Even though most U.S. states have begun the process of “reopening” their economies, the unprecedented tsunami of job losses that we have been experiencing just continues to roll on.  On Thursday, we learned that another 2.4 million Americans filed initial claims for unemployment benefits during the previous week, and that brings the grand total for this pandemic to a whopping 38.6 million.  To get an idea of just how badly this swamps what we witnessed during the last recession, take a look at this chart.  This is the biggest spike in unemployment in all of U.S. history by a very wide margin, and analysts are expecting another huge number once again next week.

After my father got out of the U.S. Navy, he worked as a math teacher for many years, and throughout my life I have always had a deep appreciation for numbers.

And in this case, the numbers are telling us that we are facing something truly horrific.

During the month of February, the number of Americans that were currently employed peaked at 152,463,000.

If you take the 38.6 million workers that have filed for unemployment benefits during this crisis and divide it by 152,463,000, you will find that it gives you a figure of more than 25 percent.

In other words, more than one out of every four jobs in the United States is already gone, and more job losses will be coming week after week.

And of course not everyone that loses a job actually files a claim for unemployment benefits.  So the true percentage of Americans that have lost a job would be even higher.

It had been hoped that the unemployment numbers would begin to normalize once states began “reopening” their economies, but so far that is not really materializing.

For example, Georgia was one of the first states to begin lifting restrictions, but that state also “now leads the country in terms of the proportion of its workforce applying for unemployment assistance”…

Georgia’s early move to start easing stay-at-home restrictions nearly a month ago has done little to stem the state’s flood of unemployment claims — illustrating how hard it is to bring jobs back while consumers are still afraid to go outside.

Weekly applications for jobless benefits have remained so elevated that Georgia now leads the country in terms of the proportion of its workforce applying for unemployment assistance. A staggering 40.3 percent of the state’s workers — two out of every five — has filed for unemployment insurance payments since the coronavirus pandemic led to widespread shutdowns in mid-March, a POLITICO review of Labor Department data shows.

Our politicians really didn’t understand what they were doing when they started locking down state after state.  Coming into 2020, the U.S. economy was in an extremely fragile state and was already moving rapidly toward recession territory, and now fear of COVID-19 has burst all of our economic bubbles.

The U.S. economy is now in a death spiral, and a survey that was just conducted by the Census Bureau came up with some numbers that are simply eye-popping…

Nearly half of Americans say that either their incomes have declined or they live with another adult who has lost pay through a job loss or reduced hours, the Census Bureau said in survey data released Wednesday.

More than one-fifth of Americans said they had little or no confidence in their ability to pay the next month´s rent or mortgage on time, the survey found.

Already, we are beginning to see mortgage delinquencies rise to very alarming levels.

In fact, in April we witnessed the largest single month jump that has ever been recorded…

Mortgage delinquencies surged by 1.6 million in April, the largest single-month jump in history, according to a report from Black Knight, a mortgage technology and data provider. The data includes both homeowners past due on mortgage payments who aren’t in forbearance, along with those in forbearance plans and who didn’t make a mortgage payment in April.

At 6.45%, the national delinquency rate nearly doubled from 3.06% in March, the largest single-month increase recorded, and nearly three times the prior record for a single month during the height of the financial crisis in late 2008, Black Knight said.

Sadly, the truth is that this is only going to get worse.

The “enhanced unemployment benefits” that Congress recently passed have been helping many unemployed Americans to pay their mortgages, but now it appears that President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell do not intend to extend those benefits past the July deadline.  They are concerned that those benefits have been so generous that they have been discouraging many Americans from going back to work, and they are quite right about that.

Unfortunately, it isn’t just homeowners that have been missing payments.

At this point, the entire commercial real estate industry is on the precipice of a meltdown as rent payments and mortgage payments are being “skipped” all over the nation on a widespread basis.  On Thursday, we learned that even the owners of The Mall of America have been skipping their mortgage payments…

The biggest shopping center in the country, The Mall of America, has missed two months of payments on its $1.4 billion mortgage, a sign of just how much retail real estate owners are reeling during the coronavirus pandemic.

The mall, operated by private developers Triple Five Group, skipped mortgage payments in April and May, according to Trepp, a New York-based research firm that tracks the commercial mortgage-backed securities, or CMBS, market.

Unless Congress steps in and showers the entire commercial real estate industry with giant mountains of cash, I don’t see how an unprecedented meltdown can be averted.

It is going to be horrifying to watch, and it is going to absolutely dwarf anything that we witnessed in 2008.

Of course similar things can be said about the economy as a whole.  At this point, Bank of America is projecting that U.S. GDP will fall 40 percent on an annualized basis during the second quarter of this year…

Now that banks have had a chance to evaluate the collapse in the economy in the post-covid world, a new round of GDP forecast revisions is coming, and it’s a doozy, with Bank of America spearheading the latest effort by slashing its Q2 GDP forecast from -30% to -40%.

Not without a trace of irony, BofA’s chief economist Michelle Meyer writes that “words cannot describe” the loss in economic output, which is “unlike anything we have seen in modern history.”

When Bank of America starts sounding like The Economic Collapse Blog, that is a clear sign that things are really starting to fall apart in a major way.

Now that restrictions are being lifted all over the nation, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is starting to rise again, and fear of this virus is going to paralyze economic activity for the foreseeable future.

And what most Americans still don’t understand is that what we have experienced so far is just the beginning…

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all many people as we possibly can.

The post The Worst Unemployment Spike In U.S. History – 1 Out Of Every 4 Workers Has Filed For Unemployment Benefits In 2020 appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

You cannot trust the mainstream media, but this isn’t news.  Every day, regular people are using their own cameras and cell phones to document the lies we are being told about COVID-19 designed to manufacture your consent to enslavement. Here are just a few of the lies that have been uncovered.

Jeff Berwick of the Dollar Vigilant YouTube channel questioned the authenticity of a Sky News report claiming the crematoriums in Mexico City “never stop burning.”  Berwick took his camera around to the few open crematoriums and discover that was not just a lie, it was a completely fabricated hoax designed to make the scamdemic appear far more severe than it ever will be.

Additionally, 600 doctors have written a letter to President Donald Trump stating that he’s been given bad advice, and the lockdowns are going to kill many other people in numbers that will far surpass those of this coronavirus.



After David Icke was banned from YouTube for speaking out against the tyranny and power grabs of the elitists and politicians using the scamdemic as an excuse, he did a long interview with London Real on the “Freedom Platform” designed to never be censored.

