Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 14, 2025

July 14 1962:  The borehole for the 7.2-mile long Mont Blanc tunnel between France and Italy was finished.  The tunnel was opened to traffic in July, 1965. Pictured is the French side of the tunnel.

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July 14, 1850: The first public demonstration of ice made via refrigeration was made by Florida physician John Gorrie.

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July 14, 1864: Gold was discovered in Helena, Montana.

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A silver bull breakout! Spot silver jumped 3.67% in one day, to close at $38.67 per Troy ounce on Friday. (July 11, 2025.) It was up again this morning (after Asian trading) to $38.90 per Troy ounce. That is a 14-year high for silver, in U.S. Dollar terms. The short sellers may give it one last try, but I expect them to soon capitulate.  $1,000 face value bag of pre-1965 circulated (“junk”) silver now sells for around $28,830. So I’ve correspondingly raised my pre-1965 divisor to an unprecedented 28.8 times face value at Elk Creek Company.  If you want to parlay a portion of your silver holdings into antique guns, then this is a very advantageous time to do so.

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Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

Stihl MS261C Chainsaw, by Thomas Christianson

With a magnesium-alloy crankcase, captive bar-nuts, a decompression valve, and a host of other premium features, the Stihl MS261 is its various forms represents a well-designed and well-constructed professional chainsaw. But it is the light weight and the outstanding power-to-weight-ratio of the saw that secures its place as one of the most popular chainsaws in the world.

With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $709.99 at the time of this writing for the C-M version with a 16 inch bar, the saw represents a great value for high-volume wood cutting. If you only cut a few cord or less of firewood each year, a less expensive consumer or farm-and-ranch level saw will probably be sufficient. But if you regularly process ten or more cord of firewood a year, fatigue is reduced and time is saved by using a lighter and more powerful saw will likely be worth the extra investment.Continue reading“Stihl MS261C Chainsaw, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Applesauce-Glazed Barbequed Chicken

The following recipe for Applesauce-Glazed Barbequed Chicken is from SurvivalBlog reader V.F..

Ingredients
  • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breast halves (weighing about 6 ounces each)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or less, to suit your taste)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2/3 cup of applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (or less, to suit your taste)
Directions
  1. Sprinkle the chicken breast pieces with pepper.
  2. In a large oiled skillet, brown chicken on both sides.
  3. In a small bowl, combine and thoroughly mix the other ingredients.
  4. Pour the mixture over the top and sides of the chicken breast pieces, as a heavy glaze.
  5. Cover and cook on a hot stove until cooked through (a thermometer reads 165°)  — about 7-10 minutes. Do not turn the pieces while cooking.
SERVING

“Serve hot, with your choice of a side dish. I usually serve this with corn on the cob.”

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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: Economic Activity in the US. This map shows the nation’s gross economic activity, split in half. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

JWR’s Comments: This map is an oversimplification. The locations of major corporate headquarters skew the map. Here are just two examples: There are McDonald’s franchises all over the country generating revenue, but the McDonald’s headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. General Mills is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It markets packaged farm products (predominantly grains) grown in rural areas of more than a dozen states.

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:

“The great object of my fear is the federal judiciary. That body, like gravity, ever acting, with noiseless foot, and unalarming advance, gaining ground step by step, and holding what it gains, is engulfing insidiously the special governments into the jaws of that which feeds them.” – Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Judge Spencer Roane, March 9, 1821

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 13, 2025

On July  13, 1832, the source of Mississippi River was discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft.

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On July 13th, 1772 Captain James Cook began his second voyage to the South Seas aboard HMS Resolution to search for Terra Australis (a Southern continent).

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And on this day in 1787, Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance structuring settlement of the Northwest Territory and creating a policy for the addition of new states to the nation. The Northwest Ordinance established the first organized US territory, set requirements for statehood – guaranteeing equal status with the original 13 states, outlawed slavery in the new lands, and protected civil liberties. The members of Congress knew that if their new confederation were to survive intact, it had to resolve the states’ competing claims to western territory.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 119 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. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. 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.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

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. A $269 retail value survival-ready power package from Solar Power Lifestyle. This includes two Solar Power Lifestyle 25W Portable Solar Panels, plus a $150 gift card to use for any purchase at solarpowerlifestyle.com.
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  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 $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 119 ends on July 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.

My Quest for a Wife: I’m Willing to Move, by Single Farmer

I am still looking for a wife. I have been seriously thinking and praying about how to be able to get married and came to the conclusion that moving may possibly be the key. I have also expanded my search for my future wife. I am now looking both domestically and internationally/ If you are international reader or know a young woman overseas, then please read my thoughts on a possible international quest in the last of the frequently asked questions at the bottom of this article.

The following is about my search for a spouse in the United States:Continue reading“My Quest for a Wife: I’m Willing to Move, by Single Farmer”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

I Swear, There Never Was An Epstein Client List

And If You Falsely Remember That There Was, Then That Is Just The Mandela Effect

News Links:

Epstein ‘client list’ doesn’t exist, Justice Department says, walking back theory Bondi had promoted.

