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  • Coupon Code – 17.76% Discount Off All Orders Over $17.76

    Coupon Code – 17.76% Discount Off All Orders Over $17.76

    NOTE: Several readers reached out asking if I could extend the sale a few days as some people were getting paid later in the week. So – for a few more days the sale will continue.

    Have a good week all!!!

    I was just planning out my day and thought “Why not have a sale in the 1776 Survival & Preparedness Store?” So – for the next few days here’s the deal:

    Coupon Code: 1776

    Discount: 17.76%

    Discount code will work on all orders over $17.76. (See what I did there?).

    Free Shipping on all orders and I’ve added a few new products recently.

    Take care all –

    Rourke

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  • ONE DAY ONLY: Coupon Code – 17.76% Discount Off All Orders Over $17.76

    ONE DAY ONLY: Coupon Code – 17.76% Discount Off All Orders Over $17.76

    Hope everyone had a great weekend!

    I was just planning out my day and thought “Why not have a sale in the 1776 Survival & Preparedness Store?” So – for the next 24 hours here’s the deal:

    Coupon Code: 1776

    Discount: 17.76%

    Discount code will work on all orders over $17.76. (See what I did there?).

    Free Shipping on all orders and I’ve added a few new products recently.

    Take care all –

    Rourke

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  • Let’s Remember…..

    Let’s Remember…..

    As mentioned many times over the past years…..as we all go about our day and get together with friends and family for cookouts, let’s remember the true reason for Memorial Day. Proudly remember and be thankful for all that served and made the ultimate sacrifice to secure your freedom and liberty.

    Take care all –

    Rourke

     

  • From the Desk of John Rourke: May 28th, 2023

    From the Desk of John Rourke: May 28th, 2023

    Things have been crazy busy as regular life takes up so much time – work, family, regular daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. Add to that establishing a garden and getting the cabin and homestead the way we want it. Yup – it’s been busy.

    ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

    This past weekend we’ve been finishing up the garden. It’s been a ton of work preparing our selected garden area prepped and getting seeds and transplants in the ground. Time just didn’t allow us to start seeds indoors due to moving and unpacking. Cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, beans, garlic, crookneck squash, zucchini, potatoes, and onions have been planted. An herb garden is planned but hasn’t been planted yet. Soon.

    garden, gardening, homestead, Maine, prepper, preparedness, survival, survivalist, food storage, canning, shtf,

    Garlic. Over the past couple years found a new appreciation for garlic on my cooking.

    ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

    ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

    Maine Prepper Girl has brought up that we need to stock up on some canning supplies. She recognizes the advantages and importance of home canning. While this first year my gardening expectations are fairly low as I learn a new climate, new soil, and a completely different growing season, we can supplement our produce production from local sources. MPG has never canned before so we will certainly learn together. I can’t wait!!!

    canning, canning food, food storage, prepper, preparedness, survival, survivalist, economic collapse,

    Some of my favorite canning projects include dill pickles, homemade salsa, and homemade spaghetti sauce. Oh – homemade spaghetti sauce!!!!!!! YUM!!! 🍝

    ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

    This probably goes without saying but I’m saying it anyways – the reported inflation numbers coming out fro. government is BS. A trip to the local grocery store and buying a pound of hamburg will tell you prioces are AT LEAST 50%. ore than just a few years ago. Want some A1 Steaksauce? Crazy prices. Add to this the shrinking packaging sizes while raising prices as the same time shows why so many Americans are struggling to make ends meet.

    Given this….many foods remain fairly cheap and if you haven’t STOCK UP ON FOOD NOW! If you do not have buckets of rice packed away – what are you waiting on?

    ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

    Take care all.

    Rourke

  • Teach Them Young……

    Teach Them Young……

    Spent some time with my grandson in the garden. Kid is always wanting to be outside and help his “Pop”.  I’ve been working in the garden and took the opportunity to get him involved.

    Here’s a little clip…….

     

     

  • Senators Receive Satellite Phones

    Senators Receive Satellite Phones

    A few days ago it was announced that satellite phones were offered to US Senators as a means of “emergency communications”. Opinions cover a wide spectrum of possibilities as to the specific reasoning for the move. Reports state that the action was in response to the January 6th insurgency, others suggest this is in the case of a natural disaster. Still, others are considering the possibility that with the growing tension and rhetoric between China, Russia, and the United States there is a growing possibility of war. Another scenario floating around for consideration is the possibility of an EMP attack on the United States.

    More information has come out saying that Senators and other government officials received training on how to deal with injuries connected to high blood flow.

    So let’s look at this with some commonsense and logic:

    Satellite communication has been around for decades. This is not new technology. Why would this contingency suddenly become so important that at this very moment in time, satellite communication is provided to government officials in high positions?

    EMP? World war? Alien invasion? Potential national grid down situation?

    I’ll tell you what it means to me: I’ll focus on EMP  and grid down preps for the next few weeks “just in case”.

    Please share your thoughts.

