Comments

Episode-892- Richard Morgan from GreatNorthernPrepper.com — 22 Comments

  1. I am curious of what you think about the story of Peter Keller. Do you feel other preppers are safe, including you. That story tore my heart out as I know he did not commit those crimes, and he was murdered. I would love to know what you think. NO ONE is talking about this!

    • @Bella, I make it a policy not to put out opinions with out facts. On the surface it does seem he is guilty but that is what the investigative process is for. With no evidence to show otherwise I am not going there right now. My big concern is that the media calls him a “survivalist”. He is likely a murderer who took his own life, the fact that he was a survivalist to me is no more relevant than if he was a cop or a teacher or a pig farmer. There are good and bad in all walks of life. Again your assertion that he is a victim is the first I have heard of it. I would need hard evidence to believe that though.

    • @bella – Do you suspect those who engage in preparedness to be inherently dangerous?

      • not at all.
        There are of course those that are dangerous in any walk of life.
        to be honest i would be more worried about living near a college campus than having the average prepper next door.
        Prepping is about being ready for the unforseen and living a good quality and productive life before and after.
        I dont know the specifics about Mr. keller either, so i cant comment and say anything one way or the other.
        From what i read, i would say that if the reports are true, then he was one of the unfortunate people who prep out of fear and not intelligence and love. Thats truly what prepping is all about, to take care of your family and those around you, those that you may not even know or meet until something bad happens.
        For the average prepper and myself Prepping is so that when those unforseen things happen I will be able to ensure my family’s relative comfort, happiness and survival, and help those around me in whatever way i can. I dont see that as “inherently dangerous”, i see that as the most productive form of forward looking charity. And even in just the knowledge we accumulate we will be able to help others, as the old biblical saying goes, “give a man a fish feed him for a day, teach him to fish, feed him for a lifetime” that is the most important thing preppers have to offer, the ability to help many others now and in the future, and assist them in learning how to grow their own foods, live off of less and recognize the inherent happiness that lies in living closer to the land, eating healthy foods, and being part of a sustainable community.

        If the guy hadnt put food and ammo into a hole and did what he did in suburbia people wouldnt be blaming the consumerist lifestyle. “did working 9-5 and only shopping day to day lead to this?”
        one thing doesnt lead to another. in Psychology there are correlated and causational events. correlated means they happened together, causation means they contributed to it. this event was correlated, but prepping didnt cause it.
        Our grandparents were preppers, they had food stored in their pantries and guns hanging in the house, that didnt lead to anything but the ability to make it through the depression, and come out the other end, many worse for wear, but they survived.
        It is a very sad and unfortunate event, and my thoughts and prayers are with the family and those that lost their lives.

  2. what does one do if they don’t have enough income to buy all the necessary items and a place of refuge? Where we live land is astronomical and my husband is not willing to leave the area because he does have a job and is worried he would not find another. Can someone prep without a piece of land?

    • @Stephanie:
      There are tons of great ideas on how to get started in the forum as well as people who will not make you feel silly for “being behind” or “not being prepared already”. One of my favorite past podcasts of Jack’s for getting started from “zero” is this one.
      http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/episode-483-20-simple-steps-to-basic-preparedness
      Don’t panic and do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
      Barb, ERiko on the forums

    • Stephanie, I completely understand what you are saying….there was a time when my husband and I had zero extra money to prep…we did what little we could and just went with it. But things change, the kids grew up and my wonderful husband passed away in one year. I’m on my own now and I have much more money to spend on my preps. I’m not saying get rid of your family…lol….but things always change.
      I say make a plan before you spend a lot of money so you have a foundation to work from. If you want land, look at different scenarios to get it. Go farther away, go in with family, etc…? It may be a vacay place for them but it’s a BOL for you. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
      I would also recommend that you look into using coupons to free up some of your money for prepping. I save a ton of money every week and that pays for my preps. My favorite site is couponmom.com-look under “drugstore deals” …. I have even bought 2 acres just outside the town I live in as a place to go with my coupon savings. Land is not too expensive here in Kansas, so I’m lucky that way.

      • and something else I’ve tried to do over that last few years is to learn how to do stuff. Like gardening in small spaces, I’ve taken cheese making classes, canning, spinning and weaving, that kind of stuff is fun for me. Maybe you might prefer shooting, woodworking, first aid. Things like this make you valuable in a SHTF situation. People will protect you to have access to your skills….well, maybe not for cheese making….lol…..

