Year: 2024

A Water System Adventure – Part 1, by E.R.

Many folks might take water for granted as being a mundane issue, although readers of this blog might be the exception. No matter, please read on. Our adventure began when the municipality decided that they no longer wanted us as a customer. “To really know something, one must go directly to people with immediate experience of the situation. You can’t really know by talking with someone who has only read about it.” – “The Great Taking”, by David Rogers Webb, p xxi. I am not a professional writer. Instead, I am a strong-minded individualist who insisted on paying my own …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is 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. In today’s column, we look at migrating billionaires and the potential threat of AI. Where The Richest Americans Live Over at Forbes: Mapping Billionaire Wealth: Where The Richest Americans Live Now …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 14, 2024

On February 14, 1946, the first general-purpose high-speed electronic digital computer, the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), was demonstrated to the public by its creators, J. Presper Eckert, Jr., and John W. Mauchly. — February 14, 1942 was the birthday of the late economist, theologian, and prepper Dr. Gary North. — February 14, 2018, amid scandals and corruption allegations, South African President Jacob Zuma resigned and was later replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 111 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The …


My Solar-Powered Ham Shack Setup, by BMB

There are many things we need to prepare for before the ball drops, (SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, or whatever term you want to use) like water, food, shelter, bullets, medical supplies, aetc. But another item I feel is very important is communication with my family group. This article is about how I got into amateur radio, how I setup my basic solar-powered ham radio shack, and how I stay in practice with my equipment in my shack. I had been interested in Amateur Radio (a.k.a. “ham” radio) since I was a little boy, more than 50 years ago. I will soon be …


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. — Lily suggested this brief video with some serious truth bombs. (Warning: There is some foul language): A great message everyone needs to hear from a real man. o  o  o Reader R.W.  mentioned this company in Grand Junction, Colorado that specializes in American-made outdoor products: Hill People Gear.  From their site: “We …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 13, 2024

On February 13, 2016, Antonin Scalia—who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, becoming well known for his strong legal conservatism—died under mysterious circumstances in Shafter, Texas. On February 13, 1689, following the Glorious Revolution, William and Mary were proclaimed king and queen of England this day in 1689, after which they ruled jointly as King William III and Queen Mary II until her death in 1694. February 13th is also the birthday of Robert Charles R.C. Sproul (born 1939, died December 14, 2017), a well-respected American Calvinist theologian Today is also the birthday …


Making Your Home More Self-Sufficient, by Jonathan Rawles

As we have just passed the midpoint of winter, it’s time to be laying plans for the spring. Whether you are already residing at a rural retreat or it’s still a future goal, there opportunity to improve on your home’s self-sufficiency and food production. Where can you start with self-sufficiency if you’re still on a suburban lot? You must be more considerate of neighbors, local ordinances, and homeowners’ Associations (HOAs). But even so, there’s great potential for supplemental food production even on a city lot. A few projects to consider: Replace ornamental trees with productive fruit or nut trees. With …


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 new look at wolf populations in the Redoubt. (See the Region-Wide section.) Region-Wide From the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS): Service Announces Gray Wolf Finding and National Recovery Plan. A quote: “Gray wolves are listed under the ESA as endangered in 44 states, threatened …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 12, 2024

On February 12, 1924 George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” premiered. The piece is among Gershwin’s best-known compositions and one of the most popular pieces of the symphonic jazz genre. — February 12, 1851, gold was discovered in east-central New South Wales, sparking Australia’s first gold rush. — On February 12, 1554, at age 16 Lady Jane Grey, titular queen of England, was executed in London by order of Mary I. — And on February 12,, 2001, the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft touchdown in the “saddle” region of 433 Eros becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid. — Today’s feature …


XStream Straw Water Filter and AquaBrick, by Thomas Christianson

We all need air, water, food, and protection from the environment (clothing and shelter). If we are deprived of any of these necessities for a long enough time, we will die. Lack of access to clean drinking water can result in death through dehydration or disease. Emergency planning should include securing access to clean drinking water both at home and in the field. I recently had the opportunity to test the Sagan Life XStream Straw Ultralight Water Filter Deluxe. It is light, easy to use, and effective. It is an excellent tool for preparing potable water under field conditions. At …


Recipe of the Week: Uxbridge Sour Milk Cornbread

The following simple recipe for Uxbridge Sour Milk Cornbread is from Good HouseKeeping’s Book of Menus, Recipes, and Household Discoveries (253 pages, copyright 1925, now in public domain). That is one of the 11 new bonus books included in the new 2005-2023 edition of the SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick. Ingredients 1 egg 2 cupfuls sour milk 1 cupful cornmeal 1 cupful bread flour 1 teaspoonful soda 1 teaspoonful baking-powder 2 tablespoonfuls melted shortening 1 teaspoonful salt Directions To the egg weII beaten add the sour milk. Add the cornmeal, flour, soda, baking-powder, and salt sifted together. Beat in the melted …