Big Tech Ramps Up Censorship: The People FIGHT BACK

As those in power continue to lie and attempt to keep us in a constant state of fear, people all over the planet are waking up to what’s actually going on.  This has never been about health.  It’s been a gigantic propagated lie from the beginning and designed that way.



As more and more regular people come out showing proof that the mainstream media is only doling out fear at the commands of the government, more and more people will begin to realize that this is an ongoing attempt to enslave the mind of the public, so a few can rule the many.

The Science of Fear: How The Elitists Use it to Control Us & How to Break Free

Tyrants throughout history have used the same tactics to manufacture consent from the public for their enslavement to the ruling class elitists. This time, it’s not working though. All over the planet, humans are realizing that they don’t have to ruled and enslaved “for their own good.”  All over the planet, humans are figuring out that it’s wrong to have some people control everyone else. It will reach a tipping point, and the elitists pull out all the stops, people are still pushing back.

After Brainwashing People For Decades, MSM and Governments Are Losing Control of People

It’s only a matter of time before people realize a life lived in fear is a waste. It’s only a matter of time before people realize that going to another country and killing for tyrants in suits on command so those tyrants can be wealthy is morally reprehensible. It’s only a matter of time before people realize who politicians, the mainstream media, and the elitists who pull the strings are.  It’s only a matter of time before people realize that they were born free, and no one else has the right to steal the fruits of their labor (even if it’s called “taxation”) and no one else has the right to rule and enslave them (even if it’s called “government”).

“The most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

 

 

This article was originally published by Brandon Smith at Alt-Market. 

Last week the Federal Reserve released a report predicting that the next print on GDP numbers will likely show a loss 34.9% in the second quarter. This is the biggest GDP plunge since the Great Depression; even the crash of 2008 doesn’t compare.

And when we take into account the fact that the Fed artificially boosts GDP calculations by adding in many non-productive government programs, we have to ask, what are the REAL losses above and beyond what the Fed admits to?

With the supply chain in disarray, many companies (like Apple) are trying to shift their manufacturing base to dodge the pandemic. Of course, none of them want to bring factories back to the US; there’s simply no incentive to do so. And, the small business sector has been crushed by the shutdowns, with the vast majority of those seeking bailout loans still waiting for aid and over 20.5 million employees laid off in April alone.

Needless to say, the economy has been severely affected. The problem is that many people are being led to believe that this event has been triggered by the virus outbreak alone. This is a lie. As I noted back in February in my article ‘Global Centralization Is The Cause Of The Crisis – Not The Cure’, the collapse of the Everything Bubble was well underway long before the pandemic. The crash was started by the Federal Reserve hiking rates into economic weakness at the end of 2018, puncturing the bubble and setting the liquidity crisis in motion.

The pandemic is just the icing on the cake of a collapse that was going to happen anyway. It is also a convenient scapegoat, because now the banking elites are going to escape all the blame for the crash and the public is going to hyperfocus on the coronavirus as the culprit.

As I also warned would happen over the past few months, the Chinese government has been caught in numerous lies surrounding their response to the outbreak, including hiding the true numbers of dead and infected and suppressing information to the rest of the world on the danger of human-to-human transmission. The problem that the public is still not being told about, however, is that the Chinese did not act alone, they had help.

It takes two sides to do the pandemic tango – If air travel had been cut off from China immediately upon the confirmation of the virus spread until the danger could be assessed, the outbreak may have never carried beyond China’s borders. Yet this did not happen. Air travel remained open for weeks from China after the outbreak confirmation. Then, when the virus hit Italy hard, air travel continued from Europe to the US unabated. It was almost as if the establishment WANTED the virus to spread quickly…

I remember some of the idiotic sentiments being passed around in web forums back in January and February. Some people argued that the virus “only infects Asians”. Some people said sarcastically “Oh no, whatever will we do without our new i-Phones…!”. And, yet others, including the Trump Administration, argued that the US economy would escape any real harm.

Well, we are a few months into the outbreak and now the US has the largest number of infections in the world. US deaths are already almost triple that of the CDC’s yearly reported 30,000 deaths for the flu. The virus is no Black Plague, but it’s not something to be shrugged off either. If this virus behaves anything like the pandemics of the past, expect it to linger for a couple of years, not just a few months.  The lockdowns actually guarantee that this situation will drag on for quite some time.

Apple i-Phone sales have crashed 77% in April, right along with almost every other sector of the economy. Clearly, the Trump Administration and Larry Kudlow were either lying to us in February, or they had no idea what they were talking about.

Despite the current reopening hype, the situation is only going to get worse from here on out. Certainly in terms of the economy, but also in terms of the outbreak. The globalists have openly discussed their plans for this pandemic, including a minimum 18 month period of lockdowns and “reopenings”. The public seems to be oblivious to the fact that the plan is for a “1 month open, 2 months closed” cycle going into next year. That’s right, the lockdowns will return.

Certain globalists have slithered out of the swamp to the forefront of media attention recently, and it is interesting to see how transparent the narrative has become. As I have predicted time and time again, during the collapse the very people that helped create the crisis are now suddenly being put on a pedestal by the media as our saviors and some are being presented as “rebels” on the side of conservatives. Here are just a few global elites that have been specifically prominent during this disaster.

Bill Gates

Wow, I’m getting incredibly sick of seeing Bill Gates presented in the media lately as some kind of virology guru. Why should we take the advice of a computer programmer on issues of biology and sociopolitical response? Why should we take the advice of an open globalist with an admitted agenda of population control?

Bill Gates is notorious for letting his agendas slip in public forums such as his Ted Talks. In 2010 Gates called for carbon emissions to be reduced to zero (an impossibility without complete de-industrialization and the economic murder of billions of people). In the same talk, he hinted that methods to reduce the population could include “new vaccines and reproductive health services…” He did not elaborate at the time, except to claim that vaccines would lead to “social changes” that would reduce population.  Aren’t vaccines supposed to extend people’s lives, thus increasing the population?

We do know that Bill Gates has funded numerous experimental vaccine trials through the World Health Organization, including Polio vaccination programs. It was these same programs that led to viral outbreaks of polio in various countries and hundreds of paralyzed children. In fact, the vaccines caused more cases of polio than the wild-type virus. This if VERIFIED FACT, admitted by the WHO, though numerous leftist media sources have tried to deny it.

