Month: December 2021

Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 13, 2021

December 13th is the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York. Infogalactic had this summary: “He was one of the most decorated soldiers of the United States Army in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 35 machine guns, killing at least 28 German soldiers, and capturing 132 others. This action occurred during the United States-led portion of the broader Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France to breach the Hindenburg line and make the opposing German forces surrender.” — Today we present another review written by our Field Gear Editor, Pat …


Cold Steel Finn Hawk, by Pat Cascio

Sometimes, something old, can be new again, with minor improvements. The Finnish Puukko knife is one of those things that are old, but new again. When I was just a young boy – maybe 11 years old, I used to travel to downtown Chicago, to haunt a couple Army/Navy surplus stores. I always had an affinity for anything military surplus. I still do, to a certain extent. Both of the Army/Navy surplus stores I used to haunt were within a block and a half of one another. However, the smaller of the two stores, had a much larger selection of …


Recipe of the Week: Peanut Butter Nut Balls

The following recipe for Peanut Butter Nut Balls is from reader Cathy N.   She notes: “This is the recipe much as it was given to me. But I have added my own minor changes.” Ingredients 1 Box Powdered Sugar (1#) 1-1/2 C Flaked Coconut !-1/2 C Crushed Graham Crackers  1-1/2 C Chopped Pecans or Peanuts 1C Melted butter 12 oz Jar Crunchy Peanut Butter 1 tsp Vanilla Extract Directions Mix all together and form into 1” balls Melt 2 packages of semi-sweet chocolate morsels with 3 Tbsp shortening in a double boiler. Dip balls in chocolate, and then chill. Chef’s …


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, more news on the Evergrande default. (See the Economy, Finance, & Taxes section.) Precious Metals: Gold has been ‘shockingly stable’: It’s a long-term play as U.S. dollar rolls over, says Jeffrey Gundlach. o  o  o U.S. Treasury Refuses to Answer Questions about Disposition of Its Own Gold. (Thanks to Randy for the link.) …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 12, 2021

On December 12, 2019, the British General Election was won by Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party in a landslide win with an 80-seat majority. The Scottish National Party also won 48 of 59 seats in Scotland. — Please pray for the folks that were in the path of destruction of the 22 tornados that just swept through Kentucky, taking more than 70 lives and causing untold millions in property damage.  Oh, by the way, can a SurvivalBlog reader in Kentucky recommend a reputable local charity that can get donations to truly deserving recipients? — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another …


My Rules To Live By, by Brad F.

Author’s Introductory Note: This was written for high school students that are attending the Alternate High School in the American Redoubt which the local Rotary Club has taken an interest to mentor and expose the students to various job possibilities and for a few, higher education opportunities. This was to be a handout and discussion on each topic as this was to be an opening to talk and expand each item as the students wanted. Then a presentation on being an entrepreneur either by buying or starting a business and how to finance such business. Of course, a person will …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: To share this, you can find it here: https://kapwi.ng/c/t1W2CS0-l2   Meme Text: In Their Upcoming Decision Confirming The Right To Bear Arms The Supreme Court Is About To Rile The Kittenhouse News Links: Supreme Court to Hear Landmark Second Amendment Case. Amicus Brief: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Corlett, The Black Attorneys Legal Aid Brief


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 11, 2021

By popular demand, I have extended the month-long Patton’s Birthday Sale at Elk Creek Company. It will now end on Tuesday. Get your order in by 1700 hrs, Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 14th.  With our unique ordering system, you can choose between paying in Federal Reserve Notes (i.e. check or postal money order), or with pre-1965 U.S. silver coinage.  I should mention that about half of our customers now pay in silver. It seems that a lot of folks wisely bought silver when it was less than $15 per Troy ounce, so this makes buying guns with Pre-1965 coins …


Fulltime Living in a Wall Tent, by Tim S.

As we watch the waning of 2021, and witness another emergency (re: Omicron) that the media, tech and the left has deployed to further erode our personal rights and freedoms, my young family have also seen the anniversary of Year Two of living off grid, in tents. It is getting colder. The firewood is stacked. Our root cellar is filled, the chickens properly housed, a bit of insulation thrown on top of the tent and … there is still a whole bunch to do. BACKGROUND When Covid hit we were (like many) Canadians, suddenly reno-victed from our apartment. In part, …


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:

“And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the Lord commanded Moses. And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — December 10, 2021

On this day in 1942, my great uncle Lt. Robert I. Kinsella was killed when his B-24 bomber (part of the 90th Bombardment Group, Heavy, 320th Bomber Squadron), flying from the Iron Range Airfield in Northern Queensland, Australia went down in the South Pacific. — And on December 10, 1520, Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant or face excommunication. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing …


Raising Meat Birds in a Garage, by SaraSue

I recently read that there are chicken shortages in the supply chain (specifically “chicken tenders”) and I’m not going to discuss why. I’m writing this because many people who read the blog do not have a homestead or even a large back yard and worry about supply chain shortages. I hope to give you some ideas on how you can raise your own meat birds in limited space or under restricted conditions. As I wrote this it occurred to me that I was recreating “factory farmed” chicken production. That made me sad, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The …