Odds ‘n Sods:

At least a dozen readers sent this: Ashton Kutcher Predicts Worthless Currency And Mass Panic, Recommends Getting As Buff As Possible.

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News from Lincoln, Nebraska: Twenty police respond to man playing with crossbow in his backyard, seize house. Here is the relevant statute from the Lincoln, Nebraska web site: “9.36.050 Discharge of Weapons and Other Instruments Unlawful.” JWR’s Advice: I recommend avoiding these ludicrous jurisdictional entanglements by locating your family well outside of city limits!

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I was saddened to hear that Aaron S. Zelman died on December 21st. He was 64 years old. His funeral service was held Christmas Eve in Mequon, Wisconsin. Aaron was the executive director of the JPFO, an organization that I’ve supported for many years. Aaron was a strong defender of our right to keep and bear arms. My condolences to his wife Nancy and to his sons Jeremy and Erik. His obituary stated that memorials to JPFO, P.O. Box 270143, Hartford, Wisconsin 53027 or Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue are appreciated. Rest in Peace, Aaron.

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Several readers sent this: 14 Of The Most Ridiculous Things That Americans Are Being Arrested For

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Yishai flagged this: Blizzard Used as Pretext to Nix Second Amendment in North Carolina. Oh, and to counter such abuses, see: How to Record the Cops.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“It is not these well-fed long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry-looking.” – Julius Caesar, as quoted in Plutarch’s Lives

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 32 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will 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 $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady TAP FPD 2-3/4″ OO buckshot ammo, courtesy of Sunflower Ammo (a $240 value), and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) 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 $400, B.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and C.) 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.) , and B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value.

Round 32 ends on January 31st, 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.

My First Year Raising Broiler Chickens, by R.W.L.

I’m writing to share stories and lessons from my first year raising chickens for meat for my family and for sale. Knowing the tricks to successfully raising your own meat could really be a game-changer post TEOTWAWKI, so I want to spread this wealth of information I’ve gleaned in hopes that others may benefit.   I followed the model popularized by Joel Salatin where the chickens are put into mobile pens that move along the ground to a new, fresh piece of pasture each day.  Receiving day old chicks in the mail from the hatchery and watching them grow is a real treat.  This will not be a comprehensive guide, however, because there are plenty of other resources out there that accomplish that better than I can.  Several topics of interest have been selected to the share stories and details on how it worked.    

Breeds
I tried two different breeds in this system: the Cornish Cross and the Freedom Ranger.  The Cornish Cross is the bird that is raised by the billions in confinement by the very biggest producers in the United States.  It has been bred for its fast gains, reaching harvest weight at only eight weeks of age.  Those birds are quite content to just hang out by the feed trough and eat non-stop.  Dressed out at 5.5 pounds, the bird looks much like a whole bagged fryer you might find at the supermarket.  The only difference was that the fat was a darker color and therefore the taste was much better.  The Freedom Ranger is an older style breed (think heritage or heirloom).  The Freedom Ranger was much more active, scratching and foraging for bugs and eating grass.  The benefits of the Freedom Ranger were evident very early as they began jumping and trying to fly at three weeks of age.  The Freedom Rangers take a little longer to reach maturity, at ten weeks.  These birds were smaller in the end and it showed after processing.  Mortality is explained in detail below, but in reference to breeds, we lost 6 Cornish Crosses to every Freedom Ranger lost which is a testament to the Freedom Ranger’s heartiness and survivability.  The 4.5 pound average bird’s fat was darker yellow and more abundant than the Cornish.  It was hard to taste the difference, but decided that we only want to raise Freedom Rangers in the future. 

