To give you an inside look at a prepper’s life, below are the entries in Pete the Pickled Prepper’s Diary, which are in order of most recent to oldest. If you look back, the earliest posts take place during initial COVID-19 quarantine in March of 2020.

A Prepper's Diary

The water flow through the particulate filter on the right, into the charcoal filter (barely seen on the bottom) and then through the UV light for final purification.

Calculating the True Cost of “Perfect” Water

A free grant-funded water purification system sounds like a win, but every piece of tech adds a maintenance tax.
The fields and ditches are filled with goldenrod and other weedy plants that the bees thrive on.

Homestead Update and Survival Thoughts

Despite solar power deficits and excessively warm weather, the escalating geopolitical friction proves why self-reliant rural living beats blue city decay.
From .38SPL to 9mm, the only one of these rounds you should be using for serious business is the JHP on the far right. Of course, any ammo is better than no ammo.

New Subsonic Loads: Are we Trading Silence for Power?

Palmetto State Armory's new 158-grain subsonic 9mm is great for quiet range days, but don't confuse it with duty ammo.
eggplant and zucchini are still being harvested from our garden.

The Bad News No One Tells You About Prepper Gardens

Discover why backyard gardens won't feed you post-SHTF and what you need to do to maximize your food production.
A family camping in a tent. Photo by Mattias Helge on Unsplash.

Prepper Recommendations for September 2026

September is National Preparedness month. Learn how to audit your vehicle kit, upgrade your concealed carry, and build a survival cache.
Whether patrolling at night or using darkness for cover while bugging out, moving at night adds complications and delay.

Moving, Navigating, and Living in a Grid-Down World

Master night movement, light discipline, and learn when to hide in the dark and when to use 1,000 lumens.
Storing food is a good starting point for preppers, but it is just the beginning.

Do you Feel a Disturbance in the Force?

People are worried. Should you be? How to protect your family from inflation, recession and economic instability before it is too late.
This is the head of a foxtail millet before it turns dries and turns brown. This grew in our chicken run from a seed from chicken scratch.

I Stumbled Upon a Post-SHTF Chicken Feed

Discover how sprouted chicken scratch lead me to find a potential source of post-SHTF chicken feed from a grain that has feed people for centuries.
Is Russia planning to attack a NATO country? And if so, are you prepared for that?

The Wars Aren’t Going Away; Things May Be Getting Worse

The global war threat is expanding. What does the CIA's secret Moscow visit to Ukraine’s infrastructure attacks, mean for your preps?
Pete heads off to the city for a special assignment be is not at liberty to discuss.

Pete Goes on a Special Assignment

More about my special assignment below. First, a quick homestead update: We processed an additional 120 pounds of honey this weekend for a grand total...
Costco had span on sale for $2.37 a can. The black beans were not as good a buy.

Costco Versus Sam’s Club: Which is Best for Preppers?

Costco or Sam's Club for survival supplies? Discover which wholesale club gives preppers the best bang for their buck to build a long-term pantry.
Ironweed starting to turn from buds to blooms signals the end summer in this part of the country.

Goldenrod and Ironweed Signal an Early End to Summer

Early goldenrod and ironweed signal a fast-approaching autumn. It's time to wrap up summer, make the fall harvest, and prep for the coming winter.
A recent court challenge is making it easier for preppers to obtain short-barreled rifles and suppressors without filling out reams of government paperwork.

A Prepper’s Perspective on the Recent NFA Ruling

The recent Texas NFA ruling means preppers can finally buy suppressors and SBRs without ATF registry or delays. Here’s how to capitalize.
The city and the country are light night and day. Where you choose to live and work affects many aspects of your life and your preparedness.

This Country Boy Revisits the Big City

After living in the middle of nowhere for six years, Pete the Pickled Prepper returns to the big city. Can he re-adapt or will he head back home in a hurry.
Images of the In-N-Out Burger shooter during his mass attack in Twin Falls, Idaho. He was confronted by three heroes armed with pistols.

What the In-N-Out Burger Shooting Teaches Preppers

We can learn from tragedies, including the In-N-Out shooting in Idaho. Its a reminder of why carrying a gun and a trauma kit can save lives.
When the grid is down and the internet is out, having reference books will be incredibly useful.

Prepping Beyond the Basics: Barter, Books, and Backups

If the SHTF and we have to live without utilities, where will you turn for access to information, entertainment, or goods?
Back in the 1800s, people raised their own food without power tools, tractors, or rototillers. In a post-collapse society, you may need to do the same. Are you prepared for that?

Beyond the Basics: Steps Serious Preppers Should Take

Stockpiling food and ammo isn't enough. Discover the essentials beyond food and water you need to survive a long-term collapse.
Drinking "wild" water without filtration or other treatment is one of the ways you can get diarrhea after the SHTF,

The SHTF Threat Nobody Talks About: Prepping for Explosive Diarrhea

Diarrhea--explosive or not--can be a deadly after the SHTF. Learn how to prevent, treat, and prep for gastrointestinal illness when the grid goes down.
Hurricane Laura was a category 4 storm when it slammed into the Gulf Coast with winds of 150 MPH.

Prepper Recommendations for August 2026

August brings the peak of hurricane season. From grid-down stress tests to bug-out bag updates, here is your August 2026 prepping checklist.
The mountain ridge furthest back with the heaviest fog is where we live. I took this photo earlier this week--no AI enhancements. The ragged trees on the left are what is left two years after Hurricane Helene.

Failures, Repairs, and Preventative Measures: A Homestead Update

There are downsides to homestead life, but we manage them, do preventive maintenance, and prep to mitigate the downsides.
The B-2 steal bomber will be used when the U.S. goes full-force against iran.

Will the U.S. Nuke Iran if they Kill President Trump? Part...

What would really happen if the U.S. decides to send Iran back to the Dark Ages, and what it would mean in Europe, Asia, and here at home.
Sam's Club had hundreds of pounds of rice in stock last week, perfect for prepping.

Stocking Up and Moving Out Before the SHTF

Time is running out to stockpile food and escape the city. Learn why rural living and bulk prepping are your best bets for SHTF survival.
A protest turns violent and looting breaks out after darkness falls.

Surviving the Use of Nuclear Weapons – Part Two

Our step-by-step plan action plan for reacting to a nuclear crisis in Europe, Learn what we buy, when and where.
This is what a small tactical nuke hit on Odessa might look like.

Is the World Growing Closer to the Use of Nuclear Weapons?

If Russia launches a tactical nuclear strike on Ukraine, would you be ready? Do you have a plan for that? If not, make one now.
This is my minimum EDC, minus the phone, which I used to snap the photo. This stuff goes in my pocket every day. Sometimes a revolver, tourniquet, or other gear is added.

SHTF Reality Check: Matching Your Tactical Loadout to the Threat

How tactical do you need to be as a prepper? We look at several scenarios and the ins and outs of concealed carry, open carry and rifle carry.
The Rhode island Reds are developing some speckles and color. We still aren't sure which one is the rooster.

Summer Chores Begin as the Rain Ends

Summer homesteading is about more than harvesting and preserving food; it's about getting ready for the coming winter.
Iran still has ballistic missiles, and it is launching them at other gulf states and U.S. bases around the region.

The War with Iran Restarts—and No One Cares

While Americans are distracted by their phones, the war with Iran is entering a destructive new phase. It's time to turn off the screen, check your preps, and stay vigilant.
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