Preparedness Notes for Thursday — June 6, 2019

The 70th anniversary of 1984 won’t be in 2054. It is today. On June 6th, 1949, George Orwell’s novel of a dystopian future, Nineteen Eighty-Four was published. The novel’s all-seeing leader, known as “Big Brother,” became a universal symbol for intrusive government and oppressive bureaucracy. The 6th of June is of course also remembered for both D-Day and for the birth of Dieudonné Joseph Saive (born 1899.) He was the designer of many well-known firearms including the Browning Hi-Power, the FN49 and co-designer (along with Ernest Vervier) of the very popular FN-FAL, which was issued to the militaries of more …




Perennial Vegetables: A Must Have, by D.P.

In this article, I’ll explain why I consider perennial vegetables a “must have” for my self-sufficiency garden. It was during the time I lived in Kamakura, Japan, a once short-lived capital of Japan about an hour southwest of Tokyo, the place where both of my sons were born, that I learned to garden. Fell in love with it really. At that time my wife and I lived in a small duplex. All rooms were floored in tatami mats (straw mats). You couldn’t wear shoes on them, one of the few customs which the Japanese wouldn’t allow under any circumstances. The …




The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on LAPD Officers Contracting Typhoid. Twitter Bans Analyst Who Exposed Antifa Ties Some commentary by Vincent James: Twitter Bans Analyst Who Exposed Ties Between Media and Antifa. JWR’s Comment: Since I’ve personally been libeled by the SPLC, I am not surprised to read the allegation that they were a party to this manipulation. YouTube Demonetizes Hundreds of Conservative Vloggers This news coming from Vincent James does not bode well: …







Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — June 5, 2019

On June 5, 1851, novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe published the first installment of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in The National Era. She was the sister of firebrand abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 83  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any …




Garden Lessons – Part 2, by R.R.

(Continued from Part 1. This installment concludes the article.) There are numerous videos on the web about this process in building your seed-starting set up. It’s simple and again a one-time effort and expense. I’ve never even had to change a bulb after three years. I also have a surge protector that the three lights and three seed mats are plugged into. I then plug that surge protector into a timer so the lights and mats turn on/off automatically for around 10-12 hours each day. The next thing you have to plan is: when to start what  seeds or seedlings. …




JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on wilderness medicine. (See the Book section, Instructional Videos and Vlogs section, and the Gear & Grub section.) Books: Wilderness and Rescue Medicine o  o  o NOLS Wilderness Medicine (NOLS Library) o  o  o Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine E-Book o  o  o MEDICINE FOR THE BACK COUNTRY, 2nd Edition o  o  o Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine, 2-Volume Set




Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at investing in  scarce variants of the Ruger Mini-14 carbine. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Gold Prices Holding Near 2-Month Highs After U.S. ISM Manufacturing Survey Falls In May. JWR’s Comments: Gold and silver are not for timorous investors. The price swings can …







Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — June 4, 2019

On this day, June 4th, in 1944 United States Navy Task Group 22.3 captured U-505, a German submarine and with it an intact Enigma cypher machine. This was the first time since the USS Peacock seized HMS Nautilus in 1815 that the USN had captured an enemy vessel at sea. The sub, reunited with its periscope a decade ago, is displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Today is also the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, in 1989.  The Chinese government hasn’t changed much, since then. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry …




Gardening Lessons – Part 1, by R.R.

So… You think that you can garden? Got the books, got some seeds, and you grew something once. Sure, it’s easy! Well, good for you. It hasn’t come easy for this guy. I’m the so called green-thumb in my house. House plants, no problem. Landscaping around the home, got that. Garden as if our life depends on, not so much. I managed lawn and landscaping crews for seven years during and after college. We did some major commercial work and I know more than the average homeowner about these things. I have to admit that vegetable gardening has been a …




Writing Contest Prize Winners Announced! (Round 82)

We’ve completed the judging for Round 82 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The winners are: First Prize Winner: First Prize goes to L.R. for It is Planting Time (posted in two parts on May 7 and May 8, 2019).  L.R. will receive the following prizes: A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,095 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical …




SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. Today, we focus on Wyoming Home Costs. (See the Wyoming section.) Region-Wide Radio Free Redoubt on KTW – 2019-05-04 Standing Firm Against Propagandist Deceivers o o o Antifa Attacks the American Redoubt — Who are the black shirt communists? Idaho Over at Redoubt News: Public Comment Wanted on Idaho Administrative Rules o o o Post Falls men sentenced for theft of firearm used …




The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we look at military contractor Check-Mate relocating to Florida. (See the final item in this column.) ‘Stop-and-Frisk’ for Firearms: Unconstitutional! Some good news: The PA Supreme Court: Unconstitutional to ‘Stop-and-Frisk’ For Firearms. JWR’s Comment: Open carry or the mere sight of a firearm in a vehicle by the local gendarmes is not probable cause to suspect the commission of a crime. Nay, it is just evidence of that someone is exercising …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Over the past quarter century, the leaders of both the Democratic and the Republican political parties have perfected a remarkable system for remaining in power while serving the new economic oligarchy. Both parties take in huge amounts of money, in many forms — campaign contributions, lobbying, revolving-door hiring, favours, and special access of various kinds. Politicians in both parties enrich themselves and betray the interests of the nation, including most of the people who vote for them. Yet both parties are still able to mobilize support because they skillfully exploit America’s cultural polarization. Republicans warn social conservatives about the dangers …