Sickness and Mortality
You are going to have losses.  It has been said that 5-8% is an acceptable mortality rate.  Mine was much higher, more like (embarrassingly) 14%.  There are two primary reasons and all have to do with feed and water: cleanliness and availability.  You have to be a stickler about keeping the waterers clean as feed and dirt can build up.  When this happens, especially in the brooder phase, the chicks will begin to get diarrhea.  I read that diarrhea in chicks can be treated with raw milk from your local dairy.  I was amazed at how well that worked.  In fact, when I needed to treat a batch with raw milk, I just treated all batches whether or not they had diarrhea.  The health benefits of having raw milk fed to the chickens (and all animals and humans as well) are well documented.  I won’t go any further, because the Weston Price Foundation has done so well at explaining at their web site, Real Milk.  Thanks to this treatment, I never lost a chick in the brooder. 

There was an occasion where we had a really hot spell while I was traveling.  My substitute caretaker let the water run out accidentally and several birds died in one day.  Chickens have very small bodies and therefore small reserves.  They cannot go for any length of time without food or water.  I should add that most of the death loss I experienced were Cornish Cross.  I only lost two or three Freedom Rangers. 

And then there was the hawk.  I lost one chicken to a hawk and it scared me half to death because I walked right up on him in the act.  He was on the other side of the pen as I approached, so we didn’t see or hear each other and both of us were startled.  He got one chicken and pulled it part way under the pen.  The ten foot long bottom piece had bridged right over a small gulley which must have been right where the chicken was sitting.  It was along the roofed and sided section as well, so the chicken couldn’t see as the hawk stood next to the cage.  Lesson learned: use small pieces of wood and wedge them under the sides of the pen so that there are no ways in or out of that pen.  A few days later the hawk returned.  I was in the house but was alerted because the smaller birds (swallows, bluebirds, red wing black birds, etc.) were making quite a ruckus.  I pair of shotgun blasts into the air sent the message to the hawk clearly (I was intentionally not aiming at him, just wanted to scare him off).  I didn’t see him back for another month.  Another shot over the bow served as his reminder to scram. 

Financial
Total Variable Costs were as follows:
$323.25  Chicks Delivered
$928.17  Feed
$32.98 Bedding (wood shavings)
$195.00  Processing

Starting with 150 (75 Cornish and 75 Freedom Rangers) birds, but only ending up with around 130 to eat and sell, this makes the cost per (5 pound average) bird $2.28 per pound.  Consider that you can find fryers on sale in the grocery store (of poor quality, suspect cleanliness and marginal nourishment) for $0.95 then it seems like it might not make financial sense.  However, we were able to sell most of the birds for $4.00 per pound and nobody balked at the price because they were educated about the quality of food they were getting.  The ones we didn’t sell were eaten, or course.  I should clarify, though:  We intentionally didn’t sell all of the birds, because we wanted to eat a bunch of them.  The birds we sold paid for the rest, as well as covering the structural costs too.  Cost of chicks can vary a lot too.  I wanted to work in small batches because it was all so new to me, receiving 25 birds a week for 6 weeks.  If you were to do one large batch, you get better rates from the hatchery as well as some shipping savings. 

Total Fixed Costs were as follows:
$200 per field pen (this is an approximation, and is conservatively set a little high – you could do better than this)
$120 for waterers and parts (Plasson Bell waterers purchased on eBay)
$40 plywood to make brooder

It should be noted that you could lower feed costs if you opt for lesser quality feed.  I only used the best Fertrell Poultry Nutri Balancer minerals, etc. but there are ways to do this less expensively.  In fact, Harvey Ussery explains it very well on his web site The Modern Homestead.  He stopped using mineral supplements and is growing most or all of the food his chickens eat now.  I plan to research this further.  He does this with his laying hens, but I wonder what you could do to increase the protein level to the point where you could finish broilers on a home grown ration.  There are lots of ideas, like feeding earthworms from your vermi-composting operation to the maggots-from-a-bucket-of-roadkill idea. 

Another concept I like a lot from Harvey’s web site is breeding your own poultry.  There’s no better brooder than mama.  As long as you have hearty old world breeds which are dual purpose excelling in both egg and meat production you can raise your own chickens indefinitely.  Again, this is referring to laying hens, but mother nature ensures that the male/female is close to 50/50.  The females will become layer replacements and the males will be broilers for the dinner table.  You don’t need a large flock at all to do this on your own. 

