Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 18, 2026

February 18, 1678: John Bunyan‘s Christian novel “The Pilgrim’s Progress” was published in London by Nathaniel Ponder.  Pictured is John Bunyan’s Tomb, at Bunhill Field, London.

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Today is also the birthday of astronaut Theodore Cordy “Ted” Freeman (February 18, 1930 – October 31, 1964.) Ted Freeman and his wife Faith were friends of my mother and father.  Both my father and Ted Freeman were stationed at Bryan Air Force base in the early 1950s, and they rented houses three blocks apart, in College Station, Texas. (My father was a T-33 instructor pilot.) About ten years later, while training as an astronaut in the Gemini space program, Ted was killed in a birdstrike flying accident, while flying a T-38 Talon jet trainer. He was the first casualty of NASA’s manned space program.

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Today’s feature post is by SurvivalBlog’s founder, JWR.

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We need more entries for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $981,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 123 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail 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. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

More Inflation Ahead: At Best, Plan on Semi-Retirement

Imagine that you were a weakling who kept his cash under his mattress, and you lived in a bad neighborhood that was dominated by the Mafia.  Every year or two, Mafia thugs would come by and threaten to beat you to death, and demand: “Half for us and half for you.”  That is a bit like what it is like to live in an era of mass inflation. But with inflation, the cash extractions are gradual, and almost invisible. No thugs. Just melting purchasing power. Perhaps I chose a poor analogy, but bear with me, while I explain:

As a preface to reading this essay, I’d suggest taking the time to read these four recent news articles:

Yes, without some major changes, the Social Security Trust Fund will probably be insolvent by 2032.  Restoring the Trust Fund’s solvency would require either a 29-percent payroll tax increase or a 22-percent across-the-board benefit cut, today.  And if Federal legislators wait until 2032, it would require a 33.5-percent payroll tax increase or a 25.6 percent across-the-board benefit cut. The political backlash to either of those solutions would be tremendous. I predict that the elected politicians in the Federal government will dawdle until 2030 and then print their way out of that problem. When they need trillions of dollars, they will simply create trillions of dollars out of thin air. Any “austerity” alternative would be political suicide, at least for the party in power. This explains why this decision keeps getting delayed.

If the funds required are simply created out of this air, it would be largest quantitative easing in history. It would prove to be very inflationary.   But even without the Social Security funding crisis, with the U.S. government’s ongoing deficit spending, a resurgence of high consumer price inflation is almost inevitable.Continue reading“More Inflation Ahead: At Best, Plan on Semi-Retirement”

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.

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SurvivalBlog reader Tim J. sent us this: The Culture of Raising Barns.

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“Everyone’s Grandma Is Selling the Silver Chandelier, Forks, Knives” as Scrap Volumes Overwhelm Refiners.

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J.T. in Florida sent this television news link: Civilians in Florida are training like soldiers: ‘Best prevention to war’.  JWR’s Comment: The reporter, predictably, went to get pearl-clutching comments from Brandon Frin, a socialist anti-religious university professor, to make the prepper movement look unhinged.

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An interesting podcast hosted by a left-of-center urbanite: Urgent Futures with Jesse Damiani. One recent episode: From ‘Prepper’ to ‘Resilient Citizen’ – Chris Ellis — #62.

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SaraSue sent us this snippet:

“The snow is gone and we have temperatures in the 60s, but here in Tennessee, this is called a “False Spring”.  As much as I want to get the garden started, I know better.  The Big Freeze was brutal for cattle here that are not used to sub-zero temperatures.  I know a couple of people who lost a calf despite their rescue attempts.  Which is why I will not have winter calvings here.  Even if that means missing an opportune breeding window.  The gestation period for most cattle is approximately 283 days, which means you wait a long time for that calf, and to lose it at birth is devastating.