At most, the WHO and Gates can claim that the infections were “accidental”. But if this is the case, it would still suggest that vaccines developed by Gates Foundation programs and the WHO should not be trusted. Given Gates’ obsession with depopulation, I think it safer to not allow him to inject viruses (living or dead) into people.

The Gates Foundation was also central in Event 201, a pandemic exercise which “simulated” a coronavirus outbreak and the government and UN response. This exercise took place only a couple of months before the real thing happened. What an incredible coincidence. It is also an incredible coincidence that almost every solution presented in the simulation is now being implemented or suggested around the world during the real pandemic, including the use of tracking apps and immunity passports that violate every level of personal freedom we know.

Gates is not a hero, far from it. In fact, Gates and his ideology benefit greatly from the pandemic.

Mohamed El-Erian

A dedicated globalist, El-Erian has been everywhere in the economic media lately. As I examined in my Globalist Disinformation Spotlight article, El-Erian is an active promoter of a global currency under the control of the IMF through its Special Drawing Rights basket. He also argued last year that economic swings were “out of the control of central banks” and that they should not be blamed for any financial disruptions. At the same time, El-Erian claimed that the US economy was “strong” and that there was no chance of a recession in 2020.

El-Erian was consistently wrong about almost everything last year, but this year, suddenly, he has been the go-to guy for the economic media. Mohamed has shifted gears entirely in 2020, flip-flopping on his outlook and presenting, finally, a realistic analysis of the situation.  He is now being presented as the wise man on the mountain warning us of impending disaster.

This is a classic case of the globalist “savior” narrative in play. They lie about the danger of collapse right up until the collapse becomes obvious to the public, and then they suddenly start warning of the collapse when it is too late for the public to do anything about it. That is to say, they keep the public unprepared and complacent for as long as possible, then act like they predicted the whole mess at the last minute.

Elon Musk

The great fake liberty billionaire.  A long time globalist, Musk seems like an enigma, but he is really rather simple. As a classic narcissist, Musk switches his persona to ride what he sees as the waves of public sentiment. He wants to be all things to all people and has bought into his own hype. A couple of years ago Musk was a globalist gatekeeper, a top guest of the Global Government Summit, a proponent of universal basic income, and argued in favor of transhumanism.

Musk’s companies are lavished with praise in the media despite their minimal global market share.  Being one of the only carmakers in the US does mean Tesla is one of the “biggest” in the US, I suppose (but how often do you actually see a Tesla on the road outside of California?).  The problem is Musk survives predominantly by siphoning up billions in government funding and taxpayer dollars. Without such funding, Musk would have been out of business a long time ago.  This fact runs contrary to Musk’s new persona as a kind of libertarian, small government businessman.

Also keep in mind that Musk’s business model relies on global warming propaganda flowing out of the same elitist circles he enjoys when he’s not “speaking out” about government tyranny.  If carbon controls are not enforced by governments (and if gas prices stay low), Musk’s high-priced electric cars have no market.

While Musk’s companies live primarily on government welfare, the guy acts like he’s some kind of savant, and he has a lot of people fooled on this account on both sides of the political spectrum. It is truly astounding.  If he is a “genius” at anything, it is that he is an effective con man.

For now, Musk is attempting to hook into the alternative media and the rise of the liberty movement with his anti-lockdown tweets and sudden opposition to globalism. Has Musk been “red-pilled”?  I suspect he will flip-flop again in due course. If Musk wants to cut off all ties to his many friends in the globalist community then perhaps he has turned a new leaf, but I seriously doubt it.

Dr. Anthony Fauci

One of the people that helped create the coronavirus outbreak is the leading Trump Administration talking head on the coronavirus response. An avid defender of the WHO and, along with Trump, a defender of China’s rigged data back in January, Fauci is the guy who, in 2015, greenlit the millions of dollars in funding on coronavirus research at the Level 4 lab in Wuhan, China.  This is the same lab that is now under investigation for releasing the virus on the world, and Fauci’s funding went directly into research on coronavirus transmission from bats to other mammals.

All I have to ask is, why has this man been at the forefront of the pandemic response for the US? Now in self-isolation for possible infection, perhaps Fauci will fade into the background as he is further exposed as a participant in the creation of this pandemic.

Greta Thunberg

Thunberg is not so much a global elite as she is a useful idiot.  A puppet of her activist parents, Thunburg only parrots the same global warming arguments that have already been debunked year after year, yet she continues to be elevated in the mainstream media as a spokes girl for environmentalism.  Why?  Because the “children are our future”, and leftists love the idea of brainwashed kid activists.  If Thunburg is any indication of the next generation, the future is bleak.

While there is still zero concrete evidence that human carbon emissions lead directly to changes in the Earth’s climate, it is true that the climate does “change” over time.  Of course, shifts in activity on the gigantic nuclear fusion reactor in space known as THE SUN are probably more responsible for temperature changes on the Earth than the tiny 0.04% of carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere.  Don’t tell the political left this, though, or you might be labeled a “climate denier”…

Thunberg and other climate activists have suddenly been pushed to the forefront recently to comment on the pandemic situation.  This might seem rather bizarre, but it makes sense when you realize how the pandemic is being exploited by the globalists to achieve certain goals.  Every agenda of the globalists from carbon emissions reductions to the suppression of industrial manufacturing to the destruction of large scale farming and even to the reduction of meat in people’s diets is being accomplished right now by the coronavirus and the government shutdowns.  Where climate activists failed, the virus is making headway.

Beyond that, climate activists are now arguing that the restrictions put in place because of the pandemic should be KEPT IN PLACE because of global warming.  You see how that works?  One has nothing to do with the other, but the technocrats will force the public to see them as related if they can.  Just “listen to the scientists”, people!  Listen and obey the high priests of the technotronic era.  Stop demanding evidence, you aren’t “smart enough” to understand it anyway.  Only UN-funded labs have the power to decipher the magical math behind global warming studies.

The pandemic will open the door to many lies and the flood of disinformation the alternative media has been working so hard to counter is going to explode beyond anything we’ve seen in the past.  The elites are at a crossroads.  They have to turn the public towards supporting collectivism and tyranny now, or they may find themselves facing the business end of a large number of torches and pitchforks.  At bottom, these elites should be in prison, not on TV dictating to the people about how they should behave and what freedoms they should give up during the crisis.

