Lessons Learned by Beginning Preppers, by Theresa L.

I don’t know exactly when my husband and I first discussed preparing for emergency situations and stockpiling, but we began keeping a small notebook in 2009 to inventory items we purchased to stock pile in case TSHTF or in the event of TEOTWAWKI. Our main concern was economic collapse, followed by civil unrest and the resulting lack of availability of food, water, and other necessities and the possibility of being unable to move about freely. We read some books, including Patriots by James Wesley, Rawles, One Second After by William Forstchen and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. This fueled our …


Letter Re: Choosing the Right Footwear

Sir: I found the letters on footwear interesting and informative, but I have a problem that their information just did not address that may affect others: I have big, very wide feet.  The suggestions on Redwings boots is great-a wonderful product, but even their “H” width is too small for me!  I have found that Hitchcock Shoes has an excellent selection of all types of shoes and boots available from many sources, including their own brand.  They sell for Men only from size 5-24 and widths from 3E to 6E. Even when the brands are available locally, the sizes are special …


Letter Re: Some Thoughts on How to Live in Times of Hunger

I have experienced two different times in my life of going hungry. The first time I went with very little food for three months. I went from 145 lbs to 115 lbs. I am 5’8 and my weight should be around 140-160 according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). The second time wasn’t as bad because I knew what to expect. I went from 175 lbs to about 135 lbs. I now weigh a comfortable 190 lbs. I purposely gained weight above the recommended 160 but I try to keep my weight maintained just under the obese level. I do …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. flagged this: First look at US pay data, it’s awful Brian H. mentioned: Denninger’s timeline for collapse. The Ranks of the Underemployed Continue to Grow. Would You Do Your Banking at the Post Office? Dylan Ratigan gets his ranty Wookie Suit on, on MSNBC Paul H. sent this: FOREX: Dollar slumps to record low versus Yen Items from The Economatrix: Fed Survey Suggests Hazy Outlook for Economy Consumers Paid More for Food, Gas in September Oil Prices Little Changed on Government Supply Reports The Student Loan Bubble Exceeds All Credit Cards The Age of Bank Failures


Odds ‘n Sods:

Mike Williamson mentioned: CCW for Amputees    o o o FBI official calls for secure, alternate Internet. Will they simply expand JWICS or make a SIPRnet “Light”, or create something new?    o o o G.G. was the first of several readers to mention this piece: Copper Wiring Traded For Crack    o o o Gaddafi burial delayed amid calls for probe. That’s odd, I don’t remember reading that there wasn’t much of “Death Probe” for Mussolini. I guess that “angry mobs, ignominiously parading bloodied former dictators” are more civilized, these days.


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall at once. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” – Proverbs 28:18-20 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 37 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) …


Homestead Food Production by Mary A.

Greetings, fellow preppers!  In this article we share our experiences of the past two years to help you see the complexities of growing your family’s food.   In the long run, food production is crucial to survival.  It takes both knowledge and hands-on experience to successfully manage livestock and grow fruits and vegetables.  Currently  three of us live on our homestead full time with a possibility of about 20 folks ranging from infants to senior citizens if TEOTWAWKI occurs.  Fall is a good season to make plans and prepare for next year’ s growing season.  I think this basic information will …


Letter Re: The Importance of Rural Retreat Light Discipline

Jim: I’m writing to comment on something in your nonfiction book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”: On page 206 you state: “Without proper blackout precautions, your house will be a ‘come loot me’ beacon that can be seen for miles at night.”I can’t stress light discipline enough. Here’s an example: About fifteen years ago my parents went to dinner at The Cougar Inn on Lake Wenatchee [in eastern Washington]. It was a dark night and on the way back from dinner they looked across the lake and saw a faint green flashing light …


Two Letters Re: Choosing the Right Footwear

Captain Rawles, I just read Desert Rat’s piece on footgear, and would like to put up a bit of advice and a recommendation on the subject.  Bates, while they put out excellent footwear, primarily makes footwear for institutional environments.  This is to say Police, EMS, Corrections, Hospital staff, etc.  Many of the officers I worked with in Corrections wore Bates on board our facility, and the footwear served them quite well in all conditions.  However, the footwear did not serve as well in the field, when we had need to be out in the boonies.  From my own experience, I …


Economics and Investing:

Andrew K. sent us this: The Most Important Decision Bernanke Will Ever Make Over at ETF Daily: History Says Silver Could Become The Next 10-Bagger Investment; Here’s Why Largest Rare Earths Producer Halts Output. Eric N. sent a link to an interview with mainstream investment guru (and prepper) Robert Kiyosaki Items from The Economatrix: Budget Cuts Claim Hundreds of Thousands of City, County Jobs This is No Normal Recession:  Are We Ready for $100 Oil? Gold Signals The End Gold and Economic Decline Alternative Misery Index Drives Gold Demand


Odds ‘n Sods:

An interesting piece on the EPA running roughshod over an Idaho family.    o o o F.G. flagged this over at The Daily Mail: Brains over 55 work quite well    o o o Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) recommended the Newseum web site, where you can see scrollovers of a large number of American newspapers.    o o o Über-absurd: The Glock 9mm Beta CMAG. I suppose the greatest practicality these will have is in giving Nancy Pelosi a fit of apoplexy when she learns of their existence. Oh, and then there’s the very rare chance that …



Notes from JWR:

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) has updated his review of the X7 rifle (posted on Augus23rd), to reflect his ongoing tests.  — Today we present another entry for Round 37 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) 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, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. …


Choosing the Right Footwear, by Desert Rat

I am relatively new to prepping, but one thing I have noticed is that there are quite a few “oh by the way” mini-lectures on footwear that sneak in among other topics.  This is unfortunate, because footwear should not be relegated to a bunny trail or an afterthought when planning for an uncertain future.  Your choice of shoes can be the difference between comfort and misery, so they deserve careful consideration.  By careful consideration, I don’t mean going to the nearest military surplus store to buy the most expensive tactical boot you can afford.  As I have discovered, there can …