MTG says Americans are ‘not going to accept’ there is no Epstein client list.

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:

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Quench not the Spirit.

Despise not prophesyings.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Brethren, pray for us.

Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” – 1 Thessalonians 5 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — July 12, 2025

On July 12, 1679, Britain’s King Charles II ratified the Habeas Corpus Act, allowing prisoners’ right to a court review of the justification for their imprisonment.

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July 12, 1865: George Washington Carver, the African-American scientist whose numerous discoveries helped to improve agriculture in the South, was born. He died on Jan. 5, 1943.

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And on July 12, 1948, the first jets flew across the Atlantic. This was a flight of six RAF de Havilland Vampires.

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Today’s short but important guest article was written by our friend Hubert Moolman, of South Africa.

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We still need entries for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 119 ends on July 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.

Silver is Very Close to a Mania Phase, by Hubert Moolman

Silver is getting very close to a mania phase based on signals from the Dow/gold ratio previously presented. Furthermore, since it is normal for silver to lag gold’s performance, and given that gold has performed so well over the last couple of years, it is expected that we would likely see an even better performance by silver over the coming years.

Here is a long-term silver chart compared to a long-term Dow/gold ratio chart:

 

 

 

(Click to expand)

On the silver chart (the top chart), I’ve highlighted the significant Dow/gold ratio peaks with a blue line. In every case, silver made a significant bottom some years after the Dow/gold ratio peak. These were signals for the (then coming) silver bull market.

Once in the bull market, significant silver peaks occurred within 8.5 years (marked in red), as measured from the Dow/gold ratio peak, with the Great Depression silver peak occurring the soonest (6 to 7 years after).

It has now been 6 years and 8 months since the Dow/gold ratio peak of October 2018. In other words, there is still about 1 year and 10 months (22 months) left before we get to the 8.5 years since the Dow/gold peak, before when a peak in silver could occur based on the previous times highlighted above.

Given that silver actually rallied on a sustained basis for at least two years before each of those peaks (pointed out above), silver could likely rally for most of the coming 22 months if the current setup continues to mimic the previous ones.

When considering that we are probably very close to monetary reform, the rest of this decade will certainly make for interesting times.

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Editor’s Note: This article was first published at Hub Moolman’s website.  For those who see value in chartist analysis, I recommend his by-subscription silver newsletter.

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:

Lily and I went serviceberry picking several times, this week. There were plenty of ripe berries, but usually plenty of mosquitoes, too. To avoid the latter, we did most of our picking on sunny afternoons. We did two hours of picking on Monday afternoon and brought home 3.5 gallons. We went back on Wednesday and collected another 4 gallons. Meanwhile, the raspberry vines in our main garden are loaded with berries.  We feel so very blessed.  (Lily will fill you in with some details on the harvest.)

I had a half-day trip for some on-site consulting.

I helped Lily do some weeding in the main garden.

Now, Lily’s part of the report…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Thus saith the Lord God; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.

And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God.

Thus saith the Lord God; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.

And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.” – Ezekiel 25: 11-17 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Friday — July 11, 2025

On July 11, 1863, US military held its first draft lottery in New York City. Exemptions were offered at a cost of $300. This was a fee that only the wealthy could afford. ($300 in 1863 Dollars is worth $7,654 today.) Draft riots soon followed.

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July 11th was the birthday of John Quincy Adams. He was born in 1767 and died in 1848. Not to be confused with his father (John Adams) the younger Adams also served as a diplomat, congressman, and as president.

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On July 11, 1897, Salomon August Andrée and crew left Spitsbergen in northern Norway by balloon, hoping to reach the North Pole.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 119 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. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. 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.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

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. A $269 retail value survival-ready power package from Solar Power Lifestyle. This includes two Solar Power Lifestyle 25W Portable Solar Panels, plus a $150 gift card to use for any purchase at solarpowerlifestyle.com.
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  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 $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 119 ends on July 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.

 

 

Traveling in Austere Situations – Part 2, by Dr. Rick

Camping in fair weather

Getting adequate sleep and rest is crucial for your survival, even if you are only traveling a short distance, especially if you are already deprived of it. Your situational awareness and decision-making abilities deteriorate quickly without adequate rest and sleep. That’s not good for you. Climate and weather play big roles in your sleep experience. Another situation that will impact your night’s sleep is whether you are being followed or not.

To get the best night’s sleep, you’ll need shelter. In fair weather, shelter is not a major concern. Sleeping “under the stars” is a romantic fantasy, but in austere conditions, you’ll want to sleep under cover. Dew is the problem (and a source of drinkable water.) Without cover on a fair night, you could wake up cold and soaking wet from the dewfall – a problem and a blessing. Cold, wet clothes are no fun, but a heavy dewfall usually signals a fair day ahead for traveling. Even in fair weather, remember that it is always coldest just before sunrise.Continue reading“Traveling in Austere Situations – Part 2, by Dr. Rick”