    Rourke

  • New Product: The Alcohol Survival Stove [2 Pack]

    New Product: The Alcohol Survival Stove [2 Pack]

    Use coupon code “10OFF” for 10% off all orders. Thanks!!!

    The Alcohol Survival Stove – 2 PACK

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    PLUS…..INCLUDES TWO TUBES OF SURVIVAL MATCHES

    Product is shipped within 48 hours of order – often sooner.

    The United States Postal Service sucks – please be patient as tracking is provided but often fails to update in a timely manner.

    Great gift as well!!!

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

    FREE SHIPPING and discounts when multiple items are purchased.

    THANKS FOR LOOKING!!!!

  • From the Desk of John Rourke: May 17th……Snow

    From the Desk of John Rourke: May 17th……Snow

    Today was fairly productive….and just a bit crazy. The variety of thoughts and experiences I’ve had today has been a bit out of the ordinary. Overall – it was good.

    Normal day as far as getting up, a couple of fried eggs and some toast. 20-minute drive to work catching up on some messages via Telegram and a couple of short videos on Youtube from people I regularly follow. In this short timeframe, I heard about insane laws passed in Canada as well as the movement of American air assets that appear to be looking for Russian subs off the coast of the United States.

    Work went as normal. Met with a local transportation company about moving 12 storage containers. While out walking around the wind picked up and suddenly…..snow. It started to snow. A few days ago it was around 70 and today it snowed. Crazy. Hey – welcome to Maine.

    After work, I hurried home as I had arranged for a retired ex-lobsterman to meet me at the cabin. I had a small boat for sale. Guy loved it and paid me $500. Money will get put away – future projects. When we bought the house there was a boat and a homemade trailer in the garage. So – the boat has been sold and we decided to keep the trailer. It could come in handy.

    I worked in the garden a bit. I’ve held off planting live plants as the forecast is saying there is a good chance of a frost tonight. Well, this weekend is supposed to be in the 70s and I have every intention of finally finishing all the planting.  I’ll be sharing some pictures and videos soon, but, for now, I have several raised beds, in-ground rows, and mounds – and also some actual raised beds sitting about 3 feet off the ground. Made from scrap wood.

    Came in and performed a cognitive assessment for a company I have applied to. Looking for a better job. Better job? Better pay + better hours + better benefits = better job. We’ll see.

    Next – mounted a license plate to Maine Prepper Girls’ Jeep. In Maine, you have to have a plate on the front and the back. I drilled holes and mounted the plate on the front. She’s now rock’n the two plates on her 4-door Wrangler. Sweet!!!

    So many projects. They will get done….eventually.

    Oh – now I’m sharing this with you….LOL.

    Take care all.

    Rourke

  • Strawberry Freezer Jam

    Strawberry Freezer Jam

    With strawberry picking season arriving across much of the country thought I would share this once again…….

    My kids are technically adults now, but they still love freezer jam.  Even though we are apart in miles (at the moment) I still feel the need to perform the same seasonal traditions as if they were still with me.  I would not usually make this delicious treat until late summer in Maine, but here in South Carolina, the strawberries are ripe and ready. When I asked Mr. Rourke if he had ever had strawberry freezer jam he gave me a puzzled look and stated that he had never heard of such a thing! I was again amazed at yet another food he had not tried. To say he is a meat and potato guy is an understatement. As a matter of fact, I just had him try a Big Mac for the first time EVER last week! I would say that he has a 99% approval rating of the food I have him try. The one thing he is not fond of is sushi. I am afraid that is a losing battle, but as long as there are Steak and Sushi joints we both win!

    Anyway, back to the freezer jam. This recipe is super easy and is found on the inside of the label of the container of RealFruit Instant Pectin by Ball. I believe you can also find a similar recipe on the inside of a box of Certo. The recipes differ by fruit being used. I have only ever used strawberries but maybe trying something different real soon. I made the jam outside of our camper for more space and because I like being outside. Thanks to our outdoor kitchen I was able to rinse the strawberries after hulling and slicing them.

    Supplies: Three mixing bowls, funnel, strainer, potato masher, knife, mason jars, spoons, measuring spoons, and measuring cups.

    Ingredients: Strawberries (about 6 quarts of strawberries made 11 8 ounce jars of jam), sugar, RealFruit Instant Pectin

    What you see in the picture is double the amount plus some of the strawberries I needed. I was unsure and the extra berries were put to good use in a strawberry upside-down cake that was also delicious and enjoyed by my coworkers.

    Cut, wash, strain, and mash strawberries. You will need 1 and 2/3 cup. Set aside.

    In a clean bowl add 2/3 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons of pectin and mix together with a spoon.

    Add the sugar/pectin mixture to the strawberries a little at a time, stir for 3 minutes until dissolved.

     

    Put in jars using a funnel.

    And there you have it! Strawberry Freezer Jam! Store in the freezer until ready to use then keep in the fridge. It is delicious on toast or on a PB & J. Rourke’s favorite way to have it is on the top of Breyer’s Extra Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream.