 

Isn’t it odd that Walmart stores all over the nation have remained open throughout this crisis but we are being told that it is “too risky” to hold a church service in many states?  During this crisis it has often been said that “my rights do not end where your fears begin”, but right now we are witnessing a stunning erosion of our First Amendment rights.  Churches remain closed in many states, and some churches in states that have “reopened” are now being forced to close down again.  For example, a Baptist church in Georgia has announced that they will not be holding any in-person worship services “for the foreseeable future”…

A representative for the Catoosa Baptist Tabernacle in Ringgold, Ga., told The Christian Post in a statement on Monday that church decided earlier this month to no longer offer “in-person worship services for the foreseeable future” after confirming some of its families were “dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 virus.”

When that church started holding services again recently, extremely strict social distancing guidelines were put into place…

“Seating was marked to only permit sitting within the six-foot guidelines, all doors were open to allow access without the touching of doors, and attendees were asked to enter in a social distancing manner and were dismissed in a formal manner as well to ensure that the social distancing measures were adhered by all,” the church told the outlet.

But even with all of those restrictions, COVID-19 started spreading in the church.

And so now that church has closed up shop indefinitely.

In Houston, another church that recently reopened has now been forced to close again…

Days after the move by the church in Georgia, ABC News reported that Houston-based Holy Ghost Parish also did the same after it was discovered multiple members of the organization had contracted the novel coronavirus and one leader had died.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston said the church, which had also reportedly begun hosting mass at the start of May as some coronavirus restrictions on certain businesses in Texas had begun to ease, decided to re-close last week after the death of Father Donnell Kirchner, 79.

Sadly, we will probably see a lot more stories like this in the weeks and months to come.

But no matter what we do, we aren’t going to be able to prevent people from catching the virus.  In order to do that, we would literally have to shut down everything for a very long time, and that is simply not going to happen.

Whether the current “shelter-in-place” restrictions remain in place or not, and whether we are holding church services or not, the truth is that this virus is going to continue to spread.

And it will keep spreading until the vast majority of the U.S. population has been exposed to the virus and herd immunity has been achieved.

So shutting down all of our churches is not going to solve anything, but the mainstream media keeps pumping out horror stories about how Christian gatherings are helping to spread COVID-19.  For example, the following comes from CNN…

A person who later learned they were positive for Covid-19 attended a California religious service on Mother’s Day, exposing 180 other people to the novel coronavirus, according to local health officials.

The individual got a positive diagnosis for Covid-19 the day after the service and is now in isolation at home, Butte County Public Health said in a statement Friday.

And here is a story from NBC News about a church in Arkansas…

Two people infected with COVID-19 spread the virus to more than 30 people during church gatherings in Arkansas in early March, before the first case was ever diagnosed in that state, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Tuesday.

The cases illustrate how rapidly the virus can spread to others involved in faith-based organizations, and may have implications for places of worship as churches nationwide figure out how to reopen safely.

But why don’t we ever see any stories about how our major retail stores have become hotbeds for spreading the virus?

Without a doubt, it would be much easier to catch COVID-19 in a large retail store than it would be in a church.  Thousands upon thousands of people are constantly streaming through our big stores, and many of them have got to be absolutely teeming with the virus.

It just greatly disturbs me to see such a double standard going on.

If it is safe enough for people to go to Costco, then it is safe enough for them to go to church.

And the truth is that a lot of our churches are going to end up collapsing if they are not permitted to reopen soon.  According to the Washington Post, approximately one-third of all U.S. churches “have no savings”…

The novel coronavirus is pressing painfully on the soft underbelly of U.S. houses of worship: their finances. About a third of all congregations have no savings, according to the 2018-2019 National Congregations Study. Just 20 percent streamed their services and 48 percent were able to accept donations electronically, the study found, making it more challenging to serve the faithful and gather their donations during the virus shutdown.

Already, some churches have been forced to lay off staff and radically cut expenses.

If they are not allowed to resume normal activity for the foreseeable future, many of them will not end up surviving at all.

Even before this pandemic, it was estimated that somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 churches were dying each year in the United States.

Needless to say, the number for this year will be off the charts.

Of course some churches will insist on waiting to reopen until the threat of COVID-19 has completely passed, but that might be a really, really long time.

In fact, a draft Pentagon memo that was just made public is warning that this virus will remain a threat until “at least the summer of 2021”…

The Defense Department should prepare to operate in a “globally-persistent” novel coronavirus (COVID-19) environment without an effective vaccine until “at least the summer of 2021,” according to a draft Pentagon memo obtained by Task & Purpose.

“We have a long path ahead, with the real possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19,” reads the memo, authored for Secretary of Defense Mark Esper but not yet bearing his signature.

There are very, very few churches in America that could afford to be shut down for that long.

And what most people don’t realize is that COVID-19 is not the worst thing we are going to face.  Much larger challenges are on the horizon, and they will shake our society to the core.

At a time like this, people need hope, and that is why it is so important for our churches to be up and running.

Unfortunately, many of them now have a closed sign, and that is likely to remain the case for the foreseeable future.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all many people as we possibly can.

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Editor’s note: This is the fourth of five installments in a series of articles by guest author Kyt Lyn Walken on tracking and its applicability to prepping. — Wild Bill

As I have previously written, the fundamentals of the Art of Tracking are firmly based in the use of all five senses and developed in three main stages: observation, examination, and correct interpretation of a specific trackline.

Easy to say, but quite challenging to put in action, especially if you find yourself training on the toughest surfaces you can imagine!

Tools of the trade

Before going into the differences between the various types of soil and environment, let me point out some of the most common “tools of the trade” for a Tracker:

• a measuring device, 
• a hand torch (flashlight for us Americans), 
• note paper along with pen, pencil and rubber (eraser)
• tweezers, which are useful to remove any debris on tracks, such as fallen leaves, pine needles, discharged materials which can partially or entirely hide tracks 
• casting materials such as plaster cast or Shake n’ Cast

These items easily obtained and relatively affordable, but will be extremely useful for helping you succeed at tracking.

As most manuals on tracking will tell you, a good hand torch works better than head lamps since it’s easier to adjust the light toward the trackline. A light that is too much high in relation to the tracks you are following doesn’t provide you the additional luminosity you need not only during darkness, but also in the shade or during a poorly-lit day.

So doing some “dirt time on ground”, looking for tracks and following them, is as possible at night as it is during daylight! Be just aware of the fact that, during the night, noises seem to be four times louder than during the day. That’s when squirrels can sound as large as Sasquatch!

