The Late Prepper with JD Rucker

JD Rucker
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The Late Prepper with JD Rucker

Economic collapse. Martial law. Something worse. It's time to start prepping. lateprepper.substack.com

  1. Prepper Basics: Get Healthy and as Active as Possible Immediately

    01/29/2024

    Prepper Basics: Get Healthy and as Active as Possible Immediately

    So, you've got your bugout bags, food supplies, water, ammo, alternative power supplies, barter items, and Bibles. You downloaded and printed out important documents and how-to guides in case the internet goes down. You have your plan mapped out and you've done a test run with your family. You're as ready as you can be for whatever happens in the near future, right? Well, maybe. With over 70% of Americans either unfit or suffering from some sort of major medical ailment, chances are you haven't made yourself and your family as ready as you can be in case crap hits the fan. Chances are you can start improving your health situation, whether that means getting more fit or securing long-term medical requirements such as meds and equipment. Get Fit The first challenge isn't easy for most. For some, it's a matter of motivation. For others, you're just not able to make yourself more physically fit based on age, wounds, or conditions. I have a friend in her 70s who simply cannot get around very easily. She neither has nor needs bugout bags but she lives in a nice town, had plenty of food and water, and she carries her .22 wherever she goes. Another friend is a prepping maniac. I'm actually jealous about how well-stocked he is in his suburban home. The challenge is he's nearly 300 pounds and three of the four other members of his family aren't skinny. I had a long conversation with him over the weekend about what he'll do if things get really bad, even in his nice neighborhood. He said he'll grab his shotgun and defend his property. That's good, but it doesn't replace the need to become fit enough to walk long distances, gather supplies, or hunt. My status as a "late prepper" who didn't get going until 2021 sent me down a similar path. I started stocking up on supplies incrementally. My wife started a robust garden. I started learning everything I could about survival and I haven't stopped. Then, the wakeup call came last year. I was helping a friend move a couch and realized I'm not the stout running back that I was in school. I've wasted far too much time before making it important to get fit. I am calling on all of my readers to not make the same mistake I did. When should you start improving your health? Right now. Today. Get started. Don't stop. As I noted, motivation is often the missing ingredient when it comes to eating better, exercising, and changing one's lifestyle. Well, look around. Things are already going crazy and we haven't even gotten to Election Riot Season. Are you able to walk 10 miles with a bugout bag on your back? Could you carry a loved one to safety? Chop down a tree? Build a shelter? Fight? If any of these things are physically impossible for you, then there's nothing you can do other than build relationship with local people who can help. But if you can't do any of these things and you have nothing holding you back other than your physical fitness, then it's time to get motivated. I've been on the keto diet for a while, but mostly for the sake of brain function. I like being as smart as possible and ketones help me to achieve that goal. But recently I've realized that I need to take advantage of the fat burning aspects of ketosis. That means exercising. It's been slower than I'd like but I've lost 15 pounds since Thanksgiving with 40 more to go. I'm not a fan of trying to "guilt" people into doing something, but this is an exception. Don't be that person whose only excuse for not being physically ready to face apocalyptic challenges is that you're to fat, too weak, or generally too unhealthy. If you have the means today to improve your health, do it. And it's not just fat people like me. Even those who are pretty fit can always use improvements. We've all heard many times about eating healthier but what does that really mean? The whole foods craze (not to be confused with the Amazon-owned grocer) is a righteous one on many levels. Sourcing your food, buying local, eliminated processed foods, reducing or eliminating sugars, and staying clear of seed oils are all good starts. Exercise is obviously important as well. I'm neither a nutritionist nor a personal trainer but as a conspiracy theorist I can say that whatever it takes to build back up your God-given body is worth doing now more than ever. Secure Meds Many medications, both minor and life-saving, can be stored for long periods of time. Others can go bad quickly. Now is the time to determine what you'll need if pharmacies are either shut down or taken over by government, in which case you'll need to "qualify" for your meds. That's a discussion for another day. Securing meds that you can store away such as antibiotics, pain medications, and chronic illness drugs requires a bit of "gaming the system." Generally, doctors and pharmacists want you to have a limited supply. Sometimes this is due to positive reasons such as the need to adjust doses. Other times it's simply an opportunity to add more doctor's visits to their billing. So securing long-term stores of prescription medications can be challenging. If you trust your doctor, tell them the truth. You're concerned about things going crazy with the election or whatever and you'd feel more comfortable with a long-term supply of the meds you need. If they object, don't push it. Just thank them and move along. If your doctor won't help you, there are a couple of options. You can research over-the-counter or nature alternatives to the medications you need. Or, you can go through a more "open minded" medical operation such as Jase. For transparency, they're a sponsor, but it's important to note that I made them a sponsor AFTER I started using them. I was a customer first before learning I could get referral bonuses for recommending them. They even gave me a promo code, "RUCKER10", so my referrals could get $10 off. Their system is simple. Sign up for a telehealth call. Talk to your doctor about the meds you need. They prescribe them and have them shipped to your door. The "Jase Case" of antibiotics is incredible (I have two) and the chronic medications they offer for challenges like diabetes and heart conditions are robust. For those who require medicines that expire quickly, it's time to research alternatives. Again, ask your doctor. Tell them your concerns and find out what they recommend if you no longer have access to the medications they prescribe. If that doesn't work, check online. I know there are life-preserving meds that many people need to take that may not have natural or OTC alternatives, but research as best you can. No Fear I'm always cognizant of the fact that my prepper discussions can often concern people, even make them fearful. Don't let it get to you. For Bible-believing Christians, we know that times will get challenging but there's a literal light at the end of the tunnel. It's a good thing to be physically ready for whatever is coming our way but that's exponentially less important than being spiritually ready. If all you can do is believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then it's more than enough. Stay frosty and secure yourself and your family as best you can. If you fail because you did your best but it wasn't enough, then so be it. But if you fail because you didn't do your best to get ready, the end will be loaded with regrets. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lateprepper.substack.com

    17 min

  2. 12/19/2023

    Why Has Prepping Become So Popular With the Left?