    I know that this may not be a prepper item as it needs to be refrigerated to be stored but I like that it is a quick easy way to use up berries with very few ingredients.

    Have a great summer everyone!

    Maine Prepper Girl

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Massive Invasion Started at the Southern Border

    Massive Invasion Started at the Southern Border

    There are so many events transpiring at this very moment that will have a significant impact on our lives in the future. The current massive invasion at our southern border is a ramped-up version of what has happened for years. This illegal immigration has had a tremendous negative impact on our culture, economy, and security. With this massive influx and increase of illegal immigration, it is challenging to predict the significance of countless millions suddenly entering and spreading across the country.

    Watch the video and comment below with your thoughts. Please Like and Subscribe as it really helps the algorithm and improves views. Share with like-minded folks.

    Above all – stay safe.

    Rourke

  • The Collapse is Just Around the Corner

    The Collapse is Just Around the Corner

    When I sit back and think about how much has happened in just the last 20 or so years it’s pretty incredible. Those of us who have been around a few decades have lived to see the Patriotism of Ronald Reagan whereby freedom defeated communism. In 1984 Reagan won 49 out of 50 states. Think the country was unified? Well – much more than today. He actually won only 58% of the vote.

    Some 20 years later we’ve gone through 9/11, Bush Jr., and the Patriot Act. We’ve gone through Obama and the division his election and anti-American rhetoric created. Throw all the politics out the window and we sit here in 2023 surrounded by a world of insanity whereby men can become women, the military is using transgender spokespeople as a recruiting tool, the world is at the brink of World War 3, and a bottle of A1 Steaksauce costs much more than a gallon of gas.

    As I look towards the next 4-5 years I certainly do not see things improving. I see tremendous economic strife and civil unrest. I’ve given up trying to predict the future with any specific certainties, however, I will say that there are some steps we can all take to better our position to handle what’s coming.

    • Store as much food as possible. Pack it and stack it!
    • Look at everything your household uses daily, weekly, and monthly. Stockpile 12 months worth…..24 months worth….whatever you can do.
    • The world continues to become more and more dangerous. Guns and ammo should be a priority. Learn to shoot. Learn to move while shooting.
    • Grow your own food as much as possible. Learn to preserve via canning, dehydrating, freeze drying, etc.
    • Network with neighbors and like-minded folks in your community. You will not make it on your own.
    • Create secondary and tertiary streams of income. When the economy fails your 9-5 may not continue.
    • Enjoy your time here on this earth and do what makes you happy. Life is so short. Treasure every moment and tell your sweetheart how much you love them.

    It’s 2023. I remember back in 1984 when I was at Fowler Drive Elementary School in Athens, Georgia.

    So much has changed.

    What’s next?

    Rourke

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  • THOUGHTS ON POST-SHTF ENTERTAINMENT

    THOUGHTS ON POST-SHTF ENTERTAINMENT

    While there are tons of articles and video’s out there discussing all the aspects of preparing for the inevitable SHTF, I’ve never seen anything mentioned about post-SHTF entertainment. Other than an infrequent mention of putting away several boxes of condoms for the occasional romantic interlude, never seen the topic discussed. In order to maintain some resemblance of moral and psychological health – entertainment that can distract and get the mind going in a direction away from the stresses of reality would be in order.

    I’ve been accumulating a massive library of movies and TV shows specifically for this purpose. In a future article, I’ll share how I’ve been doing this as some of my methods have been risky, to say the least. I’ve also considered selling my library(in excess of  2 terabytes of videos) but at this point  – no dice. Technically doing so would be “illegal” and offensive to some. Somehow I take a great amount of joy by “sticking it to the man” by obtaining most of my movies and TV shows for pennies versus the often ridiculous dollars demanded for a 1.5-hour movie and a 30-minute sitcom. The fact that most of Hollywood is full of hypocritical assholes….well, that’s a bonus.

    (The Magic of Belle Isle.……great movie!!!)

    My main method of viewing video files includes transferring movies and tv shows to a USB and watching them on modern televisions via USB drives. For post-SHTF using tablets and laptops is a very capable method to watch a few episodes of The Flintstones or go to a mental escape and watch Iron Man. Both tablets and laptops – especially tablets are easily charged via inexpensive portable solar panels and are very energy efficient.

    While these movies and TV shows are rather modern and require electricity and such other methods of entertainment are certainly available. Board games are a great item to stock up on and many can be found for pennies on the dollar at thrift shops and yard sales. A deck of regular cards as well as the classic UNO can be a great addition.

    A shelf full of books can also provide hours and hours of entertainment.

    Any thoughts on entertainment after the SHTF?

    Take care all!

    Rourke

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  • Zombies….and the Samsung Z Flip Phone

    Zombies….and the Samsung Z Flip Phone

    Prepper fiction author Steven Bird recently commented on Facebook that he had to replace another Samsung Z Flip Phone. Turns out that Maine Prepper Girl had one for a total of 3 months before the screen cracked at the folding seam….so, I could understand his frustration. In response to his post……..