  3. You can definitely prep without a piece of land.
    The prepper dream is the large piece of land with the fast moving creek, deep larder and hybrid alternative energy system.
    The reality is that most of us dont have that, or just cant get that as soon as we would like. I dont have the land I would like yet, but its something im working towards.
    Depending on your situation if you have just a small backyard you can start growing small amounts of vegetables in raised beds, or if you are in apartment (been there also!) you can have small window gardens or even a large rooftop garden if the manager will allow that!
    No matter the circumstances you can always start in on your emergency food supply. even a small closet can hold quite a bit of foods, i found that the small one in my bathroom (in a apartment) could hold my three months supply.
    Prepping isnt location specific, its about being prepared as best you can in the circumstance you are in now, and working your way to a better situation.
    Perhaps you could start talking to friends (listen to Jacks show #887) and see if they might be of the same mind as you are! They might even have space in a garage that you can store a few rubbermaid containers of canned goods in.
    This isnt ideal, but it would be better to have that extended food supply there and maybe not be able to get it, then not have it at all.
    Start small, buy the stuff you usually do, just a few extra everytime you go to the store, its amazing how quickly a 3-6 month store of food can accumulate.

  4. @Stephanie – sure you can prep without a huge chunk of land. I live in the suburbs on a 6000 sq. ft. lot, but I have a nice garden, 4 chickens and inside the home I have steel shelves containing some of my long term preparations.
    People in urban areas (big cities like San Francisco, Seattle, even New York!) are preppers too, they just have to scale their operation to fit their current locale.
    Just start small, get used to the idea of being more prepared, and the concept will grow in your heart if you are genuinely concerned about it.
    My wife is on board now and she is always thinking of small ways to increase our preparedness posture.
    Also, if possible, you might consider looking at small lots a few hours away from home where property is cheaper and begin using that property as your next step towards prepping. Some folks like to call it a bug out location, but whatever you call it, just begin thinking about the idea of having a place to go if the need arises.
    Most of all, you are in the right place to learn more about preparedness and becoming self-sufficient/self-reliant. Just remember we cannot be 101% independent – we need others and we need their products, so you don’t need to be a hermit in a bunker 50 feet underground. 🙂

    Small steps… you’ll feel great as you progress along!

    Warm Regards,
    Jim

  5. @Stephanie
    Prepping is easy but I’d never call it hard. We live on a 12000 sq. ft. lot in a suburb of a medium sized town. I have one 4×8 raised bed and plan on at least one more as well as a 4×8 green house. We have a small amount of “long term” food storage but a pretty well stocked pantry and a small deep freeze. I have good amount of silver and I get a little more each paycheck. I have 2 two guns w/ ammo and access to many more on which I practice at least once a month. We live pretty close to a small state park with some game. According to the “City”, our lot is too small for chickens, but we are about to get a few “pet” rabbits. I’m learning new skills (woodworking) outside of the industry I work in just in case I need some alternative source of income.
    I’m by no means ready for everything that could happen, but I’m getting a little closer everyday for anything that is likely to happen. And if nothing bad ever happens, I have some really good hobbies that keep me at home with my wife and family, and not out getting in trouble.

    • I ment prepping “isn’t easy but i’d never call it hard.” – duh

    • A friend of mine in the suburbs of Detroit does the same thing, he has three “pet” rabbits he keeps outdoors and out of sight in the backyard.
      The hobby thing is great, because alot of peoples “hobbies” like woodworking, in a true grid down collapse scenario will become the backbone of industry in any area! woodworking, candle making, blacksmith, gardening, etc.

    • @Patrick:
      (in my best Homer Simpson voice) mmmm….Delicious pet rabbits…
      *grin*
      Barb
      ERiko on the forums

  6. @ Barb: LOL… This is me working with whatever I can make work. My wife is very serious about the pet aspect for our kid and getting rabbits was totally her idea. I’m the one who sees this as a possible food source in a SHTF. But hey, i’m totally up for whatever. If she wants the kid to have this as a pet… Cool. We can use this as a learning experience. “How to raise and care for rabbits in our climate.” The rabbit guy jack had on the show the other day started out the same way.

    • Definitely, and with how quickly they can breed, you can have a large amount of ready mad protein in short order! Do you live in a warmer climate in the south or more midwest?

  7. Hi Jack;
    Go to Amazon and do a search for iPhone Tripod. There are several available. Whenever I’m looking for something I always start on Amazon. With my Prime membership giving me free 2-day shipping on a lot of items it is hard to find something cheaper in a local chain store.

  8. thank you jack for this show.
    i grew up spending my summers with my grandmother in the mat-su valley and even lived up there a few years (if only the wife could’ve acclimated to the dark winters) and this show really took me back. that place is truly gods country and will always hold a special place in my heart. i suggest anyone who enjoys the outdoors or has a little pioneer spirit in them get up there and see it before it’s too late as the changes are small and slow but they are changes all the same. also, thanks to you jack as i now have a new web site to follow, just what i need 😉 thank you richard for sharing your story and taking me back to a simpler time in my life.

    • pdx, glad that you could relive that experience again! i love the mountains and the clean air, you are right it is God’s country!

  9. Jack – you mentioned looking for an I-phone tripod – check out the swivl.

    http://www.swivl.com/

    it is an i-phone “camera man” that pans and tilts to folow you while you move around. It was made for just the kind of thing you do with your vidios.