Paladin Press is having their first ever (and probably last) 40% off sale to celebrate their 40th anniversary. This is huge, check out their list books and DVD’s covering everything from survival and combat shooting to new ID. Be sure to use the promo code Paladin40 at check-out – sale ends September 10 2010.

Bicycling post-collapse thru an apocalyptic landscape – Non-Fiction Writing Contest Submission by J. G.   

Before

Sometimes when I have a friend over to visit and they see my back room , they ask: “Why do you have so many bikes?” and “wow! where do you find those old bikes?”   

Well, I believe in having a few spares. Each one is similar, but with subtle differences; some have hand brakes, most do not. A few have luggage racks, panniers, baskets. Some are un-cluttered by those items. I prefer Schwinns, but I take whatever I can get!   

I have made it a mission to go to flea markets and yard sales to bring home at least 2 or 3 old bikes each year. I disassemble, strip off old ugly paint and rust then repaint them myself. Two complete coats of Krylon Primer Grey first, then the color, usually Olive Drab.   

What I look for in an old bicycle is simplicity. I have a couple of “mountain” bikes, but I prefer the old bikes with no gear shift or hand brakes.These are in my opinion much simpler to maintain. Fewer parts to break. I keep a can of WD-40 and several wire brushes on hand to fight corrosion.   

All of my bikes ,with the exception of the mountain bikes, are at least 30 years old or more and they will rust. Always opt for wide tires, do not expect smooth, level streets on a journey. Wide tires are better for off-road and trails.   

One thing I recommend doing is obtaining sets of the “No-More-Flats” tires, these are a solid core tube that goes inside the tire instead of the inner tube. No air required, and will not go flat.They are tricky to install. I have a bike shop here in town that can do this for me for $5 a tire.   

For working on my bikes I keep a tool box with only bike tools, including a set of cone wrenches. These can be found on Ebay for under $70, look for a brand called “Park City”. Valve stem kits. Bags of assorted small hardware.   

Bicycles have a long history among the militaries of the world: The US Army conducted experiments from the 1890’s thru the 1920’s -   

After

conducting a series of rides from Chicago to the Oregon coast, following the Oregon trail in places. Self-sufficient, riding over 1500 miles in 30 days.   

By the 1920’s the Army began to have cheap reliable trucks, plentiful cheap gasoline and lots of new roads. By the time of the Louisiana manuevers the need for bike infantry pretty much went by the wayside. For awhile.   

In the closing days of WWII the Germans began preparing for anticipated shortages of petrol. Desiring to divert petrol away from more mundane needs such as for transport of troops and using that fuel for their Panzers, the Radfahren initiative established 80 companies of bicycle infantry.   

In the Asian theatre, the Japanese used bikes extensively during the invasion of China and Burma. Cheap and easy transportation of troops over hundreds of miles and no fuel required. The Bicycle Infantry could cover many more miles than on foot and carry considerable more gear.   

The British Airborne troops used a folding bike , made by the Birmingham Small Arms company to some success. They found a number of benefits for using bicycles greater range, mobility and greater carry capacity.From the time that bicycles were invented and mass-produced ,nearly every army of every nation have experimented with or fielded the bicycle infantry and relished the same benefits.   

Around the year 2000 the last of the world’s bike infantry regiments were phased out in Switzerland. There are today a number of Swiss Army Surplus bikes available if you don’t mind spending and exorbitant fee. I’d like to have one , but for over $1500 price tag for ONE , I could easily put 20 old Schwinns on the road .   

Today the US military is conducting experiments using off-road mountain bikes and the British military is researching folding bikes for their airborne troops once again.
　
Why do I collect bikes? Same reasons all those military planners used bikes: I foresee a coming shortage of PETROL, a need to be able to travel faster than I could on foot and the ability to carry an extra 50 lbs or more gear. With enough spare bikes perhaps I could band together with some of my fellow survivors and create a bicycle rifle regiment.   

Or if worse comes to worse, I suppose that I could maybe trade a bike or two for supplies. Eventually I might need to Bug Out and leave the extra stuff behind. When travelling by bike, I travel mostly in either the very early morning or late evening hours. Fewer people out and about and thus less likely to have any “interactions”.   

I prefer anonymity and to not draw any unwanted attention to myself when travelling thru new and unknown areas that I have not scouted beforehand. To travel without a trace and to not linger unnecessarily is the most desirable goal. Try to stay on the move until you get to your shelter or enclave.   