    I wrote the following:

    John had never been a fan of horror movies or zombie flicks, but now, as he stumbled through the dark corridors of the abandoned building, he wished he had paid more attention to them. He had been separated from his loved ones during the outbreak and had been wandering the streets for days, searching for a way to contact them. When he spotted the tall building, he had hoped to find a working phone on the roof.

    But as he climbed higher and higher, the growls and moans of the undead grew louder. They shambled towards him in droves, their rotting flesh and bloodshot eyes making him gag. He pulled out his Buck Hoodlum knife, its blade glinting in the flickering light, and his Smith & Wesson M&P9 2.0, loaded with as many bullets as he could carry.

    The first few zombies went down easily, their skulls cracking like eggshells as he stabbed and shot them. But as he pushed his way through the crowds, more and more emerged from the shadows, their numbers seeming endless.

    John fought on, adrenaline coursing through his veins, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear his own ragged breaths over the moans of the undead. His muscles ached and his arms felt heavy, but he refused to give up.

    Finally, after what felt like hours, he burst onto the roof. He slammed the door shut behind him, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his face. He fumbled in his pocket for his Samsung Flip phone, his hands shaking with exhaustion and fear.

    But when he flipped it open, his heart sank. The screen was cracked and shattered, barely recognizable as a phone. He pressed the power button, hoping against hope, but there was no response.

    He sank to the ground, his back against the door, and buried his face in his hands. He had fought through hordes of zombies, risking his life at every turn, only to find that his only hope of contacting his loved ones was gone.

    For a few moments, he simply sat there, feeling defeated and lost. But then, slowly, he began to feel a glimmer of determination. He had made it this far, and he wasn’t going to give up now. He would keep fighting, keep searching, until he found a way to reach them.

    With a deep breath, he stood up, his Buck Hoodlum knife and Smith & Wesson M&P9 2.0 in hand. He kicked open the door and stepped into the stairway, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

    I love Samsung phones but stay away from the folding ones.

    Have a good weekend all –

    Rourke

  • Update on Cabin Life

    Update on Cabin Life

    We’ve been in the cabin and on our retreat property now for a little over two months. It’s been great and a ton of work. Moving in the middle of a Maine winter with feet of snow on the ground and it still falling from the sky provided a lot of challenges. MPG had moved to Maine back in early December and my date to follow only was an estimate. She had brought some of our stuff as well as I when I traveled up there at Christmas. All the rest of our possessions were later stuffed into a 7′ x 16′ cargo trailer we purchased a couple of years prior which I pulled to Maine in early February. We are still emptying the cargo trailer and getting things organized.

    One of my priorities has been to have a place where I can write articles, work on books, and make videos.  We haven’t been able to get this set up but getting close.

    So – here are a few updates from our life in the cabin……

    Internet was a major issue when we moved onto the property. Very weak cell phone signal and no local internet provider made doing anything on the ‘net difficult. Being that I have an online business as a secondary stream of income this was more than concerning. I signed up for Starlink and got put on the waitlist. After a few short weeks, my area received satellite coverage and the equipment arrived shortly after that. It has made a big difference!

     

    The shudders on the cabin were far from attractive and largely falling apart. We removed all of them from the downstairs and the idea came up to repurpose them into raised beds for flowers or some other plants. We are on a tight budget with so much to do and keeping costs down allows us flexibility in completing projects. Using these shudders rather than buying lumber – WINNING!!

     

    There were two grills that came with the cabin. Neither was in very good shape and both had a variety of varmints living in them. Out with the trash they went. We planned to spend $300 or under to get something decent along with a cover. Maine Prepper Girls’ son gave us their grill which was in great shape. Interestingly we are the third owners of the grill. Someone had given the grill to MPG’s son. We were beyond thrilled and avoided the spending.

     

    Spring has arrived and the snow is gone. Grass is starting to pop up as well as lots of weeds. The cabin came with two lawnmowers – a push mower and the riding mower above. I worked on the push mover cleaning the air filter, adding new gas, checked the oil, and cleaned the air intake. A few pushes on the primer and vroom!!! It started right up. So far it has run like a dream, although the deck is rusted out pretty good. I’m looking at taking a couple of aluminum cans and some short self-tapping screws and repairing the rusted-out holes.

    The riding mower above I’ve not had any luck. I’ve worked on it but have not gotten it to start. I have a few more things to do then to a shop I’ll take it. It’s definitely worth putting $100 or so into.

     

    There are populations of deer, bear, and moose in the area as well as fishers, porcupines, skunks, and tons of turkey. I’ve seen one deer so far as well as heard turkey. I’m going to put out some bait to attract the deer and turkey and have started adding trail cameras on the property to see who stops by for a visit.  I would really like to do some turkey hunting this year(coming up VERY soon) but doubt I’m going to have time. Deer? Absolutely.

