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.
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Here is a very useful video, especially for folks who live in gun-deprived states: An Alternative to Cap & Ball For Self-Defense.
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US Coast Guard patrol spots Chinese naval ships off Alaska Island.
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A reminder: Republican V.P. nominee J.D. Vance is a strong critic of the ATF and wants to see it disbanded.
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Reader Mike D. suggested a great practical skills video: Survival Guide: Make yards of natural cordage in minutes.
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Video from John Lovell at Warrior Poet Society: This is Why Trump Got Shot | Breakdown & Analysis. Pay particular attention to his comments on the alleged Rules of Engagement (ROE).
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SaraSue sent this snippet:
“Still no rain to speak of – it’s been a month of no rain in prime growing season and very hot/humid. Leftover storms from the hurricane that hit Texas literally skirted the county I live in. Talked to some ranching neighbors and their corn fields are only knee high. They got a first good cutting of hay, but aren’t sure they will get a second cutting if the weather doesn’t cooperate. I have pre-paid for hay for the year, so I know I have that covered. If we don’t get rain, hay may be hard to come by later. I purchase large round bales that are delivered as needed since I don’t have the facilities to store all the hay I need. In addition, I usually have ~50 square bales delivered before winter, and I have room for those in one of the barn stalls where the dirt floors are lined with cedar wood leftover from a project. I call the square bales my “emergency” hay should the hay delivery truck not be able to get up to the farm during the winter, as happened last winter. Obviously, I pay more because I can’t pick up the hay myself, nor can I stack those heavy bales.
I purchased another 100-foot hose so that I can stretch out 200 feet of hoses in one direction and 200 feet in the other direction from the main spigot to keep the animals and gardens watered. Hours are spent daily making sure all the animals have cool water, and the water troughs are scrubbed clean of algae, etc. I have capacity for 450 gallons of water, spread out in various water troughs, for the animals. I’ve been working with a new-to-me dairy cow/calf pair to replace the dairy cow I can’t get bred back and who is destined for freezer camp in the Fall. Weaning a calf means days of listening to the calf and the cow bawling for one another day and night. I keep them separated in adjoining pastures. Training the new-to-me cow to milk is time-consuming and requires great patience. She prefers her calf get the milk, not me, and she’s highly insulted that I would attempt to take her milk. LOL. The Great Pyrenees puppies are learning to alert during the night if they see or hear something strange on the farm. The new replacement flock of chickens are getting close to being able to lay eggs and I’ve heard the first feeble crows of a rooster.
I have continually harvested squash from the garden, and have pulled those plants before the bugs took over completely, and re-planted the beds with butternut squash and early sweet corn. Whatever is eating up my tomatoes caused me to go to a neighboring farm and purchase 60lbs of tomatoes to put up. I was hoping to not have to do that this year. They have been growing tomatoes for a long time and have a sophisticated system in place. Due to the lack of rain, and very high temperatures, and in spite of watering, my garden has really slowed down so I don’t expect huge harvests. I cooked down about 40 lbs of tomatoes for sauce, bagged up, and put in the freezer. I froze the other 20lbs of tomatoes whole. I have corn and okra to put up as well. The heat is making most things difficult for me on the farm. I have to stop working around 11am or Noon, and stay inside the cool house the rest of the day to avoid a repeat of heat exhaustion. Praying for rain! And thankful to be kept so busy that I can almost ignore the world’s chaos. Almost.”
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D.S.V. sent this: The Butter Renaissance: New Studies Challenge Decades of Dietary Advice.
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Reader J.R.G. had this comment, in response to the recent article on Buglout Trailers (BOTs) :
“Some years back, my brother had a trailer made from a pickup bed which had livestock metal sides that went overhead if you stood in it. It was designed for moving livestock, home-built version.
An overhead tarp offered cover in rain. His wife eventually decided it sat idle for too long and it was sold off. Too bad – we did a lot of work and some truck camping with it. Kept the camp out of the dirt when it rained, Materials could be secured outside and inside the metal cage, even through it when needed for longer items like lumber.”
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Encrypted Radio Communications with DMR Privacy Modes.
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Some frightening news from Germany, by way of commentator Paul Joseph Watson: This is Chilling Beyond Belief.
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And, in closing, there is this from fellow preparedness blogger Patrice Lewis: Apparently now the gloves are off.
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