Jim’s Quote of the Day (230 Years Ago, Today):

"The hour is fast approaching, on which the Honor and Success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding Country depend. Remember officers and Soldiers, that you are Freemen, fighting for the blessings of Liberty – that slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men." – George Washington (General Orders, 23 August, 1776)

Four Letters Re: Uses for CONEXes at a Retreat

James:
We used some CONEXes to build a workshop. We built a wall halfway down the box with a door in it, insulated the front half, and put in power and air conditioning. It works fine, [but] the back half gets really, really hot. I’d recommend painting the container a heat reflecting color, try to put it under some trees out of direct sunlight, build some kind of roof over it or something to cut the heat like trellis planted with vines. We use the Rough Neck RV roof mounted air conditioners. I would recommend cutting a hole in the side and mounting a regular window mount air conditioning unit. – Mosby

 

Jim:
The main site for the use of buried ConEX containers for survival purposes is Undergroundcontainer.com/. It is also fun to see other this that have done with these such as housing like at this British site or this one in New Zealand or this “fabprefab.co” site in the U.S. They are also used warehousing. See “a warehouse on wheels” and this site in New Zealand. Also remember, this idea isn’t completely new, people have been using other means such as culvert (as suggested at Walton Feed) and old school busses. All in all, ConEx containers seem to be a good choice.

Following the teachings of Mike Oehler (also a survivalist at heart) – I think it is important to keep in mind that flat roofs leak, especially if buried. Therefore, keeping in mind the weight limitations (dirt and by 30 to 114 pounds per cubic foot depending upon makeup and moisture), you should put down hard insulation foam board, plastic or rubber roof over it and drape all the way over the edge and down and out, the put down some clean (nothing sharp to puncture) dirt on top, maybe 18 inches in the center and 6 inches on the side creating a pitch – and then plastic over that. Now put the final dirt over that again, leaving at least a slight pitch as ground level for drainage away from the center of the underground structure. Your uppermost plastic sheet (or rubber roof material) should fan out at least 3 feet past the sides of buried structure to get water further away from it. Remember, with a 40’ footer (and get the hi-cube variety if you can) – you may need to brace with the weight at the center as these were not made to be buried, they were made to be stacked – so the strength is in the corners. This is all done presuming the area you put it drains well – and is not in a floodplain or in any danger of flooding. The one thing an underground bunker can not protect you from is a flood.

As for cutting them open and making modifications, joining them, just like with a steel building or pole barns, cut straight, and cover edges with “C” channel, and then secure (probably weld in this case) and seal water and weather tight with silicone or whatever works for you. I have thought about making mobile homes on steroids this way as well. However, there is a lot of steel work involved and I personally lack the skills, equipment, etc. Still – there may be economic opportunity here for someone who has an “in” to make this work. Here’s the idea – since ConEx containers stack – put one down to be your basement or cellar, and put the next one, the ground level mobile home right on top of it. You still move the upper one and put another one in its place (but it might take a crane). Secure the upper one to the lower one with cables, etc., so that extreme forces will not separate the two, no matter what. Maybe even weld them together at the corners. The amount of work to cut in windows, and insulate is substantial though – but look what you would get – a mobile home that would be the last or only one standing after that tornado, or whatever else comes through, with a storage basement. Note that a standard stairwell is a space killer in tight areas – you may want external main entry and a simple latter an hatch in a closet for emergencies. Note, you could even earth berm up to the bottom of the windows of the upper unit, and then put a little insulation and siding over the exposed parts, and still have an earth roof on it. This could make for a great cheap retreat. – Rourke

 

Sir:
There are some really architectural and elegant solutions using these containers for homes on this site. There are also many other pre-fab ideas that are fertile ground and food for thought in retreat building throughout this very creative site. Many ideals are very thrifty and unusual architectural uses of common materials. Jim, please keep up the impeccable work and folks, if you are reading this, please sign up for the Ten Cent Challenge! Really… I’m serious! – ANETPROPHET

 

Jim:
Here are two good sites with info/photos and ideas for modifications of shipping containers to be used as housing or storage.
Containerbay: Database of various conceptual projects or real world examples.
Global Portable Buildings Inc.: Supplier of pre-modified units, good pics and info on various options…
Regards, – S.H.