    (End of the American Dream)—Something really weird is going on.  Traditionally, prepping has been associated with those on the right of the political spectrum. But now we are witnessing a dramatic shift.  These days, many of the most hardcore preppers are actually on the left.  These leftist preppers have become entirely convinced that we are headed for a catastrophic societal meltdown and they are determined to try to survive whatever happens.  And we are starting to see leftist fears about the future being reflected in movies and television shows. For example, a new apocalyptic disaster movie entitled “Leave The World Behind” is getting millions upon millions of views on Netflix… If society actually did begin to completely break down, you probably would never know exactly how or why. You’d be aware that something was wrong, but the specifics would get cloudy once phones stopped working, the internet was severed, and media networks turned to dead air. Ominous late-night electronic shrieks from the sky; explosions in the distance; planes and boats plowing into the ground, and animals flocking in eerie patterns would only hint at the chaos. A whisper network of survivors might convey contradictory rumors, but how would you know if any of it was true? That’s the unsettling premise of Leave the World Behind, the new Netflix thriller that compounds its terror through uncertainty. This is definitely a movie for preppers, and the trailer for the film is quite startling… As you can see, this movie explores a number of topics that preppers have been concerned about for a long time. But there is nothing “conservative” about this film at all. It was made by leftists and it is meant to be watched by leftists.  In fact, it is the very first movie from the production company that the Obamas have established… In the movie, the characters have various theories for what’s causing these unsettling events: that it’s the work of hackers; that it’s a government conspiracy; that the US is at war with rogue forces using radiological weapons to make people turn against each other. It’s based on a 2020 novel by Rumaan Alam, and directed, written and produced by “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail. It’s also the first feature film from High Ground, the production company founded by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in 2018. So why in the world would the Obamas want to make something like this? That is a good question. Hopefully somebody will ask them. Once upon a time, leftists tended to mock preppers, but now anxiety about the 2024 election is motivating many leftists to become preppers themselves… Doomsday “prepping” is seeping into the mainstream as Americans of all ages and political persuasions are becoming increasingly worried ahead of the 2024 presidential election about the prospect of a civil war. Hoarding food, water and weapons was once associated with libertarian extremists, but as a rematch between President Biden and his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, seems all but inevitable in 2024, prepping has become a bipartisan activity, according to a Monday USA Today report. “On the left, you have people afraid (Trump’s) going to declare himself dictator of the United States and people on the left are going to end up as targets in some sort of authoritarian system,” author Brad Garrett told the paper. There really are lots of people out there that have convinced themselves that if Donald Trump wins the election he will make himself a dictator and establish a “fascist regime” in the United States. Seriously, this is what they actually believe. And the fact that Joe Biden’s approval ratings keep getting lower only adds to their anxiety… Only one-third of Americans gave President Biden a thumbs up on the job he is doing in the White House, according to a new national public opinion survey. The president stands at 34% approval in a Monmouth University poll released on Monday, with 61% giving Biden a thumbs down on his job performance. The president’s approval is at an all-time low in Monmouth polling since Biden took over the White House nearly three years ago. Many liberals are anticipating that a “worst case scenario” is literally going to play out right in front of their eyes. And Mark Zuckerberg appears to be one of them. In 2020, his money played a major role in what we witnessed in the swing states, but this time around Mark Zuckerberg appears to be preparing for doomsday… On a remote part of Kauai, the fourth largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, someone with a lot of money is bankrolling an extensive construction project. It’s all very hush-hush. Security guards and cameras watch the perimeter of the 1,400-acre site, a six-foot wall blocks locals from peeking, and vetted workers are subject to strict NDAs preventing discussion of the work. However, those NDAs don’t appear to have functioned as intended because a report in Wired claims the project’s patron is none other than Meta big cheese Mark Zuckerberg. It is being reported that Zuckerberg’s survivalist compound has a 5,000 square foot underground bunker and will be “completely self-sufficient”… The ranch will have at least 30 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms and a network of tree houses that connect some of the rooms, according to Wired. Wired reports that the main residences will be joined by a 5,000-square-foot underground shelter that includes living spaces and an escape hatch. Sources told Wired the compound will be completely self-sufficient, with an 18-foot tall water tank and pump system and food production systems. Even a radical leftist like Mark Zuckerberg can sense that really bad stuff is on the horizon. And so he is taking action. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans are buying gold from Costco at a staggering rate… Wholesale retailer Costco sold more than $100 million worth of gold in the most recent quarter, with gold bars seeing high demand from customers. “You’ve probably read about the fact that we’re selling one-ounce gold bars. We sold over $100 million of gold during the quarter” ended Sept. 30, Richard Galanti, the chief financial officer of Costco, said during an earnings call on Dec. 14. This was the first quarter of fiscal 2024 at Costco. The wholesale retailer started selling gold online beginning September. In an earnings call late that month, Mr. Galanti had alluded to massive demand for the product. “When we load them [gold bars] on the site, they’re typically gone within a few hours.” So why are so many people hoarding gold right now? The answer is obvious. Inflation is completely out of control and we really are on the verge of a full-blown economic meltdown. Of course our economic problems are only a small part of a much larger picture. A “perfect storm” is now upon us, and it is going to get a lot more intense during the months ahead. Before I end this article, there is one more thing that I wanted to mention, and it is a sure sign that we really do live in apocalyptic times… Pope Francis has formally permitted priests to perform blessings for same-sex couples, a move that stops short of sanctioning same-sex marriages, but is still being heralded by some LGBTQ+ advocates as historic. The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office released Monday reaffirmed its previous statements saying marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman. But the document says requests for blessings from same-sex couples should not be denied, so long as the blessing is not conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or with the clothing and gestures that are part of a wedding. Did you ever think that you would live to see that? But this is just the beginning. Things are going to get a whole lot weirder. Millions upon millions of Americans can sense that we are heading into extremely chaotic times, and so they are feverishly getting prepared. Hopefully you are getting prepared too, because the clock is ticking… Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lateprepper.substack.com

