Year: 2021

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Reader S.B. sent this: Forget cicadas. Drought-stricken West is getting plagued by voracious grasshoppers. o  o  o St. Funogas had this reply to a query from another reader: “Monica sent this query: “I’d like to ask St. Funogas this question: I have more than 500 new in box canning lids that were bought about 20 to 30 years ago…….stored …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 6, 2021

July 6th is the anniversary of the 1994 Storm King Mountain wildfire that took the lives of 14 firefighters. Weather changes, resulting in 45 mph wind gusts, caused a modest wildfire to erupt into a blazing inferno, which threatened homes in and around the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Firefighters from around the country were called to assist in fighting this wildfire. We will never forget the young men and women who lost their lives battling this fire: Prineville (Oregon) Hotshots: Kathi Beck, Tamera Bickett, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Douglas Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso Missoula …


Books and Why You Need Them – Part 1, by Born Free

Every time I moved, I schlepped boxes upon boxes of heavy books, not to mention the bookcases. Only one time that I moved did I have “professional” movers, and all the rest of the times were with the help of family and friends. I’ve moved at least 10 times in the past 40 years. I won’t go into the details of moving the piano, twice, upstairs. At some point, since I could not carry the boxes myself anymore, I started letting go of my books. I had a vast library of technical books (networks and systems), but the technology had …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, a special edition, profiling trailer manufacturers in the American Redoubt. Idaho Double R Trailers of Nampa produces a wide range of custom-made utility enclosed trailers, toy haulers, and concession trailers. o  o  o Fox Trailers in Post Falls makes high-quality flatbed utility trailers. o  o  …




Ruger LCP MAX .380 ACP, by Pat Cascio

About 12 years ago, everyone jumped on the micro .380 ACP super-concealable pistol. Ruger was a bit late to the game when they came out with teh LCP, one of the smallest little .380s on the market. It followed by the LCP II – you can do your research on them to see the difference between them, but the LCP was striker-fired. In contrast, the LCP II is hammer-fired and had a more comfortable grip, making it a huge improvement. All in all, the LCP II was easier to fire, more comfortable to fire, and more accurate. Ruger has just …


Recipe of the Week: Scalloped Cabbage With Cheese

The following recipe for Scalloped Cabbage With Cheese is from The New Butterick Cook Book, by Flora Rose, co-head of the School of Home Economics at Cornell University. It was published in 1924. A professional scan of that 724-page out-of-copyright book is one of the many bonus items included in the latest edition of the waterproof SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick. The small second production run of this 15th Anniversary Edition (2005-2020) USB stick is now available for ordering. Once those 250 sticks run out, there will be no more of the 15th Anniversary Edition sold. Ingredients 1 small head cabbage …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

In place of my usual Monday Economics & Investing fare, I’m re-posting some information that dates back to the early days of SurvivalBlog: October of 2005.  I thought that updating and reposting this post would be particularly apropos, since I recently switched to pricing my Elk Creek Company inventory to Pre-1965 silver coin terms. On Gold, Silver, and Barter I am often asked in e-mails about gold and silver coins and their value, both in the present day and their eventual worth (post-TEOTWAWKI) for barter purposes. The basic unit of measure for most of us that are in preparedness circles …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The larger point here is the long economic cycles have turned. The 40-year decline in interest rates has turned, whether we admit it or not. The 40-year decline in the prices of goods due to financialization (lower interest rates, higher speculative assets) and globalization has turned. The 40-year expansion of the workforce has turned. The 40-year decline of oil/fuel/resources prices has turned. The 40-year fantasy that we can depend on other nations for our essential resources and components is drawing to a close.” – Charles Hugh Smith


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — July 4, 2021

Today, celebrated as Independence Day, is also the birthday of Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) and of General Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–1882) — The second batch of waterproof SurvivalBlog archive USB sticks is now available!  The first batch of 1,000 sold out quickly, so order soon. There are less than 300 remaining in this batch! SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 95 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 a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be …


A Micro Survival Kit for Everyday Carry – Part 2, by M.B.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Tool #2: Cordage Cordage — string, rope, etc. — is another of our oldest tools. Early people would have used animal sinew or plant fibers. No matter what its form, cordage is an essential element for making shelters, tools, and weapons, in first aid, and for making needed repairs. Smallest Considered: Dental floss Largest considered: Paracord Final choice: Paracord, plus several feet of fishing line AND thread Honorable mentions: Braided fishline, carpet or upholstery thread Thread – Strong thread is wonderfully useful for small tasks and repairs, such as attaching a feather …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:   To share this, you can find it here: https://kapwi.ng/c/kD2sjErF Meme Text: Joe Biden Says: AR-15s Are Not Enough–It Would Take F15s and Nukes George Washington: Okay, Where We Get Ours? Related News Link: In an Attempt to Suggest People Don’t Need Guns, Biden Accidentally Makes the Best Case for Gun Rights. Biden’s gaffe was so well-publicized that Palmetto State Armory decided to produce a limited run of “Tyranny-15” AR lower receivers.