I had sent one cow I could not get bred back via A.I. (Artificial Insemination) to stay with a neighbor’s registered Angus bull for two cycles.  She is home now and she was bred, so now I wait to see if she will hold the pregnancy.  Her calf would be born in October, well before our winter weather.  I expect 4 calves this year with calving starting in April and ending in October.  I’ve enjoyed the break from milking cows!  I realized though, that the late breedings means I am going to be milking through next winter, so I’m hoping to make some adjustments to the milking area before then, and/or hoping she is capable of just raising a calf without being milked.  That’s not always possible for dairy breeds due to their large volume of milk.  We shall see.

I decided to keep a Jersey/Angus cross heifer for breeding purposes rather than send her to freezer camp in the Fall with a steer I’m raising.  It seems, that with the national cattle numbers being very low, it would be a shame to send a heifer off.  A healthy cow can raise a calf every year for many, many years so I would hate to lose that opportunity.  As well, several family members contacted me about when I would have freezer beef available again, so I could definitely use 2 for the freezer this year.  We shall see how large the steer turns out.  Otherwise, they will have to wait until the following Fall.

Raising beef has been a learning curve for me since I have focused on dairy breeds and dairy products.  Getting the timing right with breeding, calving, raising for the freezer has been a steep learning curve as well.  My goal in raising beef for my family is not conventional.  The cows are grass fed and receive no antibiotics or vaccines.  There is the rare exception when a cow needs antibiotics, and I will not deny that help.  But, otherwise, I raise them as holistically as possible.  I have much to learn about the “flavor profile” of grass fed beef.  So far, I have put 2 beef in the freezer and the meat was fantastic.

I have a like minded farming friend who offered to trade calves with me to “even things out”.  In other words, if I end up with a heifer I don’t need, she will trade me a steer calf that she doesn’t need, and vice versa.  I learned how to bottle feed calves last year, so I’m not adverse to that idea.  (The reason for bottle feeding is that a cow may not accept another cow’s calf to nurse.  In fact, she may kick it away from her.  So it’s important to be prepared to milk that cow, then give the calf a bottle of her milk.)  My friend’s practices are similar to mine and her cattle are also disease tested and very healthy.  Our arrangement may be beneficial to both our families.

The large garden was cleaned up and all the garden beds, except the ones growing onions, garlic, and strawberries, were refreshed with mushroom compost.  A dozen thornless blackberry plants, from a neighbor’s overgrown patch, were planted.  I finished some large painting projects in the house with help from a friend.  The barns and hen house were cleaned out, and general fence and farm maintenance accomplished.  I am ready for Spring (I think).  Last year was a really tough year due to my health problems, but I’m feeling much better now and hope to sail through this year without issues.  LOL.”

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Dyeing UCP Surplus With Rit DyeMore Synthetic — Results & Outdoor Test.

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The Perfect Colors to Dye UCP Gear.

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Fabric Spray Paint? Problem Solved(ish)!

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I recently heard an odd tidbit:  Most folks are familiar with the acting experience of James Earl Jones, but what most Americans have never heard is that he had a very large, eclectic gun collection that he developed over several decades. He was fascinated by gun designs and their mechanical precision.  Most of the collection is now being gradually sold off by Checkpoint Charlie’s.

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Reported in late 2024: The Rural Migration Trend: What to Make of It, Why It’s Happening and Where It’s Headed.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 17, 2026

On February 17, 1940, the Altmark Incident: The crew of the British destroyer Cossack (pictured) boarded the German tanker Altmark in Jøssingfjord, Norway, releasing 299 British prisoners after hand-to-hand fighting with bayonets and the last recorded Royal Naval action with cutlasses.

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I just heard that actor Robert Duvall passed away at age 95.  May he rest in peace. – JWR

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Using a 13-inch (33-cm) telescope at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, Clyde W. Tombaugh, a 24-year-old American with no formal training in astronomy, discovered the dwarf planet Pluto this day in 1930.