    24 min

  3. 04/12/2023

    It's Time to Start Practicing Eating on the Cheap

    When I was in college, then later as a struggling new father and husband, we learned to eat very inexpensively. There were weeks when I could get by on under $10 with Ramen noodles (the Dollar Store often had them at $0.10 a package), cheap fresh veggies (a cucumber was practically a full meal for less than a quarter), and generic packages of processed meat. It’s a lot harder to do that today with inflation and growing food scarcity, but here’s the thing. If the crap hits the fan in any of an assortment of highly possible ways, many of us will be stuck trying to feed our families without the resources to do so very well. Eating insufficient amounts of food can harm us physically. But even those who have stored away emergency food or are living lifestyles that allows them to produce their own may find themselves with a different challenge. There can be psychological repercussions from major dietary changes. You or members of your family may find eating beans and rice every day drives you a little bonkers. I am hopeful that the current trajectory of the nation and the world can be reversed, but I’m not going to sit around and assume it will all end well. Knowing this, we are currently practicing “lean weeks” in which we live off the survival food we have rather than ordering out or getting fresh food from the grocery store. I discussed this a bit on today’s podcast. I referenced this article by Daisy Luther at The Organic Prepper: Rock-Bottom Meal Plan for Those Weeks When Money Is Tight Things are tough in America and they’re likely to get tougher. Many of us are forced to reallocate our money from one necessity to another and often, the thing that suffers first is our diets. If times are tight, you might find this article helpful. It’s a meal plan created from recipes and strategies in my new paperback, What to Eat When You’re Broke. We released this in PDF format recently and readers loved it. We got so many requests to put it in hard copy format that we couldn’t say no! So, it’s available on Amazon now as a paperback. The recipes in this article are all included in the book, which I’m selling just above cost. I hope you enjoy it, and please, give us a review on Amazon to help more people to see it when they’re searching for a way to feed their family during difficult times. Flat Broke Meal Plan This meal plan is per person per week. Multiply it by the number of people in your family. I’ve tried to make it as varied as possible, and there are a few things included that are not the cheapest on the market. They’ve been added for nutrient value. Obviously, if there are allergies or foods that your family won’t eat, feel free to substitute. I shouldn’t need to say this, but it’s impossible to write one meal plan that will work for every single reader. If you are vegan, gluten-free, diabetic, suffer from food allergies, eat keto, or strictly follow a particular nutritional lifestyle, this may not work for you. With that being said, let’s look at our menu! Stars * indicate that the full recipe is available in the book and you might also have your own recipes for these items. Breakfast Day 1: Oatmeal with brown sugar and banana Day 2: Cornbread* with butter and jam Day 3: Leftover cornbread, sliced and heated with a butter and brown sugar drizzle Day 4: Peanut butter and crackers, apple Day 5: Rice cooked with milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon Day 6: Biscuits and gravy* Day 7: Scrambled eggs and toast OR homemade pancakes with fruit Lunch Day 1: PB&J, apple Day 2: Pasta salad with tuna* (or canned chicken) Day 3: Bean burrito Day 4: Tomato soup* and crackers Day 5: Cold peanut butter noodles with shredded cabbage* Day 6: Tortilla pizzas* Day 7: Leftovers Dinner Day 1: Beef and vegetable soup* with frybread* Day 2: Baked beans with mac and cheese (canned and boxed easy meal for busy days) Day 3: Fried Gnocchi* with canned marinara sauce Day 4: Crockpot white chicken chili* Day 5: Pasta with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese (add ground meat if it’s in the budget) Day 6: Homemade pizza* Day 7: Ham (slice an inexpensive canned ham or picnic ham and use the leftover for split pea soup), scalloped potatoes*, Christmas beans* Six quick tips Here are some ideas to make the meals more filling if this menu leaves you feeling hungry. 1.) Just add bread – whether it’s toast from grocery-store sliced bread, fresh homemade bread, frybread, or cornbread, adding some bread for sopping up sauces and broth makes meals feel more satisfying. 2.) Add more carbs – rice or pasta makes everything go a bit further. 3.) Add beans for more protein. When you’re making soup or chili, add one more can of beans to the pot. 4.) Baked potatoes make everything better. Looking for a cheap, filling, and tasty side? You can’t beat a baked potato. Top it with butter, sour cream or plain yogurt, and chopped green onion. Eating the skin adds fiber and other nutrients to your diet. 5.) Add cheap fruit. Bananas and bagged apples tend to be the least expensive fruit. Add one serving per meal to make it more filling and finish off on a sweeter note. 6.) Focus most of your money on one meal per day. If you fill up on less expensive items for breakfast and lunch, you can swing a better and more filling dinner. This menu assumes that you probably have the basics in your kitchen, such as seasonings, spices, sugar, and cooking oil. In fact, you probably have much more than that. When I’ve reverted to this menu I am generally able to get very minimal groceries because I have plenty of canned goods and dry goods in my pantry. This just provides me with a great way to use them! Don’t miss out on the paperback! Help us make it to the top of the charts on Amazon by grabbing your copy this weekend! Your purchase means so much to me! As well, please do me a favor and leave a quick review if you feel I’ve earned five stars. Doing this ensures that people searching for a book like this are able to find mine and it makes an enormous difference in sales. I really believe that this book can help you (or someone you know who needs it) to get through hard times. In it, I share many of the strategies that allowed me to keep my children fed when I was a flat-broke single mama. Those times were difficult indeed, but my girls actually look back on that food and consider it their comfort food today. Most of the recipes require little in the way of hands-on time, because, in addition to being broke, I was also working full time, then chauffeuring my daughters to various places after I got off work.  I had a household to manage alone, laundry to do, and other requirements on my time so spending hours in the kitchen simply wasn’t an option. If you have more time, you can cut even more money off these recipes by making each component from scratch. Here’s the table of contents. I tried to make the book a lot of fun! * Introduction * Frugalicious Philosophies * Flat Broke Grocery Shopping * Basic Batches * Ultimate Frugal Formulas * Cheap Eats * Pantry Raid * What a Crock * Food with a Future * Love Your Leftovers * Seasonal Savings * Lazy ala Daisy * About the Author I hope you enjoy What to Eat When You’re Broke! Thank you so very much for your support. What about you? What do you eat when money is tight? Share your tastiest and most frugal meal ideas in the comments! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lateprepper.substack.com