Avoid choke points such as bridges, tunnels. Avoid population centers. I’d say the best thing one could do is simply be aware of your surroundings when entering and travelling through a new area. That and knowing the route to your shelter and several alternate routes, even paths you might not normally consider.   

If I start to find the path congested by people or “civilization”, I will move parallel to my path for a time, attempting to move around on a flank. Go for the high ground if possible. Cross open terrain with care – there may be eyes watching you.   

If the need to explore a building or structure should arise of necessity,when approaching a structure always scout it out from a distance over time, dismount and then approach on foot along a straight-line off a corner. Avoid line of sight to windows and doorways.   

A small telescoping inspection mirror is very useful when observing around corners or up over a window ledge. You can peer indirectly around a corner without exposing yourself.   

The mobility of a bike in a land with no petrol gives you a speed advantage over people on foot. If you go in and scavenge, you may encounter hostiles who would try to stop you . The bike could offer a fast getaway. Scavenge quick and if required, “shoot and scoot” and be on your way.   

You should not allow morales or personal scruples deter you from your goal: To survive. I will do everything I can to survive, even at the expense of the lesser prepared. I feel zero qualms about it. After e.o.t.w.a.w.k.i. or any sort of large-scale social-economic collapse, the way I look at it is that there will be too many people to support. So maybe, I’ll thin the herd a bit more all by myself. Take their food and move along.   

(M.D. Creekmore adds - I do not support this idea of killing and stealing – that is why we prepare, to avoid this sort of thing. I don’t think anyone relying on this tactic will survive very long. I hope J. G.  was saying it Tongue-in-cheek.) 

Bicycle Infantry ( RadhFahr Kompanies) By June '44

Any camp I set up during my journey would be far enough off the road or trail that I would not be found easily. If I bivouac for any length of time, I setup TWO camps. The first is a larger campsite with a brightly colored dome tent and a fire pit. This is actually a FAKE campsite, in plain sight .   

My actual camp is not easily visible. Concealed and obscured by terrain if possible, at least a quarter-mile further away. Not an elaborate campsite, something that could be setup and taken down quickly.   

One rule I live by is: no camp fire during the day. Only at night. And I gather up the ashes and trash and dump it in the firepit at my fake campsite. After e.o.t.w.a.w.k.i. always travel armed.   

My choice of armaments are as follows:   

• A Sigma 9mm with 16 round mags . And 250 rounds ammo.
• An 8mm Mauser Rifle and 100 rounds ammo.
• A couple of folding blade lock knives on my belt.
• The pistol is carried in a concealed holster at my lower back.
• I have other weapons, these are just my minimum “must carry” choices.
• Also will carry a small spotter scope, an optical range finder and a small set of binoculars, items that I can use to observe from a distance.
• Eventually I will add some night vision gear to this.

Have other thoughts or suggestions please share with us in the comments below…

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by Jason from The Self Sufficient Gardener

It’s generally considered blasphemy these days to be a survivalist and not garden. Food is the most important survival consideration next to water for the survival minded. It makes sense to be at least somewhat self-reliant when it comes to food production for you and your family. In other words if you don’t garden you should really consider starting.

For those of us who do mix gardening and prepping/survivalism the perennial question waits: What to grow?

Gardening prior to SHTF can be a challenge and doing so afterward will be even more of one. Therefore I’ve devised a rating system for choosing the best vegetables for my garden if I have to rely upon it in an emergency situation.

On a rating scale of 1-5, I rate the following attributes for each crop.

*Reliability—How susceptible is the plant to disease and pests. Can I count on production?

*Season—How often can the crop be grown? Does it take long to produce or can multiple crops be grown in one year.

*Nutritional Value—Not only calorie count but also vitamins and minerals. ATSHTF this will be critical!

*Sustainability—Can the crop be propagated year after year? We won’t know how long a disaster will last in some cases.

*Storage—Feast or famine? Eating great for a week won’t sustain a family. How easy is the crop to store long term?

*Yield—No sense growing things that won’t produce.

*Stealth—If TSHTF, how vulnerable will my garden become?

Of course, everyone’s rating scale will be different. You can even weigh some things heavier than others or disregard certain ones. The important thing is that you think about this beforehand and put it to use.