I recommend a hand torch of not less of 1500 Lumens, which will give you more than enough light to see at distance and fully light the track your following or examining. Torches which offer the possibility to switch colors (green/red/blue/white) can help you to better see the inner details of a pattern and detect erosion, wear pattern, and so on), by chosing the color that best fits the characteristics of a specific terrain. 

Terrain Challenges

Fernando Moreira, in his book “Visual Mantracking for Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue” (2016), writes that red light works best on sandy soil. In the same manner, which you may already be aware of, blue light can determine blood stains, while my experience shows green aids you in observing tracks on dry leaves bed, especially in case of poor light.

So now that you have seen how tracking at night is possible, what about tracking on hard surfaces like craggy slopes, former dry glaciers or even in an urban environment?

Let’s consider a hike in the beautiful area of Dolomiti, part of the Italian Alps. The area is really breathtaking, but being a Tracker there can be extremely challenging. In order to understand how it is possible to follow tracks in this specific context, let’s think about the movement of our feet on rocks.

When we step, the ball of our foot strikes first, then we roll forward and ultimately stand on the toe. Our shoes, as well as animals’ hoofs or paws, hit the ground causing a relocation of the rocks and pebbles. In this way, we can notice the bare ground no longer covered by the stones. To the expert eye, any alteration of the natural state would be immediately noticeable.

But what about urban environments, where hard surfaces prevail? We can observe sign there, too, but it’s a very difference challenge.

As asphalt and concrete are the major and most common elements on streets and main roads, we must be able to locate the ideal spots where we can easily detect tracks. Do you remember “Track Traps” from the earlier “Understanding the Fundamentals” article? Well, they also exist in big cities and metropolitan areas.

Construction sites (which often contain sand), public gardens, playgrounds, private gardens, flowerbeds: all are valuable Track Traps. Even on hard surfaces, the transfer of any element like water, mud, feces and so on represents a fitting track trap.

What about indoor environments? Many crimes have been successfully solved by the forensics through the application of Tracking, which is considered a corner stone in any phase of data collection and examination.

The case surrounding OJ Simpson, for example, showed how the collection of evidence related to footprints found at the crime scene (specifically, blood stained prints on hard surface) led to the proper interpretation not only of the whole trackline, but also to the reconstruction of the entire sequence events. (William J. Bodziak, former FBI Agent, in his manual “Forensic Footwear Evidence: Detection, Recovery and Examination“, 1990).

In the next article we will learn more about how to move while tracking and how to minimize our disturbances on the terrain.

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Kyt Lyn Walken is the official European representative and instructor for Hull’s Tracking School (Virginia, USA), and is a certified Conservation Ranger for C.R.O.W. (Conservation Rangers Operations Worldwide). She has been an outdoors and tracking enthisast since childhood. Kyt lives and works in Europe, and can be contacted at www.man-tracking.com

The post APPLYING THE ART OF TRACKING appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Global events are beginning to spiral out of control, and this has created a resurgence in interest in what the Bible has to say about “the last days”.  Throughout the Scriptures, we are warned about apocalyptic events that will precede the second coming of Jesus Christ, and a lot of people are wondering if that period of time is now upon us.  All over the Internet, people are engaging in all sorts of speculation and lots of really bizarre theories are being thrown around, and this is causing a great deal of confusion.  But all of this confusion is not necessary, because the Bible is actually very clear about what is coming.

Jesus had quite a bit to say about the time just before His return, and He specifically instructed His followers to watch for certain signs.  He wanted us to understand that He knew about all of these things in advance, that He has a plan, and that He is in control.

So there is no need to fear.  In fact, Jesus told us these things so that we would not be afraid.

Three of the key chapters where Jesus discusses the events of the last days are Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.  To set the stage for the rest of this article, let me share just three quick verses from Luke 21…

9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Could it be possible that we have entered a time when these things are starting to be fulfilled?

To answer that question, let’s examine some of the global events that are currently unfolding…

#1 Wars And Rumors Of Wars

War is coming to the Middle East, and it might be coming a lot sooner than most people think.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is very eager to annex portions of Judea and Samaria before the U.S. election in November, and the coalition agreement that he reached with Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz allows him to do that as early as July.

I believe that it will happen at some point in the coming months, and the Palestinians are openly warning that such a move will mean war.  In fact, Mahmoud Abbas is so upset about this pending annexation that he just publicly backed out of all previous agreements with the United States and Israel…

In an emergency meeting in Ramallah Tuesday, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas announced that due to Israeli plans to annex parts of Judea and Samaria, all agreements with Israel and the U.S. are null and void.

This would include the Oslo Accords, which was the basis for the establishment of the Palestinian Authority.

And Jordan’s King Abdullah just told a German newspaper that annexation “would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”…

In an interview with the German newspaper Der Spiegel, the Jordanian monarch reiterated that a two-state solution was the “only way forward” as a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

“What would happen if the Palestinian National Authority collapsed? There would be more chaos and extremism in the region. If Israel really annexed the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” said Abdullah.

This is something to keep a very close eye on, and we also need to keep in mind that a major war between Israel and Iran could erupt at literally any moment as well.

#2 Earthquakes

Our planet continues to become increasing unstable, and my regular readers know that I am particularly concerned about the west coast of the United States.  It is just a matter of time before “the Big One” hits California, and this week we did see two very alarming quakes strike just off the California coast…

The first measured at a 4.7 magnitude. It hit at 11:56 p.m. Sunday about 163 miles west of Eureka.

The second earthquake was stronger, measuring a 5.5 magnitude hitting in the same area about 160 miles west of Eureka at 12:02 a.m. Monday.

The second quake was at the same depth as the first earthquake at about 6 miles down.

Overall, there have been 2,668 earthquakes in California and Nevada over the last 7 days, and that is definitely unusual.

Meanwhile, large earthquakes continue to strike other areas of the globe with frightening regularity.  For example, a magnitude 6.2 quake just rocked the Mediterranean Sea, and that made headlines all over the globe.

In the days ahead, the shaking is only going to get worse, but most people don’t understand what is happening.

#3 Volcanoes

I have written about Mt. Popocatepetl near Mexico City many times, and it has roared to life once again.

In fact, it is being reported that it was shooting hot ash 20,000 feet into the air on Wednesday.

Keep a very close eye on this volcano, because someday a catastrophic eruption of Mt. Popocatepetl will result in the worst disaster in the history of Mexico.