Processing
Now the real fun can begin.  Yes, processing is bloody and it is gross.  I was secretly a little worried that I was going to pass out, but it’s really not all that bad.  We paid a neighbor who had all of the equipment and we all helped out to learn the process.  Several hours elapsed before 6 of us had 50 birds done and cooling in an ice water bath.  It was because we were beginners and learning.  With the proper equipment and a well trained crew, its nothing to churn through 100 birds per hour.  I’ve only read that and not seen it. 

This winter I’m busy building a Whizbang Plucker in the garage.  I got the book on Amazon and then discovered that the author, Herrick Kimball, has a web site called The Deliberate Agrarian with tons of helpful material.  There are several other great books on how to build your own homestead equipment that Herrick has written and I have purchased.  The chicken plucker will end up costing me less than half of what a commercially built model would be, and it’s a great project for the winter. 

Conclusion
This summer was a ton of fun and my wife and I plan on doing it again.  We have also decided recently that we should put together a blog to share our experiences with the world.  I will go into further detail on all of these topics and hope it encourages more discussion and sharing of ideas.  Our blog is called His And Hers Homesteading.  Bear with us, as we’re new and figuring it all out. 

Resources
Pastured Poultry Profits by Joel Salatin – this is where you start.  It’s a classic and a must read for anyone wanting to raise their own chickens.  Also read this book to better understand my above comment about being wary of chicken from the grocery store. 
Raising Poultry on Pasture: Ten Years of Success by Jody Padgham – this is a compilation of stories from their newsletters and is incredibly helpful in answering questions and explaining how to do things. The ideas discussed here are very practical and helped me a lot with troubleshooting. 
Freedom Ranger Hatchery – this is where you can buy the Freedom Rangers I used and loved so much.

Letter Re: Clothing for Long-Term Scenarios

Mr. Rawles,

First let me say how much I enjoyed your novel “Patriots“, I have read it three times now and am eagerly awaiting its planned sequels.

I just wanted to mention/remind your readers as to the importance of sturdy clothing in a “Grid Gone” scenario. It is my belief our clothing (very taken for granted) will suddenly become an extremely important part of life and not just “frosting on the cake” so to speak. I was reminded of this when I had a yard sale one day and a woman from an ex-soviet satellite country arrived as an “early bird”, she was returning to her country and was buying up all our used clothing and even bought a couple of used suitcases to put it in. (I consider yard sales more  for recycling rather than a money making event) The best we could surmise from her broken English was that clothing was at an extreme premium in her county and could be resold, traded or worn. New clothing was just something that was purchased on occasion since most money went to food and shelter.

“Grid Gone” means hard physical work every day, which will be very tough on clothing . Although Mil-Spec uniforms are tough, resilient clothing that I highly recommend, I have found another source of clothing that has spawned some interest. “Fire Hose” cotton canvas, the same that is used to wrap around fire hoses. I have been purchasing some clothing made of this material and have found it to be quite tough in my outdoor activities, and very easy to repair (if you can rip it) due to its tight weave. The DuluthTrading Company  has some good quality clothing made of this material at a reasonable price.

A couple pairs of pants, shorts, coats and vests made of this material and tucked away may prove to be a valuable resource. (Note: this material is not light weight, the coats and jackets can be real “hanger benders”) I am also looking into finding a supplier of this material in bulk as I believe it would make a great shelter and utility material also. Look forward to survival blog every day. Thanks, – Big Mike in Pennsylvania

Economics and Investing:

Life imitates art, right down to the terminology: ‘Doubling Up’ in Recession-Strained Quarters. (Thanks to Shawn M. for the link.)

