The Pickled Prepper

Our Latest Post

Solar System and Prepping Updates

Just after we get our solar power system installed, the weather turns cloudy and rainy. We're still making power, just not as much.
$100 bills

Do You have an Emergency Cash Stash?

If you decide to stash cash or other valuables for the bad times after the SHTF, make sure you can easily find your cache.
A recent computer update caused the dreaded "blue screen of death" to appear on millions of computers, shutting down airlines, banks, hospitals, some 911 dispatch systems and more.

Huge Computer Glitch Crashes Systems from Airlines to Banks

A recent computer glitch disrupted air travel, banking, hospitals, and more. Consider this a dry run because a real cyber war would be worse
A selection of the .22LR ammunition Pete has accumulated over the years.

My Pursuit of .22LR Ammo Over the Years

I was going to order 500 CCI subsonic .22 rounds, but the cost of shipping was so high it increased my total cost by...
This was Tuesday's harvest as our garden hits its stride.

Vegetables, Critters and Bees on the Homestead

The garden is flourishing, the bees are piling up the honey, and an assortment of young critters is trying to make our homestead their home.
Our external AC units were fine, but a part inside the air handler had been fried by the electrical surge.

Making Repairs and Living with Solar Power

We learn some of the challenges of living with solar power, especially in a house that is not optimized to minimize consumption.
When the sun is shining brightly, our solar panels produce 7.5 kilowatts of power, btu when a cloud passes in front of the sun, that can drop to below 2 kW.

Our Solar Installation Concludes, But Problems Persist

Our solar power installation concludes, but it doesn't go to plan. We're operating on solar, but we don't have any air conditioning.
A protester starts a fire

Rising Debt Forces Higher Taxes, Cuts to Social Programs

All around the world, people are protesting in the streets because of rising prices and cuts to services. Here are warning signs to watch out for.
Stimulus will put money in our pockets.

Inflation, Savings and Retirement for Preppers

Can you save for retirement while prepping? Are your preps investments? What about inflation? Pete looks at these questions.
The Franklin aGate, which is the brains of our solar system, is installed but not yet wired to our service panel. (The wires to the left are remnants of the phone and cable system.)

Our Solar System Install Comes to a Screeching Halt

Everything goes well with the solar system install until an unexpected problem pops up on Day 4 when it is about 90 percent complete.
Biden loses his train of thought and looks confused right before he says "we have beaten Medicare," which made no sense whatsoever.

Weakness and Infirmity on Display

President Biden's display of weakness and infirmity invites aggressive behavior by countries that are not our friends.
An installer positions a solar panel on the other side of the roof ridgeline,

The Big Solar Install Begins

Our solar install begins! We walk through everything that took place on the first two days as we move closer to going off grid if necessary.
A person in a hoodie with their face obscured by shadows.

Crisis-Created Criminals will Endanger Preppers

A societal collapse, a catastrophic attack, or a similar SHTF scenario could turn people into criminals, what we now call crisis-created criminals.
A scene from the Malmedy massacre committed by German troops during WWII.

Is World War Three Just Months Away?

A recent meme holds that World War Three is going to start in three or four months. Is it? And if so, what can you do to protect yourself?
Two 8-ounce bottles of freshly harvested honey sitting on top of a box of two-dozen one-pound jars.

The Spring Honey Harvest is Complete

We finished extracting, filtering and bottling honey. Now we need to add labels and deliver it to our local retailers and customers.
rocket launch

War Draws Closer and Nuke Threats Rises

The threat of nuclear war appears to be growing beyond mere saber rattling as NATO joins Russia in potentially deploying more nukes.
A honeybee in flight.

Busy Bees and the Honey Harvest

Summer is busy on the homestead. We have to take advantage of the warm weather to grow and harvest what food we can in a limited time.
If the war in Ukraine grows to involve NATO, expect it to move from a ground war to an air war.

Why the Lack of Artillery Shells is a Non-Issue

The ground war in Ukraine is using up the world's supply of artillery shells at a tremendous rate, but Pete says we won't need them as much in the next war.
Rioters in Washington DC. Photo by Koshu Kunii on Unspash.

Are you Ready for November?

The upcoming election carries with it the risk of civil unrest, riots, and may be taken advantage of by our enemies. Make sure you are prepared.
When the SHTF and people decide to bug out, you can count on there being plenty of traffic, night or day.

Planning and Packing for Bugging Out

Have you planned what to bring when you bug out? Do you have a list, and directions? Here's what Pete suggests people pack.
This was a state of the art pistol in the late 1990s and featured an early (and large) red dot. Pete got it out of the safe for the first time in years.

No Lawyers, Just Guns and Honey

What's Pete been doing? Shooting guns, cleaning guns, and keeping bees. Both shooting and beekeeping are good hobbies for preppers to adopt.
When purchasing four at one time, AirTags are about $20 each.

I Hid Apple AirTags in my Equipment

The pros and cons of hiding Apple AirTag in your equipment. They are cheap and give you peace of mind, but their capabilities are limited.
A sign warning people not to trespass because bees sting.

Big Bee News as the Harvest Nears

Pete is trying not to count his eggs before they hatch, but all indications point to a large spring honey harvest. And that's just part of the news.
This is an image of the Banish 22K V2 from Silencer Central. While I now own the silencer, I don't have a pistol with a threaded barrel. I took the image from their instruction manual which has no copyright notice.

More Gadgets and Gear for Prepping

Suppressors, drone sand Slim Jims. Wait, are Slim Jims a gadget? No, but Pete throws them into this round up post for your dining enjoyment.
The cans of Augason Farms food I ordered arrived undented.

Buying Number 10 Cans on Sale

Pete takes advantage of a sale to add a few more #10 cans to his long term storage. A 50-percent off sale is hard to pass up.
A family enjoying porridge for breakfast.

Why is One of the Best Prepper Meals Ignored?

This may sound like a plain, boring meal, but it kept generations alive for thousands of years. When he SHTF, don't ignore this meal.
The dog needs to be walked even in the rain, but some chores must be delayed due to bad weather.

Spring Rains Slow Homestead Projects

Just when it transitioned from cold weather to warm, the rains started, drowning out many of our homesteading chores.
Keystone canned meats for sale at Walmart and other stores make great prepper meals.

I Found the Needle in the Haystack

How to incorporate canned meats into your long term food storage program to help you survive the coming bad times.
This frame from a new split shows the queen is doing a good job laying eggs.

Checking in with My Bees and the New Queen

Our apiary grows and we may gain a second bee yard to allow for further expansion. I'm running low on equipment, too.
When the SHTF, do you have what you need to survive close at hand? An EDC day pack can increase your chances of getting home or to a safe location.

What is the Most Important Thing in your EDC?

If you are in a mass-casualty event, caught in a riot, or out of the house when disaster strikes, will your EDC be enough to hlelp you survive?
Foreclosures are not unusual in a recession.

The Bad Economic News Will Continue Until Morale Improves

As the debt spiral drags us under, it will be increasingly difficult to avoid inflation, a recession, stagflation or even hyperinflation.