Month: July 2010

A Blacksmithing Primer, by Matt M.

The two greatest tools that mankind has, the tools that pulled our species out of the wild and still separate us from base animals, are fire and the blade. A blacksmith crafts and uses both of these tools.  Whether you live in a frontier situation where you have to make do with what you’ve got and make it last or you’re planning ahead for a potential TEOTWAWKI situation, knowing how to shape iron and steel to suit your needs without the use of electricity is a good idea.  This article is intended as the most basic primer to give you, …


Letter Re: Preserving Food at Home Self-Study Course

Dear Mr. Rawles, I thought that the free food preservation course from the National Center for Home Food Preservation would be useful to your readers. Here are some details, from their web site: Preserving food at home, a self-study course. Announcing a free, self-paced, online course for those wanting to learn more about home canning and preservation. * Introduction to Food Preservation * General Canning * Canning Acid Foods * Canning Low-Acid Foods This course is offered in the University of Georgia eLC system. The univefrsity requires registration for you to receive a login. – David L. Economics and Inve


Economics and Investing:

G.G,. sent this: Homeowners Associations: The New Foreclosure Ireland’s credit rating downgraded by Moody’s. Down to Aa2. Ouch! (Thanks to John in Ohio for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Rebound as Investors Await Earnings IBM Lifts 2010 Forecast But Economic Worries Loom Homebuilders Losing Confidence in the Recovery Average Gasoline Prices Down From a Month Ago UK: Hedge Funds Accused as Food Prices Soar Stress Testing Euro Banks Won’t Stave Off a Deflationary Vortex Markets Braced for Turmoil After IMF and EU Pull 17 Pound Billion Hungary Financing Deal


Odds ‘n Sods:

Trent H. was the first of several readers to mention this: Second Act: Jay Shafer; Ten years ago, Jay Shafer downsized to an 89-square-foot house and reinvented both his lifestyle and career in the process. Not much room for storage food, but this illustrates that minimalism has its advantages.    o o o Paul B. sent us a link to some more Gibbonesque musings: Has civilization gone full circle?    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this piece about some implications of deferred maintenance, parts obsolescence, tight budgets, and lean “Just In Time” spare parts …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of …


Running on Cooking Oil – Diesel Power on the Road, by DieselDad

Although I live in a rural setting, my current employment depends on being able to reliably commute about 45 minutes each way to the state capital. Watching the shutdown and gradual restoration of the Colonial pipeline serving the southeast US during Katrina was a sobering experience. Fuel prices spiked to record levels and many stations were not able to re-supply for weeks because of the lack of sufficient movement in the pipeline. It was at that point several years ago that I began researching alternative methods of driving moderate distances of up to 100 miles a day in the event …


Some Experience in Storing Items in a Humid Climate, by Michael Z. Williamson

Recently, I had the opportunity to perform a long term test of goods improperly stored. A friend of mine placed his possessions in storage in a hurry in 1999, left the state, and did not arrange for anyone to maintain them. He returned last year, and we recently opened his storage locker and removed the items. Items stored in the Midwest, in an outside, sheet metal storage facility with no heat or AC, placed on minimal dunnage and piled in without neat packing or stacking. The interior was dark. Duration was 11 years—1999-2010. The lows near 0 Fahrenheit, highs near …


Letter Re: The Versatile Sling Bow

Dear Mr. Rawles, I would first like to thank you for all the work you do, your ever informative blog, and for opening up my blind eyes to the world or prepping. I’ve made leaps and bounds in the last 2 years, however my preparations are not the topic of this letter. I recently found a youtube channel online called WildernesOutfitters by Mr. Dave Canterbury, who some of you may be familiar with from the Discovery Channel show “Dual Survival”. Mr. Canterbury is located in my back yard of south eastern Ohio and i would recommend everyone to search out …


Letter Re: Creating Secure Perimeter Fencing with Plant Life

Howdy, When it comes to strong native fencing it hard to beat the Osage Orange [aka Bois D’Arc, Horse-apple, or (Latin) Maclura pomifera]. It was used as cattle fencing in its native east Texas and Oklahoma long before the devil wire was invented. It grows quickly, forms a dense hedge, and has long thorns that no one will try to force through. Its wood is hard and it burns for a long time so it can be harvested for fuel too. For protecting windows I use the beautiful Knockout Rose. I love its flowers but I hate it when its …


Economics and Investing:

Reader Don W. forwarded this: The Flight of the Money – Where Has It Gone?; Obama’s policies terrify business community; capital is leaving, cash is being hoarded. Matt B. sent us this: Rust Discovered on Bank of Russia Issued .999 Gold Coins Items from The Economatrix: Obama Set to Sign Broadest Financial Overhaul Since the Great Depression Obama Warned by Buffett US Economy Only Halfway Back


Odds ‘n Sods:

T.R. flagged this item: Russian drought sends wheat prices soaring. If you haven’t already done so, stock up, immediately!    o o o Temporary cap in place — now what for the Gulf? (A hat tip to Barney O. for the link.)    o o o A reminder that Everlasting Seeds has a 15% off special in progress, just for SurvivalBlog readers. This special offer ends on July 22nd, so get your order in soon!    o o o Reader Eric H. spotted this: Competing currency being accepted across Mid-Michigan



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of …


Waking Up and Getting Prepared, by Matthew G.

I live a very average suburban life similar to many people across the country. Commute to work, office job, suburban home with wife and kids. It’s easy to forget how fragile this lifestyle is and how little it takes to remove all the things you come to depend on. Recently I had an afternoon that showed me just how easy these conveniences can go away and the difference a little preparedness can make. After picking up my daughter from day care I drove home to find myself locked out of the house. We were having new keys made and I …