Bailed Out Banks on Brink of Bankruptcy — Again

John R. sent these two items by Dave Cohen: Borrow Like There’s No Tomorrow  and The Debt Countdown Begins    

Rosenberg: Housing Double-Dip Straight Ahead

Items from The Economatrix:

After Holiday Spree, Doubts About Economy Linger  

Two Charts Which Tell The Whole Story  

Open Interest In Silver Continues To Rise / Troubles In Major US Cities  

Silver Is The Biggest Sleeper Of All  

$500 Silver And Imminent Price Explosion  

Odds ‘n Sods:

As we near the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Army’s adoption of the Colt Model 1911 pistol, we should remember: The U.S. M1911 & The Medal of Honor. OBTW, the article begins with mention of my grandfather Ernest E. Rawles‘s friend, Frank Luke. They were mountain climbing buddies in Arizona, circa 1916. But FWIW, several accounts mention Luke being armed with a revolver rather than a .45 automatic.

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Matthew B. suggested a winter storm article that illustrates a great reason to be as prepared as possible and not rely on “the system” to take care of you.

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Water chaos affects thousands in Northern Ireland – Thousands of homes and businesses in Northern Ireland are still without water, some since before Christmas.

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G.G. recommend this op-ed piece by Doyle McManus: Surviving terrorism. “Californians know what to do in an earthquake, and Kansans know what to do in a tornado, but the U.S. as a whole is prepared only to overreact to even a small act of terrorism.”

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent of the people. The streams of national power ought to flow from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority." – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 22, December 14, 1787

Two Letters Re: The Legalities of Preparedness

Jim: 

Like Ed S. I purchased several rolls of new razor wire to string up in case of a sudden rash of nearby home invasions.  I bought it on eBay along with some used razor wire gloves (they have steel in the palms and digits) to enable speedy deployment without losing a lot of blood.  At the farm supply store I bought a couple boxes of hog rings and some hog ring pliers, as well as some small steel conduit straps and a box of screws for mounting the deployed razor wire.  (Two or more parallel coils can be joined together with the hog rings.) 

I knew there was a local ordinance against installing razor wire, plus its very presence suggests there is something worth stealing on the other side.  While it may discourage the petty thief it might also encourage assault by a criminal gang.  If I were such a gang member, I would think of ways to breach the barrier, possibly by teargas or home-made chlorine gas bombs to drive out or kill the occupants.  One partial solution to both problems, but rather like having a porcupine for a house pet, is to deploy the coils inside the home. A thief inspecting a potential entry point might reconsider after spotting the razor wire, yet it would not be visible from the street for neighborhood snoops or criminal gangs to notice. [JWR Adds: This would also shield the home owner from many lawsuits. Any pain or injury-inflicting obstacle set up outside could a best be considered an “atractive nuisance”, or at worst intentional mayhem, with a six-figure+ lawsuit likely in many First World nations.]

I also stocked up on heavy steel stake holders to serve as door bar brackets and lag screws for mounting them.  I would remove the inside door casing and mount one set low and one set high, sinking the lag screws into the house framing and running a 2×4 wooden bar through each set.  I also bought two extra hinges for each exterior door that I can mortise into the door and the jamb and secure with long screws. 

Finally, after devising this solution for a friend’s rental properties that had twice been broken into by someone kicking in the doorand breaking the jamb, I bought two lengths of heavy angle iron to shape (I used a reciprocating saw with metal blades and cutting oil, then drilled holes for screws) and recess into the sheetrock, the door jamb, and the door casing, each secured with five long, heavy timber screws. Very unobtrusive once the casing was gouged out for the srew heads, reinstalled, and some wood filler and paint was applied.  They serve as a stop for the striker and deadbolt, and hopefully as a foot-breaker for the karate-kick thief’s next attempt.

These survive-in-place precautions should really be considered only slow-down measures, allowing you time to grab guns and take aim or begin firing, depending on the circumstances.  Once they enter the residence they are fair game in most jurisdictions.  If the very term jurisdiction has been made meaningless by civil breakdown, I wouldn’t be much concerned with satisfying legal threshholds.

