We have a trade deal with China!  Well, except that nothing has actually been written down, nothing has actually been signed, the potential deal won’t really require any major concessions from China, but it did allow the Chinese to achieve a couple of key goals that they really wanted.  But other than that, the good news is that the Trump administration now has a “trade deal with China” to tout as a “major accomplishment” to voters.  And without a doubt, in the short-term this will calm the financial markets and ease some of the pressures on the global economy.  Certainly it appears that there should be no further escalations in our trade war with China over the next few months, and that is definitely a bit of good news worth celebrating.  Following the announcement of this potential deal, stock prices started surging, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day up more than 300 points.  We haven’t seen this much optimism on Wall Street in some time, and things certainly seem brighter for investors in the short-term.

But let there be no doubt – this is not even remotely in the neighborhood of being the sort of “comprehensive trade deal” that the Trump administration originally wanted.

Instead, it is a very, very limited potential deal that is still being worked on…

President Donald Trump announced a trade deal, in principle, on Friday afternoon with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He the U.S. says will be rolled out in two or three parts.

The agreement postpones a tariff increase scheduled for Oct. 15 and could halt additional penalties scheduled to go into effect just before Christmas.

‘We’ve come to a deal, pretty much. Subject to getting it written,’ said Trump in the Oval Office of what he described as phase one.

Oh, it isn’t actually “written” yet.

Apparently, phase one of this “trade deal” will be written over the next three weeks.

But most Americans don’t pay attention to the details, and all they will hear is that we have a “trade deal with China”, and that will certainly help Donald Trump politically.

So when phase one is eventually put down on paper, what will it actually do?

Well, the truth is that it won’t actually do very much…

The initial deal, which Mr. Trump said had been reached “in principle” would involve China buying $40 billion to $50 billion worth of American agricultural products, along with agreeing to guidelines on how it manages its currency. The agreement also includes some provisions on intellectual property, including forced technology transfer and would give American financial services firms more access to China’s market, the president said.

In exchange, the United States will not go ahead with plans to raise tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods to 30 percent next week.

We’ll see what the “provisions on intellectual property” ultimately look like, and I have to say that I am skeptical, but if China agreed to some substantial changes in this area that could potentially be a positive thing for U.S. companies.

But other than that, this “deal” seems very tilted toward the Chinese.

For China, one of the main goals in these negotiations was to get the Trump administration to roll back the tariffs that were about to be implemented and to get the Trump administration to agree not to impose any additional tariffs.  These tariffs are very damaging for the Chinese economy and are the primary instrument of leverage that the Trump administration possesses in this trade war.

So for China to be able to essentially get a freeze on tariffs was a big win for them.

Without the threat of more tariffs, the Chinese can continue to run out the clock on the Trump administration and wait for a Democrat to be elected in 2020.  The Chinese will continue to do a lot of “talking” and “negotiating”, but they won’t agree to any sort of a comprehensive trade agreement until they can get someone that they consider to be more “reasonable” in the White House.

Oh, but we really stuck it to them by forcing them to purchase “$40 billion to $50 billion worth of American agricultural products”, didn’t we?

Well, no, we didn’t.

Let me tell you a secret.

The Chinese actually want to buy our agricultural products.  In fact, since millions upon millions of their pigs have been dying from African Swine Fever, the truth is that they desperately need U.S. pork products.

So this is essentially a case of throwing the Chinese into “the briar patch”.  The Chinese knew that our farmers desperately need to sell our agricultural products to them, and so they quit buying them temporarily in order to get leverage on the Trump administration.  But this is something that the Chinese were always going to compromise on, because they have a great need for what our farmers are producing.

In the short-term, this is a big win for the Chinese, it is a win for U.S. farmers, and it is a win for the Trump administration because they now have their “trade deal with China” and the stock market is soaring once again…

Stocks ended higher Friday after President Donald Trump said China and the U.S. reached the first phase of a substantial trade deal that delays tariff hikes that were set to kick in next week.

The Dow closed 319 points higher, while the S&P 500 rose 1.1% and the Nasdaq gained 1.3%. The gains helped the Dow and S&P 500 snap a three-week losing streak. The Dow and S&P 500 gained 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, for the week. The Nasdaq ended the week up 0.9%.

But it appears that this trade deal doesn’t really do much of anything to address our long-term problems with China, and we are being told that “expectations for a major breakthrough” are “still low”…

Beijing’s vice premier is in Washington leading the 13th round of negotiations with Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Expectations for a major breakthrough in the 15-month standoff are still low.

The two sides are deadlocked primarily over the Trump administration’s assertions that China steals technology and pressures foreign companies to hand over trade secrets as part of a sharp-elbowed drive to become the global leader in robotics, self-driving cars and other advanced technology.

In the end, this very limited “deal” gives the Chinese what they want in the short-term and it allows them to continue to delay any sort of resolution on the most important trade issues.

The Chinese got just what they wanted, but here in the United States it will be spun as a big win for Trump by the White House.

And Trump certainly needs some good news right now, and so it is hard to blame him for grabbing this deal.

But let’s not lose sight of what is really going on here.  The coming tariffs have been put on hold, and meanwhile no “agreement” has even been drafted yet.  I think that the current state of affairs was summarized very well by Sven Henrich…

We have no agreement.
We have nothing in writing.
We have agreed to discuss a process on how to consult during which we will discuss what to agree upon.

Now get ready for phase 2 and meeting #14.

Trade wars are easy, didn’t I tell you?

And nothing that happened this week has changed the long-term outlook even one bit.

The global economy is still slowing down, and our financial system is still the most vulnerable that it has been since the crisis of 2008.

About the author: Michael Snyder is a nationally-syndicated writer, media personality and political activist. He is the author of four books including Get Prepared Now, The Beginning Of The End and Living A Life That Really Matters. His articles are originally published on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News. From there, his articles are republished on dozens of other prominent websites. If you would like to republish his articles, please feel free to do so. The more people that see this information the better, and we need to wake more people up while there is still time. Of course the most important thing that we can share with people is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and if you would like to learn more about how you can become a Christian I would encourage you to read this article.

The post The Shocking Truth About Trump’s “Trade Deal” With China appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Guns have been referred to as “the great equalizer,” and there’s no weapon which can come close to them in that regard. A lot of the popularity of firearms is due to the fact that anyone can use them effectively, not only the strong and agile. The young, the old, men, women and child can take up firearms in defense of home and family and do so effectively.

But what do you do if you can’t use a gun – or if you don’t have a gun — to protect yourself?