As an example I will rate three of my go-to crops if I had to survive on garden produce.

Beets

Reliability—4

Almost no pests eat beets. They are slightly temperature sensitive for germination and initial growth so planting at the right time is crucial.

Season—3

Can be started early and grown late. Germination as I mentioned above is the critical phase.

Nutritional Value—4

High in carbs/sugar. The green tops can be cut and come again harvested and the root of course is very nutritious.

Sustainability—2

Does not produce seeds until it over winters. This makes seed saving difficult.

Storage—4

Excellent capabilities. Beets will store great in a root cellar. They can be stored in a small box full of sand for a long time.

Yield—3

The greens and the root can be eaten as I mentioned.

Stealth—4

Other than the burgundy color, beets and inconspicuous laying low to the ground.

Tally the numbers and I get 24 for beets—not bad.

Potatoes

Reliability—2

Several pests like potatoes and we can’t forget about the blight that caused the great famine in Ireland.

Season—2

Potatoes grow well in cold weather but the require a long growing season.

Nutritional Value—5

This veggie is off the charts in nutritional terms.

Sustainability—3

The tubers can be divided or even just a small chunk can be used to grow another plant.

Storage—5

Outstanding storage life. Kept in a root cellar these will last quite a while.

Yield—5

Use a tire or tower setup and one plant can produce ungodly amounts.

Stealth—3

Potatoes don’t really have an obvious appearance for non-gardeners but they do get rather big in some cases.

So potatoes score high as well with a 25.

Amaranth

Reliability—4

Almost no pests or diseases to speak of affect amaranth.

Season—2

Growing season is somewhat long and limited to warmer times.

Nutritional Value—4

Very high in many vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Both the greens and the grains can be eaten.

Sustainability—5

Produces tons of seeds!

Storage—5

Though the greens do not store well at all, the grains will store almost indefinitely once dry.

Yield—4

Outstanding.

Stealth—1

Tall with bright flowers. The only saving grace is that most people have never seen amaranth.

Amaranth scores a 25.

Just for example I’ll give you a crop that most gardeners love but I consider a poor choice for survival gardens.

Tomatoes

Reliability—2

Cutworms are a problem. Disease is the real killer here. Early and late blights combined with blossom end rot leave tomato harvests in doubt.

Season—2

Only grows in warmer weather and takes a while to produce.

Nutritional Value—4

Good nutritional profile.

Sustainability—3

The seeds are easy to harvest and store and are generally reliable but only if the plant makes it to production.

Storage—3

Tomatoes are horrible for storage. The best bet is to harvest green and let them ripen on their own.

Yield—4

Good yields.

Stealth—1

Everyone knows what a tomato plant looks like and bright red fruit do little to disguise it.

Tomatoes score a 19.

I hope this rating systems has at least caused you to look at garden crops in a different way. Its good to know how to grow a variety of things but its also good to know which we can rely on when it comes down to it. 

Saving Seeds 

The truly self-sufficient gardener saves his/her seeds for replanting during the next season.  In most cases this is a simple task that will reduce costs of the garden to almost nothing.  The bottom line is that you can spend the labor yourself or pay someone else to do it.  If you pay someone else, expect to incur shipping costs.  Worse yet, you may not get what you’ve paid for.  F1 hybrid tomato seeds look exactly the same as Roma VF seeds to most if not all gardeners.  One year, eight Roma tomato plants I started from purchased seed turned out to not be Roma tomatoes.   

Saving seeds from hybrid plantings can be done for some plants.  However, be aware that hybrid seeds may be either sterile or the resulting offspring will not produce true to form. 

Here I will address saving techniques for some common garden plants.

Tomatoes

1. Scoop or squeeze the seed and jelly from a fully ripe tomato out into a container.  This can almost always be done in a way that saves the rest of the fruit for consumption.
2. Add water to bring the mixture to twice the starting volume.
3. Let the mixture ferment for 2-3 days in a warm place.
4. Add water to loosen the debris.  The seeds will settle quicker than the debris.  Anything floating should be discarded.  This includes non-viable seeds that float.  Keep adding water and pouring off the debris until what remains is almost strictly seeds and water.
5. Pour the seeds onto a paper towel or screen and let them drain.  Place the seeds in a warm place to dry for a few days.