(The aforementioned product links are intended solely as examples and not recommended or endorsed by me.) – Jim in New Hampshire

 

Mr. Rawles:
First one should look to state,  city , county laws and ordinances about restrictions on the use for residential usage and commercial usage on razor wire,  fencing materials,  height of fencing,  distances from property lines and road ways,  etc..   For razor wire or barbed wire, think of it  this way — if one’s space is assaulted by an intruder might the party get injured by not being aware of the system.  If so,  consider whether your efforts to protect yourself,  your family, and your property would be viewed by an attorney with a whinny injured thug client as a booby trap.  Booby traps are deemed a ‘no-no’.   Consider the placement of your home security items,  if say a kid came wondering into your space and fell into say the razor wire.  Is it low enough for the child to get injured?  If yes, come up with a better plan or location.    Think things through about how a stupid person might injure themselves — your neighbor down the street comes by and grabs hold of your low level razor wire.   Think ahead and plan for stupid people just suddenly showing up on your property.   Do you have pets such as dogs or cats that might leap on the razor or barbed wire and injure themselves?  Had a friend whose dog recently met up with some new barbed wire and within 12 hours the dog had a life threatening body infection.  Dog was taken to the pet emergency center and placed on two weeks of antibiotics.

Second,  yes,  security grills can be a sign for law enforcement to put your dwelling on a possible naughty list.  But typically that means that the dwelling is ‘out of place’ with its neighbors and/or not well maintained property.   In one of the communities that I lived most homes had security grill on their doors and windows.   In another place I lived,  I tried to get them for my doors only to have people raise an eye brow that ‘no one’ has such things in our safe little town.   Security grills around a home that is landscaped and /or well maintained is not as likely to get one on the suspect list just because one has opted for personal security.

Dog signs:  it took me a long time but I found signs that simply state “dogs on premises’.  I am hoping that it doesn’t carry the same dreaded notice of “Beware of Dogs”.    I have several dogs and my notice is so that anyone who might open my gates might think to close them so I don’t lose my pets.    And, it gives notices to those who are allergic to dogs to be aware that if they enter my property there are dogs present.    Years ago when I could not find a “Dogs on Premises” sign,  I bought “beware of dogs’ signs and cut off the “beware of” portion before posting them on my fence.

Security should be consider the current restrictions and work as well to blend in those security options that are legal to exercise in one’s area.    Landscaping is a great time to start building in security items — repainting the house might be the time to add those security grills.   

Think of your safety from thugs and plan for what if a stupid person/neighbor comes upon your place and falls or trips on your security system.

Always planning for Stupid People, – Cynthia W.

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 32 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will 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 $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady TAP FPD 2-3/4″ OO buckshot ammo, courtesy of Sunflower Ammo (a $240 value), and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) 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 $400, B.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and C.) 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.) , and B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value.

Round 32 ends on January 31st, 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.

Spreading the Word–Working Toward a Community Food Reserve, by Rex C.

“No man is an island…” – John Donne

Readers of SurvivalBlog.com tend to have an independent streak, and our attitudes toward preparedness and degrees of readiness vary accordingly. Some of us have unplugged from the grid and are completely self-reliant, many have dreams of doing so at some point, while some of us are a little behind the curve and playing catch-up. Others are new to the field and are making what preparations they can in their current circumstances. Whatever our individual temperament, most of us are members of a community–a church, a neighborhood, an extended family–and we need to take that into account in making our own preparations.  Reaching out to others to “spread the word” of preparedness is an obligation that each of us has if we truly care about our neighbors and our country. Although it may be easier said than done, spreading the word is part of preparedness. Whatever scenario for hard times seems most probable to you, most of us will not be in it alone. 

Many past blog postings have touched on the idea of community, from tips on selecting a retreat site to choosing a skill which may be marketable in the chosen area. In this article, I’d like to take that a step further and suggest a way to move a whole community toward a higher level of preparedness, along with the approach I’ve taken with my own friends and neighbors. Many of you prefer to keep a low profile and won’t like my ideas. I respect that, and the decision is yours. But at least think it over.

If you’re a long-time reader, you certainly are familiar with food preservation and storage, and probably have already put away a supply of food and other necessities for yourself and your family.  Many of you have thought ahead enough to realize that most of your relatives and friends are not prepared, and–to the extent you are able–you may have put away additional supplies for the purpose of helping others. Maybe you have talked to friends and neighbors about preparedness and urged them to take steps to care for themselves and their families. Hopefully, you got a favorable response or an expression of interest, or at least started them thinking or motivated them to assess their situation.

Consider speaking to your church, social club, or other organization about the virtues of preparedness. Choose your words carefully; keep your own Operational Security in mind, and tailor your comments to your audience. TEOTWAWKI scenarios may be too much for some people to absorb in the first conversation. Someone who is unemployed or in danger of losing his job may be unwilling to use some of his dwindling resources to get ready in case the situation gets even worse. But someone who is relatively well-off might be in a position to make preparations for many relatives and friends, as well as for himself. Give them advice appropriate to their situation, and help if you can. Remember also that some otherwise intelligent people will not even acknowledge the possibility of a deeper economic downturn, let alone an outright financial collapse or other disaster scenario. Giving such people details of your own preparations to show them you’re serious will not impress them and is not worth the risk! 

As a member of a major charitable organization, I recently gave a presentation to our local chapter on general preparedness, with emphasis on maintaining a well-stocked pantry. The majority of our members are successful business people, active in their churches, and many are members or officers of other charities. They are a generous and public-spirited group, but it has probably been a long time since any of them really had to do without the necessities of life. My presentation was planned with that in mind.

I asked, “How many of you have a spare tire in your car?” Most responded that they did. Then, “How many of you have had a flat tire on the road recently, and actually had to change it yourself?” There was only one person who had, a man who also had discovered at that very inconvenient time that his spare tire was flat! My point was that we prepare for things such as flat tires, which are definitely possible but don’t happen all that often, and that most of us have become accustomed to a support network, often consisting of a cell phone, with help a short distance away. Tires are pretty reliable these days, but nobody laughs at you for having a spare tire in your trunk. “By the way,” I asked, “how many of you have recently checked the air in your spare?” Only one hand was raised, by the man who had learned his lesson the hard way!

My presentation continued with a bit of show and tell, showing off my own home-canned fruit (canning is a legal, non-threatening activity familiar to this audience). I asked how many members of the audience knew how to can their own fruit and vegetables. This being an older crowd, in a small town in a mostly rural area, many people raised their hands. I then asked how many had taught their children and grandchildren to can food at home, and only a few raised their hands. Some shook their heads, and one woman said she would do so if she could get them to pay attention. “How many even know somebody in their twenties or thirties who preserves their own food?” I asked. Very few hands were raised in response. The ensuing discussion made the point that most of us have become dependent on food produced and processed hundreds of miles away, and that we are therefore very vulnerable to any disruption of supply.

To illustrate the point that preparedness is not really out of the mainstream, I distributed information taken from the government’s web site,  including their checklist for family preparedness which recommends a three-day supply of food, water, and other necessities for every member of the family.  Most of us know that three days’ worth of supplies is woefully inadequate, especially in the event of a major storm or other catastrophe affecting a large area. In such a situation, the folks at FEMA may have their hands full. They may not get around to you for quite a while, and you may not even be able to depend on neighboring communities for help.

To point out some options for those unable to grow and preserve their own food, I recommended buying in bulk and slowly accumulating a supply of “store-bought” food, starting with three days’ worth and expanding from there. This included a brief mention of rotating your stock. Remember to keep it simple so that the listener is not overwhelmed with detail. Just tell them to note the expiration dates marked on most food packages, use the older items first and place the new ones at the back of the pantry. I also handed out a product brochure from a well-established preparedness supply company which had given me several dozen copies free of charge (no doubt they appreciated my use of their catalog, but I made it clear to them and to my audience that I was not selling anything; the brochure was simply a good representation of the preparedness market and the supplies available. I also provided the names and web addresses of several other firms.)

A quick look at the brochure revealed that one can spend a lot of money on preparedness in a very short time. The bright side is that–at least with respect to food–the money will not be wasted. If you buy foods that you normally use, just in larger quantities, all you are doing is getting your groceries early; you’d have to buy the food some time anyway, and probably at a higher price. The key is to buy more than you normally would, build up a stockpile over a period of time, and rotate it.