It only makes sense to have a backup plan. That way, in the case that a firearm malfunctions, you run out of ammunition or somehow get separated from your weapons, you still have a way of defending yourself and your family.

 

Common Alternate Weapons

When people think of alternate weapons, they either think of non-lethal weapons or they think of two of the most common weapons in history. Those are the knife and the bow. Both are excellent weapons, but they have one drawback as a secondary weapon: They require extensive training to use effectively. Unless you are willing and able to spend the necessary time to become proficient with them, owning those weapons really isn’t much of a benefit.

The non-lethal weapons, such as a taser and pepper spray, don’t require much in the way of training, but are extremely limited in range. This makes them a poor choice for more than avoiding a mugger or rapist. Even then, I’m not all that sure how effective they would be, unless you were able to catch the assailant off-guard and use them. They would not be effective in a situation where there was a breakdown of society and you had to defend your home.

 

Introducing Melee Weapons

Melee weapons are weapons created for the purpose of use in a melee. According to Dictionary.com, a melee is “a confused hand-to-hand fight among several people.”

There are two basic problems with being caught in hand-to-hand combat. First of all, the person who has practiced with his or her weapon has a distinct advantage. Second, the advantage always goes to those who are stronger and have a longer reach. That makes hand-to-hand combat a bad place to find yourself, especially if you don’t have an equalizer with you.

 

Handheld Solar Generator Provides Dependable Backup Power 

 

Berserker Weapons – a Sub-Category of Melee Weapons

Criminals use their weapons primarily to intimidate. That’s why many use a knife. They aren’t expert knife fighters, nor do they really want to gut you like a fish, regardless of what they say. They want to scare you with that knife. Even so, they aren’t really all that concerned about hurting you. So, the worst thing you can do is meet them without a weapon or with a knife, giving them the advantage.

Okay, so what do you use? That’s where the weapons below come in. These melee weapons could also be referred to as berserker weapons, because they are the type of weapons that you just go berserk with. While training would help, the main idea is to just beat on them with the weapons. Violence, not training, gives you the advantage.

 

Making Simple Melee Weapons

What’s the advantage of these weapons? Simple: It’s reach. If a criminal is coming at you with a knife in his hand, the reach is limited to the length of his arm. On the other hand, if you are holding a weapon that’s two or three feet long, you’ve got a longer reach than they do, even if your arms are shorter. So, when it comes down to it, you’ve got the advantage.

 

1. The Quarterstaff

The quarterstaff is just a wood pole. Perhaps it is easiest to think of it as a long walking stick. Originally, they ran from six- to nine-feet long; but in reality, it’s hard to work with one that’s more than six-feet long. You’re likely to spend more time hitting the ground than you are your assailant.

In the Middle Ages, when one wanted a quarter staff, they simply cut off an appropriate tree branch or sapling, about two to three inches in diameter. It should be fairly stiff wood, but lightweight. The biggest trick is finding a long-enough branch that is straight. I tried a willow branch and it was too flexible. Then I tried an oak branch and it looked like a crooked finger. The best I did was to improvise one by grabbing a closet rod. This works if you have wood closet rods. The metal ones have built-in hangers on the ends, so they are a bit awkward as a quarterstaff.

In use, the quarterstaff is held in both hands, dividing the staff in three sections. The middle section is used for blocking and both of the ends can be used for striking. A sweeping blow from a quarterstaff carries enough force to cause considerable pain or even knock an opponent unconscious. An assailant with a knife doesn’t stand a chance.

 

2. The Axe

Although not something you normally make yourself, the axe is a natural berserker-style melee weapon, especially the axes they had in olden times. Modern axes aren’t quite as good, because the blade is extremely short, but axes in olden times had a much longer blade.

A warrior armed with an axe could put fear into the heart of an experienced swordsman. That’s because there is no art or science in swinging an axe. More than anything, the axe is held in two hands and swung with pure wild abandon. This makes the axe-wielding warrior unpredictable; therefore, it’s hard to counter in battle. The longer the handle on the axe and the heavier the head, the more that damage can be inflicted.

If you want to use an axe as a weapon, I’d recommend buying a double-bitted axe. A standard woodcutting axe has two things against it. First of all, the head is off-balance, with almost all the weight to one side. That will tend to make that side turn downward, rather than being naturally pointed at the enemy. Secondly, the handle is curved, which is great when you’re cutting a tree, but horrible when you’re using it as a weapon.

The modern incarnation of the tomahawk really isn’t at all like an axe. First of all, it’s mostly intended to be a throwing weapon. But even when used in the hand, it is a single-handed weapon for striking; you really can’t go crazy with one, like you can with an axe.

 

3. Spear

The spear is another very simple weapon. Spears have evolved throughout the history of warfare, being one of the first actual manufactured melee weapons. Those early spears were about four to five feet long and hard wood points. American Indians chipped stone points for their spears, and the Europeans made metal points for them, once they learned how to work metal. In the later Middle Ages, spears became much longer, as they were intended to be used against men on horseback.

For a melee weapon, a four- to five-foot long spear works well. You can make one easily by taking a knife blade (with the handle removed) and inserting it in a slot cut into the end of your spear shaft. Binding the blade in place with strong cord, strapping or duct tape would finish off the spear. Not fancy, but functional.

It is easy to make your own spear point by grinding a piece of metal, much as I explained in the article on how to make your own knives. As an alternate plan, you could grind a spear point from a piece of 1/8-inch thick steel strap. The edges don’t have to be as sharp as they are for a knife, since spear is mostly a piercing weapon.

 

4. Spiked Club

Man’s oldest melee weapons were the rock and the stick. The stick gave the advantage of reach over the rock held in the hand, but in turn the rock could be thrown, giving an even greater reach. Many of our weapons can trace their roots all the way back to those two basic weapons — none more obviously than the club.

A club is merely a heavy stick. Weight is important, especially at the striking end of the stick. The weight improves the velocity and force of the impact. Another thing that helps a lot is to put spikes on the business end of the club. Then, not only does the club provide blunt-force trauma, but also piercing trauma when it strikes.

All you have to do to make a spiked club is find an appropriate piece of tree branch for the club itself. This may require a little bit of whittling on the handle end, to make it thin enough to get a good grip on. You can then hammer nails into the striking end of the club for spikes. Cut off the heads of the nails and then grind points on them to complete the spikes.

Don’t worry about making your spiked club pretty; generally speaking, the uglier they are, the better they work. Oh, and, the easiest way to grind points on your spikes is to grind their ends at an angle, rather than trying to grind them to a conical point.