Of course Mt. Popocatepetl is far from alone.  According to Volcano Discovery, 24 volcanoes around the globe are erupting right now, and dozens more are showing signs of unrest.

#4 Crazy Weather Patterns

You may have noticed that global weather patterns have gone absolutely nuts.

We are seeing record setting droughts in some parts of the world, in other areas we are witnessing unprecedented flooding, and global food production has been greatly disrupted by one unforeseen event after another.

For instance, this week India and Bangladesh are preparing for Super Cyclone Amphan to make landfall.  On Monday night, that storm “officially became the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal”…

Millions of people in India and Bangladesh are bracing for what is now being called the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal. Super Cyclone Amphan is anticipated to make landfall in less than 36 hours, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain to a region already struggling with the coronavirus pandemic.

According to CNN, Super Cyclone Amphan officially became the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal on Monday night, after intensifying with sustained wind speeds of up to 165 miles per hour. Even though Amphan has weakened slightly the storm is still the equivalent of a Category 3 Atlantic hurricane, with winds speeds up to 115 mph.

#5 Armies Of Locusts

Billions of locusts have been traveling in giant swarms the size of major cities across large portions of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.  These mammoth swarms can travel up to 90 miles a day, and when they descend on a farm they can eat all of the vegetation in as little as 30 seconds.

I have written about these enormous locust armies numerous times, and they keep making headlines all over the world.  This week, video of these locusts “blocking out the sun in Iran” was being widely shared on social media…

Terrifying footage of an apocalyptic swarm of locusts blocking out the sun in Iran has emerged after it was revealed the military could be called to fight a plague that may destroy at least $7billion (£5.7bn) worth of crops.

The chilling video shows a haze formed of millions of the bugs covering the horizon on a motorway in the south of the country.

#6 African Swine Fever

Before COVID-19 came along, African Swine Fever was the most serious pestilence affecting the planet.

There is no vaccine, there is no cure, and it is killing pigs all over the globe at a staggering rate.

In fact, approximately half the pigs in China and approximately one-fourth of all the pigs in the entire world have already been wiped out by this disease.

Needless to say, this is having a tremendous impact on the global food supply, because much of the world relies on pig meat as a primary source of protein.

#7 Famines And Food Riots

You know that things are bad when even the United Nations is using the word “biblical” to describe the famines that are beginning to emerge around the globe.

The head of the UN World Food Program, David Beasley, is publicly warning that we are heading into “the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two”, and he is telling us that we could soon see approximately 300,000 people literally starve to death every single day…

“If we can’t reach these people with the life-saving assistance they need, our analysis shows that 300,000 people could starve to death every single day over a three-month period”, he upheld. “This does not include the increase of starvation due to COVID-19”.

We have already witnessed very large food riots in Africa, and now they are starting to happen in South America.

For example, check out what just happened in the capital of Chile…

The coronavirus hit Chile at a particularly delicate time. Back in October, the Chilean military deployed tanks and troops onto the streets of Santiago – the Chilean capital – and President Sebastian Pinera declaring a state of emergency to quell a violent uprising triggered by – of all things – a hike in metro fares (can you imagine that happening in NYC?).

Now, some of the nation’s poorest are rising up against the government again in a violent protest movement over the lack of government assistance. Specifically, food shortages have left thousands of Chileans with nothing to eat, and the mandatory closures have made it impossible for them to work or buy food.

Global food supplies have gotten very tight, and they are only going to get tighter in the months ahead.

#8 Economic Collapse

Countries all over the world have locked down their economies in 2020 due to fear of COVID-19, and that has plunged the entire global economy into a deep depression.

Here in the United States, more than 36 million Americans have already lost their jobs, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says that the real rate of unemployment in the United States is now 30.7 percent, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is projecting that U.S. GDP will fall by 42.8 percent during the second quarter of this year.

Now that our economic bubble has burst, the dominoes are just going to continue to tumble, and the days ahead are looking quite bleak.

#9 The Coronavirus Plague

This is the greatest public health crisis in a hundred years, and it looks like this pandemic is going to be with us for many months to come.

Already, there have been more than 5 million confirmed cases around the world and more than 300,000 people have died.  Many had been hoping that the worst was behind us, but the head of the WHO just told us that Tuesday was the worst day for new cases “since the outbreak began”…

“We still have a long way to go in this pandemic,” Tedros said at a briefing in Geneva. “In the last 24 hours, there have been 106,000 cases reported to WHO – the most in a single day since the outbreak began. Almost two-thirds of these cases were reported in just four countries.”

Jesus specifically warned us that there would be “pestilences” during the time before His return, and I believe in the future we will see even worse pandemics than this one.

In fact, many of the signs that I discussed above will get worse in the days ahead.  Just as birth pains increase in frequency and severity as the time for birth gets closer, we should expect many of the signs that Jesus warned about to increase in frequency and severity as well.

But even in the midst of all the chaos that is coming, God will be moving, and I believe that the greatest revival in all of human history is still ahead of us.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all many people as we possibly can.

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Ancient art comes into use in African Bush and Jungle

Editor’s Note: Another in a series of articles on man-tracking and its utility in prepping as well as conservation, by guest author Kyt Walken

In previous articles we looked at the fundamentals of the ancient Art of identifying the tracks and following them, and we have discovered several fields in which this skill is still well alive and considered a remarkable tool to come in handy when it comes to understand, for example, the dynamic of any illegal infiltration.

Crime scene investigations, for example, have a lot to do with Tracking, from the initial collection of data until the answer “What really happeedn?” Paired with standard procedures, Tracking revealed itself to be extremely useful if employed in the very first phases of any investigation. For example: OJ Simpson’s case, back in 1995.

Neverthless, the skepticism about the employment of Tracking is still strong. Many people believe reading and following tracks can’t be helpful nowdays due to the consistent progresses achieved by technology. Yet there is a specific dimension in which this Art still has a constant application on field: Antipoaching Operations.

Tracking as a part of conservation

Back in 2018, when I made the decision to attend the Conservation Ranger Course held by Conservation Rangers Operations Worldwide (www.crowngo.org), I was amazed by the importance given to this Art: Tracking, infact, appears to be a solid cornerstone of any Conservation Ranger’s skill set. But in addition to detecting poaching activity, tracking also serves a second purpose: to monitor the wildlife population in terms of growth and biodiversity. 

