Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 1, 2026

March 1, 1872: Yellowstone became the world’s first national park.

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Today is the birthday of actor and former WW2 commando David Niven. His full name was James David Graham Niven. (1910-1983.)

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Today is also the birthday of the late singer, songwriter, and cowboy poet Allen Wayne Damron. Damron was quite the Texan, through and through. (Born 1939, died August 13, 2005, in Terlingua, Texas.)

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All eyes are on the Middle East. The Iranian ex-pat news service Tousi TV seems to have the most complete coverage. But note that they have a strong bias toward Shah-in-Exile Pahlavi.

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Today, we present a guest article by long-time friend and fellow blogger, Patrice Lewis.

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We still need entries for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $981,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 123 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Processing Spaghetti Squash, by Patrice Lewis

JWR’s Introductory Note:  This photo-intensive article was written by our long-time friend Patrice Lewis. It was posted at her excellent Rural Revolution blog.  We highly recommend bookmarking it.

Last fall, if you remember, we had a bumper crop of spaghetti squash. With this much abundance, we were tasked with how best to store the sheer volume.

 

 

 

In the end, we divvied up the ripe squash from the unripe, then stored the ripe squash in the well house.

 

 

 

 

The unripe squash was stacked in crates in the library, where it slowly ripened over a period of two months or so. As it ripened, we stored it in a cool room off our porch.Continue reading“Processing Spaghetti Squash, by Patrice Lewis”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

Finally, Some Epstein Co-Conspirator Arrest Warrants

But Pam Bondi is Baffled Why There Have Been No Arrests

News Links:

Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!

Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.

 

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” – Ephesians 4:1-15 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 28, 2026

On February 28, 1638, Scottish Presbyterians signed the National Covenant at Greyfriars, Edinburgh.

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February 28, 1810: The first US fire insurance joint-stock company was organized, in Philadelphia.

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And on  February 28, 1844 a 12-inch gun aboard USS Princeton exploded, killing US Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer, and other high-ranking federal officials.

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Today, we present a guest piece by fellow blogger Mrs. Alaska. She is a long-time SurvivalBlog reader who lives off-grid and off-road in the interior of Alaska.

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We still need entries for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $981,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 123 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Home Pressure Canning, by Mrs. Alaska

The following describes my approach at pressure canning meat and dairy products, with some comments on fruit, vegetables, and other preservation methods

Pressure canning cookbooks, like Ball’s Blue Book, include recipes for making and canning meat broths, but, in my experience, most do not for meat itself. Similarly, they lack recipes for canning most dairy items.

However, families have canned both for generations. Below, I share my positive experience of canning meats, cheese, and butter, for shelf-stable pantry items, based on the advice of friends whose families have done so for decades, and from my own experiences over many years in Alaska. However, readers should do their own research and tests for safe food canning, and storage, for their storage temperatures.

Scenario 1: Imagine that you have a freezer and refrigerator full of food when the power fails for an extended time. How much did you spend to acquire all that food? How can you preserve it for an extended time? If you have a propane stove, you can pressure can everything.Continue reading“Home Pressure Canning, by Mrs. Alaska”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

I am slowly getting back to my usual level of activity, while recovering from my cold and bronchitis. Now that the snow has mostly cleared here at the Rawles Ranch, I’m starting to cut up this winter’s wind-fallen trees.

Now, Lily’s part of the report, where she will bring you up to date on lambing season at the Rawles Ranch…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.” – Psalm 63 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 27, 2026

On February 27, 1919, the first public performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.” It became the inspiration for dozens of movie soundtracks, a famous English hymn, and even modern music flash mobs.

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And on February 27, 1933, Nazi Germany’s parliament building, the Reichstag, was destroyed by fire, possibly set as a false flag attack by the Nazis. The fire occurred 28 days after Hitler was sworn in. They blamed and executed Dutch communist Marinus van der Lubbe. Since then, the term “Reichstag Fire” has become synonymous with False Flag Attack.

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Today, we present a guest piece by our friend Brandon Smith of Alt-Market.us.

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We need some more entries for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $981,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 123 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

It’s Time To Accept That Civil War 2.0 Has Already Started, by Brandon Smith

In July of 1917 as the fires of WWI raged across Europe, the Russian city of Petrograd was facing its own special turmoil in the form of a large scale Bolshevik insurgency. Up to 500,000 protesters, agitators and provocateurs had entered the city from across the country, many of them armed. They took over large swaths of the metropolis, hijacked private vehicles and confiscated private buildings.

Some soviet leaders including Vladimir Lenin called the event “premature” and did not publicly endorse it, which may have been a calculated attempt to avoid direct blowback. The official historical explanation is that the insurrection had taken on a life of its own, but the stage had been set and the communist agitators got exactly what they wanted, what their strategy demanded:

Human sacrifice.

Clashes with government authorities led to hundreds of protester deaths and a handful of police casualties. The Russian government surged military forces into the region to arrest Bolshevik captains and the movement had to pull back. In the end, though, the primary goal of the insurgents had been achieved. Whether spontaneous or planned, the point of the communist methodology is always to trigger government violence which can then be used to create public sympathy and bolster the revolution.Continue reading“It’s Time To Accept That Civil War 2.0 Has Already Started, by Brandon Smith”

Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers.

Economics & Investing News and Links of Interest

Economics & Investing Media Tips:

Please send your economics and investing links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Thanks!

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.” – Francis Bacon

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 26, 2026

On February 26, 1929, US President Calvin Coolidge established Grand Teton National Park.

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And on February 26,1935 RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) was first demonstrated by Robert Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins in Daventry, England.

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Today’s feature article is a guest piece by a SurvivaBlog reader who is also a podcaster.

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We need entries for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $981,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 123 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Your “Gray Man” Camouflage, by A.C.

Background

I travel for work, often traveling all over the word into some not-so-friendly environments where I don’t want to be a target but I still need to remain capable. I’ve interviewed behaviorists about the science behind being memorable and I’ve also spoken with members of certain 3-letter-agencies about what they’ve learned about traveling in austere environments. This short essay is an aggregate of that information that is easily consumable and understandable.

In the world of tactical preparation and survivalism, there is a pervasive image of the “operator”, that is; someone decked out in multicam patterns, sporting morale patches, and carrying a bag full of MOLLE webbing. While this gear is functional, it carries a significant strategic weakness; it broadcasts your capabilities to everyone around you. To truly move through the world safely, especially in unstable or “shady” environments, one must master.Continue reading“Your “Gray Man” Camouflage, by A.C.”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, Hawaii’s planned dictatorial “Emergency” powers.

Hawaii Plans Expansive Emergency Powers

By way of the Whatfinger news aggregation site: Hawaii Bills Would Allow Gov’t To Quarantine People, Enter Property, Seize Firearms, And Suspend Laws. JWR’s Comment: If this becomes model legislation for other states, then we can kiss our freedoms goodbye when there is another big emergency that has a level of severity comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”