Month: December 2023

Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 2, by SaraSue

(Continued from Part 1.) My first cow and calf  I spent the next few months getting to know my cow.  I was terribly intimidated by her size.  In fact, I was afraid to go into her pasture.  I would cut up apples and feed them to her over the gate.  She would eat them out of my hand while I called her by the name I had given her, and I would tell her what a sweet cow she was.  I’m convinced this is what endeared her to me.  When my excited grandchildren visited, they would also feed her cut-up …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — First up, at WND: Young Americans lead population in prepping for disaster. (A hat tip to D.S.V. for the link.) o  o  o Tucker Carlson interviews Alex Jones in a lengthy (1.5-hour), wide-ranging, and insightful conversation, on X-Twitter.  It is good to see that Elon Musk subsequently reinstated Alex Jones to Twitter. …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Mr. President, the small progress we have made after four or five weeks’ close attendance and continual reasonings with each other—our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes—is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those republics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now …


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 12, 2023

On December 12, 1915 popular singer Frank Sinatra, who also achieved wide success as a film actor, was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. And 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 same day, the Scottish National Party also won 48 of 59 seats in Scotland. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 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 …


Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 1, by SaraSue

Trends in Homesteading It’s become very popular to have a homestead milk cow.  I can see why!  No running to the store for milk.  When my children were little, milk was the item we were always running out of.  I love being able to open the “milk fridge” and see gallons of milk sitting there.  I love being able to make cream cheese, or ice cream, or whipped cream, or yogurt without having to run to the store.  Chocolate milk is a treat and is easily made when there’s plenty of milk.  In years past, I would have never drank …


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 mention the touristy town of Leavenworth, Washington as well as some more about political migration in general, and the Greater Idaho movement, in particular. (See the Central & Eastern Washington section and the Region-Wide section.) Region-Wide Video: What’s Driving Greater Idaho? — December 1, …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“It is said that Congress should not possess the power of calling out the militia, to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions; nor the President have the command of them when called out for such purposes. I believe any gentleman, who possesses military experience, will inform you that men without a uniformity of arms, accoutrements, and discipline, are no more than a mob in a camp; that, in the field, instead of assisting, they interfere with one another. If a soldier drops his musket, and his companion, unfurnished with one, takes it up, it is …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 11, 2023

On December 11, 1994, Russian troops invaded Chechnya to suppress a rebel Chechen government led by Dzhokhar Dudayev. — SurvivalRealty.com is running a special promotion: The book Survival Retreats & Relocation (co-authored by Jonathan Rawles and James Wesley, Rawles is on sale for $29, with free shipping! (It is normally priced at $34.) Get your guide to establishing a secure and sustainable home in time for Christmas. — Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.


Tapix Mil-Spec Green Sandbags, by Thomas Christianson

I have a makeshift shooting range behind my pole barn. In the backstop behind the target stand, I had used a sloping wall of sand to absorb the energy of the bullets entering the backstop. The major problem with a sloping wall of sand is that it is thinner at the top than it is at the bottom. This leaves the top of the wall of sand weaker than the bottom. With that in mind, I usually only used the targets near the bottom of the target stand when I was shooting a more powerful firearm, like a centerfire rifle. …


Recipe of the Week: Amish Apple Fritters

The following recipe for Amish Apple Fritters is from SurvivalBlog reader Mike in Alaska. Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups finely chopped apples Vegetable oil for frying Powdered sugar for dusting Directions In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold …


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. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today,  another look at the Swiss Watch market. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Radomski: The Most Important Analogy for the Markets, Including Gold. o  o  o Neils Christensen: The gold market has a big hill to climb as prices lose 3% after hitting all-time highs. o  o  o The world’s largest silver producers in …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Congress, by the power of taxation, by that of raising an army, and by their control over the militia, have the sword in one hand, and the purse in the other. Shall we be safe without either? Congress have an unlimited power over both: they are entirely given up by us. Let him candidly tell me, where and when did freedom exist, when the sword and purse were given up from the people? Unless a miracle in human affairs interposed, no nation ever retained its liberty after the loss of the sword and purse. Can you prove, by any argumentative …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 10, 2023

On December 10th, 1768, the first part of the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, the oldest continuously published and revised work in the English language, was published and advertised for sale in Edinburgh. — On this day in history, December 10, 1869, Wyoming was the first territory to grant women the right to vote — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 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 …


More Signs of a Potential China Syndrome

Introductory Note: This is an update to a topic that I’ve covered for several years. The gravity of the risk described cannot be overstated. — The attention of the world’s financial press seems to have drifted away from incisive finance reporting on mainland China. Last year’s Evergrande and Kaisa crises briefly attracted considerable attention, but given the Chinese Communist Party’s typical press stonewalling, journalists naturally began to concentrate on other news. The media spotlight may have shifted, but the systemic risk in China has not subsided. There is still a huge risk of both a general banking collapse and a …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Why Is It That Liberals Proclaim “My Body, My Choice” On Abortion But Also Demand That My Kids And I Be Vaccinated? News Links: What Americans think about COVID-19 vaccines. Washington State Employee Vaccine Requirement FAQ. Former Green Beret Gives Scathing Response to ​Biden Regime for Trying to Bring Back ABUSED Unvaxxed Soldiers (VIDEO) From 2021: For COVID-19 vaccinations, party affiliation matters more than race and ethnicity. State Efforts to Limit or Enforce COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates. Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll …