Letter Re: The Next Pandemic: Starvation in a Land of Plenty

Sir:
Seeing the discussion regarding the gentleman who loaned a flashlight and leaf blower to his ungrateful neighbors, I’d thought I’d share my method of loaning out items. First off, never loan out primary tools. I have three sets [that I’ve designated – mine [primary], for friends, and a lower quality set for loaning. If you’ve never borrowed from me before and I don’t know your “borrowing character”, then you get the cheap set of greasy, grimy tools or the flashlight with weak batteries. If you return them in the state that you borrowed them, you get to borrow them again sometime. If the tools come back cleaned and oiled and new batteries in the flashlight, your “borrowing character” had been elevated to trusted borrower and you may soon be ready for the set of tools reserved for friends. (Hint: When you borrow tools, always bring them back in a better state than when you took them.) If you do not return them, you will be reminded over and over of this fact and hopefully you will shamefully remember to return them. If you don’t ever gain some character or have no shame, then stay outta my yard!
Also, people forget a couple of simple words: please and thank you. I don’t have to loan you my tools. If you ask nicely, I may just think a bit more nicely of you. These words don’t cost anything to use yet they reap huge benefits if used sincerely. – Matt B.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Steve P. flagged this “must read” article by Doug Hornig: Climate Change Revisited

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From BlogIdaho: Why Cops Shoot Guys with Knives (Warning: Some graphic photos, not for the squeamish!) BTW, shallow slashing wounds to the torso of the type shown are not often fatal. It is either wounds to the neck or deep penetrating wounds to the abdomen (typically angled upward, from just under the ribcage) followed immediately by lateral motion of the blade tip that are the real killing wounds. (The latter is what one of my Army training NCOs referred to as “massive surgery without benefit of anesthetic.”) Unfortunately these are the techniques that career criminals often teach each other in prison. A knife can be an effective weapon in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing. Beware. Do not let an opponent get close enough to employ these techniques.

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Brenda at Mountain Brook Foods mentioned that they are having a huge liquidation sale, with 25-50% off selected items, and 40% off year supply packages from now until Feb 19th. This sale might be of particular interest to SurvivalBlog readers in Northern California. (Mountain Brook Foods is located in Tracy, California. This could be a great opportunity to pick up your order in person to save on shipping.)

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From a ‘zine web site devoted to electric and hybrid vehicles: Roscoe Bartlett: Man on a Mission

Letter Re: Junk Shop Survival Tools

James,
I read Nuclear War Survival Skills [by Cresson Kearney) several years back and have read and re-read the book on a regular basis. In fact, along with your novel “Patriots” (acquired 5 months back) I have loaned out and gifted copies of each to family. All were ‘struck’.

After realizing the need for expedient and planned shelter, but lacking the real buying power that I desired, I set about securing many of the hand tools that I had previously overlooked, i.e. tools that were essential according to Cresson: Picks, Shovels, etc.

Lowes and other stores didn’t stock old world quality digging/hand tools to suit me. My late Dad had ‘quality’ picks on the family farm. Those belong to the farm. Since I live south of Kentucky and north of Alabama, I regularly hit every ‘junk’ shop around the state. With less than a 10 dollar outlay, I purchased several 8 lb. maul heads and three pick heads. Two of the pick heads were standard size; however one of them was 1/3 the size. The [thickness of ] steel in the picks seems over-built compared to ‘new’ production types. I purchased duplicate hand turned hickory handles. These are easily found in this part of the country at flea markets. I would urge many of the readers to recognize the real world need for these old world tools. One never knows when ‘ground hog day’ may arrive. – Matt

Two Letters Re: The Next Pandemic: Starvation in a Land of Plenty

Mr. Rawles:
Your “The Next Pandemic” article and he responses to it that you posted really got me thinking. If it all hits the fan, how can I possibly hand out charity to refugees without them just taking it all, by force? Once a bunch of people are in your house, or even in your front yard, they have the advantage. I really want to be generous and charitable, since it is my duty as a Christian. (I have more than 2 tons of wheat, rice. and other stuff stored, for example.) But I don’t want to get cleaned out and then have nothing for my own family. How do I solve this dilemma? Should I hide half of my storage food somewhere in a “cache”? Should I just leave what I earmark for charity in big white plastic buckets marked “Take just one” by the side of the road a couple of miles from my house? Thanks, Brother! – L.T.Y. in not-so-rural Minnesota