What is your favorite alternative weapon? Share your tips in the section below:

 

The post 4 Deadly (And Easy-To-Make) Self-Defense Weapons appeared first on Off The Grid News.

Written by Wild Bill on The Prepper Journal.

Though I can certainly understand how they started.

Due to events in my life The Prepper Journal site needed to take a seat in the back of the bus as I reviewed where all this was going and how best to move forward.

I would like to emphasize that the site is NOT being shut down, so there is no compelling need to cache content.

Running the content treadmill is simply a lot of work and I needed to take a break to re-evaluate how to produce and organize content better.

Please stay tuned for further updates and a return to quality content from The Prepper Journal.

Wild Bill

The post The Rumors of My Demise are Overrated appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Oh, a storm is threat’ning
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away – Rolling Stones

Mick Jagger, in Gimme Shelter, sings of the importance of having shelter from external threats. Shelter is a topic that doesn’t get the level of attention in prepper circles that food storage or firearms might get, but that doesn’t make it any less important. In fact, if you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a five-tier psychological theory of human needs, Maslow establishes Physiological Needs (food, water, warmth, and rest) and Safety Needs (security and safety) as the first two most critical human needs. It’s clear how shelter is a key component of these two layers of human survival. Shelter provides warmth, rest, and protection.

By Derrick of Prepper Press

Using Maslow’s theory, shelter is as important as food and firearms (security). So why don’t preppers discuss it with the same level of importance? Perhaps it’s because most people assume it’s a need that’s already covered. We live in our house, for example. That’s where we’ll bug in and ride out the storm, whatever “storm” that might be; or maybe we’ll bug out to that “cabin in the woods” so many people dream about.

Bushcraft Shelter

The bushcraft prepper gives shelter far more attention than other preppers might. They know that surviving in the wild requires constructing a shelter from the materials surrounding you. The bushcraft prepper knows how to construct a lean-to shelter out of evergreen branches in order to stay dry, or how to make a snow cave to escape winter wind and frigid temperatures. Short of the bushcraft circles, preppers generally take shelter for granted.

Also Read: How To Build A “Hurricane Katrina” Rifle

But isn’t taking something for granted contradictory to prepping? Prepping is founded in the very idea of not taking everything for granted. Otherwise, why would we prep in the first place? However, Bushcraft shelters, while important in wilderness survival, is not what this post is about. This post is about your most important shelter, your everyday shelter, your house, apartment, or condominium. This post is about protecting “home,” however you define that. It’s about… sheltering your shelter.

Why Your Primary Shelter Should Not Be Taken for Granted

We often overlook threats to our residence. We might look at how we’ll protect ourselves within our shelter, but not how we protect the shelter itself. This is unfortunate. As preppers, we are doing ourselves a disservice if we are gearing up for an EMP or civil unrest, but ignore the far more common threats facing us: natural and man-made disasters, job loss, and crime. These threats happen far more often and forever will happen far more often.

As an example, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2017, the United States had 1,319,500 fires, which resulted in 3,400 deaths. That means while preppers are stockpiling food for an apocalypse that will hit some day, fires—and the deaths resulting from them—are happening every day.

Thus, if you are prepping in order of most-likely scenario to least-likely scenario, your preps should start with the far more mundane subjects. It’s less exciting, but it’s more practical.

Shelter Your Shelter from Natural and Man-Made Disasters

Natural disasters that threaten your shelter include wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. You need to examine the threats that are most apt to strike the area in which you live. Let’s take wildfires as an example. See here the financial losses from 2008 to 2017 in the United States:

2017 resulted in a dramatic increase! Is this the new norm? If so, it’s important to take precautions!

The first step toward reducing risk could be examining your shelter itself, where it’s located, how it’s constructed, and what surrounds it. If you live in a wildfire-prone area, you may want to build a fire-resistant house from the outset (you may be required to by code) or you could choose appropriate materials as you update your home’s exterior.

Headwater Economics, and independent research group, has a downloadable .pdf on building a wildfire-resistant home. A building’s roof, as an example, is the most vulnerable area. Building with fire-resistant materials costs more than conventional materials; but on the flipside, those materials are often of higher-quality and don’t need to be replaced as often.

Another step toward reducing risk, and these steps apply to all natural disasters, is looking at your insurance policy. If you own a house or condo, does your home owner’s insurance cover all the threats you could face? If you rent, do you have renter’s insurance that offers enough coverage?

Related: Walking Around Rifle

Note: A standard policy won’t provide coverage if you have water damage from flooding. This is a hard reality many people learn about only after tragedy has struck! If you are in a flood zone, make sure you have a flood damage rider or get a separate flood insurance policy.

The same applies to man-made disasters. Fire isn’t limited to natural causes. Fire detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are snoozer subjects, but they’re critical. Are your detectors hardwired? Do you even have detectors? What about fire extinguishers? Do you heat with wood? Woodstoves are notorious for causing unintended fires. If you do heat with wood, do you have the recommended safe space around the stove where an errant spark won’t cause fire? These are all things to consider as you ponder natural and man-made disasters. Assess your shelter’s weaknesses.

Shelter Your Shelter from Job Loss

Foreclosure rates are very low, but not that long ago, during the Great Recession, it seemed like everyone knew someone that was in foreclosure. According to Bankrate, foreclosure filings for 2018 were reported on one out of every 215 homes. Compare that to 2010, when roughly one in 47 homes was in foreclosure. With rumblings of another recession on the way, those with questionable job security might be wondering how to guard against foreclosure.

First, don’t overextend yourself, whether that’s buying more home than you can afford in the first place, buying more car/truck than you need or can afford, or spending frivolously at the expense of building a financial safety net. Having enough money to cover a job loss or unexpected expenses is Prepping 101.

Second, while interest rates are low right now, and they might go even lower, if you have an adjustable rate mortgage, lock in a fixed rate before they can go up. Predictability is your friend.

Third, don’t go underwater on your home. Don’t spend more than the house/condo is worth, and don’t take out loans against it that don’t increase the home’s value. If real estate prices go down, you could end up owing more than the property is worth. Then, when you must sell, you can’t sell at a profit and face foreclosure.

Shelter Your Shelter from Crime

Home burglaries are not uncommon and are difficult to solve. Burglars are seldom caught, and stolen goods are seldom recovered. This assume that no one is home at the time of the burglary. If you or a loved one is home, the situation can turn out far worse than just stolen goods. Here are some ways to protect your shelter from crime.

