Episode-2066- Joel Salatin with War Stories from the Local Food Front

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Modern Survival| 1 Comment
Episode-2066- Joel Salatin with War Stories from the Local Food Front [ 1:57:02 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Joel Salatin and his family own Polyface Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Featured in the iconic foodie book Omnivore’s Dilemma and award-winning film FOOD INC., the farm’s moniker is “healing the land one bite at a time.” A prolific author (12 books to date) and speaker, he promotes local food systems, freedom of food choice, and farming systems that build the commons.

Joel joins us today to discuss his book, “Everything I Want to do Is Illegal” and what he calls, “War Stories from the Local Food Front”, also one of his books.

We will discuss what Joel’s farm produces and how he produces it.  The biggest impediment to the success of small farms and how to balance concerns about food safety with common sense.  What is missing in food choice for consumers today, the issue of “food sovereignty” and more.

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

 

 

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Igloo Hybrid Stainless and Plastic Latch and the Igloo Stainless Steel Hinges

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Modern Survival| 5 Comments

igloo

Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is the Igloo Hybrid Stainless and Plastic Latch and the Igloo Stainless Steel Hinges.  Yep a two fer cause I know many of ya’ll need one or both of these.  I can see it now, that big giant white igloo cooler most of us at least one of, sitting out there with the latches broken off it.

I mean those cooler are great and affordable to boot, they hold a TON of stuff, keep ice for a few days and man you just can’t beat em.  But what always happens, the damn latches break off and though not as frequently the hinges fail.

Most people “live with it”, I mean unless it is strapped onto a cargo carrier shoved into a pintel hitch receiver, it isn’t going to just fly open right?  Well no but it will not close tight and it will tend to therefore not hold ice as well, besides that latch is there for a reason right.

The issue is clear, it should not be made of plastic, because here is the other thing many of us have done.  When we are at say Bass Pro or Academy Sports they sell these latches and hinges cheap, so we buy a set and in a season or two at most, they break again.  Seriously I haven’t been spying on you, this is just what happens to us all.

The solution is don’t use plastic and that is what you can get here.  The latches are plastic where plastic makes sense and metal where the plastic always and I mean always in time fails.  The hinges are just solid metal, which is how igloo should make these damn things in the first place.  This is an example of living like our fathers did, not only do you not just toss something out and instead fix it, but  you actually make it better than new.

I mean think about it, unless you do something really horrible to a cooler it lasts a VERY long time.  I have some that are 20 years old and still good, so why replace a broken part with something that will soon break again anyway.

So if you have igloo coolers that need new hardware check out the the Igloo Hybrid Stainless and Plastic Latch and Igloo Stainless Steel Hinges.

Remember you can always find the TSP Amazon Item of the day by just going to TspAz.com and by shopping at TspAz.com anytime you shop on Amazon you help support TSP and the work we do here no matter what you buy.

PS VERY IMPORTANT THIS TIME – First and foremost the hinges come as a pair, the latch is a single unit.  The reason they do this is some coolers only have one latch OR sometimes you only want one.  So if you need two, order quantity two.

Next if you look at the negative reviews for the latches you will see claims they do not fit.  They absolutely do fit, if you install them correctly.  They are designed a bit different from the plastic ones and must be installed a bit differently.  The photos below come from a review by Moxy on Amazon but I could not figure out how to link to Moxy’s images directly so I am including them here.  They make it VERY clear what the people bitching about fit are doing wrong.

wronghinge

righthinge

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Episode-2065- There is a Shit Storm Brewing

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Modern Survival| 12 Comments
Episode-2065- There is a Shit Storm Brewing [ 1:28:08 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Today we are going to look at the radicalization of America, and I won’t say to both the left and the right, because those connotations are largely irrelevant to the subject of radicalization.

I posted a meme on facebook today, you can see it above, the assertion being that both antifa and the new Nazi movement amount to cockroaches.  There is a lesson to learn from the roach however, when there are but a few they are easily exterminated, yet once they colonize a structure you either have to bomb it or burn it down to get rid of them.

Join Me Today to Discuss….

