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

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.
These are the ten boxes of honey we pulled from the hives. You can see the fresh white wax on many of the frames.

Phase Two of our 2026 Honey Harvest Will Be our Largest...

The honey is rolling into the homestead! As we prepare for our largest harvest yet, we take our new extractor for a spin.
It is always a good time to stock the prepper pantry, one of several recommendations Pete has for July.

Prepper Recommendations for July 2026

Check out Pete's recommendations for what you should do this month to increase your preparedness and self-reliance.
Working on a homestead is hot work in the summer. Its even worse when the AC is out or the grid is down.

No HVAC–It’s Like a Grid-Down Training Scenario

A lack of air conditioning tests us and resiliency. We consider a mini-split, plus an update on our new chickens and the queen bees.
Throughout its history, the U.S. has overcome setbacks and challenges but continues to move forward.

Predictions of America’s Decline are Premature

Throughout its history, the U.S. has overcome setbacks and challenges but continues to move forward. It remains a good place to live, work, and invest.
Young, recently mated queens in a queen cages with their attendents. These cages go into the hive and the bees chew their way out through shiny blob to join the hive.

Dealing with the Heat Dome and Weak Queens

A fellow beekeeper raises her own queens and has extra mated queens. She asked me if I needed any. Since I had two under-performing...
An Ebola warning sign from a prior outbreak.

The 2026 Ebola Outbreak: Why Preppers Need to Stay Vigilant

The 2026 Ebola outbreak in Africa is expanding and may be out of control. Could it spread here, and if so, where? What can you do to stay safe?
These fifteen new chicks are our next generation of egg layers.

New Arrivals on the Homestead

We are gearing up to produce more eggs and honey for our use and for sale. Its an important part of our self-sufficiency.
magazine with ammo

Ammo Costs Continue to Rise As Potential Shortage Builds

Gasoline prices may be falling, but ammunition prices are rising. Take your gas savings and add a few boxes of ammo to your survival stockpile.
German bombers caused swaths of destruction in England during WWII.

Bombs, Blasts, and Survivors: The Importance of Resilience

History proves humanity survives the worst. Community, resilience, and teamwork may be the keys to surviving a major disaster.
The aftermath of culling the spent hens.

The Zombie Rooster and the Homestead Slaughter

There comes a time when chickens have outlived their usefulness and aren't earning their keep, so we culled our spent hens this weekend.
Flames rose over Moscow as Ukrainian drones targeted a key refinery outside the Russian capital.

Moscow Burns as Drone Arms Race Brings New Danger

Small drones are changing the face of warfare. Here is what preppers must learn from this asymmetric threat.
Honey pours out of the extractor, which uses centrifugal force to propel the honey out of the comb after we remove the wax capping.

The Honey Harvest is In the Jar

The first part of the honey harvest is in and being bottled, but there will be one or two more this year as honey remains on the hives.
When prices drop, it's a good time to fill your tank and your spare cans.

The Iran Peace Deal: Don’t Let Your Guard Down

Take advantage of the Iran peace deal and the lower price of fuel to replenish any preps you used. There are other threats we must prep for.
There maybe times when having a license plate that cannot be read by automatic plate readers is an advantage.

How to Keep your Real Life and your Prepper Life Siloed...

This is the conclusion of the series that started last week. For perspective, you should read the first and second parts before you read...
Being the one house on the block with solar power can make you a refuge, or a target.

Surviving the 23% Surge in Electricity Prices

In the last year, 39 states saw the cost of electricity rise faster than inflation. Here on the homestead, our solar panels generate financial returns as well as power.
Some wild animal chewed through our water supply. We're still getting water, but less than normal.

A Wild Weekend on the Homestead

Rural life isn't easy, but it can be interesting and challenging. This weekend proves the point, from contaminated water to animal rescues.
This is what it looked like when the cutting was getting underway. The splitter is under the camo tarp.

Firewood: It’s What’s on the Menu this Week

No big post today, just these two photos to let you know its been a busy but productive week on the homestead as we...
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