1. Keep your home well-lit. This means motion-activated lights, ideally solar lights as they are cost effective and continue to function when the power goes out. You can also program your home’s lighting inside, to create the illusion that someone is home. Lights can be automated or controlled with a mobile app.
2. Fortify access points. The saying goes that a lock will only keep out an honest person. While I believe that is true, there is no need to make access easier for criminals. Are your doors fortified with strike plates? Are basement windows easy to open? Are windows locked? Walk around your home and imagine yourself as a thief trying to get in. Where would you enter? What would you use? Is there a ladder stored next to the garage making access to upstairs windows easier? Is there an ax next to your wood pile? Lock up any tools that could be used.
3. Don’t stash a key. Faux rocks, under doormats, under plant pots, atop door frames – people are not stupid. If you find yourself forgetting your key often, give one to a trusted neighbor, or install a door lock with a keypad.
4. Maintain your shelter’s surroundings. Move large shrubs next to the house where someone could hide. Keep your yard maintained so people know there is ongoing activity at your home. If you own a security system (or even if you don’t), put up a sign indicating the home is protected.
5. Get home protection. Whether you decide to keep a handgun or shotgun for home defense, pepper spray, or a pack of Dobermans, make sure that you have something.

Shelter Your Shelter from the Apocalypse

Protecting your home from all the threats associated with a serious SHTF or TEOTWAWKI event is a bigger hurdle than those mentioned above. This is the stuff post-apocalyptic movies are made of. If you assume that roaming bands of thugs will go house-to-house looking to rape and pillage, you have an uphill battle. This threat is, of course, far less likely to happen, but it’s the type of threats that many preppers envision.

Also Read: How To Bug Out From Mother Nature

The details of how to protect one’s home in such a situation goes beyond the scope of this post, but it typically involves a lot of firepower, family, friends, and neighbors. You need others in such a situation. You cannot stay awake at all hours guarding your property. The best, single-source of information on this subject can be found in Joe Nobody’s best-selling book, Holding Your Ground.

Shelter Summary

Discussing shelter, homeowners insurance, and outside lighting isn’t as fun as debating the ten best guns for survival, but it’s a necessary one. Preppers that begin their prepping efforts by equipping themselves for an extended TEOTWAWKI event are prepping in the reverse order. Start with the lower hanging fruit, the more likely scenarios, and work your way up to the bigger threats. Not only does this make more sense, but it is more economical. Also, many of those more elementary steps will better situate your shelter for the more advanced threats.

Please Visit Amazon Affiliate Sponsors of SHTFBlog.com

I knew that John Bolton was going to be trouble the moment President Trump hired him.  Nothing good was ever going to come from having John Bolton as National Security Advisor, and fortunately Trump rejected almost every major recommendation that Bolton made during his entire tenure.  If Trump had gone along with Bolton’s agenda, we would probably be at war right now.  Being so close to the levers of power and being unable to move his agenda forward time after time was very frustrating for Bolton, and since he was fired by Trump he has been on a “revenge tour”.  But would Bolton go so far as to completely betray Trump by becoming the “second whistleblower” regarding the controversial phone call with the president of Ukraine?  There is now a lot of speculation among conservatives that this could be the case, and so far Bolton has not publicly denied being the “”second whistleblower”.  That doesn’t mean that Bolton is guilty, but if I was President Trump he would be the number one suspect on my list.

Let’s start with the facts as we have them at this hour.  It is being reported that a “second whistleblower” has come forward, and that he is being represented by the same legal team that is representing the “first whistleblower”.  The following comes from Breitbart…

On Sunday’s broadcast of “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos opened his show with a report proclaiming a second “whistleblower.”

Stephanopoulos said, “Good morning. Welcome to ‘This Week,’ a week of head-snapping developments. The first key witness testimony to Congress. the first release of text messages from administration officials confirming the pressure campaign or Ukraine outlined in the original whistleblower complaint. That public request from President Trump calling on China to investigate Joe Biden. A new request for documents from Vice President Pence. This morning more breaking news. ABC News has learned that the legal team representing the first whistle-blower is now representing a second whistleblower. Attorney Mark Zaid said he is a member of the intelligence community with firsthand information on some of the allegations at issue.”

The original whistleblower hired “a former Schumer and Hillary Clinton staffer” named Andrew Bakaj to represent him, and we also know that Bakaj has given money to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.

Following the revelation of this “second whistleblower”, Bakaj confirmed on Twitter that his firm is now representing “multiple whistleblowers”.

IC WHISTLEBLOWER UPDATE: I can confirm that my firm and my team represent multiple whistleblowers in connection to the underlying August 12, 2019, disclosure to the Intelligence Community Inspector General. No further comment at this time. https://t.co/05b5aAVm2G

— Andrew P. Bakaj (@AndrewBakaj) October 6, 2019

So let’s summarize what we know so far.

-We know that the second whistleblower is a “he” according to attorney Mark Zaid.

-We know that the second whistleblower has at least some “firsthand knowledge” about the call with the president of Ukraine.

-We know that the second whistleblower has been a member of the intelligence community.

-We know that the second whistleblower is clearly not loyal to Trump.

John Bolton certainly fits that profile.

Can any of you think of another potential suspect?

Of course in Washington there are always more suspects, but it is interesting to note that Trump has apparently been very suspicious of Bolton for quite some time now…

One veteran political consultant in Washington tells Cockburn that Trump is afraid Bolton is the mastermind behind all the damaging leaks on his secret dealings with the Ukrainians; the whistleblower’s Deep Throat, if you will. This, he believes, is why Trump’s cheerleader in the Senate, Lindsay Graham, keeps asking who was feeding the CIA whistleblower who came forward with details of a call between Trump and the Ukrainian president (in which Trump asked for dirt on the Democratic frontrunner, Joe Biden). Graham tweeted: ‘It is imperative we find out which White House official talked to the whistleblower and why. Why didn’t they lodge the complaint?’

And thanks to The Hill, we also know that John Bolton “opposed the phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky” while he was still a member of the administration…

Former White House national security adviser John Bolton opposed the phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the center of an impeachment inquiry launched by House Democrats, NBC News reported Monday.

Three current and former administration officials told the network that Bolton was opposed to the call because he was concerned Trump wasn’t coordinating with advisers on what to say and might air personal grievances.

John Bolton could put all of this speculation to rest by simply denying that he is the second whistleblower, but he has not done that at this point.