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We are nearly done with deliveries of the 2005-2025 waterproof SurvivalBlog archive USB sticks. Here is the status of the few orders that are not yet at their destinations:

  • 2 packages going to Canada – one is still with Customs Canada, and the other made it through.
  • 2 packages are being held by post offices for pickup per customer request at their post offices.
  • 1 package delayed due to bad weather but still being tracked to an Ohio address.
  • 4 orders are still on hold, awaiting payment via check or cash. (Two of those were ordered on Feb 6, one of them ordered on Jan 25, and one of them ordered on Dec 31. A note to just those four folks: You have until February 23rd to get a check to us before your orders will be cancelled.

For everyone else: The archive USB sticks all sold out within a month. We won’t be taking any new orders until the next edition of the stick is produced in January of 2027.  Please mark your calendars for January 10th, 2027, so that you don’t miss out.

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Today’s feature article is by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

 

Cold Steel Recon 1 XL Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson

“That’s not a knife. This is a knife!” (Paul Hogan as Mick Dundee, in Crocodile Dundee, 1986).

When I took the Cold Steel Recon 1 XL out of its box for the first time and deployed the blade, the attempted mugging scene from Crocodile Dundee immediately came to mind. The Recon 1 XL is bigger than the average everyday carry (EDC) knife: a lot bigger. It has a 5.5-inch blade that is 0.15 inches thick and 1.63 inches wide. It is 12.25 inches long when the blade is deployed. And it weighs 8 ounces.

The knife is 6.75 inches long, when folded. I thought that might be too long to fit in my left front pants pocket, but I was wrong. It made it a little more challenging to stick my hand in that pocket to retrieve the ink pen, Swiss Army SD Classic knife, or plasma lighter that I store there. But after a few days I got used to it, and forgot the knife was there unless I happened to need it.

The blade is made of CPM XHP stainless steel. The handle is made of G-10. (G-10, aka Garolite is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate.) The blade deploys using dual thumb studs, and is held open by Cold Steel’s famous Tri-Ad Lock.Continue reading“Cold Steel Recon 1 XL Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson”

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.  This week: Some more backcountry flying videos.

Send Your Media Links

Please send your links to media from the American Redoubt region to JWR. Any photos that are posted or re-posted must be uncopyrighted. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation.” – John Adams

Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 16, 2026

On February 16, 1960, the newly-commissioned 447-foot US nuclear submarine USS Triton (SSRN/SSN-586) set off on a 60-day underwater round-world trip — the first submarine to do so.  The sub’s skipper, Captain Edward L. “Ned” Beach Jr., was also famous as the author of Run Silent, Run Deep.

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February 16,1968: The first US 911 phone system went into service in Haleyville, Alabama.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  3. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  4. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is providing a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, 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 gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $981,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 123 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail 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. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Ready Made Resources is Up For Sale!

Most SurvivalBlog readers are familiar with Ready Made Resources – a reputable survival and self-reliance company serving the prepper community since 1996. They have been a SurvivalBlog advertiser for more than 20 years. With the recent cancer death of company Founder & CEO, Robert E. “Bob” Griswold, the company had lost its driving force. His widow is now looking for a buyer who can carry on the mission and the longstanding name of Ready Made Resources.

Ready Made Resources has an amazing deep inventory, a large mailing list, and drop-shipment agreements that are still active with dozens of suppliers / manufacturers. Their product line is diverse: Multiple brands of storage foods, multiple brands of water filtration systems, radio communications, night vision gear and accessories, medical gear, water pumps, water bricks, lightweight folding bicycles, knives, survival tools, gun accessories, self reliance / survival books, solar ovens, freeze dryers and dehydrators, pressure cookers, dry-canners, flashlights and weapons lights, Faraday cages, well pumps and buckets, backpacking/camping gear, body armor, binoculars and spotting scopes, photovoltaic panels and inverters,12VDC and other off-grid power gear, and a lot more.