    18 min

  4. 01/23/2023

    Should You Raise Chickens?

    Yes. That's it. That's the article. Well, it could be, because IF you have the means and IF you have the space and IF you're physically capable of raising chickens, then you definitely should consider buying and raising them. I was saying this before eggs became so expensive in the United States that people started smuggling them from Mexican supermarkets. Now, it's really a no-brainer. Here are three reasons why... Better Taste For a long time I didn't really buy into the notion that fresh eggs were any better than store-bought eggs. Then, I tried some. My aunt raises chickens as does my wife's sister. Both of us had separate opportunities to try actual "farm fresh" eggs that were laid within 24 hours of us eating them by chickens who were raised in backyards. Don't let anyone tell you they are no different from grocery store eggs. It's not even really a comparison. Then, there are the health benefits which I'll leave for you to research, but I've heard farm fresh eggs are simply more nutritious. Cheaper in the Long Term Chickens are actually pretty cheap to buy. Building or buying a chicken coop can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars up to however much you want to spend on them. The feed and other regular expenses are rising, though they're not terribly expensive just yet. Compare that to the price of eggs and suddenly it's clear how around one egg per chicken per day can add up in the long-term to tremendous savings. Indefinite Supply of Protein Let's call it what how we see it. The powers-that-be are in the process of eliminating and eventually outlawing natural forms of protein that aren't insects. They want us eventually eating lab-grown meats or cricketburgers as our primary source of protein, and by "eventually" I hope everyone understands we're talking about months or years, not decades. Chickens properly raised and cared for can produce anywhere from three or four eggs per week to an egg per day each. That's 5-8 grams of protein, not to mention other crucial nutrients, produced per chicken per day. Combine that with a freeze-dried protein bucket (promo code "prep2023" for 10% off or "prep2030" for 15% off orders over $777) and you'll have a long-term supply of real protein from real animals instead of relying on the government's mealworm lines. If you're thinking about buying and raising chickens, you're not alone. According to the article below by Tyler Durden over at Zero Hedge, people are becoming more and more interested in the idea... Egg Crisis Sparks Soaring Interest In Backyard Farms Covid supply chain snarls turned millions of Americans into "preppers" overnight. The run on toilet paper, food, guns, ammunition, and other essential items for survival pushed millions to consider preparedness for a crisis. Remember all those old-school preppers? The media used to refer to them as "extreme" and even called them "tin-foil hat conspiracy" folks, but during the shutdowns, those folks were right, and the mainstream media got it wrong. The next shortage underway is eggs. Readers have seen our notes on supermarkets nationwide running out of eggs. The egg shortage is so severe that last week the US Customs and Border Protection reported that egg smuggling from Mexico erupted. And why is that? Well, a dozen Grade A eggs in the US have topped $4.25 at supermarkets. In Mexico, a 30 count of eggs is about $3.40. US egg prices have topped the national average gasoline per gallon price at the pump. As a result of the egg crisis, internet search trends on Google show Americans are panic searching where to find egg-laying hens for their backyard. The search trend "where to buy chickens near me" erupted to a near multi-decade high. "Buy chickens near me" searches explode across the US. Besides the Covid spike, "how to raise chickens" has spiked to levels not seen in a decade. Over the last several years, food insecurity has pushed many Americans to create 'little backyard farms'- something their parents or grandparents did more than half a century ago. Living off the land was standard decades ago, but as metropolises sprung up, people relied more on a corporation (or even the government) to provide food. Soaring distrust in government and corporations had transformed many into preppers following the pandemic shutdowns when some supplies were impossible to find. People don't want to be left empty-handed when the next crisis arises. This has led to a new generation of preppers and the normalization of being prepared. Speaking of Beef Okay, so nobody brought up beef but I will. We are getting into the beef business, expanding our thriving freeze-dried chicken business to include cows. We only bought 10 cows for our initial run so it's first come, first served. We have non-GMO cows that aren't getting the dreaded mRNA vaccines the powers-that-be are pushing now. Grass fed, grain finished. We'll be selling frozen steaks, ground beef, and roasts, PLUS we'll be selling long-term storage freeze dried beef chunks. If you want to be notified when we open for orders, go to my beef page. Alternative Video Sources: * Rumble * Gab * Brighteon * Odysee This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lateprepper.substack.com