Peas/Beans/Okra

1. Let the pods dry on the plant until you can shake the pods and hear the seeds rattle.  Monitor closely as the pods will open and spill the contents.
2. Remove the pod carefully.
3. Open and remove all seeds.

Peppers

1. Open the fully ripe pepper carefully. 
2. Gently scrape the seeds and collect on a paper towel.
3. Let dry.

Lettuce

1. Let the lettuce plant bolt and form the stem and dandelion like flower head.
2. Once the head is somewhat dry, remove it and place it into a plastic bag or other container. 
3. Shake the head to remove the seeds. 
4. Let the seeds dry for a few days.

Squash/Pumpkin

1. Scoop out seeds.
2. Let dry.

Carrots/Beets/Onion

1. These plants must be left in the ground over the winter to produce seeds the second year.
2. Cover the plants with mulch and/or leaves.
3. Uncover in the spring when you would replant the variety.
4. The plants will form seed heads. Remove the heads when the seeds are somewhat dry. 
5. Shake the heads to remove the seeds.

Longevity 

Seeds from onions, corn, parsnip and peppers should be used within a year or two. 

Seeds from beans, carrots, broccoli, asparagus, celery, leeks, spinach or peas are viable for up to about 3 years. 

Seeds from cucumbers, lettuce, eggplant, radish, chard, cabbage, beets, watermelon, tomato, squash and pumpkin are viable for about 4-5 years.

Department of Justice Lists Survivalists, Constitutionalists as Criminal Extremists – A recent Department of Justice guide for investigators of criminal and extremist groups lists “constitutionalists” and “survivalists” alongside organizations like Al-Qaeda and the Aryan Brotherhood.

Terrorist Training Camps in the United States? – For nearly 30 years, a violent group with established roots in both the United States and Pakistan has been committing numerous crimes here in America, consisting of murder, bombings, robberies – all for the purpose of “purifying” Islam through violence. Thanks to Kim for the link.

Gov’t can’t shut down terrorist training camps in U.S. – A non-profit Christian organization dedicated to protecting the traditions of the American family and defending the nation against radical Islam has released a documentary that exposes 35 terrorist training compounds being operated on American soil. Thanks to Kim for the link.

Obama’s New Tax On…Rainwater – Would President Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency really force Americans to pay a tax on “rainwater runoff” from homes and small businesses? You bet they would. In fact, the EPA, under radical environmentalist Lisa Jackson, is proposing regulations to do just that.

Homelessness Up 50% In Brooklyn - If you think you’ve been seeing more people sleep on city streets, statistics back up the perception. The homeless population living on New York City streets has gone up 50 percent in the past year, according to city statistics reported by the HellsKitchenLife.com blog.

Economic Gurus: Economic Armageddon Is Here - The worst nightmare forecast by economic specialists over the previous years has come true: new research by economic gurus in the United States of America has revealed a bleak scenario: the United States’ economy is in a state of depression. Yes, it is the Double Dip, a roller-coaster ride to economic catastrophe and it has arrived. To come: massive debt default, the failure of entire nations and widespread starvation in the western world.

Exploding Blog! – Blowing stuff up daily, interesting.

Government snooping “rights” expand. Again - Government agents can sneak onto your property in the middle of the night, put a GPS device on the bottom of your car and keep track of everywhere you go.

Our friends at Ready Made Resources are offering 25% off Mountain House Foods and Free Shipping on case lots. This is their last sale of the year so stock up now. Ends Sept 13th 2010.

I believe the handgun will be the most useful and used self-defense tool after a collapse. I’m not contending that a handgun is more effective than a rife or shotgun, it’s not.

If I knew trouble was coming, and I was going to have to use deadly force, I’d reach for the nearest long-gun while holding the handgun in reserve.

But the truth of the matter is, you will not always have an advanced warning of impending danger. An attack will likely be perpetrated quickly and without warning, when you’re most vulnerable, at close range, by more than one attacker and in low light.

You’ll need to be armed at all times, carrying a rifle or shotgun continuously is impractical if not impossible.

There are times (even post SHTF) when concealment will be necessary – tucking a handgun down your pants is easier and more practical than trying to hide a shotgun under your coat.

Now that we know a handgun is the most useful and realistic defensive tool we need to learn to use that tool in the most effective way possible.

Taking a dedicated class given by qualified instructors is the best course of action. But many of us don’t have the time or money to make this a reality and must seek other alternatives.