Perhaps Bolton thought that he could make a name for himself by being the man that got Donald Trump out of the White House, and it does seem quite likely that Trump will be impeached by the House of Representatives, but Mitch McConnell is being quite clear about the fact that Trump will be protected by the Senate as long as he is the majority leader…

The Senate majority leader released last week a brief video ad on Facebook, which prompts viewers to financially support his reelection campaign, and insisted that the pathway forward for impeachment proceedings to cease is with him maintaining leadership in a Republican-controlled chamber.

‘Nancy Pelosi is in the clutches of a left-wing mob,’ McConnell said in the ad. ‘They’ve finally convinced her to impeach the President. All of you know your Constitution. The way that impeachment stops is a Senate majority, with me as majority leader.’

As long as McConnell refuses to move from that stance, it will be almost impossible for pro-impeachment forces to get enough votes to convict Trump in the Senate, and that means that Trump will almost certainly remain in the Oval Office.

But the endless coverage of this impeachment process by the mainstream media will stir up hatred on the left like never before, and it is setting the stage for utter chaos when the Republicans in the U.S. Senate vote to protect Trump.

It doesn’t take a genius to see how all of this is going to play out.  But the mainstream media will continue to breathlessly cover this process 24 hours a day, and they will put relentless pressure on Republican senators in an all-out effort to get some of them to crack.

No matter how this drama plays out, this is going to be a very ugly chapter in our history, and our political system will never be the same again once it is over.

About the author: Michael Snyder is a nationally-syndicated writer, media personality and political activist. He is the author of four books including Get Prepared Now, The Beginning Of The End and Living A Life That Really Matters. His articles are originally published on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News. From there, his articles are republished on dozens of other prominent websites. If you would like to republish his articles, please feel free to do so. The more people that see this information the better, and we need to wake more people up while there is still time. Of course the most important thing that we can share with people is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and if you would like to learn more about how you can become a Christian I would encourage you to read this article.

The post There Is A Lot Of Speculation That John Bolton Is The “Second Whistleblower” appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Actor Denzel Washington learned it for several months to do his fight scenes in the movie The Book of Eli. Matt Damon and Tom Cruise learned it, too, for their roles in, respectively, The Bourne Identity and Mission Impossible 3. Comic book superheroes like Nightwing and video game characters in Mortal Kombat also use its combat techniques.

Why all the buzz about kali in American pop culture? And why should anyone who already carries a gun want to learn it as a means of deadly self-defense?

Kali, otherwise known as arnis (from the Spanish word arnes meaning “armor” or “harness” of the hand) or eskrima (from esgrima, Spanish for “fencing”), is an ancient Filipino martial art.  The word KA-LI is a combination of the Cebuano words KA-mot meaning “hand” and LI-hok meaning “movement.”

We can give a lot of the credit for the rise in popularity of kali to the late Chinese martial arts icon Bruce Lee. He used it in his movies in the 1970s. In fact, Lee learned kali from his Filipino friend Dan Inosanto. Inosanto also trained many of the instructors now operating kali schools in the U.S. and Hollywood even hired him to teach their actors.

 

The Ancient History Of Kali As A Deadly Self-Defense Discipline

Recognition of kali in mainstream martial arts has only spread in the last few decades. Nevertheless, it was used as early as the 12^th century in my country, the Philippines. Ethnic tribes and visiting traders from other Asian and Arab regions contributed to its development throughout the ages. So, the art evolved into a fusion of ethnic styles that it is today.

Learn A Dirty Trick To End A Fight In 3 Seconds Flat…

Historical accounts say that when Spanish conquerors landed on Philippine shores in the 16^th century, native warriors drove them back merely with sticks, bolos (cutting tools similar to machetes), daggers, and spears. The Spaniards had to retreat to their ships and use firearms to beat the natives. When Filipinos succumbed to Spanish rule, kali came close to extinction. The Spaniards forbade that anyone use it, but my ancestors kept it alive nonetheless. They practiced in secret and incorporated it into their stage plays and religious dances.

When the Americans took over in 1898, they lifted the ban on kali. People then held friendly competitions in town centers on special occasions. In World War II when it was Japan’s turn to invade us, Filipinos worked alongside Americans in guerrilla units to fend them off during close quarter encounters. Many of our men probably owed their lives to their kali skills and trusty bolos.

 

What The Practice Of Kali Looks Like Today

Kali as an art and a fighting system survived and is now our national sport. In addition, it is an integral part of the training for our SWAT police and military. Its practicality and combat effectiveness have been tested and proven over centuries of common street skirmishes and all-out military wars. It’s no wonder that even the U.S. Army and the Russian Spetsnaz now use kali as well.

Kali is largely known for its use of sticks and bladed weapons. However, it also employs a variety of tactical tools and techniques. Kalistas or eskrimadors train to be resourceful, using common items like pens, car keys, a belt, PVC pipe, broken bottles, or even a handkerchief as weapons. Methods involve kicking, leg sweeping, foot stomping, head butting and thrusting, and lots of empty-hand combat like blocking, weapon disarming, wrist flicking, striking, hooking, joint locks and take-downs.

The first and most remarkable thing you’d probably notice about kali is the dynamic flow. Movements are fast, constant, fluid and rhythmic, almost dance-like. This is to give an enemy no opportunity for ensuing attacks. The moment you stop moving, you become prone to further advances.

Because kali relies heavily on speed, timing, accuracy, and agility, many of the moves require little or no muscle power at all. Much of kali’s strength and efficiency actually comes from the constant motion and the precision of the strikes. Kalistas have a keen sense of movement and can anticipate how an enemy’s arms and body lunge and thrust. They train to block these and quickly decide if, when, and where exactly to strike back. They also have a heightened awareness of their surroundings, so they can think quickly and improvise weapons.

 

Why Kali?

Kali is said to be a complete martial art. It maximizes both armed and unarmed defense, unlike others that tend to focus on only one. Kalistas become adept at fighting with or without weapons and are comfortable at all combat ranges: long range with feet and weapons, medium range with just hands, and close range using elbows and knees.

Another difference of kali from other martial arts is that students practice sparring right from the beginning, unlike others that prioritize and spend lengths of time on empty hands training, complicated footwork, and stances. One of the advantages of learning weaponry early on is that it quickly develops manual dexterity and coordination of both the right and left sides of the body, and improves overall muscle memory. It also trains the student to psychologically face an armed opponent, and to produce rapid, conditioned responses to different kinds of attacks — including those with multiple adversaries.

