Buying and Developing Rural Land With Friends or Family, by Jonathan Rawles

The current real estate market, economic situation, and high interest rates continue to limit options for buying real estate. While prices have come down from their peak in many areas, the recent increase in interest rates means that affordability has not improved for the average buyer. There is also very limited inventory on the market, as many would-be sellers are choosing to stay put. Many buyers have to look in more affordable regions, go even more remote, or consider homes or properties that are smaller or in poorer condition. With all these challenges, many would-be property buyers are turning to …


Practical Rain Catchment, by Javelina

I think everyone agrees that water is an absolute necessity, regardless of the situation at hand. Catching what nature provides can be as simple as a bucket or tarp or as complex as multi tank systems with complete purification systems. I am no expert, nor is this meant to be a technical article but a simple guide to get started harvesting rain. As always consult your local codes and permit requirements. The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) is a great place to start. The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) is also a source of installation information as well. …


Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 3, by SaraSue

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.) More milk cows Cows are no trouble at all if they have what they need: plenty of grass to graze, hay during the winter, a little grain at milking time, minerals, plenty of fresh water, good fences, shelter, and no predators. I should tell you that I obtained more milk cows and there’s a reason for that.  Once I weaned the calf, my Jersey’s milk production started to drop until she was giving half a gallon of milk a day.  This happened over a few month’s time.  She was about 8  months …


Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 2, by SaraSue

(Continued from Part 1.) My first cow and calf  I spent the next few months getting to know my cow.  I was terribly intimidated by her size.  In fact, I was afraid to go into her pasture.  I would cut up apples and feed them to her over the gate.  She would eat them out of my hand while I called her by the name I had given her, and I would tell her what a sweet cow she was.  I’m convinced this is what endeared her to me.  When my excited grandchildren visited, they would also feed her cut-up …


Milk Cows on the Homestead – Part 1, by SaraSue

Trends in Homesteading It’s become very popular to have a homestead milk cow.  I can see why!  No running to the store for milk.  When my children were little, milk was the item we were always running out of.  I love being able to open the “milk fridge” and see gallons of milk sitting there.  I love being able to make cream cheese, or ice cream, or whipped cream, or yogurt without having to run to the store.  Chocolate milk is a treat and is easily made when there’s plenty of milk.  In years past, I would have never drank …


How to Grow and Process Luffah Sponges, by St. Funogas

There are three types of people when it comes to luffah sponges: those who have no idea what they are, those who know what they are but think they’re for the kind of ladies who frequent health spas, and those who know they’re one of nature’s best all-around cleaning tools and natural scrub brushes. I’ve personally progressed through all three stages, and hopefully this article can get you straight to stage three. In a grid-down world, after all our sponges and scrub brushes have worn out, luffah sponges can take their place. They can also do the same before the …


Preparedness Ponderings, by 3AD Scout

With the current geopolitical situation in the world, I find myself pondering: “What else do I need to do to be better prepared?”   For someone who has been preparing for about four decades, and lives on a small homestead, this is a hard question.  I could stay the normal course and just add a bucket of rice here and a box of ammo there, but times are far from normal and my thoughts are that we should be thinking like today will be our last day to shore up our preps.  Through the course of decades of prepping, I have …


The Watchman – Part 3, by James Durham

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.) The Prepper Plan I just finished what I think is a solid 5-year prepper plan. I also then wrote a 5-year prepper supply / equipment plan to support the plan. The 5-year plan is a list of projects that I can think of that needs to be done, and in the order that makes the most sense to me. You can’t do everything in one year. At least I can’t… There is a normal, panic reaction to panic buy and do once it truly dawns on you that there is danger coming …


The Watchman – Part 2, by James Durham

(Continued from Part 1.) Daniel 12 6 “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” 8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” 9 He replied, “Go your way, …


The Watchman – Part 1, by James Durham

This three-part article is a journey into End Times Eschatology and discovering our responsibility. Editor’s Note:  The practical-tangible preparedness portion of the article will be in Part 3. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.» Matthew 24: 45-47 Ezekiel 33 – Renewal of Ezekiel’s Call as Watchman The word of …


Glock FM81 Field Knife, by Thomas Christianson

Before Gaston Glock ever designed his first handgun, his company made knives and other equipment for the Austrian Army. One day in 1980, Glock was at the Austrian Ministry of Defense to talk about the sale of some of his products. While he was there, Glock overheard a conversation about the need for a new handgun design to replace the aging, World-War-II-era P38s that the Austrian Army was still using. He decided to design a handgun to meet that need. He bought samples of all the semi-auto handguns that he could find. He disassembled them, and studied how they functioned. …


Subtle Changes in Rural America, by Hollyberry

My husband and I first moved to Maine eighteen years ago from New Jersey. What a breath of fresh air and change from a crowded, polluted environment. We moved to a small town that was the county seat for an area that is approximately 4,300 square miles and has a very low population. Most folks were really nice but there is a “your from away” mentality with some of the more stubborn folks. I gently reminded some of the more hardcore folks that although I may be “from away”, New Jersey is still part of the United States. I understand …


Musical Instrument Basics for Preppers, by Kirk

The following are my thoughts on a topic that was suggested for the SurvivalBlog writing competition: This is a very broad topic. Does it mean the instruments themselves or the use and playing of them? Or perhaps it means how to choose one or how to master one? Does it pertain to what to have when SHTF or TEOTWAWKI? Are you at home, or on the road? Do you have room for a larger instrument or is your space limited? Do we start with the neophyte who is thinking about possibly getting into playing an instrument but is not sure …


Useful Christmas Gifts, by Hollyberry

It is that time of the year again and what do you get the homesteader/prepper who has everything? I love giving gifts and I try to give gifts that are mainly useful or serve a purpose. Of course, I add some extra nonfunctional items, like houseplants or decorative doodads, for close family and friends and I like to think outside the box. Even if someone is not necessarily a prepper or homesteader you can always give something that can be useful. I am just throwing out some ideas of gifts that I have received and given that were big hits! …


Aviation Prepping – Part 2, by Sky Captain

(Continued from Part 1.  This concludes the article.) Here are a few simplistic reasons why having an aviation capability would be a useful investment: Flying allows one to mitigate the surface threat. In the early stages of TEOTWAWKI, moving on the surface of the earth will be very dangerous. Roads will be choked with vehicles that are out of fuel. Dangerous people will be setting traps to waylay unsuspecting travelers and relieve them of their valuables. The last remnants of government control will have soldiers checking for travel documents. Even the simplest aircraft will allow one to fly outside the …