“The high demand of wildlife parts from Asia is the primary cause of the current slaughter and many Rangers risk their life everyday to fight criminal syndicates ruled by merciless businessmen. In developing Countries (where most of the biodiversity of our planet still exists) corruption is so widespread that poaching syndicates get stronger every day, making our battle even more inequal.” –Andy Martin, Conservation Rangers Operations Worldwide CEO and Chief Instructor

In my mind, the Tracking experience that I have gained these past years could be useful within this specific context (and maybe make a difference too!). In fact, the Tactical Acuity class I attended to in Virginia back in 2017, gave me a more tactical perspective, enhancing the capability of detecting whether something is “out of order”, which is basically the foundation on any anti-poaching operation.  

Tracking the ultimate animal: Man

Saying that, let me honestly stress that during the Conservation Ranger Course, I had to face with a slightly different approach to read and follow tracks. Basically, the so called “African Method” combines Tactical Tracking with the demands required by several factors:

• the environment
• climate conditions
• background and also ethnicity of the poachers
• type of prey, dimensions and habits

But above all the above, there is another element of importance: speed.

Moving faster than the poachers is absolutely mandatory in any APU (Antipoaching Unit). You can easily understand how it was essential for me to “attune” my Tracking for this new dimension.

Any operation which requires time and a massive exposure (like, for example, taking the standard measurements of a single track, of the stride and the straddle) is to be avoided. The type of terrain (mostly soft sand in the bush, swampy for areas like Congo DRC) literally leads you along the way.

Track Traps are fundamentally what you have to look for.

Moving in small teams with no more than four elements is intimately related to the Tactical aspect. The standard formation consists of two flankers, one Tracker, and one Team Leader. Their positions rotate according to the scenario: a single file for narrowed spaces, an extended line for wide open terrains.

Tracking poachers to gather intelligence

As poachers mostly operate at night, day and night APUs commit themselves to accurate patrolling inside the borders of the Natural Parks and Reserves in order to identify any passage or any breach within the perimeter. Rangers check for any intelligence, from ground spoors and aerial spoors, which lead them to figure out how many poachers have infiltrated, and if they moved lightweight or if they were actually carrying loads – not to mention weapons.

That is due to what the soil gives back in terms of depressions connected to the heels can tell if they were carrying heavy items or traveling light. An extinguished campfire can ‘tell’ the Rangers the type of fire made, as the ways of staring of fire can vary from tribe to tribe, revealing a lot of crucial details to determine the poachers’ identify and origin.

Other things can also be useful intelligence sources:

• Trash can be an excellent source of data: some cultures do not burn garbage in the fires.
• The temperature of the remaining coals can tell the passage of time.
• Leftover food, such as the type of flour of rice are characteristic of different tribes or locations. 
• No leftovers of any kind may be an indicator of a high tactical training, like the absence of any trash, feces or urine.

Skilled poachers know exactly how to move minimizing their tracks, like stepping on small rocks, brushing out their footprints, bending vegetation without damaging it: Conservation Rangers have to maintain a high level of alertness in order not only to be misleaded, but also to be prepared for any possibile fire fight.

Tracking saves wildlife

Can the use of Tracking really make the difference to fight the plague of poaching? I believe so.

Let me pass along this valuable quote, and recommend you this book (available for free from:https://mantracking.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/trackingmanual_2013.pdf)

“[…] Tracking is not the solution to all problems in law enforcement, investigation, search and rescue or patrolling, but it is an additional and extremely valuable tool in your tool box that in many instances provides by far the best and most accurate option, enabling you to allocate and optimize use of other resources available. Tracking can multiply the efficiency of staff by tenfold, or even a hundredfold in search by identifying a sector to search in. It is also cheap and strengthens your most valuable resource – namely the staff. It is also an ancient skill updated with modern tactical methods and crime scene investigation methods. […]” — Christian Nellmann, Jack Kearney and Stig Nårstad, “Sign and the Art of Tracking”

Images courtesy of Conservation Rangers Operations Worldwide via Kyt Walken

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Kyt Lyn Walken is the official European representative and instructor for Hull’s Tracking School (Virginia, USA), and is a certified Conservation Ranger for C.R.O.W. (Conservation Rangers Operations Worldwide). She has been an outdoors and tracking enthisast since childhood. Kyt lives and works in Europe, and can be contacted at www.man-tracking.com

The post TRACKING THE POACHERS appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

As you head out into the wilderness to enjoy an invigorating hiking or camping trip, it’s of utmost importance that you stay hydrated. When exerting yourself for hours at a time, dehydration can sneak up on you and wreak havoc on your system.

Not drinking enough water can lead to dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and confusion – and ultimately, death.

Tips to Stay Hydrated When You’re in the Wilderness

Even if your pack is heavy with water when you set out, be sure to also pack purification tablets or a heavy-duty water filter.

If you’re camping, bring a large pot that you can boil water in if you need to. Emergency situations can arise at any time, including getting lost or being trapped by sudden extreme weather, so never assume that a quick hike is going to be just that.

Planning ahead and following these simple tips can help you stay hydrated in the wild.

1. Drink More Often

It’s easy to walk, bike, fish, or kayak and pay no attention to drinking water for hours at a time. You may not feel thirsty or dehydrated right away, but the lack of replenishment will catch up to you.

Drink water on a schedule of at least every hour. Even on a cold day, you need more water than you think you do.

2. Avoid Excessive Sweating

Your body cools itself by sweating – between 2-6 liters of water per day. Wear clothing that is light in color and fabric, and stay in the shade whenever you can.

If you are stuck in the wild and your water supply is diminishing, avoid exercising.

3. Know Where Water is

Before you ever head out onto the trail, check your map for streams, lakes, ponds, etc. Chances are that if you are camping, it is near a lake. Keep in mind that water collected from streams, lakes, and ponds is full of potentially harmful bacteria and diseases, so always purify the water before drinking.

A good rule of thumb is to stop and refill your water at every opportunity.

4. Collect Rainwater or Melt Snow and Ice

If you are in the wild for an extended period of time, you can collect rainwater or melt snow and ice to create drinking water.

Warm cold water up so that your body does not use additional energy to absorb it.

5. Consume Fruits

Fruits are full of water! Pack fruits to eat on your trip, and if possible look for fruits to eat in the wild. Do not eat anything that you are not absolutely sure is safe to eat. Stay away from sugary fruit juice beverages that will dehydrate you.

If you are lost in the wild and are initially unable to locate water, observe the morning movements of animals and birds. Head downhill if that is an option, or follow bird flight paths to locate their water source.

