Year: 2014

Prepare Without Looking Prepared, by Farm Operator

“Have you watched Doomsday Preppers? Man, those people are crazy!” “We’ve got this neighbor down the street who’s prepping for the end of the world. What a weirdo!” We’ve all heard these comments (or similar ones). As for the wife and me, when friends, delivery men, in-laws, out-laws, offspring, or third cousins (who only show when they need something) come by the house, we don’t want them thinking we’re crazier than we are. Most importantly, we don’t want them knowing we’re prepping. For obvious security reasons, we don’t want those cousins to be the first at our doorstep when SHTF. …


Three Letters Re: Family Disaster Planning

Hugh, While this was a very detailed and informative article, as a parent, grandparent, and educator, I was wondering if I missed reading anything about the education of our finest and most important resources…our children. Reading to children for pleasure and to convey the history of what has happened and why, as well as the beginnings of each person’s nation, seems to me to be something worthwhile. While I don’t expect every group to have material for every age, having at least a few resources would be invaluable. It is possible to teach without “curriculum” and expensive technology. My sister …


Economics and Investing:

US Economy Shrinks By 2.9% – The Most Since Great Recession o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Seattle $15 Wage Plan Is Unfair to Me Interest Rates Are Setting Up for a Surprise Move? Dollar Falls on Yellen Rates Pledge Amid Mixed Economy Germany Gives Up On Trying To Repatriate Its Gold, Will Leave It In The Fed’s “Safe Hands” Germany Still Wants Gold Back – Repatriation Campaign Continues


Odds ‘n Sods:

Swine Flu Confirmed at Shelter for Unaccompanied Minors. – G.P. o o o In a Daze, Where is My Country?. – B.B. o o o With the collapsing of the southern boarder and/or the Feds unwillingness to uphold their constitutional duty, we will be seeing more of this: Texas Ranchers Under Attack . – R.M. o o o Top Homeland Security adviser says America is an Islamic country. – B.D. o o o Here’s our best look yet at Hardy and Theron in Mad Max 4 (+ plot details)



Notes for Wednesday – June 25, 2014

Today we present another entry for Round 53 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), 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 $795, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift …


Practicing Your Food Survival, by M.B.

After reading one of James Wesley Rawles books about five years ago, my husband and I began our prepping journey. It has been a long and eye-opening experience. In the beginning, before we were prepped, we were terrified our world would immediately deteriorate. Rushing into a buying frenzy, we purchased as much volume of materials as we could afford. We were quickly compiling our supplies, planning storage areas, and generally operating in a frenzy. Having a list of areas of focus was helpful, and we did not really waste energy in the wrong places. We started by using a lot …


Letter Re: Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Hugh, Great Harvest Right review! It’s incredibly informative and well written. Thank you. I’m currently about to pull the trigger on purchasing one of their machines. I was hoping you might be able to share some wisdom on your experience with ice cream. You mention cream content below 1/3 worked well. Did you try various brands and something “light” like this worked best? What was the drying time? Was this one of the high liquid foods that required you to defrost in the middle of the process? Any insight is incredibly appreciated. Hugh Replies: That ice cream will work just …




Odds ‘n Sods:

A bit of “prepper” humor for your enjoyment: 30 Signs That You’re One of Those “Crazy Preppers” – G.W. It’s scary how many of those actually fit. o o o United Nations Seeks US-based Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Specialists – B.B. And lest you think this is a hoax, here is the link to the actual job posting (requires login). – H.L. o o o From B.C. – This is the DHS equivalent to the probably better-known DoD QDR review of missions. It is certainly long (may need a large file warning for bandwidth-constrained users) but may be of interest …



Notes for Tuesday – June 24, 2014

June 24th is the birthday of rifle-toting, abolitionist, pastor Henry Ward Beecher. (Born 1813, died March 8, 1887.) He and his adherents from his church smuggled so many Sharps rifles to Bleeding Kansans that the Sharps rifles picked up the nickname Beecher’s Bibles. Wikipedia states: Several of his brothers and sisters became well-known educators and activists, most notably Harriet Beecher Stowe, who achieved worldwide fame with her abolitionist novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. o o o Today we present another entry for Round 53 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: …


My Journey To The “Summits On The Air”, by Banjo Ninja

The Meta Game of Portable Communications as Practice for Prepping 1968 I had an interest in electronics from an early age. Back before most consumer electronics went digital, people actually repaired things when they stopped working. One of my earliest memories was Mr. D. coming to the house to fix our TV. In those days, the TV repairman came to your house, tested and replaced vacuum tubes, which was the dominant technology of the times, and Star Trek magically returned to your screen. This whole process fascinated me. Plus, Mr. D was a retired Air Force Colonel, so he was …


Letter Re: Gravity Fed Water Systems

Editor, A good and useful post by J.S. I always appreciate articles by those who have lived and used what they are proposing. As an irrigation contractor I built and used a homemade water system for a couple of decades in the Colorado mountains and can offer a few further ideas. For an infiltration gallery, I dug a small trench under the spring/small stream I had on the property and placed in the bottom 10′ of 4″ perforated flexible plastic drain pipe that came with a mesh “sock” around it. This pipe is used in French darins and the like. …