Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — March 24, 2026

March 24th is the birthday of Dr. Art Robinson, who was born in 1942. He has done yeoman service to both the preparedness and the homeschooling communities.  He was the creator of the very inexpensive Robinson Self-Teaching Curriculum.

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On March 24, 1964 the Kennedy half-dollar was first issued. Aside for a few that were specially made for Proof Sets it was only the 1964-dated Kennedy halves that were 90% silver. Starting in 1965, the composition of circulating Kennedy halves was reduced to 40% silver. And in 1970, they were fully debased to mere clad copper tokens.

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Today’s feature piece is by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

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We need a few more articles 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.

G9 Defense Barrier Blind Hollow Point, by Thomas Christianson

Barrier blind ammo is designed to pass through common obstacles like car doors, windows, drywall, plywood, or heavy clothing without significant change to its terminal performance.

I recently tested G9 Defense Barrier Blind Hollow Point ammunition in 6.5 Creedmoor. I must admit that I was only secondarily interested in its barrier blind qualities. My primary interest was in the fact that the ammo is machine-turned out of solid copper. According to G9, this gives it greater consistency in density over traditional jacketed bullets. The lower standard deviation of ballistic coefficient, in turn, provides higher accuracy at extended ranges.

During my testing, I found the ammunition to compare favorably with my favorite ammunition in my favorite rifle in terms of accuracy. The results of my limited barrier penetration testing were more ambiguous.Continue reading“G9 Defense Barrier Blind Hollow Point, by Thomas Christianson”

SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

This weekly column features media from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest.

Redoubt News Links:

Send Your Media Links

Please send your links to media from the American Redoubt region to JWR. Any photos that are posted or re-posted must be uncopyrighted. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.

Preparedness Notes for Monday — March 23, 2026

On March 23, 1856, 18-year-old English chemist William Perkin accidentally produced the first synthetic aniline dye ‘mauveine’ (aka Perkin’s mauve and Aniline purple) during his Easter holiday.

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March 23, 1903: The Wright brothers first filed a patent for a flying machine, which was granted three years later.

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March 23rd is also the birthday of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. He directed 30 films.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  3. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  4. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is providing a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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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.

Beyond Organic: Biological Systems Gardening for Food Security – Part 5, by Hobbit Farmer

(Continued from Part 4. This concludes the article.)

Where do I start if I’m new?

Okay, this all sounds great but maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed. Where do you start if you are starting from scratch? Or maybe you have a large garden but aren’t sure you want to convert the whole thing over to this approach. I’m going to give you my method for establishing a garden bed on new ground, which I have used successfully in multiple beds on my property including my entire greenhouse.Continue reading“Beyond Organic: Biological Systems Gardening for Food Security – Part 5, by Hobbit Farmer”

Recipe of the Week: 

The following recipe for a Vegetable Rice Salad (called Insalata di Riso, in Italian) is from SurvivalBlog reader D.G..

Ingredients
  • 1 cup rice (I use Arborio rice, but Jasmine or other rice will do.)
  • 1/2 pound medium-diameter asparagus
  • 1 cup shelled English peas, from about 1 pound fresh peas
  • 2 pounds fresh fava beans
  • 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Sea salt (to taste)
  • Black pepper, preferably freshly ground (to taste)
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced basil leaves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup boiled ham, diced into very small chunks
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated cheese (I use Pecorino Romano, but other mild cheeses can be substituted.)
Directions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rice, stir, and adjust heat to maintain a simmer.
  2. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent any grains from sticking to the pot, until the rice is just barely done, about 15 minutes. It will continue to cook as it cools. Drain the rice well and spread it out on a tray to cool quickly.
  3. Bring another large pot of salted water to a boil. Individually cut or break each spear of aparagus at the point that it becomes tough. Discard the tough ends and cut the tender part into 1/3-inch lengths. Blanch asparagus and peas together in the boiling water for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then lift out with a strainer and transfer to a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool.
  4. Shell the fava beans, then blanch the unpeeled beans in the same boiling water for about 3 minutes. Drain, transfer them to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to cool. Peel the fava beans by pinching open the loose skin; the peeled bean should slip out easily.
  5. Put the lemon juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the olive oil.
  6. In a large bowl, combine the cooled rice, asparagus, peas, fava beans, basil, parsley, lemon zest, ham and cheese.
  7. Toss the salad, to blend.
  8. Pour on only as much the dressing as needed, and then toss gently.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning, as needed.
A Note on SERVING

You may blanch everything in advance, but don’t dress the salad until just before serving it.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: A map showing: “If the world had 100 people.” (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

 

 

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Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“A pig has a plow on the end of its nose because it does meaningful work with it. It is built to dig and create soil disturbance, something it can’t do in a concentrated feeding environment. The omnivore has historically been a salvage operation for food scraps around the homestead.” – Joel Salatin

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 22, 2026

 

On March 22, 1941 the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington went into operation.