They’ve been operating Ready Made Resources out of Tellico Plains, Tennessee. But the business could be operated almost anywhere in CONUS with dry storage space, two phone lines, a stable internet connection, and year-round road access for USPS, UPS, DHL, and FedEx.  They are selling all of the business as an ongoing operation, except their warehouse/office building. So this includes their company name, domain names, logos, artwork, web designs, product photo library, custom-coded online shopping cart system, all of their on-hand inventory, mailing/marketing lists, packaging/labeling supplies, courseware, computers, business phone system, existing drop-shipping contracts, spare parts, promotional videos, their standing orders and back-orders, and most importantly their 30 years of accumulated “good will” that is based on their outstanding customer service and solid reputation with thousands of satisfied customers.  The photos show just a small part of their inventory.

Do you know of anyone who is interested in operating an Internet/mail-order preparedness business? If so, potential buyers can e-mail me, and I will provide contact information.

This is a great opportunity to buy an existing “turn-key” business venture! – JWR

Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 6, by Lodge Pole

(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.)

The .223 Remington

I love the .223 Remington (.223 Rem). The rounds are relatively inexpensive and can be found anywhere. There is a plethora of bullet grain weights, designs and bullet tips. There is also an unlimited amount of firearm platforms to find that best fits you and your needs. I use a bolt action Ruger American Ranch rifle. Ruger makes an excellent, inexpensive and durable rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO. It has a detachable magazine and the comes in a 1:8 twist. My rifle has consistently and accurately shot a variety of manufacturers bullets, but it performs best with handloads. I consistently shoot sub-moa groups, under .5 inches at 100 yards with handloads. The .223 Rem/5.56 NATO has enough oomph to take down any small game and some predatory animals in the United States. The .223 Rem can also be used for some big game. I know people who hunt wild pigs and whitetail deer with it.Continue reading“Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 6, by Lodge Pole”

Recipe of the Week: 

The following recipe for Spring Greens Enchiladas is from SurvivalBlog reader Kurt W.

Ingredients
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 4-6 cups of chopped greens, any variety (spinach, chard, mustard greens, turnip greens, etc.)
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, pepperjack, or Monterey jack.)
  • 6 flour tortillas
  • 15 oz jar (or about 2 cups) of salsa
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a casserole dish and set it aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion with a pinch of salt for 3-5 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add chopped greens with another pinch of salt and a bit of black pepper. Stir to coat. Cook until greens are cooked do
  3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat.
  4. Stir in the flour.
  5. Add milk and then slowly add the shredded cheese, whisking frequently until you have a thick sauce.
  6. Stir cheese sauce into the greens.
  7. Divide the mixture between the tortillas, roll, and place them into prepared casserole dish.
  8. Spread salsa of your choice over the enchiladas.
  9. Bake for 25 minutes.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

 

Today’s graphic: The United States of WalMart. In this map, each polygon contains exactly one Walmart store and represents the area closer to that store than any other. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

JWR’s Comments:  My family lives in the American Redoubt, where the population density is quite low, and the WalMart density is correspondingly low.  Hence, the large polygons seen in the Intermountain West.  It is a two-hour drive to the nearest WalMart from the Rawles Ranch.

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

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Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“An orchard can grow pastured poultry underneath. A beef cattle or sheep farm can run pastured poultry behind the herbivores, like the egret on the rhino’s nose.” – Joel Salatin

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 15, 2026

90 years ago, today: The coldest day in North Dakota history. Minus 60 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale was recorded on February 15th, 1936, by a coal miner and volunteer National Weather Service weather observer in Parshall, North Dakota. This remains the lowest temperature ever recorded in the state. Pictured is the Broste Museum in Parshall, North Dakota.

February 15th 1809: Birthday of Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor of a mechanical reaper.

Gun developer Richard “Dick” Casull was born on February 15, 1931. Casull passed away on May 6, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Dick Casull is most famous for his design of the .454 Casull revolver, along with many other handgun and rifle designs. He held 17 firearm patents.

Today, I’d also like to wish Mike Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large) a Happy Birthday!

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  3. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  4. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is providing a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, 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 gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $981,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 123 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail 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. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.