’t enough to find it! Money saved and a happy wife were well worth making an investment.

Just a quick additional way to “make” money using a metal detector. I reload my ammunition and my shooting range is my back yard. My detector has the ability to discriminate between metals to a point so set it to ignore steel and make a tone for brass. Now I can find all my brass in the tall grass and forest underbrush without dealing with any iron trash, if it beeps it’s a case. I don’t have to use a brass catcher, I can move around while running shooting drills and never have to pay to replace lost brass. Plus detecting is a good way to get off your rump and exercise a bit..

Thanks for your work! – Prepared Teacher

 

Dear James Wesley,
I have been wrestling with the idea of “caching” emergency supplies along my main and alternate routes to my retreat location. With OPSEC foremost in my mind, what recommendations would you or other readers make under the following conditions?

My current retreat is 170 miles from home.  With no friends or relatives on the primary or alternative routes, my options for caching are limited to public land.  This would generally be state or county parks and forests. Many of these have access restrictions based on time of day, and some on the calendar as well.  With the heightened “environmental awareness” that pervades our society, any disturbance in the terrain would draw both ire and a curiosity that would put the cache at risk.

Related to the article ” A Treasure-Hunting Prepper”, what recommendations would there be to minimize the cache being found by a metal detector?  Are there any containers that could be used to hide the “signature” of the item used?  Hiding survival tools, weapons, coins, food, etc. for an emergency doesn’t do much good if it cannot be hidden until it is required by the owner.

The “Redoubt” is out of reach right now.  I live in the central part of the country on the “wrong” side of the Mississippi River.  Though not in the metroplex of the East Coast, certainly more folks live here than in the west.  This just adds pressure to the method and location of placement. 

Thanks for all the hard work put in by you and your staff. – “Old Dog” in Wisconsin

JWR Replies: The best ways to protect cached gear from metal detectors are: 1.) Pick cache locations on side-hills where no one is likely to be wandering with a detector, and 2.) Find rusty scrap metal to use as false targets. Bury a couple of layers of those above your caching container. That way, upon finding the “trash” target, most people with detectors will simply move on. (Even the most dedicated hunter with the very best equipment wil give up digging if they think that they are in an old dump. )

Coin shooting rarely brings in more than enough to recoup the cost of a detector within two or three months of work. But there are lots of people–mainly retirees but even some younger unemployed and “downsized”–that are making a decent living in the western U.S. and in Australia hunting for gold nuggets in placer mining districts. Many of these folks use high end detectors from companies like Minelab.

Economics and Investing:

Reader Tom C. wrote to mention an inflation data point: He noticed that half gallon bottles of lamp oil selling at Wal-Mart just jumped from $4.97 to $5.97 in one week–about a 20 percent increase.

Morgan Stanley borrowed the most in financial crisis. ($107.3 billion in one month, with no public disclosure!)

Gil Morales and Chris Kacher QE3: Top 8 Reasons Gold Goes Higher. (Thanks to Steve H. for the link.)

US Government Asset Seizures On The Rise. (A tip of the hat to Stephen M. for the link.)

Over at Fierce Finance: Layoff misery on Wall Street just getting started.

Items from The Economatrix:

AP Survey:  No Recession But Weakness Will Endure

21 Signs that the New Reality for Many Baby Boomers Will be to Work as Wage Slaves Until They Drop Dead

Layoffs Sweep Wall Stret, Along With Low Morale

Serious Mortgage Delinquencies Rise in Q2

Odds ‘n Sods:

Free Food To Go is organizing a Preparedness Fair in Boise, Idaho on August, 26 and 27, 2011.

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Why the rebels finally reached Tripoli

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The folks at Directive 21 wrote to mention that they now have a limited supply of Crown Berkey Water Filter Systems in stock, ready to ship. (These are the six gallon system–the largest Berkey system available. )

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Kevin S. wrote to tell me about the Fluid Nexus web site. “Fluid Nexus is an application for Android phones and desktop computers enabling exchange of messages without the need for centralized mobile networks. “

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Also from Kevin: DIY Biosynthesis of Insulin and Thyroxine – Disaster Resilience and Personal Biotech

Jim’s Quote of the Day:



"Over the centuries, mankind has tried many ways of combating the forces of evil… prayer, fasting, good works and so on. Up until Doom, no one seemed to have thought about the double-barrel shotgun. Eat leaden death, demon." – Terry Pratchett

Notes from JWR:

Because Kunaki.com (the vendor that makes our five year archive CD-ROM) is presently moving from high tax New York to low tax Nevada (they deserve congratulations on voting with their feet!), you can expect a one week delay for any orders that are currently in process. Thanks for your patience!

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Today we present another entry for Round 36 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) 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 B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $439 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) 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, C.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and D.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, and C.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 36 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.