Kali is probably the cheapest and easiest martial art to learn and practice. No fancy gears and uniform are necessary. What a beginning student only needs are a couple of broomsticks, and of course, a good instructor or guro. And because there is little need for muscle power, practically anyone can learn kali — even an 11-year-old child or an overweight 50-year-old adult.

 

Kali Training Can Take Your Workout Routine To The Next Level

An added benefit to taking up the sport is the physical fitness that results from the regular cardio-vascular workout. Many schools, in fact, teach the sport outdoors, with shoes on, to give students a semblance of an actual street-fight environment.

When seen in terms of disaster preparedness in the American setting, kali can complement your security preps for protecting your family and property.

Additionally, since you can’t carry a gun with you everywhere all the time, and gun stores are frequently in short supply of ammunition, kali could be your best alternative for deadly self-defense.

Have you ever learned kali or a different martial art? Do you believe it is a deadly self-defense alternative to firearms? Share your thoughts in the comments section below:

Click Here And Discover The Hand-To-Hand Fighting System That’s So Simple You Can Learn It In Hours

Sources:

https://www.ebmas.com.tr/en/escrima-2/history-of-escrima/history/

https://www.blackbeltwiki.com/eskrima

https://www.black-eagle.org/why.htm

The post Deadly Self-Defense When You Don’t Have A Gun appeared first on Off The Grid News.

Buying a homestead although challenging, provides security for survival and an extra layer of preparedness.

A homestead is defined as a house and the surrounding land owned, often including a farmhouse.

You usually find self-sufficient homesteads in rural areas where crops, livestock and food sources supplemented through hunting are accessible. This land is often passed down generation after generation.

Homesteads typically have a way to supply their own eggs, meat, dairy products and grain right from their own land. Plus, they may supply their own electric and water.

3 Reasons to Buy a Homestead

1. Unlimited Resources

The food and dairy are fresh. The animals are raised properly. You are saving tons of money by having your own supermarket right in your own yard.

Speaking of eggs, a lot of people think chickens. However, you may want to consider raising quail. Quails are a great addition to your homestead because they offer meat and eggs.

If you do live in the city or have a smaller space, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have your own ‘homestead’. However, if you want to be “off the grid” and on your own, then having your own rural farmland is the way to go.

You want to look for a nice parcel of land away from civilization, but close enough to reach help in an emergency.

2. Financial Survival

Another benefit of having your own homestead is the financial perk-saving on taxes.

Plus, you can set up solar power and your own way of generating water to avoid paying the electric company and other utilities.

The first thing to look into before buying is if your state actually allows it. Some states actually prohibit homestead purchases because you are not using the state’s utilities or paying the typical taxes.

It’s good to start by checking state laws.

The other big benefit to buying a homestead is the low crime rate. Smaller population means less chance for crime. Plus, you can set up simple alarm systems to alert you to people approaching your homestead.

If you are considering this way of life, take some time to learn how to become self reliant to make the change less of a shock.

3. Peace and Privacy

Another great benefit is the peace you’ll find “off the grid.” How many times have we thought that it would be nice to get away or take a break from the rest of the world? Here’s your chance.

The greatest benefit is that you and your loved ones work together to sustain your family. This builds a stronger family unit, and the skills of true survival.

You gain an incredible sense of accomplishment and memories you will never forget as you spend time building your future survival base together.

Whether in a survival situation or a permanent situation, it seems that it is easy to find benefits to buying a homestead. What about you? Comment below and let us know your thoughts on buying a homestead. If you have a homestead, share your advantages…

Democrat presidential candidate and well-known liar, Kamala Harris wants President Donald Trump’s account on Twitter suspended.  By suspending his account during times of accusations and impeachment rhetoric, the democrat would be actively censoring a sitting president.

Is this the “democracy” democrats are constantly blathering on about? Harris has officially asked Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorset to censor the president of the United States. According to CNBC, in a letter to Twitter’s CEO, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris says Trump has violated the company’s anti-bullying policies and Twitter should consider suspending his account.

Harris also says that Trump has attempted to “target” and “harass” the whistleblower who filed a complaint on the president’s July 25 call with the president of Ukraine. But unmasking and harassing whistleblowers is fine, as long as it’s a democrat whos doing it.

Hey, @jack. Time to do something about this. https://t.co/es2fJ5PNRV

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 2, 2019

Harris infamously claimed she had smoked marijuana in college while listening to Snoop Dog and Tupac years before either made music.  While the liberal media desperately wants you to forget this because Harris chose the D to put behind her name,  we think it’s necessary to know the content of the character that we are dealing with.

It’s also ironic and quite hypocritical that Harris is saying Trump is “bullying” a whistleblower with Tweets as she attempts to bully a private company into censoring a sitting president. It would be funny if the entire state of the government wasn’t little more than a bad joke at this point. Besides, doesn’t’ Trump know by now that only democrat propaganda will be allowed on social media platforms?

A White House spokesperson told CNBC in an emailed statement, “It is not surprising that Kamala Harris, someone who believes in bigger government and more regulation, would like to silence her political opponents. In fact, it’s rather authoritarian of her. President Trump’s use of technology to communicate directly with the American people and share his Administration’s unprecedented accomplishments should be praised, not criticized.”

The Solo Stove design is a stainless steel can-shaped wood-burning container of numerous sizes from easy carry for backpacking, to a monster that needs two people to lift it. For this review, we will take a look at the Solo Stove Lite, the smallest of the Solo Stove offerings. Part 2 will address a larger Solo Stove stove, and a campfire-sized Solo Stove.

By Doc Montana, contributing author to Survival Cache and SHTFblog

The Solo Stove Lite is a beautifully engineered and executed stainless steel wood stove not much bigger than a can of beans. But what does raise eyebrows is the price; about $70. And even more surprising than the price is that those who use it absolutely love it! So much so that the price drifts into the ether becoming a non-issue after only a few uses.

The Solo Stove is a dynamic option for those comfortable with placing their cooking needs in the hands of wood. And I am one who does. The Solo Stove is a trifecta of physics, engineering, and materials. On the physics side, the flow of oxygen to the Solo Stove’s main fire chamber follows a dual route “from the bottom to the top,” to quote the Talking Heads. As air enters the base of the Solo Stove through external holes lining the lower parameter, it carries ambient oxygen to the lower vent, and also to upper openings in the main chamber. The oxygen level in air is far above the O2-starved fires inside the stove. So much so that it appears as if flames are flowing out of the upper parameter holes into the main flow of flame. It truly is both inspiring and mesmerizing. You’ve got to see it to believe it.