 

Dear Jim,
I found Bob in Georgia’s letter re: The Next Pandemic both educational and unsettling. It confirms, in many ways, fears I harbor about a post-SHTF environment, and leaves a number of unanswered questions in my mind.
I have read and often thought your admonition to dispense charity, but in the event can’t honestly say what I would do. I believe we who “have” are compelled morally and Biblically to voluntarily share with those less fortunate than we, who “have not.” I do not, however, believe any government, anywhere has any right to force us to share through coercion and state-mandated giveaways, which is wealth distribution and communism.
That said, what should I do if/when TSHTF? I wish I knew the answer. I am close to some neighbors and would feel no compunctions about sharing with them and helping them to the greatest extent possible. I wouldn’t think twice. Others remain largely unknown to me and are question marks. Still others have impaired moral compasses (or none to speak of,) whom I would avoid sharing with altogether, as I am convinced it would only invite a violent attack (repeat visits by our local P.D. to their homes give me that feeling). My family’s safety trumps charity in my way of thinking.
Bob in Georgia’s letter speaks volumes for the declining moral fiber of our lost society and its values (or the lack thereof), and should serve as a strong reminder to the Patriot to exercise great caution not only in sharing, but in even discussing your preps. Keep up the good work, Jim. Yours in Jesus Christ our Lord, – Scott in California

JWR Replies: In my novel “Patriots” I describe a couple of methods for dispensing charity “at arm’s length.” One of them is through a local church. The other would be reserved for absolute worst case situation, where you would literally keep refugees off at a distance, at gun point, while you dole out food as charity. That might not sound very Christian, but it might come down to that, in a situation where law and order has completely broken down.

Letter Re: The Last of the $49 MURS Radios

Hi Jim,
Just an FYI, the remaining stock of these units [the Kenwood handheld 2 Watt MURS transceivers] is dwindling fast. I expect the $49 special to be available for only one to two more months. I have not yet found a suitable replacement product that can be sold for less than $100 and are MURS certified.
On another note, I want to pass along that the customers that have been referred from your site have been excellent folks. Its been a pleasure to deal with them and they have all prompt in their payments
and very reasonable to deal with. If you ever need a reference to give a new advertiser, feel free to let me know. Thanks! – Rob at $49 MURS Radios

Odds ‘n Sods:

“OSOM” sent this From Doug Casey’s newsletter: a very readable article on the French Revolution’s hyperinflation and the corruption and misery it bred. OSOM’s comment: “History doesn’t repeat exactly – but it sure looks like it’s rhyming.”

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There are just 19 days left in the big “Container load sale” at Survival Enterprises. All of the storage food items are “first come – first served.” The prices are less than half of retail. Survival Enterprises can take all major credit cards, PayPal, cash, gold and silver coins, but no checks or money orders. All orders must be phoned in for mail order, or by appointment to come in and pick up your order in person. (Survival Enterprises is located in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.) For special requests, you can call Kurt of Survival Enterprises at (800) 753-1981 or locally at (208) 704-3935 as late as 8 p.m. Pacific time (5 p.m. Eastern time), or e-mail him at: kwATse1.us (Change the “AT” to an @symbol)

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Joseph in Missouri sent a link to a free online book called “Possum Living” that he says not many people have seen. Joseph describes it: “It is out of print, and fairly rare. It is about living with very little income, and being very self sufficient. The author was an 18 year old girl, living the life she writes about.”

Jim’s Quote of the Day

"Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." – Thomas Paine

Note from JWR:

The first piece presented today is another article submitted for Round 8 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. (Worth up to $1,600.) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. I will again be sending out a few complimentary copies of my novel “Patriots” as “honorable mention” awards. If you want a chance to win the contest, start writing and e-mail us your article. Round 8 will end on January 31st. Remember that the articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.

A Minimalist 50 Mile Hike in the Smoky Mountains, by Albert J.

It was the summer of 1980. I’d read Robert Ringer and John Pugsley books on surviving coming economic collapses. Both taught how you should prepare yourself for such events. In another year I would finish graduate school and start living the 9 to 5 dream. Ha! So this summer it was time to do a little survival training and think on these things. I decided to hike part of the Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains. Being a minimalist anyway and having read much of H. David Thoreau and about a Greek philosopher, Diogenes, I wanted to carry as little as possible on my hike and adventure into the wild.
Thoreau said: “When it is time to die, let us not discover that we never lived.” and “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”
Diogenes wanted to live simply, thinking too many “things” gets in the way of happiness and causes stress and worry. He got rid of most of his possessions except a cup to drink from. One day he saw an old woman drinking water from a stream with her hands. So Diogenes threw away his cup.
I truly believed that living simply brings some of the happiest times too, and not acquiring a new car and a bigger house than the Jones’s have, can bring this about. Not wanting to go the grave, discovering I’d never lived, I hit the trail with an 18 pound Wilderness Bug Out Bag (BOB). (It is nice to always have one of these in your car or truck)
Included were my Swiss Army Knife and a fixed blade knife. (Today I would opt to include a Tom Brown Jr. Tracker and the Leatherman Wave)
Other items included a 4 pound sleeping bag, water purification tablets, a tarp (to replace a heavy tent), one change of clothes, multivitamins, 1 roll of toilet paper, toothbrush, a few First Aid items, 50 pound fishing line, a two quart wine flask for water, 4 butane lighters (good to share or for trade), some 7 grain cereal (nutrition rich food is vital), peanut butter, raisins, beef jerky (extra beef jerky to share with new friends along the way, which I did), pemmican, a few packs of freeze dried food and an extra pair of running shoes…and a tin Diogenes cup.
Hiking 12 miles the first day, at a speed of 4 mph, there was a lot more day left than what I’d anticipated. Seemed there were only two things to do in the day… eat and hike…ok, three. Find water. It is always good to have your own source of good water. The eating took 30 minutes at the most, including preparation. Water was plentiful, crossing streams or hiking nearby them.
I’d done about 20 fasts in my life. And the biggest thing I’d learned, was that a person can go for many days without food. I’d gone 20 days on only juice and 5 days on water only. So I’d found one doesn’t have to panic, in thinking they’ll die if they go without food. Most of the hunger leaves after 3 or 4 days and you’re left with only an empty feeling in your stomach…slightly different than being hungry. But you can do without food. In a survival situation, this is very important. It depends on how active you are. At times you will feel weak, but at times you will feel like you’ve got extra lightness and energy. But the knowledge that you can make it and go without food, gives you confidence. The more you practice it, (going without food) the more confident you get. It gives the body a rest from digestion, cleans the body out and you’ll live longer too.
Water of course is another matter. You need water. That’s why water and shelter are your two major concerns and sometimes fire. I drank about 6-8 quarts a day. A time or two, I wished I’d had a firearm. There were bears around and who knows what other unforeseen critters out to do harm. “Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.” My personal choice would be a .44 Magnum revolver, with special as well as magnum loads. It’s great for home defense as well as more serious circumstances. If I had to live and defend myself from special situations and long distance threats, it would include a .308 M1A or 30-06 [M1 Garand], with lots of ammo.
In the morning I discovered why they called them the Smoky Mountains. The fog enveloped the mountains. The second day I paced myself better, hiking at three mph and enjoying more of the scenery. And having plenty of time to ponder, realized that one should enjoy the scenery in life. So what if I fell off a cliff or got eaten by a bear. I’d gone out living and enjoying life, not being in constant worry every day about possessions, politicians, other nee’r-do-wells, nor all the bad news on CNN. Being prepared, good friends/companionship, living simply and enjoying the moment. All this made life good and brought happiness.
I finished the 50 mile hike in five days, and gained a lifetime of appreciation and wisdom from it. A several day hike or campout is an absolute priceless way to learn about simple living, preparation and survival. – Albert J.

JWR Adds: Going “ultralight” when backpacking is perhaps viable in warm summer weather and at low elevation, but it is a foolhardy risk at any other time of the year . Even in summer, hypothermia is a risk if you get soaked by a downpour. Always bring a poncho and at least a small lightweight tent. Also, note that Giardia is endemic in streams and ponds throughout North America, so it is essential to carry a top quality water filter (such as a Katadyn pocket filter) or a chemical water treatment such as Polar Pure. Both of these options are compact and lightweight. And both, BTW, are available from Ready Made Resources.

Two Letters Re: Veterinary Antibiotics

James:
Re: the assertion: “Two weeks after the expiration date, these agents can and frequently do become nephrotoxic” No, they always are nephrotoxic – it is dose related. The above statement is just plain wrong. Mis-dosing causes renal failure – which is an equally valid concern for do it yourselfers using vet abs – but not the d**n expiry date – I thought we had put the tetracycline debate to rest – in the 80’s it composition was unstable – it broke down 6-12 months post-expiry date and became potentially toxic from the degradation products of the binder. Since late-1980s, The new binder has meant less problem. Although vet abs remain potentially dangerous for many reasons – but not due to degradation within two weeks of the expiry dates. – A Doctor in New Zealand

Odds ‘n Sods:

Aaron in Florida noted: “The Official Department of the Army Publications and Forms web site has a tremendous number of manuals and information in PDF format.” I should also add that anyone associated with the Army (Active, Reserve, Guard, retired, army civilian employees, and even defense contractors) can get an Army Knowledge Online (AKO) account, which will give you access to even more manuals.

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UN Report on Climate Change “Will Shock the World”

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Airman JB and Joe from Tennessee both forwarded this one: Doctors fear TB strain could cause a global pandemic if it is not controlled

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"The last duty of a central banker is to tell the public the truth." – Alan Blinder, Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve, on the PBS Nightly Business Report, 1994

Notes from JWR:

Since SurvivalBlog is updated daily, please consider making it your web browser’s “home” (start-up) page. Thanks!

The first article today is another articles submitted for Round 8 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. (Worth up to $1,600.) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. I will again be sending out a few complimentary first edition copies (Huntington House edition) of my novel “Patriots” as “honorable mention” awards. If you want a chance to win the contest, start writing and e-mail us your article. Round 8 will end on January 31st. Remember that the articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.

Gardens for the Future, by JLM

There are many reasons to make open pollinated [“heirloom variety”] seeds an integral part of your gardening experience and food storage. If seeds are collected from F1 hybrids, the plants grown from those seeds will generally not have the characteristics that you desired in the parent plant. Open pollinated seeds allow the gardener the option of saving seed and growing the plants you like, year after year. In the April 1991 issue of National Geographic, in an article titled, “World Food Supply at Risk”, the authors point out past failures of agriculture being based on only a few varieties. Such disasters include the 1970 corn blight that destroyed much of the US crop and the potato famine that killed over 1 million in Ireland. Such disasters are not new. The article also states that there is evidence that a blight destroyed much of the maize crop around 900 AD and probably caused the collapse of the Mayan civilization. I would recommend a trip to the library since the article is a good, sobering and interesting read, as is the October 1998 National Geographic on population and feeding the planet. Several organizations, such as The Seed Savers Exchange, have been established for education and as sources for open-pollinated seed. I find it a bit of a chuckle that many people put such an emphasis of a year’s supply of food, but do not store usable seed, canning supplies and the like. What if, for hypothetical example, a flu pandemic in the US occurred and the duration was more than a few months? What if there was a new disease outbreak in our food crops, for example a new fungus attacked our wheat supply in a wet year? The trouble with genetically identical (hybrid) crops is that they would all be at risk. That is the primary risk one runs with most of your caloric food base being dependent on one or two grain or starch crops.
The US used to be ready for such a crisis, but not anymore.
From WorldNetDaily
From Jeff Rense
When one thinks of the recent ‘mad cow’ concerns here in the United States, one realizes that even today, agricultural disasters can still happen as is illustrated by this short article from the Seeds Trust web site.
The current trend of some large agricultural conglomerates is to develop hybrid/biotech seeds that will not germinate when collected seed is replanted, or have the plant ‘self-destruct’. This technology now has several patents. For a look at the ‘terminator gene’ being developed for use in several crops, such as cotton, see the article from University of Indiana on the Terminator Gene.

It is easy for me to see both sides here. If the company spends millions of dollars to develop a new, higher yielding strain; they will want to protect that research at least until the money is recovered with some as profit. The trouble is illustrated by that oil rapeseed farmer in Canada (Percy Schmeiser) whose fields were planted with his own stuff and then his fields were contaminated with the genetically modified rapeseed. Even though he never planted the stuff, he found himself in court. The company (Monsanto) sued him (successfully!) when their gene was found in his crops, Even though he grew his own seed and his was contaminated. Shows a break down of common sense in the judiciary, which is no big surprise. The other problem is that by having terminator seeds, it allows direct corporate control of farmers by a corporation or government. In other words, they control what you can grow to insure ‘customer loyalty’.
For more on Percy Schmeiser see:
Percyschmeiser.com/
Sierraclub.ca
Currently only a handful of companies control most of the US seed and nursery market.
A recent Countryside and Small Stock Journal article titled “Do you know where your seeds come from? You may be surprised…. The Gardening Game”. The article highlights this consolidation [of seed vendors] in the US market place.
Sources of open pollinated/heirloom seeds:
http://www.seedstrust.com/
http://www.seedsavers.org/
http://www.seedsave.org/
http://www.rareseeds.com/
http://www.victoryseeds.com/
http://www.bountifulgardens.org/
http://www.abundantlifeseed.org/
http://www.nicholsgardennursery.com/
JWR Adds: A wide assortment of heirloom seeds are also available from The Ark Institute

Unique/heirloom plants and nursery stock:
http://www.treesofantiquity.com/
http://www.onegreenworld.com
http://www.raintreenursery.com
An Internet search for heirloom seed or open-pollinated seed will turn up many more sources.
Basic “how to” instructions for saving seeds:
http://www.seedsavers.org/
http://www.seedsave.org/
Several books on saving seeds, including:
Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth
Seed Sowing and Saving: Step-By-Step Techniques for Collecting and Growing More Than 100 Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs (Storey’s Gardening Skills Illustrated) — by Carole B. Turner
Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener’s & Farmer’s Guide to Plant Breeding & Seed Saving — by Carol Deppe
Saving Seeds: The Gardener’s Guide to Growing and Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds — by Marc Rogers, et al
Books on gardening and edible landscape design:
“ How to Grow Vegetables and Fruits by the Organic Method”, Rodale Press, out of print, but easy to find at used bookstores or e-bay.
How to Grow More Vegetables: And Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine by John Jeavons (Paperback – Mar 2002)
Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison and Slay Reney-Mia
Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway and John Todd
Greenhouse Gardener’s Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace by Shane Smith and Marjorie C. Leggitt
Designing And Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally by Rosalind Creasy (Foreword), et al.
http://www.foodforeveryone.org/
http://www.gardensimply.com/
http://www.carryongardening.org.uk/
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/perma.html
http://www.permacultureactivist.net/
http://www.foodnotlawns.com/
http://www.cwo.com/~bart/perm_links.htm
http://www.sherrysgreenhouse.com/
Also refer to the extension service of your state university.

The some articles on plant disease threats:
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20050924/food.asp
Dangerous Wheat Disease Jumps Red Sea.
http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=108
VOA News

Then you add into the fray the mess politics can make of crops and farm policies. Worst case:
From The Christian Science Monitor
From The Daily Telegraph