  • Why I am even taking a day to discuss this
  • Why I say these people want mostly the same thing
    • Total control for their side
    • Violence to all that oppose them
    • Both use race as a divisive point
    • Both are socialists
    • Neither really understand what they are doing
  • How this helps the people in power
    • Divide and conquer – step one, divide
    • A person is run over, cries go out for what, gun control
    • But it could all back fire
  • How this could all get really bad, I mean really really bad
    • Attacking either side to the exclusion of the other grows both sides
    • Americans are trained to obey dichotomic rules
    • As both sides grow the middle becomes weaker and weaker
    • If either side wins, everyone loses
  • The best we can hope for
  • The most likely outcome
  • The worst possible result
  • What we should do to be prepared for all of it

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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Vastar Titanium Step Drill Bit Set – Item of the Day

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Modern Survival| 3 Comments

drillbits

Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is the Vastar Titanium Step Drill Bit Set, 3-Piece Set & Automatic Center Punch.  Step bits are a great tool, they don’t do everything but they do a lot of things that nothing else does better.  This set will let you drill holes up to 3/4ths of an inch which is large enough for most things you would use a step bit for.

Some folks call these unibits because one bit does what many bits would be needed for.  While that is true they do have a weakness.  They are generally for drilling holes in thinner stock, mostly metal and plastic.

The reason is obvious when you think about it.  Drill though a 2×4 with a step bit, it will do it NO PROBLEM, but you end up with the largest hole size, or a cone shaped hole.  Each step is just about a quarter of an inch so that is the thickness you can step up to and stop going further with.  I hope that makes sense.

One thing I use these all the time for is drilling out lids for fermenters.   When I convert say a apple juice bottle into a mead fermenter this is what I use.  I also use them when making ball jars into vegetable fermenters.

If you are drilling thin metal to a lager hole size and want to avoid a lot of tearing, sharp edges, etc, just put the metal on a scrap piece of 2×4 or something like that and you will get great clean edges.

I also use these extensively in my aquaponics projects, as I generally use 3/4″ bulkheads for most of my ebb and flow beds and my wicking bed overflows, they larger one is perfect for drilling out tanks and what have you.

What I love about this set is it comes with a damn good spring loaded center punch.  You use this to make a dent in stock so you get the drill started at the exact right spot.  This isn’t really necessary when drilling out a plastic jar lid but when say drilling a piece of PVC pipe or heavy metal stock it is VERY helpful.

So if you don’t already have step bits in your tool collection consider getting the Vastar Titanium Step Drill Bit Set, 3-Piece Set & Automatic Center Punch to fill the void.  At about 13 bucks a set it is a hell of a value and frankly a set of step bits belongs in every preppers tool kit.

Remember you can always find the TSP Amazon Item of the day by just going to TspAz.com and by shopping at TspAz.com anytime you shop online you help support TSP and the work we do here no matter what you buy.

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Episode-2064- Listener Feedback for 8-14-17

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Modern Survival| 7 Comments
Episode-2064- Listener Feedback for 8-14-17 [ 1:36:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

jackspirkoToday on The Survival Podcast I take your questions on racism, obedience to technology, alligators, gold, silver, shortages of resources, gardening and more.

Remember to be on a show like this one just pick up your phone and call 866-65-THINK.

Make sure if you submit content for a feedback show that you put something like “comment for jack”, “question for jack” or “article for jack” in the subject line to assure proper identification for my screening process.

Please understand I receive several hundred emails a day and can’t get them all on the air.

I also do put out a lot of information on Facebook from emails that I can’t fit on the program though so keep em coming.

Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Calls and Discuss…

  • My take on Charlottesville and what you need to really consider about our country
  • The new Unabomber series and what does it say that we obey technology
  • Of canoes and alligators
  • Of silver, gold and crypto in Venezuela
  • What I would do with an old “hay and soy field”
  • An update on my stance on “unboxing videos”
  • Is there any use for “sub soil” in large containers
  • Probably the best article on weight loss ever
  • Thoughts on storing water safely
  • Knife sharpening as a side hustle and why side hustles are awesome

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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Ersatz in the Confederacy – When the Shit Really Hit the Fan

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Modern Survival| 9 Comments

ersatzEvery day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is Ersatz in the Confederacy: Shortages and Substitutes on the Southern Home Front by Mary Elizabeth Massey.  I thought this would be a good time to feature this book as we just wrapped up The Civil War in the history segment.

So what is an ersatz, it is an item made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else.  In other words when you don’t have coffee you use roasted chicory root for instance.  But if you read this book you will see it was much deeper and traumatic than that for those that lived though this time.

