Month: June 2026

Preparedness Notes — June 2, 2026

SurvivaBlog Now Comes Fresh Every Tuesday Today we are commencing our weekly posting schedule, with posts on Tuesdays. After more than 20 years of daily posts I was feeling exhausted. But with this new editorial pace, I’m feeling re-energized and confident that I have another 20 years ahead of me. To recap the changes: Starting today SurvivalBlog will be posted on Tuesdays, and perhaps the occasional Thursday, if the Tuesday posts get too crowded. So, you can expect to see SurvivalBlog “Fresh Every Tuesday.” (An homage the late, great Ol’ Remus.) We discontinued the SurvivalBlog Writing Contest. Round 124 was the …


Modern Handloads for Antique 7mm Mauser Rifles – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

Is the 7x57mm Mauser M1893/95 rifle obsolete?  The original 7mm Mauser cartridge is in no way an obsolete cartridge, yet it can be improved when modern powders are used.  As of this date, few handloaders are exploring what can be done with the old warhorse when modern propellants are used to make it competitive with modern cartridges such as 7mm-08, 7.62 NATO, and even .308 Winchester.  There is no discussion on this topic that I’ve yet found on the Internet.  Perhaps we are breaking new ground, as we speak.


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. Today, a map showing the States of the Union with more cows than people. Update: Blog reader Tim in Connecticut wrote to mention that Oklahoma was mistakenly left off the list. But it actually qualifies, with a human population of 3,959,353 versus 4,600,000 cattle. The thumbnail below is click-expandable. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Economics & Investing Links of Interest The leftist/globalist CBS News reports: Why have tomato prices surged nearly 40% in a year? ‘We’re not billionaires’: …


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: a war on mosquitos, using mosquitos. Google to Release 32 Million Diseased Mosquitoes in FL and CA Reader H.L. sent this, from Zero Hedge: Google to Dump 32 …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our 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. — New Federal Plan Aims to Replace Synthetic Fabrics With American Cotton. (A hat tip to D.S.V. for the link.) The article begins: “The United States Department of Agriculture has launched the Great American Cotton Plan to support cotton farmers and protect Americans from “forever chemicals” in our daily lives. Over the past …


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.  The public domain photo above from Wyoming is courtesy of the USFWS.) Redoubt News Links Wyoming Ranchers Selling Off Cattle As Drought Tightens Grip Across State. Dry winter could be blessing, or curse, for Wyoming’s big game. ‘We heard a scream’: Another hiker reportedly attacked by bear in Glacier National Park. Warning period is over: Bend red light cameras will now send out tickets. Big Montana 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, based on an idea suggested by Bruce Rawles  (JWR’s elder brother): Meme Text: It Is Silly To Call This Tool A Post-Hole Digger If You Already Have a Hole, Then You Don’t Need A Digger.  So This Is Really A Pre-Hole Digger 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 — Monday, June 1, 2026

June 1, 1676: The Battle of Öland: Allied Danish-Dutch forces defeated the Swedish navy in the Baltic Sea during the Scanian War (1675–79). The painting above is Claus Møinichen’s “Slaget ved Øland”, on display at the Danish War Museum. — June 1, 1880: The US census reached 50,155,783. — And on June 1, 1861, the US and Confederacy simultaneously stopped their mail interchange. — A reminder that we will be switching SurvivalBlog to weekly postings, tomorrow. Thenceforth, you can look for SurvivalBlog “Fresh Every Tuesday.” — Just one day left! The big sale on all of our blackpowder rifles, all of …


Writing Contest Prize Winners Announced — Round 124 (The Final Round!)

We’ve announced the winners of Round 124 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest, which ended yesterday. This was the final round of the contest. More than $989,000 worth of prizes have been awarded in the 20+ years that we ran the contest. My congratulations to all of the prize winners, over the years. Your articles have been a key part of what makes SurvivalBlog such a valuable reference. Your articles will remain freely available in the SurvivalBlog archives. Note: Please continue to write articles for SurvivalBlog, to share your knowledge and experience. Reader-written articles are a key part of SurvivalBlog. See …


Signal Nomad HT-HD01 Network Bridge, by Thomas Christianson

The Signal Nomad HT-HD01 Network Bridge (aka “HaLow Dongle” or “Field Unit”) can be used to extend a wireless network by as much as a kilometer via the use of access point and end station transmitter/receiver units. These units — typically deployed in pairs — can be used in a remote location equipped with only Starlink or DSL Internet and no cellular coverage in order to extend a wireless signal beyond the range of traditional Wi-Fi. I am not highly skilled in the use of electronic communications devices. But even I was able to quickly and easily connect the Network …


Recipe of the Week:

The following recipe for Enchilada Taco Bake is from SurvivalBlog reader “Sis”. Ingredients And Directions This requires 15-17 corn tortillas. In a large mixing bowl, combine: 1 lb cooked hamburger, 1 onion (diced), 1 pkg. or 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, 14 ounce can of corn (drained), 15 ounce can of pinto beans (rinsed), 15 ounce can of black beans (rinsed), 10 ounce can red enchilada sauce, 10 ounces rotel tomatoes (or a pint of mild salsa). Mix these ingredients all together. In a 9 x13 baking pan, place some of the hamburger/bean/tomato mixture in the bottom of the pan. …