Year: 2026

Preparedness Notes — July 14, 2026

Pictured above is the homestead of a SurvivalBlog reader in northern Indiana. This anonymous reader has been developing his homestead since 1984.  The pictured well pump is a reliable Bison Pump that is popular with preppers and homesteaders.. This Week in History On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission was launched, carrying the first men to land on Earth’s moon. — July 14th is the birthday of Colonel Einar A. Malmstrom. He was born in 1907 and died August 21, 1954 near Great Falls, Montana, in the crash of a T-33 jet. He was a decorated Air Force pilot, …


Precision Workshop Practices, by Grandpappy

We all have should have a place where we can repair, build, or maintain our equipment and appliances. This is a workshop space for our projects, from the simplest like building a simple tool, to the most complex like rebuilding the engine of a classic car. The space needed can range from a small corner of your garage to a complete workshop facility for a fabrication or repair hobby or even a small business. After forty-five years around engines and tools, I have come to the conclusion that every man needs his own workspace where he can develop his hobbies …


Recipe of the Week:

The following recipe for Basic Mexican Rice is from SurvivalBlog reader Joanna E. She mentioned:  “It is important to have several ways to prepare stored rice, to prevent Food Fatigue.” Ingredients 2 cups white rice 3 T. olive oil 3 c. water or chicken broth 2 T. tomato paste (or more to suit your taste) 2 cloves of garlic, pressed (or less, to suit your taste) 1/2 t. salt (or more, to suit your taste) Optional Ingredients (For a more elaborate and nutritionally-complete rice dish): 1/2 – 1 tsp. cumin  (Add during simmering.) One cup of fully-rehdrated or canned beans, …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic is a map that shows the population density of Africa and Madagascar. Take note of the dark areas (mostly deserts) and the trace of the Nile river valley and delta. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.       — If any SurvivalBlog readers have personally taken or otherwise hold the copyright to a particularly nice landscape photo or other photo of particular interest to preppers that is in a wide horizontal format (to match our blog template) then please send it in as an e-mail attachment, and I will consider posting it as …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. Economics & Investing Links of Interest Ukraine unveils new 2,000 hryvnia bill as war drives demand for cash. Andrew Follettt posted this at X, on government spending: Defense is 8% of US government spending. Education 15%! Welfare is 47%! At Zero Hedge: When Will The Cattle Cycle Turn? BofA Has Answers For Beef Lovers. Brandon Smith: Why Have Central Bankers Gone Radio Silent On The Digital Currency Agenda? Zack’s: Best Defense Stocks for July 2026. Trading Key: …


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, more hacking vulnerabilities. What Happens if China Hacks the US Water Supply? SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christianson suggested this article, at Wired: What Happens if China Hacks the US …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, news links, 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. — I noticed that Hoffman Tactical has their newly-famous AR Trigger Kickers back in stock. They have had some very positive review videos and consistent 5-star e-mailed customer reviews. This replacement for your standard disconnector gives you functionality similar to a name-brand $450 forced reset trigger, but for just $43. I …


SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

This weekly column features media 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. REDOUBT NEWS LINKS Video: Massive North Idaho 4th of July Backyard Firework Show Grand Finale. Cheyenne Won’t Take Data Center Wastewater After Meta Contractor Contaminated System. Post Falls becomes first Idaho city to join ICE immigration enforcement program. Wyoming: As Rural Hospitals Close Across America, Riverton’s Building A New $57 Million One. Video: Bison at Yellowstone National Park Sends Man Flying Through the Air With Headbutt. Black Bear …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds …


JWR’s Meme of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Every California Soccer Mom, Pointing To Gavin Newsom, When He Asks Who Caused High Gas Prices, in California. News Link: Why are gas prices so high in California? Newsom said it’s the oil companies, so we asked experts. Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks! Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.



Preparedness Notes — July 7, 2026

This Week in History: On July 7, 1850 Scottish explorer Edward John Eyre (pictured above) reached Albany, Western Australia. — July 8,1731: Theologian Jonathan Edwards preached his sermon “God Glorified in Man’s Dependence” in Boston. This was later his first published sermon. — And on  July  10, 1553 Lady Jane Grey, daughter of the Duke of Suffolk, was proclaimed Queen of England, succeeding Edward VI,. In June, the dying Edward VI had written his will, nominating Jane and her male heirs as successors to the Crown, in part because his half-sister Mary was Catholic, whereas Jane was a committed Protestant …


Thoughts on Prepping and on America’s Drug Addicts, by Big John

Pre-1965 silver is kinda like buying a fire extinguisher. Whether you pay $14 or $40 for the fire extinguisher is not really relevant. If it prevents a $4,000 kitchen fire is the point. There is a saying in the stock market: A bull makes money, and a bear makes money but a pig never makes money — It gets slaughtered. Point being, you can make money by going long or going short, but if you try to catch the absolute top or bottom, then you are bound to mess up. So you just go get some Pre-1965 silver, just close …


CRKT Drifter Liner Lock Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson

I had two major surprises as I reviewed the Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) Drifter Liner Lock Folding Knife: one positive and one negative. The positive surprise was the durability of the gray titanium nitride finish on the blade. It showed absolutely no signs of wear after more than a month of regular use. I was very impressed. The negative surprise was the country of origin. I ordered the knife because a knife-seller’s website indicated that it was “made in Taiwan”. When the knife arrived, the words “Made in China” were clearly printed on the box. The actual CRKT …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic is a map showing how the USA would have looked like if every historic treaty made with Native American tribes had been fully honored and implemented. The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.         (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) — Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.