We toss around the term, “shit hit the fan” a lot in the prepper space.  Consider though that from the day this nation was founded until today, there has never been a time in America where the shit hit the fan as hard as it did for the south in the war between the states.   Great depression you say?  Hold on and read this book.

The northern strategy to win the war quickly went from a full on military over run (which didn’t work) to a strangle hold approach.  The north had a naval advantage and control of rail and greater ability to communicate with things like the new telegraph system.

Even in the parts of the south were a musket ball never flew in anger, suffering was great.  As one reviewer of this book put it,

“During the WW2, men and women on the home-front were encouraged to “Use it up,wear it out, make do, or do without.” After reading this book, however, the men and women of the Southern home-front did that and more.

From 1941 to 1945, butchers may have been asked for a free soup bone for the dog, but as the Civil war dragged on, it wasn’t unusual for a Confederate butcher to hang dressed rat in the window…when one was available.”

Talk about hard times!  And this book doesn’t just tell you what they went through, it tells you what they did to get through it.  If you are worried about stability and long term security of our society.  And if you feel that true hardship may again fall our people, this book is required reading.

Additionally if you just have an interest in real history beyond dates and facts you should read this book.  It tells the real story of the suffering of civilians in time of war.  Our nation has largely been insulated from the direct effect of war since the end of The Civil War in 1865.  Hence the American people have a highly disconcerting tolerance for war.  Perhaps a reminder of what it is like for those not carrying powder and shot may alleviate that a bit?

Additionally as preppers we should be keen on knowing how people actually survived a true multi year crisis that included a hot war zone in their back yard, advancing and resource taking enemy troops and shortages of anything and everything necessary for survival and comfort.  If this sounds like something you would like to know more about check out Ersatz in the Confederacy: Shortages and Substitutes on the Southern Home Front today.

Remember you can always find the TSP Amazon Item of the day by just going to TspAz.com and by shopping at TspAz.com anytime you shop on Amazon you help support TSP and the work we do here no matter what you buy.

P.S. – This book was first published in the 50s and reintroduced in the early 90s.  I guess that is why no kindle version exists.  I have linked to the soft cover, but if you prefer a hard cover version, they have that option as well.

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MSB Login Issue, A Work Around and An Upgrade

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Modern Survival| 6 Comments

Update – We seem to have corrected the login issue!

Okay so first and foremost, some folks are having issues logging into the msb, what happens is you enter your info, and submit it and are greeted with a blank screen.

This may or may not be related to the fact that my web programmer Ben Fitts is currently working on the site.  I’ll make him aware of this today as I just found out about it.

Here is the work around for now, login, then hit your browsers back arrow twice, when you see the site come up you will be logged in and it will work as you’d expect.  Frankly I don’t know what is going on but it isn’t a huge deal here is why.

The software the MSB is built on is about 8 years old, time for an upgrade.  For about a month that has been in the works, likely we will migrate to the new system this coming weekend, be alert for a post and an email that will notify you for a time that the site will be closed during the member migration we have to do.

The new MSB will be a lot better and likely again be up in a week, two at tops so we won’t spend to much time trying to fix the bug in a very old legacy system that will be likely gone in a week.  If it is an easy fix though we will do it.

If anyone can’t use the work around and needs anything from the MSB in the mean time, if you can’t get in just email me and I will get you the discount code you need or what have you.

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Episode-2063- Expert Council Q&A for 8-11-17

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Modern Survival| 39 Comments
Episode-2063- Expert Council Q&A for 8-11-17 [ 1:57:10 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Today its Friday so it’s time for expert council show. To ask a question for a show like this, just send an email to me at jack at thesurvivalpodcast.com with “TSPC Expert” in the subject line.

Today the expert council answers questions on wells, medical issues, cryptocurrency, debt, homeschooling, battery back up, permaculture, marketing and more.

In the body of your email first tell me the council member your question is for. Second ask your question concisely in one to two sentences maximum. Third any and all details after that. This is the formula to give you the best chance of getting on the air.

I do what I can to get as many of your questions as possible on the air but can’t always get to all of them. Our council is made of a wide variety of experts in everything from the tactical to the practical and everything in between.

To get more information on our Expert Council visit our “Meet the Expert Council Page” to learn more about them and their specific areas of expertise.