     

    I plan to have plants and seeds in the ground for this season’s garden within the next 10 days. The growing season is shorter here than back in South Carolina and need to get on it. My garden area is approx 40 feet wide by 60 feet long. I need to measure it. One-half is going to be full of raised beds and containers. The other half will be an in-the-ground garden. MPG pointed out that where I will be tilling the soil there are already a couple of rows of onions coming up. Love it! I guess the previous owner(who sadly passed away) must have planted onions and never harvested them. I told her I’ll till around the onions – no problem!

    I’ve started building the raised beds. I picked up some 10-foot boards, 12 inches wide for $7 each. Cheap!!! There are lots of sawmills in the area and I’ve been able to find some good deals. These boards are rough-cut which is exactly what I wanted. All the raised beds will be done and full of my soil mix by the end of this upcoming weekend.

     

    Here are a few of the beds I made so far. I’ll add at least one narrow board across the middle to prevent the longer beds from bowing outward when filled with dirt.

     

    The Gerber multi-tool above is at least 20 years old. I used it in its early days at my job and used it frequently. It’s ridden around in vehicles, toolboxes, and get-home bags ever since. I came across it when unpacking stuff in my garage and it brought back memories. It has been faithful and has worked well. I’m going to continue to use it.

    That’s it for now. I’ve got so much planned for this website as well as other platforms such as Youtube to share the message of preparedness – and thoughts on life….and more. This will start soon after I get situated in the cabin.

    Let the adventure begin!!!

    Take care all –

    Rourke

     

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  • Tucker Carlson Gone at Fox

    Tucker Carlson Gone at Fox

    Tucker Carlson has been fired from Fox News. No matter the spin – he’s been fired. I shouldn’t have been surprised. This war of ideologies has one side being relentless, operates within NO moral boundaries, is seemingly unstoppable, and they are united. That side ain’t “us” by the way. Our side stands on moral principles guided largely by Christian beliefs and what were American values as well as pillars of freedom and the Constitution.

    While those in the “us” category may see a win here or there on certain issues, the war has truly seen our side being massacred over the last decade or three. In every corner of society and life’s existence itself, the Progressive Socialist Woke movement has infiltrated, taken hold, and gained much control. While we largely control our own thoughts and actions – influence is occurring and weakness on our side is evident.

    We are at a precipice. While not trying to be overly negative I see no point we can win this battle or return to a state in which freedom, honor, liberty, and justice are the norm. While there are certainly times when a shining light at the top of the hill provides hope, we soon find after a strenuous climb that light is merely a mirage that covers a reality of an alternate reality of insanity that far too many belief is truth.

    Get out of the cities. Become as independent from government, society, and corporations as possible. Become less reliant on the very culture which you see mutating in front of your eyes. Live life and have as much fun and happiness as possible.

    Sorry for the negativity. Sometimes reality is a slap in the face.

    Rourke

  • Work on the Maine Homestead Begins

    Work on the Maine Homestead Begins

    Here’s our latest video where we are just beginning to start cleaning up the garage and getting it organized. The garage will be essential in maximizing storage and organization is critical to allow easy inventorying and finding needed items quickly.

    Take care all –

    Rourke

  • Video: Moving, Maine, Cabin, and Getting Ready

    Video: Moving, Maine, Cabin, and Getting Ready

    A short video discussing moving to Maine, buying our property, and “getting ready”.

    Take care all –

    Rourke

    #prepper #preparedness #shtf #retreat #homesteading #economiccollapse #collapse #wrol #teotwawki #survival

  • A Nation in Distress

    A Nation in Distress

    The Deep State has relentlessly fought for control and against freedom. When they go after Steve Bannon, Andrew Tate, General Flynn, January 6th protestors, Edward Snowden, Julian Assange,  and now President Trump they are actually going after all of us.

    When will the tables turn?

    Keep prepping folks.

    Rourke

  • Recommended Video: 5 FANTASTIC Google Maps Features You Want To Know About

    Recommended Video: 5 FANTASTIC Google Maps Features You Want To Know About

    I travel quite a bit and use Google Maps almost exclusively. The main reason has been reliability. I like WAZE and sometimes run it tandem with Google Maps as well. I came across this video the other day and thought many of these features covered you may find useful.

    Check it out…..

    Something else Google Maps can be used for…… bug-out routes. Going from Point A to Point B can often be accomplished via numerous twists and turns especially if trying to avoid certain areas. You can use Google Maps to generate a specific route – or several backup routes – and print out both the map and directions.

    That’s valuable.

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    Once the routes are determined they can be printed and distributed to those who will be meeting you at your retreat location.

    Take care all!

    Rourke

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  • Silver, Inflation, and the US Dollar

    Silver, Inflation, and the US Dollar

    A hot topic and always controversial is the purchasing of precious metals. I tend to focus on silver as gold is simply out of reach financially. First – I am not suggesting that in a grid-down, apocalyptic, mass starvation event that silver would be an ideal tangible to have stockpiled. I will also say that silver for thousands of years has been recognized as having value and has been used as a form of commerce. From my perspective, I use silver as a means to retain wealth and it is a hedge against inflation.

    We live in some pretty strange times when millions of workers have disappeared from the labor market yet still survive somehow. At the same time, the unemployment rate is supposedly at its lowest rate ever, inflation continues to provide challenges as it outpaces wage increases, and we have a government that is beating the war drums. The national debt is well over $31 trillion.

    So – back to silver. As part of my preps I put back some silver. Yeah – it hasn’t been a lot. A few ounces here and a few ounces there. A little bit over time adds up and it’s a piece of the puzzle from my overall preparedness system. A cash reserve both in the bank and out is important. Beans, bullets, band-aids and more help round out tangibles that would come in handy through any kind of SHTF event.

    Silver is heading upwards of late. Watch for dips and buy-in.

    My 2 cents.

    Rourke

     

    PS. My personal choice for buying silver is Money Metals Exchange. There are many good ones out there. Got one? Share it.

     

  • Violent Night: Pure Entertainment

    Violent Night: Pure Entertainment

    I just finished watching the “Christmas” movie Violent Night and absolutely loved it. Now – if you DON’T enjoy senseless violence, needless profanity, and blood splatter then make sure you DO NOT watch this movie. I found it to be highly entertaining.

    I saw the creative team who developed the movie borrowed ideas from Die Hard, Home Alone, and First Blood. Parts were absolutely hilarious.

     

    Check out the trailer above.

    I liked it, but, then again I am a bit strange.

    Merry Christmas!! 🎄

    Rourke

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  • Trump To Be Arrested Tuesday?

    Trump To Be Arrested Tuesday?

    If you’ve followed me for the last few years you know I have a love-hate relationship with politics. For numerous reasons I largely believe participation in the political process is a complete waste of time. Washington and most state capitals are full of corruption with the priority of those elected to come into possession of power rather than serve the people who elected them. Regardless – politics do impact our lives and I certainly try to pay attention and be knowledgeable so I can make logical decisions as political storms pass through.

    If you have not heard President Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he is to be arrested on Tuesday. The details of the case against him in New York can be researched if interested. From my understanding, the likelihood of Trump actually being arrested is very small. Regardless – when you look at all the corruption in Washington that has gone on for years and overlooked it appears obvious the Deep State will do anything to keep this man out of the White House. I think that’s pretty telling.

    If – and it’s a very big IF – Trump was to be charged and arrested I really wonder what the reaction will be from his supporters. Will there be protests across the nation? Will civil disobedience occur?

    I doubt it.

    What are your thoughts? 

    Keep prepping folks. The world continues to get more complex and unpredictable by the day. Seems we are inching closer and closer to a tipping point. It’s just a matter of time.

    Rourke

  • Heat for SHTF…..and for Now the Garage – – – > Kerosene

    Heat for SHTF…..and for Now the Garage – – – > Kerosene

    Since moving into the cabin here in Maine it’s certainly been a learning experience. Everything happened pretty fast and Maine Prepper Girl was in Maine at the time of the property purchase and I was in Kentucky planning my move. I’ll be providing more of an update as to the move and what’s going on but for now I’ll mention that I discovered that the garage has no power. With no power, there is no heat. With the garage being a major source of storage space I’ve looked at ways of heating it while working in there.

    I determined the best method, for now, was kerosene.

    I’ll be getting a quote to get electricity run to the garage after the Spring thaw, but, for now, I need to warm the place up a bit while I’m out there organizing and getting things the way I want. I found one of the guys that work fr me at my new job is experienced at hanging drywall. I’m planning on talking to him about helping insulate and drywall the garage. We’ll see what he’ll charge.

    I’ve been in Maine for about 1 month in total. So much has been done and sooooooo much is left to do. I’ll be documenting events here and on Youtube/Rumble as well as we go along.

    Take care all.

    Rourke

  • Banks Collapsing and Real Life

    Banks Collapsing and Real Life

    There is certainly a lot of rhetoric about these recent bank failures and the government is playing it off that there are no “bailouts” and all is OK. This economic environment is unlike anything we have seen before. Record low unemployment, businesses of all sizes desperate to find workers, interest rates skyrocketing, the stock market inching lower, the national debt booming higher towards $32 trillion – and home prices falling while supply remains extremely low.

    The following video provides some commentary on current events and what he says makes a lot of sense.

    My recommendation continues to be to have cash on hand, secured silver put back, real estate as an investment, and tangibles to fall back on to use or trade out for any of the aforementioned.

    When will we experience a collapse similar to or worse than the Great Depression? Well – I’m batting zero on my predictions so I’ll just say it’s a matter of time. Until then stock up, put back, and enjoy life.

    Until next time stay safe.

