Guest Post: So Why Would You Do Tactical Training?, by David

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“So why do you do this tactical training stuff?” This is a question I get asked from time to time.  Sadly, the answer does not lend itself to a sentence or two.  Let me lay out my premises and then some conclusions. (This article comes from David, who is a multi-class MVT alumni. He is the organizer of the Idaho Classes in 2016 and 2017. And MVT says, “We have already scheduled Idaho May 2018.”) Assumed Role In our family, I am literally the last man standing of my generation.  Since I am no longer immersed in pursuing “the rat …


A Backpacker’s Perspective on Bugging Out, by Z.M.

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I like to backpack and want to share my perspective on bugging out. I’ve done hundreds of miles out on the Appalachian Trail and have spent a good number of nights out on the trail in the woods as a result. Having the wrong gear while trekking out for any length of time makes life pretty miserable. Bugging In or Bugging Out, With a Comprehensive List With prepping there is a lot of debate on whether one should bug-in or bug-out post-disaster. The answer to that obviously depends upon not only the situation but how well prepared you are with …


Recipe of the Week: Basic Bread, by P.B.

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I have been using this basic bread recipe for about 20 years and continue to experiment with different ingredients and techniques. My favorite is still using the basic ingredients, letting it cool overnight, and slicing it for toast the next morning. My neighbor’s like it also. Ingredients: 4 to 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour * 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt 1 to 2 teaspoons of granular yeast about 1 3/4 to 2 cups of warm water ** May also use the following items (examples):


Sol-Ark Review, by James in Florida

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Over the course of the last year, I have bought my Sol-Ark system in increments as funds became available. First, I bought the Sol-Ark “brains” followed six months later by 15 solar panels. Then, last month, I purchased 16 AGM deep storage batteries. Placement of the Sol-Ark Unit I’m the kind of guy who likes to carefully think through a project before starting it. Having read the Sol-Ark installation instructions, which are very straight-forward and uncomplicated, I decided to mount the Sol-Ark unit in my garage utilities closet. I’m fortunate that my homebuilder actually made a mistake when building my …


Guest Post: Fine Gold versus F.I.N.E. Central Banks, by Gary Christenson

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Gold is one of nature’s finest creations. On the other hand central banks create trillions of fiat currency units – dollars, euros, yen, quataloos, whatever – from nothing and use those currency units for purchases … Apple stock, salaries for a thousand Ph.D. economists, office buildings, lobbyists, politicians, gold bullion etc. It is unfair that the Fed creates trillions of dollars from nothing and values those dollars equally with other dollars created from the efforts of millions of businesses and individuals. Unfair? Of course it’s unfair. That’s the point! With their “unfair” ability to create fiat currency that spends the …


Being Unemployed And Starting A Home-Based Business, by W.L.

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This is my story of how I became unemployed and started a home-based business. It may be something useful to other preppers. My Employment Story I’m a prepper and have been doing so for the last thirteen years. Thank goodness I found SurvivalBlog then and began putting up canned goods and consumables ever since. I’ve had to live off my pantry for two years at a time and would have been in dire straits if I had not. Believe me, if you have not begun prepping for hard times, begin now. Even those with advanced degrees and certifications fall on …


Planning For Success During And After The SHTF- Part 2, by Old Bobbert

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Yesterday, we looked at the rules of planning for success during and after the SHTF and began examining the component of a good plan and the changes that might be required after SHTF. We already covered the areas of finances and food and began looking at the topic of medical. We will continue on to examine the area of medical and other topics today. Medical (continued) Pre-incident acquisition of emergency and bartering medications and water purification tablets is very important. It is legal, and simple, to use any of the Internet search engines to determine and evaluate various pharmaceutical distribution …