Also Read: Survival Gear Review: MSR Whisperlite Stove

Air begins its journey under the main fire due to a wire grate that delineates the base of the burn chamber from a sub-chamber that doubles as an ash trap. As the combustion gasses ascent to the upper levels of the stove, they are heated before pouring into the chamber through the holes lining the upper reaches of the inside of the inner wall. The hot air offer an abundance of oxygen causing a gassification effect that takes the tradition campfire wood heating to amazing levels.

An additional benefit from the dual airflow system is that there is extremely little smoke from the stove when burning efficiently. Like none. Of course there is plenty of smoke on both ends of the time you use the stove, but a large part in the middle burn time when cooking and campfireing are done has no noticeable smoke. There is still plenty of woodfire smell, however. One time from a bit of a distance, I thought my stove was pouring out the smoke only to realize as I neared that it was spraying steam like a train whistle out of a snug fit pot lid. And no smoke.

When burning wood, you don’t have to be diligent about the stove’s operation. You can add some wood and walk away. If it burns down, you add more. If your water boils, then good and it will just boil longer. But the Solo Stove completely removes the worry about conserving fuel. And once you get into the Solo Stove mindset, you see fuel everywhere and in abundance.

The Solo Stove Lite is a wood stove on the smaller side that punches well above its weight class. The Solo Stove is made of 320 stainless steel which just means that its made of the most common stainless steel. But stainless steel nonetheless. The welds between the two “cans” are impeccable, and a thing of beauty. A mesh grate of nichrome wires criss-crosses the inside bottom providing a limited but ample supply of air to keep the coals humming along while allowing gravity to remove the spent wood. Sometimes a minor shake of the burning stove tidies up the fire by cleaning out the carbon from the fire.

There are two pieces to the Solo Stove, a main dual container consisting of the two layers of steel, the ash basin, and plenty of holes above and below main chamber. The other piece is a ring of steel with a lip that can either dip into the main can for storage or fly above it as a pot support and doorway for adding more fuel to the combustion chamber.

Related: Survival Gear Review: Vargo Wood Stove

The riser is essential for cooking over the stove. Without it, a pot or pan would sit flush on the Solo Stove blocking the flow of hot gasses. But there is no need for the riser if just using the Solo Stove as a campfire pit. The riser can easily be added or subtracted from the system with a fire blazing. In fact, it is much easier to get the stove started without the riser.

I’m not sure if it’s right or not, but I’ve extinguished my Solo Stove Lite simply by dumping water on it. The water does run out the bottom holes carrying with it plenty of smaller pieces of wood and charcoal. The stove, when dry then clanks like a baby rattle until you dig out all the pieces of detritus rolling around in between the stainless walls.

Being a wood stove, the Solo Stove Lite will get dirty. And depending on how loose you are with the wood input, your pot might just have a black bottom, or the entire pot will become jet black and sticky with creosote. I’m happy to report that the Solo Stove made it through the normal cycle in my dishwasher. I can see the potential for rust however as stainless means less stains, not rustless. But it was nothing more that what I noticed after using the Solo Stove Lite for a few rainy days on a backpacking trip.

In use, I had a boiling quart of water in 10 minutes plus or minus. Usually plus. I used a commercial fire tinder to fire up the stove quickly, but you can use traditional tinder and firesticks to launch this rocket. Some of the benefits include no real concerns for fuel. The only time I ran into a fuel shortage was when I was over 11,000 feet in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana and there was literally no dry cellulose around large enough to burn. I did try to burn mountain goat dung in the Solo Stove Lite, but just couldn’t keep the flame long enough to boil water. Yak dung maybe? Just fresh out of yaks around here.

Even at 10k feet I located plenty of material primarily in two locations. The first was in natural microstream channels where the rain piled up small sticks at congested areas between rocks and narrow water pathways. The second was where small animals had made a home using locally sourced building materials. And in one case, where I knew I was headed to a high spot, I just grabbed a few inch-to-inch-and-a-half thick branches, stripped and resized them, and slid them into my compression straps on by backpack. When arriving at camp, I just processed the branches into Solo Stove-sized fuel. I got about two quarts of boiling water out of each three-foot branch.

Listen: Survival Cache Podcast: Only Choose One Piece of Gear

I have a 900 milliliter titanium pot and small fire making kit I carry with my Solo Stove Lite. The pot is made by Snow Peak and I use an MSR titanium lid from another cooking kit to cover the pot. My fire kit includes a Bic lighter or two, some matches, a firesteel, some commercial tinder/firestarter, and a tiny saw that I considered a joke until now. The Solo Stove Lite fits neatly inside the pot, and the whole kit fits into a mesh stuff sack with is important to reduce the sharing of black carbon with the rest of your gear.

I am so enamored with my Solo Stove Lite, that it has moved into my primary campstove position. And I have a dozen or so other stove choices. During a bug out, any liquid or compressed gas stove has a short life. However, should you want to run a liquid fuel in your Solo Stove Lite, there is an optional alcohol can with adjustable lid available for burning fluids. So if you can get over the price, the Solo Stove Lite is an exceptionally useful, efficient, and potentially life saving tool for fun and survival. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the Solo Stove Lite.

Please Visit Amazon Affiliate Sponsors of SurvivalCache.com

The post Survival Gear Review: The Solo Stoves, Part One: Solo Stove Lite appeared first on Survival Cache.

Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

There are all kinds of ways windshield reflectors and space blankets can make life easier and increase our capabilities as preppers, both everyday and during emergencies. Some of the camping and car uses are the most well known, but they don’t get applied in our homes and backyards much.

What we’re doing with them affects just how much quality we need, and thus what we might expect to spend. We also have other options such as regular ol’ aluminum foil and the option of snagging aluminum bubble insulation.

Mylar Sheets

I should say up front that while I have a couple of the dollar-store wallet-sized sheets in my daily bags and vehicle, I am not a huge fan of them. I’ve tried them out a few times. They never got top billing for my vest or pocket stuff when I was camping.

We can get better versions of simple, thin, super-compact, super-lightweight heat sheets for not much more, which is now my choice.

We can also get the types where the mylar sheet is mated to a much sturdier nylon or canvas backing, complete with grommets. They’re pricier and have added bulk, but they’re far more sturdy with more ease of use.

That’s what I tend to go with now for away-from-home emergency kits when the space isn’t of issue.