    Rourke

  • Buck Hoodlum Survival Knife[2023]

    Buck Hoodlum Survival Knife[2023]

    Several years ago I entered a contest on a preparedness website that no longer exists whereby I showed my personal SHTF knife and then described it. Back then the knife was the Buck Hoodlum(I have two) which was designed by Ron Hood. I still have both my knives and love them. Fast forward to 2023, the Buck Hoodlum is still a fantastic knife, and although both of mine show some serious signs of use(and maybe a bit of abuse), it remains a fantastic tool. Although discontinued I wish it was still available today.
    Here’s my entry:
    Buck Hoodlum Survival Knife
    • Blade Length: 10″ (25.4 cm)
    • BladeMaterial: 5160 Carbon Steel
    • Carry System: Black, heavy-duty nylon, M.O.L.L.E. compatible sheath
    • Handle Material: Micarta
    • Weight: 14.6 oz
    As I slowly walked along the edge of the woodline looking out into the field – I saw them. They were 30 yards away and staggering in a generally parallel direction with the edge of pines that concealed me. I had to decide – do I allow them to exist? Do I allow them to continue to feed on the unarmed and ill-prepared? Do I allow them to kill the innocent? The answer was simple…..No! 
     
    I grabbed a fist-sized rock and threw it over their heads to distract them. They bit – and turned in the direction of the impact. In an instant, I darted out of the woods straight towards the closest of the undead. Within seconds the first was 10 yards away and I had my Buck Hoodlum knife exiting its sheath in my right hand. The target was just beginning to turn in response to my running as I twisted my upper body to the right so my left shoulder was pointing at the walking pile of rotting flesh and then with one quick motion like a coiled spring I twisted to the left. The Buck Hoodlum sliced through the air in my extended right hand. The Hoodlum penetrated the skull of the undead easily and removed the top half. My first target was down – and was not going to be coming back.
     
    Target two reached out with a moan. I wonder if there was any emotion in this thing as it saw its partner crumble to the ground. Regardless – it had to be done. The Hoodlum was still at the end of its initial strike and was on my left side. I turned my wrist so the blade would face the undead and I swung back – removing the arm which had just touched me.
     
    “It touched me……ewwwwwww!!” I thought to myself.
     
    The undead stepped back as his arm hit the ground. Black liquid drained from the wound. One final strike was all that was needed as an overhead swing impacted the skull atop the forehead and split it in half. The undead dropped and laid to rest next to his “friend”.
     
    Wiping the bloody blade off on the clothes of the fallen – I said out loud – “Thank you Ron Hood.”
     
    I love my knife.
     
    Rourke
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  • 5 Days in The Cabin

    Figured I’d give an update on life in the cabin. In case you missed it – I moved to Maine a couple weeks ago and Maine Prepper Girl and I bought a house – and moved in last Wednesday. It’s certainly been eventful, to say the least. We are thrilled to find our “forever home” and it meets many of the criteria we were looking for. Low population density(1050 people in the town). We have 5 acres which was pretty much our minimum. A garage for storage and misc activities. We are within 30 minutes of our jobs. Neighbors can’t be seen from our house. CHECK!!

    Woodstove in action…..

    The cabin was used as a hunting camp by the previous owner. He and his hunting buddies would come up to the cabin from Massachusetts and hunt, fish – and tell tall tales of adventure and stories of conquering. The owner, unfortunately, passed away some months ago. His children decided to sell the property. After viewing the property a few times and back-and-forth negotiations – MPG came out on top!

    We were very fortunate that the owners decided to sell the house completely furnished.

    The weather has not been cooperative. Temps have dipped down below zero and we have had several snowfalls – and ice. Trying to load up stuff in the truck to take 20 or so miles – and unload in these frigid temps with the wind blowing is well below ideal. Regardless – getting it done as free time provides.

    So glad I have a 4×4 with the Wrangler Duratrac tires

    Last night I walked outside in the crisp, chilled air and looked up at the night sky. I have not seen the stars that bright in years. The lack of light pollution from nearby businesses and cities really made the sky stand out.

    The backyard…….

     

    A lot of projects are planned. While we still have a ton of stuff to move and organization to do…..things are taking shape. I’m so looking forward to the Spring thaw when a garden comes within sight. I have a lot of cleaning and modifications to do in the garage. So many preps to put away. Solar systems and security cameras are planned. Generators must be installed as well as driveway alarms.

    FUN!!

    There’s a small update.

    More to come!

    Take care all –

    Rourke

     

  • New Product: Bushcraft Fire Starter – Made in the USA – Ideal for Survival Kits | Bug Out Bags | Tactical | Prepper | SHTF | Survivalist | Free Shipping

    New Product: Bushcraft Fire Starter – Made in the USA – Ideal for Survival Kits | Bug Out Bags | Tactical | Prepper | SHTF | Survivalist | Free Shipping

    The newest product in our line of survival and preparedness products. I absolutely love these…….

    JR

    Bushcraft Match and Fire Starter

    American Made and Ready for Adventure

    3-PACK

    FREE SHIPPING IN THE USA

    These Bushcraft Matches are great for starting fires. The wax-infused jute cordage will easily ignite using a ferrocerium rod. Once lit, the jute rope can burn for up to an hour providing ample opportunity to get a fire going. Once you’re done, push the aluminum sleeve over the ignited end of the rope to snuff out the flake.

    Simple!