Join Me Today As Our Experts Discuss

  • Spring development and shallow wells – Ben Falk
  • Management of leg cramps – Doc Bones
  • Developing a USB drive into a crypto wallet – Brandon Todd – Detailed Instructions
  • Dealing with debt and potential bankruptcy – John Pugliano
  • Mobile homeschooling and special ed needs – Mike and Sue Laprise
  • Battery bank considerations for a van – Charles Sanville
  • Becoming a professional permaculture designer – Nick Ferguson
  • Marketing yourself to an uninformed market – Jack

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Websites of the Expert Council Members

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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Monoprice Releasable Cable Ties – Item of the Day

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Modern Survival| 5 Comments

cabeltiesEvery day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is something I feel no one should be without.  They just do too much, for too little cost to not have some.  They are Monoprice Releasable Cable Ties and at only seven bucks and some change for 100 pieces they are a steal.

Get a few bags and do the following.  Make up bundles of about 20-30 a bundle.  Just use one tie to hold the rest together.  Put a bundle in your BOBs, put one in every glove box of your vehicles, put some in your garage where you can see them and just grab them, etc.  Heck I keep half a dozen as part of my EDC, you don’t even notice them in a cargo pocket until you need them.

The key is the releasable part!  We even use these for keeping gates closed on our low fences for our ducks.  I keep a few tied on top of various fences all over the property, so if you need one there is always one close by.   They are very strong and stay flexible a long time.  They tend to last about 1.5-2 years if in direct sun before becoming brittle.  Otherwise they seem to last forever.

I use them for many other things as well.  I use them to tie up new seedling trees for say a month until they stiffen up.  Since you can remove and reuse them it is cheaper than plant tape.  I use them to tie 4 large hog panels into a square and make an on the fly animal pen.  There is no limit to how useful these things are.

Sure they are kind of small at 6 inches, but you want 18 inches?  Put three together and when you don’t need that any more take them apart.

So just how versatile are cable ties in general, okay I am going to tell you a story, I am NOT SUGGESTING THAT you do it, it is just what happened.  Many years ago when I was in the Army I had two friends, Brad and Dean.  Dean was the one that owned a truck and he was a “character” to say the least.

Dean would just toss Brad or I the keys anytime we needed his truck.  One day we wanted to run to the PX, so Dean tosses Brad the keys.  In we jump and to the PX and back we go, beer run of course.  Brad is a typical guy from Southern Louisiana so he bends speed limits till they break.  We get back an Dean says, “oh yea, I should of told y’all to take it easy until the new tie rod gets here”.

Brand and I get down and look and see that fricken Dean had used 4 tie wraps to hold a broken tie rod together.  As in it had broken in two and he tie wrapped it back together.   For those that don’t know, the tie rod holds the front searing brackets to the frame so you can turn.   Kind of an important function!  So Brad almost kills Dean but later we laughed about it, because when you are 20 you are stupid!

That has always stuck with me and while I would not replicate it as a “temporary repair”, I would replicate it with great care and driving very slowly to get a vehicle to safety in a similar situation.   Trust me and if you don’t keep cable ties in your preps, start doing so and the best ones for flexibility and usefulness are Monoprice Releasable Cable Ties.

Remember you can always find the TSP Amazon Item of the day by just going to TspAz.com and by shopping at TspAz.com anytime you shop on Amazon you help support TSP and the work we do here no matter what you buy.

P.S. – I have brought this item back a few times, the reason is simple, if I made a list of the top 5 most useful things on my homestead, I am sure it would change over time, but these would never fail to make the list.

 

 

 

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Episode-2062- Listener Calls for 8-10-17

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Modern Survival| 18 Comments
Episode-2062- Listener Calls for 8-10-17 [ 1:41:28 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

jackspirkoToday on The Survival Podcast I take your calls on real estate, teaching, guns, prepping, investing, earthworks, bugging out, careers, dogs and more.

Remember to be on a show like this one just pick up your phone and call 866-65-THINK.

The best way to improve your chances of being on the air is ask your question or make your point up front, then provide details.

Also please do your best to call from a quiet area with a good connection and speak up so you can be well heard.

While I can’t put all calls on the air but I do my best to get as many of them on as I can.

Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Calls and Discuss…

  • Buying a home with an existing farm/enterprise on it
  • How should teachers prepare for coming shifts in education
  • The RONI Pistol Conversion and the Copper Scout Rifle Concept
  • Getting started prepping for 100 bucks
  • To key line or to swale, that is the question
  • Bugging out with small children
  • More on pursuing a career in engineering
  • More on training dogs in a foreign language
  • Uses for China-berry wood

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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