The Pickled Prepper

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 Iranian government's internet and communications blackout is a clear sign it is struggling to control the populace.

Lessons for Preppers from the 2026 Iranian Collapse

Learn to spot the warning signs of societal collapse, from bank runs to comms blackouts, using the 2026 Iranian crisis as a blueprint.
Serving half a can of chili over a bed of white rice with a side of artisan sourdough turns a 350-calorie snack into a robust 750-calorie meal. In a long-term SHTF scenario, mastering the art of stretching your canned goods with home-grown or bulk-stored staples is the difference between starvation and stamina

Survival Math: Stretching Your Prepper Pantry After SHTF

Is a 15oz can of chili enough for survival? Discover the math of stretching rations and the hard truths of sharing food after SHTF.
I snapped this quick shot when I opened a hive yesterday. The reason it is blurry is because my phone was in portrait mode. There were more bees than I expected this time of year, and it worries me that they might consume their resources before spring, despite having most of a pollen patty still available (on the right).

Homestead Update: Managing Bees in Unpredictable Weather

Beekeeping in January, upgrading the Ruger 10/22, and vacuum-sealing ammo. How unusual weather is shifting this winter's homesteading priorities.
Is this what New York City will look like after four or eight years of a socialist mayor?

Will New York Become the Next Venezuela?

New York’s new leadership mirrors the path of Venezuela's collapse. Learn the survival lessons of living in a socialist regime.
Ukraine continues to strike Russia energy infrastructure with a variety of weapons, including Ukrainian-built long range attack drones.

Is the Ukraine Peace Deal Dead?

Trump’s peace deal is 90% there, but the last 10% means war. Are you ready for the Gray War and other consequences?
This is the kind of weather we have been experiencing, and we don't generate much solar power when its snowing or cloudy.

Temperature Swings and Power Failures

The homestead faces a winter reality check as December leaves just like it came in: with a blast of snow and bitter cold.
We are walking on a knife edge, meaning things could go either way in 2026.

Pete’s 2026 Predictions: Walking the Knife Edge

War, the economy and illness. My 2026 predictions have it all, plus my personal plan for food storage, security, and incremental prepping steps.
These are screen grabs from the KITCO app on my phone. They are the industry standard if you want to track precious metals spot prices.

Silver Continues Its Remarkable Run

Silver rocketed to another record close this week, gaining $12 or $19 percent. Check out what junk silver is now worth.
This is the screen I see when I log into Gemini, the AI model Google offers.

Blending the Human in the Machine: My Personal AI Experiment

AI wants to write this blog, but Pete refuses to let it! Plus, tricks and tips he has learned that can help you get the most from AI.
This is what AI imagines it looks like when the Coast Guard seizes an oil tanker.

Is Seizing Tankers an Act of Piracy, of War, or Neither?

U.S. forces seize tankers near Venezuela as the Trump administration orders a 'total blockade.' Is it piracy or an act of war? Find out what it means for your preps.
The Canadian Maple Leaf is a popular and instantly recognizable coin that contains .9999 fine silver. These are one-ounce coins.

Silver Rockets Past $67 to Another Record High

Silver rockets to a record $67.10/oz as the "Debasement Trade" accelerates. Pete explains why and what this mean for preppers.
Vacuum sealing a steel gun will minimize the chances it will rust by removing the oxygen and moisture that cause rust.

Can a Food Sealer Protect More than Food?

Pete tries to vacuum seal a handgun for long-term storage and considers other products that could benefit from the process.
Church security blends in with the congregation, which they help keep safe from a planned or random attack.

When Guns Make a Difference

The December 13 shooting at Brown University and the Hanukkah attack in Australia show why gun-free zones are dangerous and you need to be armed.
The Polaris Ranger does pretty well on snow roads like this one.

Early Cold and Snow, No Eggs, and Vacuum Sealers

A polar vortex, snow, ice, and short winter days mean slippery roads and fewer eggs on the homestead as temperatures reach the single digits.
your prepper pantry can never have too much food or too much variety. Just remember to rotate!

Take your Food Storage to the Next Level

Is your emergency food supply stuck on Spam and spaghetti? Discover ten often overlooked foods that will add critical nutrients and flavors to your food storage. Your family will thank you.
A soldier in a field of grain under missile contrails, representing the war in Ukrain

New Wars, Old Wars, and Future Wars

Does it seem like there are more wars than usual going on right now? Pete recaps the threats of old, new and future wars.
It's not all fun and games in Great Britain.

Britain Goes Down the Drain

England must be taking cues from George Orwell's 1984 because you can be arrested for what you are thinking, hating someone, or posting a picture deemed offensive.
A high-altitude EMP weapon might be one of he easiest attacks an enemy could launch against the U.S.

Threats to the Grid are Now Threats to AI, Too

A high-altitude EMP weapon might be one of he easiest attacks an enemy could launch against the U.S.
9mm ammunition

AAC Ammo Halts Production

AAC announced they are pausing ammunition production for approximately a year due to a lack of powder.
A roll of Franklin half-dollars that are 90 percent silver.

What the Debasement Trade is Telling Us

Have you heard of the debasement trade? We explain and tell you what it may mean for the economy and preppers.
A Christmas nativity scene, Photo by Al Elmes on Unsplash.

Showing some Black Friday Restraint

Pete is enticed by the many promotional black Friday emails he received but managed to show some restraint and focus on others.
Pete just got a Starlink Mini to provide backup communications or internet access while traveling.

Is Starlink a Good System for Preppers?

Pete gets a "free" Starlink Mini and reviews its plusses and minuses for communications during and after a disaster or SHTF event
old dimes and quarters

Silver Jumps 13 Percent on the Week

Silver reached a record high on Friday, closing at more than $56. Gold was also up, approaching its recent high.
Peanut butter makes a great bait for your mouse traps.

Trapping Rodents and Pests on the Homestead

Do you have a way to control mice, rats and other rodents after the SHTF? Pete discusses what works for him.
This was an average hive with a decent amount of bees in it this late in the season. You can tell it is warm because they are not clustered,

Early Winter Honeybee Care for Winter Survival

A spate of warm weather gives us a chance to feed the bees before cold and possibly snow hits us around Thanksgiving.
A row of shotguns in a store

What is More important: Guns or Other Prepping Gear?

Do you stockpile guns and ammo at the expense of not having enough food? Or do you focus on food, water and shelter rather than self-defense?
Once you know if a piece of jewelry is 10, 14 or 18 karats and how much it weighs, it is easy to calculate the value of the gold in it.

Cashing in on the Rising Price of Gold

You can make some real money if you have old jewelry lying around, use a metal detector or get lucy at a yard sale.
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