Letter Re: Canned Coffee Beans

Hi Jim
I have gone through the “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course twice now and find it to be very good data and will be using it extensively in my preps.

Since I am a coffee drinker, I started thinking about how I could store coffee and where I could purchase whole beans in cans. I then thought of a friend of mine that owns a espresso cafe that I go to daily
and it turns out that for her espresso and espresso drinks, she uses Illy coffee from Italy. Illy is about as good as it gets and it turns out that she buys it in 6.5 lb nitrogen packed cans that come with a
screw-in top. The stuff lasts for years. They also pack it in a much smaller can, around 14 oz, but it is not sealed nearly as well as the large can. I will be placing an order with her for my coffee beans.

I told her about your blog and she said that she would be happy to take orders by e-mail. Her name is Janice Cooper and her e-mail address is caffecoop@aol.com Illy is not cheap, but it is one of the
best espresso roasts that you can get. I have no financial connection with this business, other than I patronize it regularly.

I also drink a lot of tea and I have found the best place to get good, cheap tea in cans is Chinese grocery stores. The tins are not airtight, but I imagine that they could be sealed with paraffin or repacked with nitrogen or oxygen absorbers. I have had tea, packed like this, for years and the flavor keeps very well. Thanks, – Kurt

Odds ‘n Sods:

Mark Steyn in Australia comments on global demographics: It’s breeding obvious, mate.

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Regarding the recent question on Ethanol blends long term storage–here is part of the answer. SurvivalBlog reader Shawnee contacted the makers of PRI-G gas stabilizer to ask about how it works with ethanol blends. This was their reply: “Our initial experience with ethanol blended gasoline has been very positive. PRI-G not only provides enhanced stability to the blend, but protects on lubricating value as well.”

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The USDA has not replied to the query about small farmers and NAIS submitted by Walter Jefferies of NoNAIS.org. It has been four months since he sent it in.

Two Letters Re: The Ethanol Debate

Jim:
Regarding the following snippet in Odds ‘n Sods:

As quoted by our friend Bill Bonner at The Daily Reckoning: writing in Fortune magazine, Lester Brown notes that ethanol is not only a waste of money, if taken up widely, it would actually mean starvation for many of the world’s poor people. “The grain required to fill a 25-gallon tank (with ethanol) would feed one person for a year,” Brown writes.

I was under this impression too. Don’t get me wrong I think its a waste of time and resources, but ethanol doesn’t have to be [derived from] the grain. Ethanol can be made from the stalks and leavings AFTER grain harvesting. I don’t have any resource to direct you to as I can’t remember where I read it. Sorry 🙁 I do remember also….to compensate for the oil from ONE refinery, you would need an area a little bigger than Texas committed to growing said ethanol crops. So if you do the math every field in America would be needed almost committed to said
function for [the replacement of the output of] all the oil refineries that we have. – Cruzan

 

Mr Rawles:
Making ethanol from corn uses the starch of the grain but leaves the oil and the protein, so “starvation” isn’t really as much of an issue as some make it out to be. Regards, – Jim K.

#1 Son Replies: There is some interesting research going on, using enzymes produced by microbes living in the digestive system of termites to turn cellulose (wood, straw, etc.) into sugars that could be used for making ethanol. See this article in Wired News.

Letter Re: An Amazing Tale of Survival: Nine Months Adrift in the Pacific

Dear Jim,
I think this would be a good story to link to on SurvivalBlog. Three fishermen survived on a 25 foot boat for nine months at sea, doing drastic things to ensure their survival. Two of the men on the boat died because they didn’t have the will to live (there were originally five on the boat.) As a sea kayaker who takes safety very seriously, it is a sobering story. Take care, – C.R.

Two Letters Re: EpiPen–Another Item for the Retreat Medical Kit

Sir,
Excellent advice on the EpiPen, but its worth mentioning an adequate stock of Benadryl should also be on hand. The EpiPen treats the symptoms of anaphylactic shock but Benadryl or a similar antihistamine will treat the cause. (Which is of particular importance if a doctor is not available.) Bee stings are the most common culprit for anaphylaxis, but it can also be caused by food allergies, latex allergies, and others. Here is a site with some information on Benadryl, side effects and administration instructions Respectfully, – Patrick R

 

Jim:

Epi can kill if not used correctly. The key issue is understanding WHEN to administer. Most folks don’t understand anaphylaxis, which is what can kill someone who is allergic to bee stings. I hear a lot of people say, “I’m allergic to bee stings!”, but when I question them I find that their symptoms are not consistent with anaphylaxis. I.E. they are not really allergic reactions. In these cases use of EpiPen would be contraindicated.

Also, the commercially available EpiPens come in two prescription strengths — one suited for an adult; one for a small child. Giving the wrong one could be unproductive at best and fatal at worst. Hope this helps. – The Northwest EMT

Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader “Desert T” notes: “I came across this item at the Smith & Wesson web site while researching something else. Rather steep price, but I found the marketing strategy interesting.” JWR Adds: Just the ticket for traipsing around Alaska.

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I recently heard about an interesting vendor called Civil Defense Supplies. They stock and eclectic line of storage food, first aid gear, commo gear, night vision gear, 72 Hour Kits, and so forth. I should mention, however, that I have not yet done business with them.

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Reader Sid near Niagara Falls spotted a unique folding–well, actually collapsing–bike. He noted: “I don’t know how this one stacks up against the other folding/compact bikes, but here is a link to one I haven’t seen ’til now.” JWR Adds: You will note that these bikes are being sold by Safecastle (one of our loyal advertisers), a firm with a sterling reputation and great customer service. They sell great products and they stand behind what they sell.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Some people live in the present, oblivious of the past and blind to the future.
Some dwell in the past.
A very few have the knack of applying the past to the present in ways that show them the future.
Great leaders have this knack." – Richard M. Nixon

Letter Re: Retreat Locale Recommendations in Texas

James
A couple of comments about K.A.D.’s Retreat Locales in Texas. (posted August 17th.) I largely concur with his well thought-out findings, though the recommended counties in the Hill Country such as Gillespie and Kerr have seen a huge increase in population in recent years, along with corresponding increases in land prices. A much better area, in my view, is further north and west, with far lower populations. But water is key in any part of the state west of I-35; with it, the area approaches ideal; without it, you’ll find yourself living in a desert. There are springs, but they’re fairly rare and often seasonal, especially in a drought like the current one. A good well is essential and much easier to find. Powered by solar or a generator gives you reliable water, and this part of the state has fertile soil in the bottomlands, a relatively mild climate, wild edibles such as pecan and walnut, abundant game and livestock, and self-reliant neighbors who believe in minding their own business (the neighbors also believe in pitching in and solving problems when someone seriously needs help, as witnessed by our local volunteer fire dept with over a hundred members, and this in a county with less than 5000 total population).
But you need to be multi-talented and tough to live here, for you’ll largely have to solve your own plumbing/electrical/fencing/livestock/home defense/varmint/vehicle issues on your own, which is as it should be. Those expecting to have quick, inexpensive assistance for every inconvenience need not apply. – J.H.