    18 min

  5. 11/21/2022

    How to Beat the Amoxicillin Shortage Before it Becomes a Crisis

    America is on the path toward a massive Amoxicillin shortage. Anyone who has tried to get it recently either lucked out on the first try or had to search again and again for a pharmacy that could fulfill the prescription. We are on the verge of a full-blown antibiotic crisis and the Biden-Harris regime has it on the backburner. It's not that they don't want to fix it. It's that the United States is so beholden to China for pharmaceuticals that the regime doesn't have an easy fix. Around 90% of the ingredients used to make drugs like Amoxicillin come from China. This is an ugly situation to be in with a supply chain crisis and tensions rising. Winter is coming. This isn't the time to be short on drugs that can prevent a simple infection from becoming life-threatening. This is why we started working with a company that ships Amoxicillin and four other antibiotics to telehealth patients. Those who have read my work or heard my shows for the past year or so know that proper preparedness has been one of my biggest pushes and being prepared medically is on the top of the list. One does not have to be a full-blown "doomsday prepper" in a bunker to make common sense choices as negative situations continue to rise in America. Of all the problems we face as a nation and as a people, this is the one that has the fewest options available for both our government and for individuals. We can debate the insanity of becoming dependent on China some other time. Today, we need to focus on solving the problem, and for individuals that means stocking up on antibiotics that can be stored long-term (use promo code "RUCKER10" for $10 off). Medical professionals have been ringing the alarm bell of late, but the warnings are getting drowned out by a partnership between government, corporate media, and Big Pharma to focus solely on getting as many people to take the Covid jabs as many times as possible. There's money, power, and access on the line for those who are supposed to be revealing the medical truth and unfortunately for us the Covid jabs are the only priority. According to Prevention: There’s no clear answer. The ASHP lists out several pharmaceutical companies that have reported amoxicillin shortages and noted that they didn’t provide a reason for the lack of supply. But amoxicillin has “become restricted in the supply chain due to increased use,” says Stephanie Field, M.B.A., director of pharmacy business services at Corewell Health West. Meaning, demand for the drug has ramped up as a slew of illnesses circulate. It’s also possible that supply chain issues that have plagued nearly every industry since the pandemic began are at play here, too, says Crystal Tubbs, Pharm.D., associate director of pharmacy services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Shortages in general can be caused by supply/demand issues, shortages of raw materials or other ingredients needed to manufacture the drug, logistics interruptions and/or challenges with manufacturing facilities,” she explains. According to Red State: Translation: Big Pharma is too busy counting their billions from the utterly ineffective COVID vaccines they are still pushing to care about mundane drugs that actually work. The problem has become critical, as the Daily Mail notes. The Children’s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics joined forces to urge the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to declare a Public Health Emergency in order to assist strapped hospitals. Declaring a state of emergency would allow Secretary Becerra to distribute financial assistance to states, work with companies to produce more treatments and supplies, loosen licencing requirements that will help alleviate healthcare staffing shortages, and expand hospital capacity. Maybe if it was an issue among illegal immigrants they might care. But I digress. A sick child’s parents have no patience for muddled supply chain blaming, even as earlier this year, hungry babies’ parents were in no mood for sanctimonious breastfeeding lectures in lieu of fixing the baby formula shortage. Considering the Biden Administration’s utter ineptitude in solving the baby formula crisis, perhaps we shouldn’t ask them to look at the amoxicillin problem. We chose long ago to only work with sponsors who offered real solutions to our readers. This is why we're not promoting inconsequential sponsored products like "Lordships" or coffee mugs. Those can be extremely profitable, but we make sure all of our sponsors are making a difference for Americans, either with their products like storable antibiotics or their companies like Mike Lindell. It's getting crazier and crazier out there. The midterm elections didn't offer much relief. With the Chinese Communist Party bent on opposing America as well as taking control of Taiwan, it's very likely we will see a full-blown Amoxicillin crisis someday soon. Now is not the time to rely on the Biden-Harris regime or Kevin McCarthy to fix things. In fact, there's NEVER a time to rely on government to do for us what we should be doing for ourselves. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lateprepper.substack.com