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Benjamin Tyler Henry (March 22, 1821–December 29, 1898) was an American gunsmith and manufacturer. On October 16, 1860, he received a patent on the Henry .44 caliber repeating rifle. The first rimfire Henry rifles were not produced for Union Army use until mid-1862.

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This is the birthday of Louis L’Amour. (Born 1908, died 1988.) Some of his novels have survival themes. One of particular interest to survivalists is Last of the Breed.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  3. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  4. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is providing a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

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.

Beyond Organic: Biological Systems Gardening for Food Security – Part 4, by Hobbit Farmer

(Continued from Part 3.)

Mineralize the Soil

Many of our soils are depleted of trace elements and micronutrients from past agricultural use. If your land was ever farmed, it’s probably got some deficiencies. While a soil test is probably a good idea so you can see the bigger picture of certain elements you might need to add, you can also address the deficiencies with broad spectrum amendments. Because they are in mineral form they don’t tend to leach from the soil, so they are available for the soil life to break them down and transport to your plants when they need them. Some examples of broad spectrum amendments are azomite, volcanic rock dusts, and Sea-90 sea salt. A sea salt like Sea-90 will be faster acting, but shorter term impacts and can leach from the soil. A volcanic rock dust will take longer to take effect, but will have a longer lasting impact and will not leach from the soil. Broad spectrum rock dust and rock form minerals do not dissolve and leach away. The only way they are dissolved and bioavailable to the plants is through the action of microbes breaking them down in the soil with acids like carbonic acid.

Rock dust is a great way to rebuild your “savings account” of minerals in the soil that will be available to your plants when they are needed. Creating a dynamic biological engine in your soil can help balance nutrients over time, but remineralizing can certainly speed up the process. The downside is this can be a more expensive intervention if you are working at scale. As an example I’ll be spreading about 4lbs per 100 sq/ft of volcanic rock dust this year, which works out to about $130 for 1,800 sq/ft of cultivated growing area. Do I need it? Probably not. Will it improve my soil, plant health, and yields? Most likely. Depending on the amount of rock dust you are adding you may not need to any more for years to come. Soil testing and growing results will help you know when a reapplication may be worth it.Continue reading“Beyond Organic: Biological Systems Gardening for Food Security – Part 4, by Hobbit Farmer”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

So, What Is It That You Are Protesting?

We’re Here Protesting the Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Who Killed Protestors in His Own Country, For Protesting

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:

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:1-16 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — March 21, 2026

March 21, 717: The Battle of Vincy. This was a pivotal engagement in the Frankish civil wars of 715–718. The battle was fought near Cambrai (modern Les Rues-des-Vignes) between Austrasian forces led by Charles Martel, mayor of the palace, and the Neustrian army under King Chilperic II and Mayor Ragenfrid. Martel’s forces routed the Neustrians, pursuing the defeated king and his ally to Paris, which crippled Neustrian opposition and enabled Austrasia to reassert dominance over the divided Frankish realms. This victory underscored the declining authority of Merovingian kings amid rising mayoral power, paving the way for Martel’s consolidation of northern Francia through campaigns such as at Soissons.

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March 21, 1821: Merger of the Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company, creating a monopoly of the fur trade in British North America.

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And on March 21, 187, Welsh journalist Henry Morton Stanley began his famous expedition to Africa.

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I just heard that Chuck Norris passed away. He was 86. He is no longer with us, but surely, Chuck Norris jokes will live on, for centuries.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  3. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  4. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is providing a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

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.

Beyond Organic: Biological Systems Gardening for Food Security – Part 3, by Hobbit Farmer

(Continued from Part 2.)

The microbes in the soil are master mineral miners using various acids, such as carbonic acid, to break down minerals into soluble forms that are bioavailable to the plants. The plants in turn exude sugars to feed and power the microbes during the mining operation. If you live east of the Mississippi or in commercial agricultural areas where we’ve been unsustainably exploiting the soil nutrients for decades or even centuries, there is a pretty good chance your soil is deficient in micronutrients, especially anion molecules like boron, sulfur, and molybdenum that tend to leach from the soil.

There are dozens of trace minerals that are key for various functions of your plants growth, development, reproduction, and self defence. Plants are master chemists. Some of the plants that have been studied in herbalism have hundreds of different chemical compounds identified in them. How do you think a plant defends itself from pathological viruses, bacteria, and insects? It can’t run away, so it mixes chemical defenses. By providing a broad spectrum of nutrients in the soil you are ensuring your plants have access via the soil life to a well stocked chemical laboratory to handle any attacks they face. By extension, many of the compounds that a plant uses to protect itself are the ones that nourish or heal our bodies when we eat the plants. If it’s in the soil, it will be in the plants. If it’s in the plants it will end up in you. Bottom line: The microbial ecosystem can extract, balance, and transport the nutrients in the soil so your plants can thrive without ANY fertilizers. You just need to make sure the microbes have the mineral building blocks to start with.

Continue reading“Beyond Organic: Biological Systems Gardening for Food Security – Part 3, by Hobbit Farmer”