Most of you reading this, I am sure; have a good working knowledge of firearm safety and proper shooting fundamentals. If not, you must master the basics before continuing.

The  NRA’s Education & Training Division  offers training courses covering safety and handgun usage. Be sure to take the handgun carry permit classes if available in your state, even if you don’t plan on applying for the permit.

While these classes aren’t as intense (usually) as the classes given by say, Gunsite or Thunder Ranch, you can pick-up valuable tips and safety information by attending.

Another possibility is looking to relatives or friends who have knowledge in handgun safety and defensive tactics. It could be someone with military or police training. Just be sure, your training partner knows more about the subject than you.

I’ve known several people who claimed to be an expert in all things firearm related yet on the range it was obvious they knew very little of what they claimed, with several being down right hazardous.

On one occasion, I saw a self-proclaimed expert (a former cop) point the muzzle of his weapon toward another shooter to his left flank as he cleared his weapon.

This is a no-no. I called him on it and his reaction was so bad that, I thought we were going to end the day with fisticuffs, but a crowd gathered and he backed down.

I often get emails from readers asking for book and DVD recommendations in this area - my advice is always the same. Learn the basics before moving forward and seek professional training if possible.

After learning proper handgun handling and safety, my recommendations for books and DVD’s are “Tactical Pistol Shooting: Your Guide to Tactics & Techniques that Work” and “Jim Grover’s Defensive Shooting Series” both are excellent.

How did you learn about handguns and shooting? What advice do you have for others just starting out?

Economic Armageddon: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Double Dip is Here! – The worst nightmare forecast by economic specialists over the previous years has come true: new research by economic gurus in the United States of America has revealed a bleak scenario: the United States’ economy is in a state of depression. Yes, it is the Double Dip, a roller-coaster ride to economic catastrophe and it has arrived. To come: massive debt default, the failure of entire nations and widespread starvation in the western world.

Repent — The End Is Near – double-speak, unconstitutional acts, bullying, outright lies, and trampling of the Rule of Law that now describes our government.

Sowing The Seeds Of Starvation – This summer’s searing heat has put a fire beneath grain prices. But worse than another round of inflation is the potential for widespread famine.

The National Debt Will Be Paid In The Form Of The Much Greater Depression – TriOptima just reported there are $450 trillion in derivatives worldwide. Derivatives are basically a complex scam based on smoke and mirrors. The whole $450 trillion dollar house of cards is falling apart as you read this.

I’d like to thank everyone for entering our non-fiction writing contest thus far, there has been some great information and thoughts shared. If you haven’t entered yet, there is still time.

Please email your sumission before October 6 2010, the author of the best and most useful article will receive:

1. A case of Mountain House entrees, in #10 cans from Ready Made Resources.
2. A gift certificate for $200 from LuckyGunner.
3. A Big Berkey Water Filter from Directive 21.
4. An Ultimate Seed Vault from The Emergency Seed Bank.
5. Copies of The Tough Times Survival Guide volume one and volume two.

If you have any questions feel free to ask and good luck.

New Berkey Light 2010 Version - This system holds up to 4 black berkey elements for more efficient filtration – go take a look.

A few days ago a reader sent an email asking why I had not posted our “What Did You Do To Prep This Week?” question last week. I’m sure others were thinking the same thing, but were afraid to ask.

To be honest, I had nothing to report myself last week so I skipped a week until I had something to report to you all. As I’ve said before, we should all try to do something, even something small every week to further our preps. But as we all know it isn’t always possible.

Last week I felt like an ant under a magnifying glass with the sun shinning through. One bought of bad luck after another, I won’t get into details here because I’m sure you have enough problems of your own to contend with, but that’s why I had nothing to report last week.

Sorry.

At least I did get something done this week.

Yesterday, while trudging through a flea market in Somerset Ky, I picked up several useful survival items – small propane grill $6, four boxes of 12 gauge #6 shot shells for $10, ten large tubes of toothpaste .25 cents each, safari hat $2 and three old 1970’s issues of the Mother Earth News for $1.

Started lifting weights again, after a longer than normal “rest” of several months. Before, I stopped I’d been bench pressing 230 lbs – now I’m lucky if I can do 200 lbs. Felt like, I was going to pass out when I tried – but I’m sure, I’ll get back to where I was in a few weeks.

What did you do to prep this week?