    10 min

  6. 11/18/2022

    No Space? No Money? You Should Consider a Micro-Retreat

    Editor's Commentary: I know the article below only qualifies as a true "late prepper" article for a handful if our audience, but it's an interesting read nonetheless if only to spark ideas that we can use in our lives. As much as I wish we could all just pick up from where we are, find a secluded homestead with all of the necessary survival gear already set up, and wait out the apocalypse quietly tucked away, that's just not reality for most. I will be posting more articles with more useful tips and tricks. To be fair, I've been so busy during election season that I haven't had much time to work on my own preps, let alone offer tips. But the election is done so it's time for me to get into it all again, especially considering the election means we're closer now to whatever might make us use our preps. For those who are actually considering moving to a safer area, it may behoove you to consider one of our newest sponsors and their amazing bunkers. I covered the article below in a short segment on the latest episode of The JD Rucker Show. Below is the article by J.G. Martinez at The Organic Prepper. Most of us are not exactly farmers and will have a hard time growing or raising what we intend to eat if we just one day decide to start living off our harvests. It is a fact. Hunters and fishers obviously will have an edge after the collapse, but sadly, I am almost sure that in a tribal environment, my social position would not be too high. That said, maybe joining a tribe after some age won’t be as romantic as it seems. Maybe a better idea, in order to live longer, is to stay low profile and semi-hidden, with only a few close friends and family nearby. At some age, you need some peace. For many old-school survivalists of times already gone, the proper approach was a complete farm. The amount of work involved with this path is plenty. The more land you have to take care of, the more problems! I’ve seen this a few times. Hard-working people who made a few bucks with three or four crops in a row expanded their business by buying another farm somewhere else, and…bang! With twice the land, their problems multiplied exponentially, and the need for further investment followed. However, maybe for many of us, the ideal location is not a full-size homestead or a large compound. A micro-retreat may be the solution. The word “micro” suggests that something minimal should come to mind. My technical background immediately clicks when I think about anything related to a production facility, and I imagine a highly productive but compact environment. I have always been fascinated by those overlanders’ custom-built rigs over a Mercedes Unimog chassis. They are compact and space-efficient but comfortable enough for prolonged stays. This is a remarkable example of a well-done micro-habitat. Also, think about the tiny house movement. Some of those properties are designed for boondocking – living away from civilization and services. (Want to know how to keep your family fed when you have to use a micro-retreat? Check out our free QUICKSTART Guide to building a 3-layer food storage system.) A micro-retreat doesn’t have to be a micro-producer. Depending on your family group, or whatever the flavor of “clan” you may have, you could craft a small place quite productive with proper planning, provided you know your climate and your skill level. You could even disguise it as a “vacation” property. The beauty of this is that nobody has to know that your gun safe is in a hidden portion of the basement in your “hunting cabin.” Or, nobody has to know that those PVC DIY empty shelves in your basement will be to grow microgreens to complement your food supply. Such planning will make your life easier. There will be less investment to make, you will work smarter and not harder (something that will make your senior years more pleasant!), and generally, it will be much easier to keep your place clean and well-maintained. A “micro-retreat” doesn’t mean you have to restrict yourself to the bare minimum land for your needs. A plague could attack your crops. Someone could arrive unexpectedly, and you will need some extra. The ideal setup would be a place secluded enough, but where unexpected visitors will be able to stay, if needed. As an example, you could think of a small greenhouse. You must think in terms of vertical expansion (upwards and downwards)if you want to keep the initial cost of a micro-retreat low enough and to maximize the space. I like to think the positive part of a small setup is that it will be much easier to keep hidden. Planting thorny bushes around will make it inextricable in a few years and will hide your orchard, gardens, and buildings. You may combine this with earthbag DIY construction that you can cover with dirt and some weed or grass grows over an ingenious layout, and it will be almost undetectable. You may want it as a semi-permanent, permanent, or temporary residence. The size will depend on what you want, what you need, and what you can afford. That’s the compromise. Planning includes thinking thoroughly and drawing a sketch with the layout you believe you’re going to need. By dividing your needs into sections, or compartments, you will make sure it will be easier to make a much more complete analysis of what you need. You need to know what is next to you! Neighbors? A cliff? A mountainside that could generate a mudslide? A lake? A river that could flood your place under several days of heavy rains? Hunting/fishing areas? And, by extension, you need to know what you don’t want nearby! Try to keep things at a proper size using scaling. What I like about the concept of a micro-retreat is that you don’t need too much space if you are on your own or have a small family. However, having space outdoors will be a big deal, even if your bedroom is a bunk bed on top of a study or desktop. And, if you build an area to hang out, even better. You may want to use some advice from those who are professionals at living in small spaces. Use vertical space. You may even think on three levels, provided you’re in a place with plenty of sunlight: * Level 1: A terrace with a pergola on top. Place solar panels here for Level 3. Have planters all around with spices or flowers. This level could double as a place to drink coffee, have dinner, or hang out. Or work as a watchtower. Make it easy to access with round stairs. Build it pretty, and make sure the water collected by this roof is collected. * Level 2: Maybe some tanks for tilapia or more plants that don’t need too much sun? Perhaps you may want to start the microgreens growing at this level?. A secondary walk-in pantry? Materials storage, like plumbing, wiring, and car spare parts? Your woodworking shop? Butcher room? Smoker/dry food storage? * Level 3: This is a basement. (Want uninterrupted access to The Organic Prepper? Check out our paid-subscription newsletter.) Here are a few final thoughts of mine on micro-retreats… LED grow lights, a small pump for the water/nutrition solution mixture, and shelves with the greens will improve your capabilities to produce highly nutritive vegetables in a reduced space. You don’t need to dig too much. Just do good research on this topic. Even better, if you can afford more than one, isn’t it always a good idea to have some redundancy in your survival assets? Why not build yet another micro-retreat in a place further away, just in case, then? You don’t have to “think big.” Especially if the economy forced you to do with what you have. Wise use of small spaces can be a challenge but very rewarding in the end as well. Let us know what you think in the comment section below and keep tuned for more! Have you considered a micro-retreat? What do you think about going small-scale for survival? Have you thought about downsizing instead of creating bigger and more elaborate plans? What do you see as the pros and cons? Let’s discuss the concept of micro-retreats. About Jose Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has an old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Jose and his younger kid are currently back in Venezuela, after the intention of setting up a new life in another country didn’t  go well. The SARSCOV2 re-shaped the labor market and South American economy so he decided to give it a try to homestead in the mountains, and make a living as best as possible. But this time in his own land, and surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances, with all the gear and equipment collected, as the initial plan was.  Follow Jose on YouTube and gain access to his exclusive content on Patreon. Donations: paypal.me/JoseM151 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lateprepper.substack.com

