Month: April 2021


Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 26, 2021

On April 26, 1986, one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents occurred at the Chernobyl plant in the Soviet Union. An explosion and fire in the No. 4 reactor sent radioactivity into the atmosphere; at least 31 Soviets died immediately. — Here is a new property listing in the American Redoubt: Five Acre Dream – Wide Open Spaces! (With both on-grid and off-grid power, near Thermopolis, Wyoming.) — Today we present another review written by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.


SAR 9 Pistol, by Pat Cascio

Turkey is producing some outstanding firearms, at great prices. I think they are making some of the best shotguns, and the prices are crazy low for these quality firearms. Make no mistake, I’m no fan of the dictator Erdogan, who is the president of Turkey. He is a “Mad Turk” if you ask me – so save the hate mail, please.  Over the years, I’ve owned several shotguns and handguns produced in Turkey, and have zero problems with them. They are well-made and priced “oh-so-right”. I’ve been attempting to add a few more firearms to my meager gun collection now …


Recipe of the Week: Harriet’s Banana Cake

The following recipe for Banana Cake was sent to us by SurvivalBlog reader Harriet, who posts savingfoodforeating, on Instagram. Ingredients 1 ½ cups mashed bananas (about 3 really ripe bananas) 3 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp. salt ¾ cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar, packed 3 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla ½ c. buttermilk (milk with a splash of vinegar) Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Cream butter, sugars and eggs Add mashed bananas and vanilla Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt …


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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, a pointer to an online source of ammunition. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: We were saddened to hear of the death of metals market analyst Peter Hug. Our condolences to his family. o  o  o Arkadiusz Sieroń: Will A Fiscal Revolution Raise Gold To The Throne? Economy & Finance: At …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — April 25, 2021

Today is the birthday of physicist, inventor, and entrepreneur Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937). He was known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission as well as for the development of Marconi’s law and a radio telegraph system. He is often considered the inventor of radio. — Today we present a guest article. It was too short for consideration in the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Round 94 of the writing contest ends on May 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 …


Tangible Investments on the Farm, by Animal House

As many Survival Blog readers remember JWR, and other knowledgeable sources, have been recommending various ‘tangible’ investments for several years. While I am not an expert on anything, I study various reports which I consider applicable to my lifestyle. The Institute for Supply Management issued a report which got my attention: “Things are now out of control. Everything is a mess, and we are seeing wide-scale shortages.” Bank of America’s Chief Investment Officer, Michael Hartnett, said: “Our worldwide supply chain, and ability to provide products and services to you, is being significantly impacted by increased prices resulting from labor and …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — April 24, 2021

April 24th is the birthday of my childhood friend, Carolyn Cole (born 1961). She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times. This is also the day that the Armenian Genocide began, in 1915. Ottoman Turk Muslims slaughtered 1.5 million of their Christian neighbors, intellectuals, and community leaders. The Ottoman government proceeded with multiple phases to round up men in mass executions and drive women and children into the desert on death marches. They also led the general Muslim citizens to participate in brutal periodic massacres within their communities signaled with the blow of a bugle. It …


A Moving Story, by Uncle Reid

Think about having to move all your stuff. Think about the weight. And the volume. The Wuhan Flu put my wife and me on the unemployment line on March 16, 2020. Living in northern New Jersey (NJ), in Bergen County with its nearly 1 million inhabitants, 25 miles from New York City, with incredibly high property and personal income taxes was no longer tenable. We had a place to “bug out” to. My son had moved to Tennessee a few years ago and had a bed for us. But just a bed. No room for our 60 super pails, our …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make 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 this column, in …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — April 23, 2021

On April 23, 1968, decimal coins (divisible by 10) were introduced in England. The 5 Pence coin replaced the former 1 Shilling (which was 12 old Pence.) And the new 10 Pence coin replaced the 2 Shillings Florin (which equated to 24 old Pence). The old non-decimal coins were removed from circulation by 1971. — A New SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Prize! We are pleased to announce that Siege Stoves is generously donating a new prize that will be part of the Third Prize package, starting with Round 94 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. They are donating the following complete …