I have always lived in areas where wind is a factor, even in the woods. Most of my packing and long-distance solo driving has been done in areas with crazy-vicious thorns and-or thick brush. I have had all kinds of things punctured and ripped from rocks, sticks, and mesquite. I also almost always have dogs with me, and do not always have a file for their nails or control of their wagging tails.

Thin, flimsy space blankets just don’t fit my outdoors emergency needs.

I also find them to be a serious pain to fold up, a pain to work with due to the light weight, and insanely noisy.  

Others do like the regular ol’ dollar-store versions, express no real issues with them, and make them work in all kinds of conditions. For $1-$3, give them a try and see if they work for you.

There’s also all kinds of emergencies – and all kinds of uses in everyday life. We don’t always need a rough-ready Mylar sheet to reap the benefits.

There’s no reason to spend more in those cases, some of which apply to the uses below.

There’s no reason to spend more than we have to, ever – watch for seasonal sales and check outlets like Ollie’s and Big Lots, clip some coupons for Academy and Tractor Supply, and keep more of the budget available for other things even when we’re after the heftier emergency blankets or vehicle sun shades.

Windshield Reflectors

These are my backpacking, evac kit, and kayaking go-to choice. I typically carry 2-3, bundled so they form a belt pad and pad the back of my pack.

I started carrying just one to serve as a bedroll pad. Just like they reflect heat away from our cars, under our bodies, they reflect our heat back up. In a pinch, they can work solo as a ground cover, but I usually have a ground cloth of some kind.

I punch some holes and add loops so they’re easy to attach up over or beside my body as well, regardless of bivy or tarp shelter type. If I have sufficient insulation from the ground, that reflection is more useful to me.

That reflective value can be netted with any of the mylar and mylar-lined options. I still use the vehicle heat shields under a bedroll just because they’re less likely to bunch up or move, and they’re thicker, covering my pad needs.

I also prefer those fold-up vehicle pads for wet and snowy packing and kayaking because they can provide a comfy place to sit or kneel, and because it’s easier to rig them with some branches, around trees, or with line to reflect a fire’s heat back at my sitting and sleeping area.

There’s another big bonus when it comes to the vehicle reflectors over thinner sheets and plastic-tarp types: sparks.

I have never managed to actually have a sheet blow into a fire and melt immediately, but I have every once in a while had a gust hit a 1-sided or 2-sided/angled reflector fire just right, at just the right time, to send some embers blowing.

The vehicle sheets have never caught or had holes melted from just incidental sparks. The space blankets, however, have.

It’s just something to be aware of.

*Reflectors for fires aren’t just about keeping us warmer. Set up logs, rocks, spare lids, etc., to help food cook faster, even if you don’t set up a large section, or look into a reflector oven.

Creating a smaller space and reflective surfaces can also help make our at-home emergency candle and oil ovens and stoves more effective, decreasing cooking time. Likewise, heat shields and reflectors can help keep heat contained to a cooking area for poorly insulated campers, shacks, and trailers even with gas or electric cook-tops.

Reflect Heat At Home, Too

We can throw cheap sheets or sturdier windshield screens all over to help lower fuel use and make areas more comfortable. They work under the bottom sheet or the mattress for beds, humans or pets.

We can use them propped up behind animal beds as well. Windshield reflectors or sheets adhered to plywood or shipping pallets can be used for livestock, too, lowering the times we use heat lamps for birds and lambs.

We can also use them atop kennels or hanging from rafters to create canopy beds for our animals, holding and reflecting more warmth yet just as they do for us.

Mylar sheets (or aluminum bubble insulation) also work to reflect heat from behind our chairs and lining our workshops, near our wood stoves, on attic floors, and even on our windows.

Covering windows to reflect heat back works even better if we go with double-ply sheeting with something dark on the outside to absorb solar radiation, and the mylar on the inside.

Just like those sunscreens help keep vehicles cooler, we can use them during summer outages to reflect light away – just like switching to pale-colored curtains.

It applies to RVs and hunting shacks as well, or to tents that have windows and dark colors and car/truck camping.

If we have the sturdier versions, we can use hooks and line or poles to angle the screens out away from our windows so we can cut the light and heat, but still retain some airflow.

Outdoors Light & Heat Control

Any of our reflectors can help us with comfort and efficiency outside, too. With the reflective surface above, heat from the ground is contained and reflected back down, giving us extended use of our decks and porches, protecting gardens from cool snaps, or helping to retain warmth from any passive or active heating we use.

Especially during the spring-autumn verges and during winter when the sun’s arc is still low, we’re not losing significant amounts of light if we use tall hoop frames.

Other times, we might lay reflective ground cover or our handy alternatives to reflect light upwards, or prop any of our options against the back of a greenhouse or bed to reflect more light still from the sides.

Other times, we specifically want to lower the amount of sunlight reaching our gardens, and might even angle a screen so it’s blocking the whole afternoon sun.

Doing so – and adding a reflector facing outward instead – can lower the heat for cooler-weather crops and reduce evaporation and transpiration, reducing our need to irrigate in dry seasons.

We can also make use of our light and heat reflectors for indoor plants. It’s especially helpful starting seeds in low light conditions, whether that’s a window in early spring or “just” maximizing growth for countertop sprouts and microgreens.

It also allows us to maximize the efficiency of any grow lights we use – for birds as well as plants.

Smaller Structures

Whatever type we might choose – to include those cheap Mylar sheets or regular ol’ foil – we can use reflectors to increase the effectiveness of solar panels large and small-tiny, and solar heaters and dehydrators. They’re also handy for solar-heated water systems, whether those are warming houses or greenhouses, or feeding into showers or pre-heated cooking and hand-washing stations.

Vehicle sunscreens can make for incredibly easy solar cookers, but they, too, can also be assembled using any of our options – there’s no need to spend more for the sturdier or larger sheets.

Reflectors: Worth A Couple Bucks

Whether we’re planning for everyday emergencies or a major End-of-Days event, having some options on hand to reflect heat one way or another can be a major assist. That assistance applies to normal life as well, allowing us to do more with less work or fuel expenditure. In some cases – like decreasing the use of heat lamps and space heaters – it can also reduce risks on the home front.

Given the relatively inexpensive investment required, it’s worth trying out the options and keeping a few on hand, at home, in vehicles, with emergency kits, but also for everyday trial-and-error testing and development.

Be Safe out there and be sure to check out The Prepper Journal Store and follow The Prepper Journal on Facebook!

 

The post Reflectors and Mylar: Home, Garden and On The Go appeared first on The Prepper Journal.