Year: 2010

Starting Your Desert Backyard Garden, by Colleen M.

One of the first things many preppers begin with is starting a backyard garden.  Those of us living in desert regions have additional challenges when beginning this task as water conservation and soil quality are serious issues in desert regions.  It’s tempting and easy to become overly dependent on technology when reclaiming the landscape around you, but with patience, trial and error and a little bit of skill you can use low tech strategies to build good soil and have a productive, water friendly garden.  The first two seasons of backyard gardening in the desert can be frustrating but are …


Two Letters Re: How Long Can You Tread Water?

Mr. Rawles: I have been reading your site for over two years now and have two of your books. I have a growing concern on what is going on in the world and working to prepare myself and my family for what the future may or may not bring us. I eagerly await the next day postings of SurvivalBlog each and everyday and look forward to what your other readers bring to the table. I took great interest in “How Long Can You Tread Water?” by Tom S. but more in the initial response. I am sure there will be …


Letter Re: Equipping my My G.O.O.D. Boat

A couple of points bothered me about Doug W.’s plan to G.O.O.D. with his boat. First, his idea about using logs to keep out intruders in his retreat anchorage has one possible flaw. According to Murphy’s Laws of Combat, anyplace too difficult to get into will be too difficult to get out of! Next, I am no sailor, but I’ve been around the ocean and I’ve seen some horrific storms. I saw no plan for riding out bad weather, unless these bays are very sheltered. Next is that unless tied up close to shore, sitting at anchor in the middle …


Economics and Investing:

Randy K. zeroed in on this: Wall Street Apocalypse: The World of the Doomsday Investors G.G. flagged this: Implications of a Likely Economic Downturn Items from The Economatrix: Job Creation in Private Sector Remained Weak in June So What Exactly is a Double-Dip Recession? Mortgage Rates Scream “BUY” But Who’s Listening State Pension Woes Only Worsening ISM Says Service Sector Growth Slows in June Post Office Announces 2-Cent Rate Increase. (Say, what happened to that much-touted deflation?) Pump Prices Head Down Again After Holiday Weekend


Odds ‘n Sods:

   o o o Sheryl suggested “an awesome hour long video of life in the Arctic.”    o o o The Thrifty Maven is giving away a free copy of the excellent book “Making the Best of Basics”.    o o o F.J. liked this article on hypothermia: The Truth About Cold Water.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"These are times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." – Thomas Paine, from his essay “The Crisis”


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 …


Equipping My G.O.O.D. Boat, by Doug W.

I live on a 42 foot boat and have no access to a land-based defensible position here in the northern part of Puget Sound. In order to prepare my wife and me for the coming collapse we have had to adapt and innovate our thinking a little bit. Because we live on the water between two major population centers we believe that when the stuff hits the fan people will not be viewing an escape by water as a viable alternative they will be looking for land with house and food so we may be under the radar for awhile …


Letter Re: How Long Can You Tread Water?

Mr. Rawles: Regarding the recently-posted article on EMP, while some of what Tom S. says is true, some of it is just plain silly. The results of a nation-wide EMP pulse would be catastrophic to be sure. Banking, communications, even food supply would in fact be disrupted. But to suggest that well organized gangs with armored vehicles would be systematically destroying farm homes and lake cabins is simply preposterous. Please consider: 1. If fuel production is halted, no one is going to get further than one tank of gas outside the city limits. 2. If fuel is still being produced …


Four Letters Re: My G.O.O.D. Vehicle

Hello James Wesley, I have a couple of questions for Matt M. My knowledge of diesel engines is limited. However, I am researching for my own G.O.O.D. vehicle as well, and following your advice on having vehicles with different fuel systems I am concentrating diesel light trucks for my requirement. Matt describes taking an “expedition” route instead of regular roads under certain conditions. He also states that with his extra fuel tank that he has a “2,000 mile range”. My questions to Matt are: Is the fuel range based on “expedition” conditions, or road conditions? Does diesel mileage vary with …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. was the first of several readers to mention this article by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: With the US trapped in depression, this really is starting to feel like 1932 Todd M. sent us this: Banks Too Big to Fail, Too Big to Bail Out: Roubini B.B. sent this: Investors Fear Rising Risk of US Regional Defaults Bernanke Created Half of 234 Years’ Worth of Money Supply. Here is a quote: “The U.S. turned 234 years old yesterday, and yet over half of the nation’s money supply was created since Helicopter Ben took over the flight controls four years ago. No wonder …


Odds ‘n Sods:

R.J. in Idaho told me that he had an excellent germination rate with his Medicinal Herb Garden Collection from Everlasting Seeds, despite what he termed a “difficult” gardening season with “never-ending” Spring rains. I can’t think of a more important thing to keep on hand (and to practice using) that non-hybrid seeds. Stock up! o o o M.O.B. sent this: Seized Drug Submarine is Huge Leap for Smugglers o o o I heard about a new blog with an emphasis on personal security: Security Whip. Check it out. o o o Jason H. flagged this from Popular Mechanics: Can Your …



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 …


My G.O.O.D. Vehicle, by Matt M.

In considering my Get Out of Dodge (G.O.O.D.), plans, I decided to focus on determining the proper vehicle to acquire. My first and biggest concern is the fact that I have a large family. While our retreat is little more than a camp site at this time, I have decided to focus this article on the trip there rather than the buildup of the actual retreat. I am not a trained mechanic but I have worked on cars throughout my 22 years of car ownership. I am by no means an expert at anything survival related. I am a student …