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 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...
How secure is your laptop or iPhone when it is on a public Wi-Fi Network? Do you know the steps to take?

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

How secure is your laptop or iPhone when it is on a public Wi-Fi Network? Do you know the steps to take to stay secure?
Another unprovoked stabbing took place on a subway this weekend. Are you prepared for random violence?

Different Threats in Urban and Rural Environments

Random, unprovoked violence grows. and normalcy bias can get you killed whether you are in the city or the country.
Who is reading your digital footprints, and what are they doing with that data?

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

Protecting your security, safety and privacy: How and why you should keep your real and your online lives siloed under different identities.
One of the many things on Pete's to do list was "Paint Bee Equipment." This is the first half of his painting project.

Lists, Inventories and the Endless Prepping Journey

Where is that? Did we get this? Who has the whatchamacallit? Why being well organized can help you on your prepping journey--or your bugout.
Fog engulfs the mountains. When not in a drought, the Appalachians can be a temperate rain forest.

Our Drought is Suddenly Over—For Now

How the weather in your retreat can affect your long-term survival and why first-hand, boots-on-the-ground experience matters.
Calories, BTUs, and manpower will be the currency after a collapse.

Trading Today’s Money for Tomorrow’s Calories and Energy

When fiat money fails and the collapse comes calling, calories and BTUs will be the new currency and physical labor will be in demand.
There are now at least 40 logs from 7 inches to 20 or more in diameter waiting to be cut.

Tree Work Means More Work for Me

Think retirement means slowing down? For this prepper, it means stacking firewood, staying self-reliant, and finding true freedom in hard work.
House Cleaning

Some Pickled Prepper Housecleaning and Improvements

Just a brief note to advise our readers that we have updated our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and our copyright statement to better...
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