Letter Re: Using Cloth Diapers in TEOTWAWKI

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Hugh, This will not apply to most of your readers, but my wife and I are using cloth diapers for our newborn son. At $5 a piece they pay for themselves quickly and will be useful when items are hard to obtain during uncertain times. Thanks for the blog, and attached is a link for the diapers. – R.T. HJL’s Comment: There are many advantages to cloth diapers. There are also many disadvantages. On our first child, we used cloth diapers (the standard white cotton with a separate plastic overpant). The point was to “go natural”, I think. However, I …


Planning For Success During And After The SHTF- Part 1, by Old Bobbert

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Success requires a plan, and that is true if you want to have success during and after the SHTF. You can have a great deal of knowledge and ideas but not have organized and applied any of this. Remember, only applied knowledge is power, and this is especially true of financial power. Plan For Reality As It Exists Today Success without an action plan is dumb luck in action. So, get your plan well documented! Your plan should be, must be, based on your specific reality– reality as it exists today and never based on some pipe dream. You can’t …


Letter: Storing the Right Seeds for Your Climate Zone

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Hugh, I wish that seed storage recommendations touched on what agricultural climate zone they are best used. Seeds that work in Idaho might not do so well in Georgia. – R.V. HJL’s Reply: SurvivalBlog has long been a proponent of gardening now rather than waiting until TEOTWAWKI. This is a prime example of why this is important. You might live in an area where you can stick any ol’ seed into the ground and not care for it. But my guess is that you don’t. Gardening is difficult and you have to learn what works in your area and what …


Basic Handgun Marksmanship Skills- Part 2, by Mark Bunch

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In “Part One of Basic Handgun Marksmanship Skills”, we looked at some firearms 101 and gave instructions for a test to determine if you are right eye dominant or left eye dominant. We also went over bone support and stance as well as safety procedures and basic rules to prevent accidental shootings. Today, we will dig into the basics of handgun selection, ammunitions, and becoming proficient in the use of your handgun. I will also share my recommendation for how to train under pressure. This is a means to prepare for the stressful situation of a self defense scenario. Choosing …


Basic Handgun Marksmanship Skills- Part 1, by Mark Bunch

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These days, we “evil gun owners” are blamed for all sorts of despicable acts. Acts such as the horrible terrorist shooting/mass murder in California.  Muslim extremists used legally purchased weapons that they had been given by a friend of theirs. Typical of our leftist, non-American former President and his liberal communist-minded minions, their message was to blame gun owners, the NRA, and the ease of availability of firearms for that senseless incident of terror. To their way of thinking, it couldn’t possibly be because some Muslim terrorist hated our culture and simply wanted to kill as many of us as …


Recipe of the Week: Posole, by L.S.

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Posole notes: My husband and I developed a blend of my mother’s tomato-based posole (a hominy-meat soup) that she learned in Mexico and his sister’s red chili-based posole. Neither of those recipes was a written recipe but more a method. My posole is significantly distinct from the other two and is our own creation. I have never printed it before and have not had it copyrighted. I use a church cookbook recipe for the red sauce, but it may be copyrighted. (Use whatever red chili sauce or recipe you have available.) This is a two-day process. Posole Ingredients 1 large …


Letter Re: Food Storage Expiration

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Hugh, First, let me share a little background. I spent 20 years in the industrial labeling area, putting labels on everything from small engines to processed food. This experience has given me a critical eye on the expiration dates printed on consumer packaging. I can tell you that the production people, the ones sweating on the packaging lines, are very concerned about the safety of what they are working on. Most of them consider the dates they have to put on the cans, jars, boxes, et cetera as a joke. They know that the packaging they are sending down the …


Letter Re: Food Storage Expiration

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I have always wondered about food storage manufacturers’ claims about the shelf life of their products. Many claim 30 years shelf life for what they sell. Of course, the question is how can the consumer ever know that this is true? Many purchasers are dead and buried by the time 30 years pass. Who could ever go back and demand that their money be returned if it did turnout that the product had gone bad? I know one fellow who obtained No. 10 cans of wheat from a small survival food manufacturer. When he opened a can several years later, …