By both conserving your energy and the water you do have, as well as being creative about finding new water sources, there is no reason to become dehydrated while out in the wild. Use common sense and always purify your water!

How do you stay hydrated when you’re hiking? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

Up Next:

• How To Stay Hydrated While Hiking [Video]
• Wilderness Survival Tips: Water Purification
• 25 Ways To Get Clean Drinking Water In An Emergency

Your prepper’s pantry is designed and stocked to last you years and years of food supply. It is crucial that you know the foods that never expire and stock up on them.

Foods That Never Expire | Must-Haves

As you build your survivalist pantry, you may get frustrated with jarred and canned foods that expire in a few years time. If you are prepping responsibly, you will constantly rotate your supply, which means many of these will find their way into circulation in your kitchen as they get replaced with a newer version.

So what foods will last the longest? There are actually several that will last for 30+ years (or even forever) if you store them properly. Storing foods properly means in food-grade plastic storage buckets that keep out rodents, air, and light, and kept in cool environments. This will help to drastically cut down on your inventory and rotation efforts.

While these 10 foods may not represent a balanced diet, you can store them and forget them in your pantry, to be enjoyed at any time.

1. Honey

Honey is considered to be the only food that never expires. A 5500-year old jar of honey was found to be edible! When sealed to prevent moisture from spoiling the honey, there will be no change to the quality or taste. Raw honey is full of antioxidants and beneficial nutrients, so it’s more than just a sweetener.

2. Salt

Salt, as long as it is not iodized, will also last forever. It is a mineral that is native to the earth and naturally removes moisture. Salt adds seasoning to food but can also be used to preserve meats after hunting.

3. Pure Maple Syrup

When stored unopened, maple syrup has the potential to last forever. Even if mold does form on the surface of the syrup, it can be boiled, skimmed, and re-stored without compromising the quality or flavor.

4. White Rice

White rice can last for 30+ years when stored at 40° in airtight food storage bins, making it the perfect carbohydrate to stock up on.

5. Dried Beans

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That's another job done for the year, our dried beans are all podded. They'll hang around the dehydrator area which is warm to finish drying before being stored for use. #nwtasmania #driedbeans #preservingtheharvest #voluntarysimplicity #growyourownfood #sustainablegardening #organicgardening

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With a shelf life of 30 years, dried beans make for a great protein option when storing food long-term. Their texture and taste will not be the same after long periods of time but are still edible by most standards.

6. Sugar

If you keep sugar in your airtight food storage containers, it can be used for many years to come – maybe even forever. Moisture, rodents, and bugs are the primary enemies of your sugar supply.

7. Soy Sauce

Perfect to enjoy over your white rice stash, sealed soy sauce will last for many years, thanks to its high salt content.

8. Hard Liquors

If society does crumble and you are forced to live out of your pantry for years, you’ll be happy to know that your hard liquor will keep. The flavor may deviate from what you’re used to, and some liquid may evaporate out of the bottles, but it will still be safe to drink.

9. Pemmican

A Native American staple, pemmican uses ground-up meat as the main ingredient. Pemmican is a superfood with an incredible shelf life.

10. Powdered Milk

While the taste and consistency do not compare to fresh milk, the shelf life and easy transport of powdered milk make it a staple in prepper’s pantries.

Building a long-term and effective pantry can be overwhelming and expensive. Shopping smart and investing in airtight food storage bins will cut down on spending and time spent rotating. You can confidently store these 10 foods for the long haul.

Do you have foods that never expire you’ll add to your pantry? Let us know in the comments section!

Up Next:

• Best Foods for Prepping: How to Put Together Your Prepper’s Pantry
• Survival Food 101: Hardtack
• How To Setup Long Term Food Storage At Home For Emergencies

For any beginner gardener, growing a garden can be intimidating. But with these tips, you can plant the easiest vegetables to grow to give you the motivation to keep growing your garden!

Easiest Vegetables to Grow You Can Start With

As backyard gardening experiences a resurgence in popularity due to the coronavirus, those with little-to-no experience are looking for easy-to-grow options. Luckily, you don’t need fancy raised beds, a green thumb, or even much space to start your vegetable garden. You can be enjoying fresh homegrown produce before you know it, and with minimal care for your plants.

Keep in mind that no garden will flourish if you forget about it. In addition to dirt, pots, and water, your vegetables will grow best if they have steady exposure to sunlight. That being said, even small balconies can be effectively used to grow a bountiful harvest.

So now that you’ve pinpointed a spot for your garden, and picked up a few tools and supplies, here are the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners.

Perfect for Beginners

1. Lettuce – Quick to grow, easy to pick, and doesn’t need a lot of space—the trifecta in gardening for beginners! You can even grow lettuce in Tupperware, and in shady spots. To use it, just rip or cut off the leaves.
2. Tomatoes – The most popular plant in gardening because of how easy they are to grow. Tomatoes do need a lot of suns, but are also not picky about their pots or beds. You can use hanging baskets to grow tomatoes on your balcony, without taking up floor space.
3. Cucumbers – All you need for an abundance of cucumbers is sun, warmth, and support for climbing growth. Cucumbers grow very quickly and do well in pots.

Level 2 Vegetables: As You Gain Confidence

1. Carrots – Can be grown from the tops of carrots you already have, but carrots do require deeper, well-drained soil and direct sunlight. Homegrown carrots may not grow as large as the ones you’re used to buying at the store.
2. Radishes – Though they are not as well-loved as some other vegetables, their quick and easy growth may have you Googling new recipes for them. Radishes take only 20 days to grow to full size. Talk about instant gardening gratification!
3. Green Beans – You’ll want to purchase green bean seeds and plant them in well-drained soil in a sunny space. Once they grow, snap off and enjoy!
4. Pumpkins – The only drawback to pumpkins is the amount of space they can take up. Pumpkin vines can take over entire yards! But the number of recipes you can enjoy with fresh pumpkin is almost unlimited.
5. Zucchini & Squash – Zucchini and squash plants grow incredibly quickly and produce a large harvest, so you may want to limit how many of these plants you have. They will need warmth and a lot of water, which is why you often hear the term “summer squashes.”

Even late spring is not too late to start your garden, as many of these quick-growing vegetables flourish in the summertime. If you live in a warmer climate, you can even get started in the summer and enjoy a fall harvest.

You may find yourself eating healthier and saving a lot of money on fresh produce as your garden blooms!

What about you, what are your favorite veggies to plant? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

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