    6 min

  7. 09/14/2022

    How to Stockpile Foods With a Long Shelf Life

    Editor's Note: We do everything we can to filter through the various opinions when it comes to prepping. There is no universally agreed upon strategy. Everyone must assess their own situation and come up with a plan. All we can do is offer some guidance. For today's (long overdue) episode of Late Prepper, I referenced the article below by Kevin Hughes at Natural News. As I noted in the show, I don't completely agree with everything that's in the article but it's a good starting point, especially for those who are truly late to the game. Here's Kevin's article... Stockpiling foods that can last for weeks or years is not just a smart way of beating rising food costs. It can also help you save money and be prepared for emergencies. In the event of a long power outage, having even a small supply of long-shelf life foods, such as dry goods, canned goods and freeze-dried foods, can make a big difference. You’ll also be grateful to have a little extra food at home when you get sick and can’t go out to buy groceries. Because of inflation and rising food prices, keeping shelf-stable foods is a good investment. Tips for stocking up on food Remember to stock up on foods that you actually eat or drink. Don’t stockpile foods that you or your family members are allergic to or won’t touch. When buying groceries, you should also know the exact quantity of food your family consumes on a regular basis; buy some extra. (Related: 10 Tips for stockpiling food.) Foods from a supermarket or grocery all have an expiration date, which indicates when a food product will start to taste bad. However, some food products are still safe to eat well past their expiration date. To determine if you should get rid of an expired food item or not, look for signs that the food has gone bad. Bloated or leaking cans, signs of mold or insect damage and a foul odor are just some warning signs that a product is no longer safe for consumption. You should also stock up on ingredients that you often use in your recipes, like herbs and spices and canned sauces. If your family likes to drink tea or coffee, stock up on them as well. Pay attention to the foods you want to stockpile and learn to experiment in the kitchen. Before buying plenty, try cooking with a certain food or product to make sure that you really like its taste and you’ll consume it. Dry goods like salt, sugar, grains, flour, rice and dried beans can be stored at room temperature. Remember that dry goods are historically crucial food supplies that you need to store in bulk for months or years. To prolong their shelf life, you can store them in Mylar bags or other airtight containers. Ways to extend the shelf life of foods There are many ways to extend the shelf life of foods in your stockpile. Here are some tips to follow: * Store food in a cool, dry place. Be mindful of the temperature; some foods are fine with room temperature while others prefer freezing temperatures. * Check the humidity in your storage area. Wheat, flour and other dry goods should be stored in a place with little to no moisture in the air. Fresh foods like fruits and vegetables require a specific humidity level to extend the time they can be in storage. * Fats react with oxygen and easily go rancid, so choose foods with low fat content. These foods will keep for long in storage. * Consider reducing oxygen in your storage area since oxidation causes food to spoil quickly. * Use tightly sealed containers to reduce oxidation and make food last longer. * Store foods away from direct sunlight and in airtight containers. Foods with a long shelf life When SHTF, having a stockpile of shelf-stable foods will help you and your family survive. Here’s a list of the best long-shelf life foods to store: * Foods that last 25 to 30+ years: White rice, wild rice, rolled oats, corn, buckwheat and red or white winter wheat; legumes like pinto beans, black beans, lentils and peas; waxed cheese; dehydrated fruit slices; freeze-dried eggs and instant coffee; white flour; dried corn like dent or flint corn; hardtack; soy sauce; and freeze-dried meals like MREs (meals ready to eat) * Foods that last 5 to 25 years: Raw molasses, powdered eggs, dehydrated carrots, ghee, powdered low-fat milk, powdered sour cream, canned goods, freeze -dried bacon and freeze-dried fruits * Foods that last 2 to 5 years: Virgin coconut oil, spices, mustard powder, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, pasta products, canned soup and chili, canned tuna, chicken and beef; pemmican, frozen eggs, jelly, jam, canned fruit, pickled veggies, peppercorns and flavored liquor * Foods that last 1 to 2 years: Regular beef jerky, bouillon cubes, canned tomato sauce, salsa and other tomato-based products; vegetable oil, whole powdered milk, peanut butter, dried raisins, cranberries and cherries; homegrown garlic, pancake mix, ground pepper, frozen broccoli, corn off the cob and vacuum-sealed frozen meat * Foods that last 3 to 9 months: Hard winter squash, long storage apples, long storage potatoes, brown rice, short storage potatoes, breakfast cereal, block cheese, farm-fresh (unwashed) eggs, granola bars, homegrown carrots or parsnips, supermarket garlic cloves, vanilla beans, storage onion, sausage, beer and packaged frozen meat * Foods that last a couple of weeks to three months: Sweet onions, minced jarred garlic, pears, short storage apples, supermarket eggs, regular squash, strawberries, walnuts, garden tomatoes, pumpkin, supermarket tomatoes and asparagus * Foods that last indefinitely: Salt, sugar, baking soda and baking powder, if stored properly * Raw honey, a healthy sugar substitute, can last forever. Visit FoodFreedom.news for more articles like this. Watch the video below to learn how to make your own storable food with a long shelf life. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: * Food storage tips and tricks for preppers. * Food storage tips: 11 Superfoods that boost your nutrient intake. * Prepping on a budget: 12 Ways to prep without spending too much. * Food storage tips: How to keep pests out of your survival stockpile. Sources include: * CommonSenseHome.com * DystopianSurvival.com * Brighteon.com * NATURAL NEWS This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lateprepper.substack.com

