The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Everyone knows that the fire from a little spark will increase and blaze ever higher as long as it finds wood to burn; yet without being quenched by water, but merely by finding no more fuel to feed on, it consumes itself, dies down, and is no longer a flame. Similarly, the more tyrants pillage, the more they crave, the more they ruin and destroy; the more one yields to them, and obeys them, by that much do they become mightier and more formidable, the readier to annihilate and destroy. But if not one thing is yielded to them, if, without any …




Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 11, 2021

February 11th is the birthday of the late Burt Blumert (born February 11, 1929 in New York City, died March 30, 2009). He once owned Camino Coin Company. Dr. Ron Paul also once owned the same company. Burt is seen at left, in the photo above. — The two variants of the 15th Anniversary edition of the waterproof 2005-2020 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick are selling quickly.  (One of them is a limited edition in a keepsake tin box, with a keychain. There will be just of those 500 made, and more than 450 of those have already sold! Be advised: …




The Fleecing of History – Part 1, by Lazer

For those of you who follow The Book, we are all described as sheep, called to follow our shepherd in life and beyond. For those that are wondering “what is he talking about?”, I’m refer to the Bible…the most reviewed and historically fact-checked book of all time. I am writing this because I feel bound to. You see, my children are asking some good hard questions, and I am betting that a lot of others are asking you as well. We best have accurate answers to relate to our children if we do not want them growing up to be …




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”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at the importance of buying some extra AR-15 lower receivers. Top Five Guns to Buy Before a Potential Ban: 2021 Edition Reader Paul D. sent us this insightful Iraq Veteran 8888 …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Tyrants would distribute largess, a bushel of wheat, a gallon of wine, and a sesterce: and then everybody would shamelessly cry, “Long live the King!” The fools did not realize that they were merely recovering a portion of their own property, and that their ruler could not have given them what they were receiving without having first taken it from them. A man might one day be presented with a sesterce and gorge himself at the public feast, lauding Tiberius and Nero for handsome liberality, who on the morrow, would be forced to abandon his property to their avarice, his children to their lust, his very …




Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 10, 2021

February 10th is the birthday of Zvi Zvika Greengold (born 1952), a Centurion tank commander who was one of Israel’s most notable heroes of the Yom Kippur War. He was awarded the country’s highest military honor, the Medal of Valor. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. …




Garden Bed Weed Management, by Southern Trapper

Working a 9-to-5 job, I don’t have time to pull weeds every day so I sure won’t be able to do so during TEOTWAWKI when time and operational security are scarce. So, I have spent a lot of time experimenting with techniques to reduce weed growth and improve soil conditions that require minimal inputs and labor. Here I present three methods of preparing new garden beds and maintaining existing beds that require only hand tools. These techniques are particularly suitable for individuals who want to turn existing sod into high-intensity gardening as happened in March of 2020 when many suburban …




Recommendations of the Week:

Here are our Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers.  Most of the following came from our readers. We try to emphasize small companies that make hand-crafted goods, here in the United States and in Canada. In January, 2021 we quit the Amazon Associates program because of Amazon’s censorship. So we are no longer posting any new links to products via Amazon.com. Please shop with our paid (banner) advertisers first. If they don’t have what you need, then take a look at SurvivalBlog’s many Affiliate Advertisers. Many of these recommendations will soon be …







Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 9, 2021

February 9th is the birthday of Major George Charles Nonte Jr. (Born 1926, died June 30, 1978.) — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 93 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 worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for …




Forest Foraging: The Noble Oak, by Prepared Pamela

Nearly 500 species of oak trees populate five continents. In Greek mythology they were a symbol of Zeus, the “God of Thunder.” The botanical name Quercus means “beautiful tree.” The acorn or nut usually contains a single seed enclosed in a tough leathery shell and borne in a cup-shaped capsule. Acorns are 1 to 6 centimeters long and 0.8 to 4 centimeters wide. They take between 6 and 24 months to mature depending on the species. Acorns were used as an important source of nutrition for thousands of years. They have been a treasured perennial plant fiercely protected by indigenous …




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, we focus on some feloniously fictitious cattle. (See the Central & Eastern Washington section.) Idaho New bills addressing emergency powers emerge from Idaho Statehouse.  JWR’s Comment:  The Republican majority has clearly decided that Governor Little went more than a little too far! o  o  o …




The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Let us not despair in the face of terror nor lose faith when we witness the death of the innocent. The darkness around is indeed great. But our task is not so hard as it seems. Still your hearts and remember. We don’t have to create the Light. We only have to give witness to it.” – Frank Klaassen, from the Quaker publication Canadian Friend, Vol. 97, No. 5.




Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 8, 2021

On February 8th, 1963 the Kennedy administration issued an order prohibiting travel to Cuba and banned financial transactions and commerce with Cuba, by U.S. citizens. — Two variants of the 15th Anniversary edition of the waterproof 2005-2020 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick are available for pre-ordering, and selling quickly.  (One of them is a limited edition in a keepsake tin box, with a keychain. There will be just 500 made, and more than 300 of those have already sold! Be advised: I expect that this limited edition variant will sell out by Friday. Once those are gone, there will be no …




Rock Island Armory GI Standard 1911, by Pat Cascio

Most folks don’t realize that more 1911 style of handguns are manufactured in the Philippines than are now being made in the USA. There are actually three main companies making most of the 1911s that come out of the Philippines, but there are a few other smaller manufacturers. Owning 1911s made in Philippines isn’t new to me. I’ve owned more than a dozen, and they came marked with various names on them. Today, we are looking at the Rock Island Armory 1911 GI standard model 1911. It is imported by Armscorp in Nevada. For many years, I carried stock (full-size, 5-inch-barreled) …