    Made in the USA, american made, bushcraft, gear, supplies, prepper, survival, SHTF

     

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

    Ways to use:
    1. Fray the ends of the jute cord every time before lighting it. Twist and separate all the fibers to make the end fluffy, which is easier to ignite.
    2. Aim the spark to the end of the tinder tube.
    3. Once lit, use it like a match to start your campfire, grill, camping stove and so on.
    4. Control the burning speed or extinguish the flame by pulling the rope into the tube.

    A valuable part of any survival kit!

    The Bushcraft Match and Fire Starter is not only an essential addition to your survival supplies – it’s fun to use!! Great for entertaining and teaching kids about building fires and being responsible for their upkeep and care.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

    Product is shipped within 48 hours of order – often sooner.

    The United States Postal Service sucks – please be patient as tracking is provided but often fails to update in a timely manner.

    Great gift as well!!!

    FREE SHIPPING and discounts when multiple items are purchased. 

    THANKS FOR LOOKING!!!!

  • From the Desk of John Rourke | LIFE | MAINE | CABIN | SURVIVAL & PREPAREDNESS | FUTURE

    From the Desk of John Rourke | LIFE | MAINE | CABIN | SURVIVAL & PREPAREDNESS | FUTURE

    Well, it’s been a few beers since my last update and a whole lot has gone on in the last several weeks.  While it has been far too long since I’ve posted – I’ll be getting back to my regular schedule very soon.

    Let’s get to it…..

    As of February 9th, I am permanently in the state of Maine. Maine Prepper Girl had gone ahead of me in early December working on finding us a place to live. This has not been an easy task as many people with homes for sale in Central Maine winterize in the winter and then reopen in the Spring. In other words, the selection is limited. After spending several weeks searching and looking at various properties she found the right one. During this entire process I was in Kentucky and getting lots of links, descriptions, and pictures of homes. We finally settled on a small cabin on 5 acres. This A-frame home has a large loft as well as a separate garage and another storage shed. The town it is located in has a population of 1050 people which is just what we were looking for = low population density.

    We move into the cabin this coming Wednesday.

    We are very much looking forward to making the cabin our forever home. For the past 3 years, I’ve been living full-time in a camper and I’m so ready to get back to gardening, solar projects, building raised beds, organizing our preparedness supplies, and getting back into some regular routines. For those who may not know – I’ve been in South Carolins, Georgia, back to South Carolina, then to Kentucky over the last few years. I’m ready to stay in one place.

    As far as survival & preparedness – my belief in the need to take intentional and logical steps to prepare for what awaits us around the corner has not waivered the least bit. If anything the last 3 years have generated an increased desire to prepare and that is exactly what will happen. Additional food storage will be a major project in addition to setting up garden plots. Pressure and water bath canning will preserve crops and we are looking into buying a freeze drier.

    The immediate future will be filled with moving into the new place, getting organized, and working on the cabin as there are some things that need attention with it. I’ll be posting here, on Youtube(switching to Rumble soon), as well as in other places very soon.

    Take care and talk to you very soon!

    Rourke

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  • Flights Grounded in United States AND Canada – nothing to see?

    Flights Grounded in United States AND Canada – nothing to see?

    Over the past several years I’ve grown to doubt more and more whatever government – any government – tells us. This past week an apparent computer issue ground ALL airline departures. This was the first US national grounding of flights since 9/11. Initial theories started with questioning if the outage was the result of a cyberattack to a simple computer malfunction. As thousands of travelers sat in airports waiting for the problem to be corrected – a very similar occurrence occurred in Canada.

    What a coincidence.

    FAA officials said a preliminary review traced the problem to a damaged database file, but added that there was no evidence of a cyberattack and the investigation continued. The same file corrupted both the primary system and its backup according to sources. I have a bit of experience dealing with cyberattacks. In my experience many of the ransomware that cyberterrorists utilize today do precisely that – infect main files as well as backups.

    Canada announced that the events which occurred with their outage were not related to the happenings in the United States.

    Hmmmmmm………

    I guess it’s possible.

    We’ve recently seen multiple attacks on power stations, and now this?

    What’s next?

    Rourke

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  • Connecting with John Rourke

    Connecting with John Rourke

    Putting this back out there again for those who may have missed it and a reminder for everyone else. Back in 2010, I started my first survival and preparedness blog with the goal of connecting with others that were like-minded. Over the years I’ve developed some lifelong relationships with people I’ve connected with and hope that continues. Shortly before the last Presidential election, I was targeted by several social media companies and accounts were deleted with no warnings or explanations. For several months I was bitter and determined not to start any new accounts. I came around to different thinking in that I would use these platforms to my and others’ benefit by continuing to spread my beliefs and share the information I know to be vital to our future.

    In other words, I decided not to give up.

    I’ve created a “link tree” which I maintain as a one-stop shop for people to go to find out what’s going on with me, what I’m up to, and get access to more information.

    Here’s the link:

    https://campsite.bio/rourke

    Here’s the link tree……..




    John Rourke, The Survivalist, shtf, prepper, survival, preparedness, 1776patriotusa.com,