    19 min

  8. 07/28/2022

    22 "Non-Essential" Items to Stock Up on Before Things Get Much Worse

    Food, water, shelter, medicine, and ammunition/firearms are five things that are essential for survival in a societal collapse. As the possibility of such a collapse increases seemingly every day, more people have been signing up my Late Prepper Substack. It's telling that just a few weeks ago we struggled to get free subscriptions, but today they come in even if we don't publish anything for several days. I've neglected to post things here lately simply because I've been busy prepping myself. But a task I've been working on this week prompted me to take the list I made and share it with others. These are the "non-essential" items we're stocking up on now. By putting "non-essential" in quotes, I'm suggesting that yes, we can technically survive without them, but it's a lot easier if you have a good supply of these items. This is not a comprehensive list by any means. It's just the things that I've logged as items we're stocking up on to make sure we're not caught flatfooted if the crap hits the fan. I made this list based on two criteria — usability and barter value. Some items we can buy cheaply today will be like gold in an end-times scenario. One does not need to be a "doomsday prepper" living off-grid on a homestead in Montana to recognize the need for these items. Even city- and suburb-dwellers may lose access to such supplies if the system fails. Being ready is extraordinarily important, especially when we look at the trajectory of the nation and the world. 1. Bleach Unscented bleach can literally be a lifesaver as it pertains to making water potable. While we recommend the Alexapure Water Filtration System, a little bit of bleach will do the trick as well. There are many other uses, of course, and perhaps most importantly it's very cheap... for now. 2. Batteries, Chargers Batteries generally have a 10-year shelf life when unopened. We like rechargeable batteries, especially if you have a solar generator or other sustainable electricity supply. 3. Lighters, Matches, Alternative Fire-Starters Fire can be the key to survival. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to produce for most people. Learning how to start and build a fire in a pinch is important, but I'm a big fan of stocking up on things that make it easier. 4. Contact Lenses, Glasses Depending on optical and financial situation, it may behoove you to have a long-term supply of contact lenses. Have multiple glasses is definitely a best-practice. As for bartering and use, having a nice supply of inexpensive reading glasses could come in handy as well. 5. Super Glue In a crap-hits-the-fan scenario, being able to fix things as they break is going to be extremely important. Glue is helpful. 6. Duct Tape Like super glue, but for different purposes. I have ongoing shipments of six-packs of duct tape heading to my home every month. 7. Vaseline As a lubricant and accelerant, few things are more useful than Vaseline, even without considering the medical benefits. A little Vaseline, a cotton ball, and a stick can make a little torch. 8. Insect Repellent Call me paranoid, but I'm very concerned about mosquitos and other insects in a post-apocalyptic world. Heck, I'm not crazy about them now. As anyone who has been to Africa knows, mosquito bites can be deadly. 9. Soap, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Hygiene Items They last a long time (indefinitely?), are extremely important for you health and wellbeing, and can be excellent barter currency if you have enough available. Besides, if things get better it's not like you won't go through your supply eventually. 10. Hand Sanitizer Personally, I'm not a fan of hand sanitizer. But every list mentions them so I suppose a lot of people like it. Call me old-fashioned by I like soap and water. 11. Tools and Backups, Nails, Screws Considering we may have to build or repair things in the long term if the crap hits the fan, making sure you have everything you need to accomplish your tasks makes sense. This should NOT be considered a barter item. 12. Knives and Saws Unlike most other tools, sharp necessary items like knives and saws wear down rapidly with regular use. It behooves many of us to have plenty of high-quality sharps available. 13. Flashlights, Candles, Lanterns I'm fan of variety over quality when it comes to lighting. I know many swear by the high-dollar versions of these items, but I'll take cheap and good enough quality in bulk for the same price. Some flashlights you keep should not need batteries; hand-cranked or solar flashlights can be hugely beneficial. 14. Paper, Pens, Pencils So many uses, plus tons of regret if you don't have enough paper and writing instruments. 15. Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, and Rags I was extremely annoyed during the Spring of 2020 when stores kept running out of toilet paper. I railed against people who bought two-year supplies of toilet paper. Today, I have a two-year supply of toilet paper. One important note: I'm a big fan of reusable rags and towels. Having disposable items is fine but require disposal and are obviously finite. Having rags you can use, clean, and reuse will be important. 16. Bungie Cord, Ropes, String, Zip Ties Repairing an building will likely be required if the crap hits the fan and stays bad for a long time. Bungie cords, ropes, string, and zip ties have unlimited uses. 17. Seeds This is a food items, but it's one that falls outside of the realm of straight food because it doesn't take up much space and can be stored away to be used in the distant future. If you have plenty of seeds, you may never use them, but if you don't have them you'll probably need them. 18. Tarps Cheap and useful. 19. Plastic Bags Cheap and useful, too. 20. Kids' Needs Don't forget the kids, especially babies! Diapers, baby wipes, powders... we've seen in our current situation how hard it is to keep baby formula on the shelves. Imagine if the crap hits the fan how other items will also be hard to acquire. 21. Baking Soda Unlimited uses, and not just for cooking. 22. Fire Extinguishers If things continue to go south, it's not inconceivable that basic emergency services will be hard or even impossible to call. One does not want to lose everything over an accident that could have been easily suppressed. Side Note The most important thing to stock up on is hope. Read your Bible. Pray. Keep fighting the good fight. Doom and gloom is everywhere and spreading, but it's not hopeless. Not by a long shot. We have multiple long-term food storage sponsors for a variety of choices and needs, plus a pair of quality precious metals sponsors to help you protect wealth and retirement. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lateprepper.substack.com

    37 min
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Economic collapse. Martial law. Something worse. It's time to start prepping. lateprepper.substack.com

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