Maple Syrup is a Gift, by El Jeffe

Maple syrup is a gift of nature. Like all good gifts, it must be received. That happens in late winter and early spring in the New England and the Great Lakes regions. Since autumn, temperatures below 45 degrees have caused the trees to store sugar as starch. Around the end of February and into March, the sun begins to warm the maple trees even while the nights remain quite cold– below freezing. This fluctuation in temperature begins a pumping action in the sugar maple trees, which I interrupt by gathering sap. The Tree Sugar Maple (also known as Rock Maple …


Letter: Diesel Fuel Storage

Hugh, I thought that the readership of Survivalblog would like to know that I am currently burning diesel fuel that was bought in 2005. The fuel was stored in 55-gallon drums located in a cool, dark place and treated with FPPF super fuel stabilizer. I also intentionally bought my fuel in the winter months. The fuel is being burned in Cummins 12-valve engines. The fuel is low sulfur, not ultra low sulfur, so only time will tell if the same results can be expected from the new fuel that was introduced in 2007. – sj


Two Letters Re: The Joy of Canning

I read with interest DDR’s article “The Joy of Canning”. Most of her advice is spot-on and an excellent primer for new canners. I commend her for such a comprehensive article for novice canners. However, she includes some potentially dangerous advice that can invite the risk of botulism. For example, she correctly writes, “Vegetables and meats are considered low-acid and should always be processed in your pressure canner. This is also true of your soups, chilis, and most sauces. I find that it’s a good idea, when in doubt, to pressure can just to be safe.” Then, she contradicts this …


Economics and Investing:

Treasury Sells First Floating Rate Notes In Heavily Subscribed Auction – G.G. Jamie Dimon’s Raise Proves U.S. Regulatory Strategy is a Joke – B.R. JPMorgan Loses 44% of Gold Inventories in 4 Days! – RBS Items from The Economatrix: U.S. Mint Gold-Coin Sales Jump 63% in January; Silver Triples Celente – No Way Out As Global Ponzi Scheme Collapse Begins As Predicted, Tapering Prompts Market Dive The Dow Has Already Fallen More Than 1000 Points From The Peak Of The Market


Odds ‘n Sods:

There is an EMP awareness, and specifically the HEMP threat from a nuclear Iran, event that is being hosted today, Feb 6th in DC featuring Sen. Ted Cruz, Amb. James Woolsey, Frank Gaffney and others (to which you are invited): “American Security and the Iranian Bomb: Analyzing Threats at Home and Abroad.“ Event Details: TIME: 10:30 a.m. ET – 12:15 p.m. ET LOCATION: Reserve Officers Association, Minuteman Ballroom, One Constitution Avenue, NE, Washington D.C. 20002 You can also see a live webcast of the event at Homeland Threats. o o o You can store almost anything in a mason jar, …


Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“The hunter has a purity of heart that exists nowhere else. I think he is not defined so much by what he has come to be as by all that he has escaped being. You can make no distinction between what he is and what he does. And what he does is kill. We of course are another matter. I suspect that we are ill-formed for the path we have chosen. Ill-formed and ill-prepared. We would like to draw a veil over all that blood and terror. That have brought us to this place. It is our faintness of heart …


Notes from HJL:

Today we present two entries 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 …


Personal Survival Kit– The Pocket-size Giant of Preparedness, by R.B.

The Personal Survival Kit (PSK) is everywhere. If you Google it, up come 10,400,000 entries. What is it? Peace of mind, a force-multiplier, a breath-mint tin full of miracle producing ingredients, or maybe not! The PSK can be purchased ready-made online or in any camping store. These kits are diverse in contents and in price range, some being quite expensive. They are interesting but rarely are they exactly what any specific real-life survival situation requires. You will always have to add or subtract components in order to achieve the ideal kit. It is better to take the time and make …


I Awoke Around 9 AM Saturday, August 18, by OldAlaskan

I awoke around 9am on Saturday, August 18, 1992. I work the grave yard shift. The news was still about Mt. Spurr, located about 78 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska and on the west side of Cook Inlet. Little did I know the next four days would be some of the more interesting days of my life. [Seismicity remained low through July and the first half of August. Seismic monitoring of the volcano was somewhat compromised by the destruction of the crater rim station. Despite repeated attempts to reinstall the crater-rim station, the closest seismometer was now 4.8 km away. …


Letter: New Madrid Danger Explained

Dear Editor, I am a Geologist. I wanted to give the short answer as to why the New Madrid Fault complex is dangerous. And this IS the short answer. It is Still Active and always will be. Central-Cratonic faults never completely de-stresses. New Madrid quakes Destroyed the Pre-Colombian Mississippi Mound Builder Civilization. New Madrid quakes Destroyed the region in 1811-2 with aftershocks all the way through the Civil War. The New Madrid Fault Complex is around 9 different faultlines connected together, each capable of 7.5+ quakes. A quake on one shifts the stress to trigger a quake on another. They …


Letter: Heating Concern in LP/OP

Dear Hugh, As we remain in a long lasting frigid winter in northern Ohio, I question how anyone could maintain long term diligence in a listening/observation post that is partially open to the elements. I struggle with ways to provide a heat source without compromising a tactical location. I have read survival blog for many years, but have not seen this important concern addressed. Perhaps you will find this a notable concern, and I request this be forwarded to the masses to solicit ideas for solutions. Thanks for your consideration. – B.B. HJL Replies: I’ve never served in the military, …


Economics and Investing:

Putting Silver Price Rigging Into Perspective Is California built out?Privately owned housing starts remain all-time record lows. Affordability continues to crush home buying but signs of lower prices loom. Is your money safe at the bank?An economist says ‘no’ and withdraws his Items from The Economatrix: India’s Central Bank Governor: ‘International Monetary Cooperation Has Broken Down’ Nearly 1/2 Of America Lives Paycheck-To-Paycheck Index Of Consumer Sentiment Dips


Odds ‘n Sods:

This article touches on a sensitive topic with the government. China has been testing their new high speed missile and it has the Pentagon concerned. We have repeatedly announced that we will shoot down any missile that is to close to us, our allies or our forces, Yet every test that violates that has flown successfully. Can we shoot them down? Are we just chosing not to? o o o B.R. sent this link in: Important Safety Tip: Tape Your Batteries With Electrical Tape!. I have, on more than one occasion, nearly set my pocket on fire as batteries were …



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 …