We’ve completed the judging for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest [1]. Round 110 began on December 1, 2023, and ended on January 31, 2024. (The contest runs in rounds that each last two months.) The prize-winning writers for Round 110 are:
First Prize
First Prize goes to A.F., for Winter Plumbing Preparedness, posted on January 13-14, 2024. See: Part 1 [2] and Part 2 [3]. He will receive the following prizes:
- The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon [4]. 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 [5] (a $1,095 value),
- Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees [6] in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
- American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses [7].
- Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, [8] (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
Second Prize
Second Prize goes to Tractorguy, for Easy Home Cheese Making [9], posted on January 19, 2024. See: He will receive the following prizes:
- A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
- Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord [10] (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
- Two Super Survival Pack seed collections [11], a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
- Montana Survival Seed [12] is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
- A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company [13], toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!
Third Prize
Third Prize goes to H.F.K, for Haying By Hand [14], posted on January 20, 2024. See: She will receive the following prizes:
- A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $305 value),
- A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com [15], good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
- Three sets each [16] of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value.)
- A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company [13], toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.
Honorable Mention
Each Honorable Mention Prize winner has been awarded a transferable and accruable $100 FRN purchase credit toward the purchase of any antique or percussion replica gun from Elk Creek Company [13].
Honorable Mention Prizes go to the writers of these 11 articles:
- Day One of TEOTWAWKI: A Written Plan, by St. Funogas: Part 1 [17], Part 2 [18], Part 3 [19], Part 4 [20], and Part 5 [21].
- Resisting Thought Control, by Cyclops: Part [22]1, Part 2 [23], Part 3 [24], Part 4 [25], Part 5 [26], and Part 6 [27].
- Let’s Go Ice Fishing!, by Hollyberry [28]
- How to Process Chickens and Rabbits, by Elli O. See: Part [29]1 and Part 2 [30].
- Overcoming Starvation — Food for Thought, by M.M. [31]
- Using the Past to Prepare for the Future, by 3AD Scout. See: Part 1 [32] and Part 2 [33].
- Some Experience With Nuts, by Mr. Zipph [34].
- Practical Rain Catchment, by Javelina [35].
- Milk Cows on the Homestead, by SaraSue. See: Part 1 [36], Part 2 [37], and Part 3 [38].
- How to Grow and Process Luffah Sponges, by St. Funogas [39]
- Storing Valuable “How to” Digital Data, by Slate Creek [40]
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More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics [41]. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 111 is now underway and will end on March 31st.
A note on a prize substitution, starting with Round 111: Ready Made Resources — one of our very first advertisers and a generous writing contest prize donor since Round 1 in 2005, is now providing a Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” [42] variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA. This is a $359 retail value.
Please get busy writing and e-mail [43] us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.