The final point in my presentation was targeted at this particular audience–decent, fairly well-to-do, generous people. They were well aware that hard economic times put additional stress on existing charitable organizations. Food pantries and soup kitchens have more people needing their help at the same time fewer people are able to donate. Suppose your community is hard-hit by the economic downturn. You look at your own situation and see that you are still relatively well off; you still have your job, and your family’s situation is fairly secure. At the same time, you see that your pantry has many items nearing their expiration dates. You will be able to donate to a local food pantry, church, or to a neighbor when few others can. Suppose that you’ve purchased a one-year food supply from one of the preparedness companies. That’s a year’s worth of food for one person, or a month’s supply for twelve people, should you have to help out a dozen or so friends or relatives. (The one-year food supply is, of course, an idea well-known to members of the Mormon Church, and I’d like to see every religious and social organization in the country take up the practice of urging their members to stock up.)

Taking the idea one step further, a year’s supply equals 52 week’s worth of food for one person, or a week of food for 52 people. In a county like mine, with about 20,000 people, suppose a hundred of them managed to acquire a one-year supply. That’s a week’s worth of food for 5,200 people. Imagine a severe catastrophe, with many people affected locally or with refugees flooding in from outside. Imagine being able to feed 5,200 people for a week, while FEMA is still in Washington writing memos! Apply this formula to your own community. Now, imagine thousands of churches and civic organizations all over the country urging their members to do the same thing. Preparation on that scale could make a huge difference in the ability of the country to respond to another 9-11, or a major natural catastrophe.

This idea, which I called simply the Community Food Reserve, seemed to strike a chord with my audience. Many approached me after the presentation and seemed interested in pursuing the idea. I did not present it as a project for the organization or for local government, but as a step that the members might take as individuals. There would be nobody keeping a central inventory, nobody keeping track of who participated and who did not. Which families maintained a food reserve, how much food they had, and whether they donated to others would be a private matter for individuals and families to decide.

Talk to your neighbors, your church, your club, your hunting buddies. Speak to them as a friend. Don’t force your politics on them, don’t argue, remember OPSEC and don’t brag about the steps you’ve already taken. Don’t be pushy, just make them think. We’re all in this together.

About The Author: Rex C. is a semi-retired security consultant who lives on an increasingly-self-sufficient farm in the Appalachian Mountains.)

Letter Re: The Legalities of Preparedness

James,  
I have been looking at various posting all across the spectrum of prepping and I haven’t seen anyone mention being legal in their preparations. Here’s what brought this to mind. I recently purchased six rolls of brand new, never used razor wire. I’m not sure how many SurvivalBlog readers have military/police/corrections backgrounds. If you have fooled with the stuff, you know to be careful. If you haven’t, I’d suggest looking for something easier.  I strung a single strand around my backyard on three sides, just below the level of the four foot tall chain link that surrounds my property. Anyone climbing over the fence would get a surprise if they weren’t careful. I’m a police officer in an adjoining town (from where I live) and the locals know me. A few days after completion of my project one of the uniforms was stopped at my house shooting the breeze and he says “you know you cant use that stuff on a fence less that six feet high?” Seems there are some obscure ordinances buried in the books that say just that. Even inside my fence like it is, I’m subject to fines and civil penalties (being sued by some miscreant who gets hung up on my side of the fence is plausible)  

I removed the offending wire but the episode started me to thinking. When the authorities moved the old man off his property awhile back for “breaking too many regulations” I said that being off the grid may not be enough. How many of us have made preparations that could/would run us afoul of some local bureaucrat?How did that old man pop up on the radar of the local officials? What are the signs and tip-offs that they look for? Why would a Child Protective Services inspector ask about storing food in a home inspection interview? (Another story I saw recently.) Will it be getting worse in the upcoming days?  