Two Letters Re: “Ural” Russian Motorcycles with Sidecars

Jim,
I have been riding BMW motorcycles for about 10 years. I have seen a few of those Urals around, and every one with first hand knowledge says they are not as dependable as the Beemers. But– the design is pretty simple, and they are not hard to work on. My Beemer has 86 K miles on it, and I had to replace a starter, and a coil. That’s it.
I guess the big question with the Ural is, does it have points ignition, or electronic?
This would be my first concern, now.
I have been entertaining the idea of putting a diesel engine on a Beemer. It would be fairly easy, as they have an automotive style dry clutch. It would be a bit slower, top-end, but it should still get up to 60 or 70 mph. I have seen a few done in my web-
surfing. Depending on the weight of the flywheels, it may accelerate just as well.
My Beemer has electronic ignition, but it is not computerized, so it might survive an EMP. How would I find out? – Sid, near Niagara Falls

 

Hello Mr. Rawles:
In regarding to your blog posting that someone recommended the Ural motorcycle which gets 31 mpg.
The Ural motorcycles are well known for being unreliable. They are also pricey. A $3,000 Honda Rebel 250cc will get you 70miles per gallon and as a Honda will give you less headaches. Shaft drive motorcycles – like the Ural, while needing less maintenance, are impossible to repair on the road. Its quite easy to change a motorcycle chain or master link and keep the chain lubricated.
While the Ural with the side car and two wheel drive capability offers great mobility, a 1980s diesel Mercedes automobile will get you 35+ mpg and you can find one with broken air conditioning for $1,500. A lot cheaper than the $8-10K they want for a Ural.
Keep up the great work and thanks! – L.B.

Letter Re: EpiPen–Another Item for the Retreat Medical Kit

Hi Jim,
Our son-in-law was stung by a bee or wasp last night as he was mowing. One time behind the ear. He had a severe reaction to the sting. This is the first time that this has ever happened. Emergency room and three more days of treatments. The doctor gave him a prescription for an EpiPen to self administer in case it happens again. I keep bees (no, mine didn’t get him) so I keep one around “just in case”.
Now I am of the opinion that several of these should should be a part of every preparanoids medical supplies. – John & Abigail Adams

Odds ‘n Sods:

When I was doing some recent research for a consulting client, I found this interesting land development in the White Mountains of Nevada. The land is being sold near Dyer, Nevada, not too far from Bishop, California. (But safely across the state line, in the tax haven of Nevada.) The unusual thing about this property is that some of the parcels have frontage on a year-round creek. That is a real rarity in Nevada. They are asking $100,000 for a 10 acre chunk with creek frontage. The gent that I talked with (Mike Levin) said that they plan to sell 72 parcels. There are CC&Rs, but not too horribly restrictive. (Hunting and shooting are allowed, and you can keep one horse for each two acres. They have the typical “no mobile homes” language. Homes must either be stick built or top quality modulars.) This is considered “remote” real estate. But hey, a lot of SurvivalBlog readers like remote. (It is definitely well removed from any anticipated “lines of drift” of refugees or looters, WTSHTF.) This development might be a viable choice for Californian preppers that are retiring, or that are self-employed, and that don’t want to have to move as far as Idaho, Wyoming, or Montana. (The San Francisco Bay Area would be about a seven hour drive.) OBTW, I have no financial interest in this development. My client decided to pass when I mentioned it. (“Not enough trees.”) So now I’m free to mention it in the blog.

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SF in Hawaii asks: “Has anyone mentioned a calculator (solar powered) as a survival tool? While basic arithmetic functions can be done with pen and paper by hand (with danger of a miscalculation) and you can learn to master the abacus, log tables and slide rule, a calculator can make life much easier. Need to calculate a trajectory? work out engineering spec on a house or bridge? design a parabolic mirror for cooking? update the accounting of your survival goods (food/ammo etc)? A calculator can sure make life easier.”

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As quoted by our friend Bill Bonner at The Daily Reckoning: writing in Fortune magazine, Lester Brown notes that ethanol is not only a waste of money, if taken up widely, it would actually mean starvation for many of the world’s poor people. “The grain required to fill a 25-gallon tank (with ethanol) would feed one person for a year,” Brown writes.

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So much for good NAIS news. Premises ID just became mandatory in Pennsylvania. See this post at NoNAIS.org. Also, they made an exception for this in the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), so you don’t even know what they are recording about you! If you own livestock, please write to your congressmen now! By the way, if you don’t know how to phrase your letter well, NoNAIS.org has some sample letters. Another site, StopAnimalID.org has a forum and other resources.