Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift certificate …


Growing Without Pests And Without Pesticides, by T.D.

Chemical free gardening for organic food and ornamentals is no harder or more expensive than conventional growing. Remineralization by adding rock powder is perhaps the most important component, bringing the soil back up to the balance of trace elements the plants require to naturally resist pests on their own. Long before there was agriculture, there were plants that managed to grow, thrive, reproduce, and survive to the end of their natural life. They lived and died, and anything that ate them lived and died, all in the same neighborhood. This pattern continued until the last hundred years or so. The …


Pat’s Product Review: Silver Fire Rocket Stove

I’ve stressed, in previous articles, the importance of having safe drinking water for your survival. Also, you have to have some type of food to feed your calorie-burning body. We can go a long time without food, but let’s be honest, we’d rather have a good hot meal to eat. I’ve reviewed several different types of small, compact camp stoves that easily fold up and fit inside your bug out bag (BOB). I reviewed a rocket stove, and was impressed with how easy it was to cook on. I’ve made a few “hobo” stoves in the past; this is a …


Pat’s Product Review: The Ultimate Knife – Karmabit

When we were all children and Christmas rolled around or our birthday, we would normally reach for the biggest present with our name on it. Of course, everyone just knew that the bigger the package, the better the present. Right? Well, not so fast Did you ever hear that good things come in small packages? Well, quite often, the smaller the package, the better the item inside. I’m a big knife fan, and I don’t mean that I’m a big “knife” fan (although I am rather big). Instead, I like knives that are big. More often than not, a bigger …


Recipe of the Week: Soup in a Jar, by Lin H.

A few years ago I spent months experimenting with various online recipes for “Soup in a Jar,” wanting to perfect something for holiday gifting. I think I was entirely successful with the following recipe. It fits in a pint jar, serves four people, doesn’t require much more in the way of ingredients to have on-hand, and is pretty tasty! I now make a point of doing up a batch of these jars every fall for our home pantry. I “dry can” them (look for instructions online) and seal them with an oxygen absorber packet inside. I have every confidence that …


Letter Re: American Liberty

Hugh, While I absolutely agree with Mr. Rawles’ statement, he left out the year 1913. That is the year States Rights were finally obliterated for good. While the War Between the States made the Federal Government supreme, the year 1913 legalized the concept. The 16th and 17th Amendments provided for direct income tax and popular elections for Senators. Previously money for Federal operations were apportioned among the states, giving the States power over the Federal. Senators were the representatives of State governments while House Representatives were elected by and represented the individuals. Using a reliable, and still successful technique, the …


Letter Re: Using Canola Oil on Cast Iron

Referencing Three Letters Re: A Science Based Technique for Seasoning Cast Iron Dear HJL, As a grower of canola, I would like to point out the “ola” in its name is for oil. It was bred the old fashioned way in the 1970’s, long before genetic modification, at the university of Manitoba. Outside of North America, it’s called Rape, Oilseed Rape, or Rapeseed. Now, as to whether or not the Canola oil you buy at the store is GMO or not? I would say, just like corn and soybean products, it’s 95% likely to be GMO. However, I have no …


Letter: LDS Canneries

Others have mentioned Azure Standard as a source for bulk grains, as well as a variety of other goods, and I second their favorable endorsements. Those living in or near agricultural areas may find they can connect with grain farmers in their area and purchase grains in very large quantities directly. These purchasers may need to provide their own containers, but it’s common to have to repackage bulk grains from other sources for long term storage anyway. Local growers may also have “feed grade” grains, so called because they have some amount of weed seed and other material in them …


Economics and Investing:

Here’s What It Looks Like When Your Country’s Economy Collapses– JBG 4th Financial Services Executive Found Dead; “From Self-Inflicted Nail-Gun Wounds” – RBS S.R. sent in this linkComing Currency Collapse & Bullion Banks Rush To Increase Registered Gold Inventories. Some of the sources quoted are questionable, but the trends are disturbing nonetheless. Items from The Economatrix: Richard Russell – Collapse To Be Brutal As US Lies To Its People 28 Signs That The Middle Class Is Heading Toward Extinction More Men in Prime Working Ages Don’t Have Jobs– video


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ready Made Resources is starting their first 25-42% off Mountain House Food Sale today. They are also offering prepaid shipping and will be giving away a case of Mountain House Pouched Yogurts on orders where more than 10 cases are sold. (A $300 value.) o o o For a limited time, Seed for Security has promised that they will automatically include a Spring Security Collection ($14.99 value) with every $75 purchase. o o o We have been following this next piece for several months now. Ex-federal official raises concerns over terror attack on power grid. Apparently, they still can’t make …



Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift certificate …


Ants, Grasshoppers and Other Things That Bug You, by CEH II

“Be prepared,” as the motto goes, means to learn from the past while living in the present, and at the same time preparing for the future. It should also be understood in the active present tense of the word “be”– being. Being prepared means to be in a continual state of being and getting prepared. What for? For what comes next– usually the unknown, at the wrong time, and at a high cost. Do something now to prepare for the future so you’ll be ready to reap the harvest of future opportunities. Remember, someone once said, “Planning is simply about …


Letter Re: When Preps Become Poison, by S.B.

HJL, S.B. talks about the high levels of sodium in freeze dried commercial meals. As a hobby backpacker and working in the outdoor industry for some time, I know why. It is because they are designed for high activity situations, where you exceed your normal calorie consumption and have expended large amounts of sweat. Just like those working out will take some sort of beverage, like Gatorade, to replenish salts and other minerals, freeze dried meals are designed to do the same for backpackers. They will be good for those who are required to do heavy manual labor; they are …