I did some digging and I found several “indicators” that the new breed of spies have been told to look for.   Fences, security cameras, restricted access to property (other than fences) Beware of Dog signs (really, you actually set yourself up for a lawsuit by posting such a sign because it indicates you know your dog may bite), certain breeds of dogs (meth cookers love Pitbulls, but every time any sort of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is proposed about Pitbulls, after every liberal with zero knowledge about dogs is through adding his/her two cents worth, every large breed in the book is on the list) so they look also look for Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, etc) other signs such as “Never mind the Dog, Beware of Owner”, security bars and doors, and other things that seem so harmless and needed to many of us, especially nowadays.   I got this information from a friend in our State Narcotics Agency who was describing how to spot a Clandestine Meth Lab. I told him “do you know you pretty much described my house?” He thought I was joking until I started pointing out the other uses those items may have. My talk with him in no way changed his mind on his List but the conversation really got to me.  

Someone, somewhere, has taken the time to make a list of indicators of activity that most certainly will get someone who thinks like us onto a list of possible suspects. Our US Attorney General, in cahoots with the DHS, has already started a program to demonize anyone who doesn’t follow the Lemming Mentality, or thinks outside the box on issues.   Is there any way to get around this problem? One way that I can think of is make darn sure our preparations are really hidden, not just veiled. As I mentioned above, a chance inspection by a busy-body Child Protective Services inspector, going what most would consider way beyond her authority, most certainly got that parent listed on some sort of roster of people to watch. Just for storing food, as our very own Government, her employer, recommends us to do. How many more of these “innocent” prying eyes are out there, watching and waiting to inform on someone?   I cannot, in good conscience, recommend taking down whatever security preparations you might have made. I pass mine off as having made enemies in a long Law Enforcement career. I did make some changes in the way I have my stuff stored.  

We are entering a new phase in the definition of Citizenship in this country and we are being bombarded every day with messages to “watch out” for suspicious activity and to inform on our neighbors. As innocent as prepping is, the act itself is on the way to being outlawed, or at least closely monitored. And being on one of those lists makes you a target for anyone wanting your stuff “for the greater good”.   Now, even more than ever, we need to exercise the utmost caution.   – Ed S.

JWR Replies: I agree that it is important to research your state and local laws. But in the absence of laws, don’t feel intimidated by social pressure, or those “Oh, but they might someday make it illegal” thoughts. We must remember that we are free men and women, and consequently act like it. This is not the time to cower and quiver. Yes, we should make substantive preparations, and be circumspect. It is great to stock up on concertina or razor wire. However, depending on where you live it probably isn’t wise to string it up until the Balloon Goes Up.

Lastly, keep in mind that the continuity of our rights is dependent on their regular exercise. I pointed this out in the closing chapter of my novel “Patriots”: Much like a muscle that atrophies with disuse, any right that goes unexercised for many years devolves into a privilege, and eventually can even be redefined as a crime. Open carry of firearms is prime example.

Economics and Investing:

And Now, Here’s The First 11 State Pension Funds That Will Run Out Of Money. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)

Reader Jonathan C. pointed us to this: Outraged Yet? What if Fed Buys Munis? (I suspect that the MOAB will end only at the point of national bankruptcy and collapse of the U.S. Dollar.)

Items from The Economatrix:

Stocks Flat as Wall Street Shrugs Off China Rate Move  

Oil Holds at $91 Per Barrel  

East Coast Blizzard Chills End of US Holiday Shopping Season  

Second Crisis Feared if Interest Rates Kept Low  

US Changes How It Measures Long-Term Unemployment  

Consumer Confidence Shows Surprise Drop In December  

Oil Prices Climb On US, European Weather Woes  

Odds ‘n Sods:

Leah mentioned a new Yahoo list says that foraging is a top 10 food prediction for the upcoming year.  They even have a link to a Philadelphia Food Harvest Map which has locations for many private properties. 

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SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson pointed us to a site that describes some PVC “Spud Gun” projects that might have some utility WTSHTF.

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C.D.V. pointed us to the web site of a gent who made a bet that he could eat well on $1 a day. He’d only learned about couponing five months before. C.D.V. notes: “This is a great way to build supplies, though I can’t see this working post-SHTF.”