David in Israel Comments: Starting Your Desert Backyard Garden

James The most important aspect of arid farming is water preservation. Israel has developed and taught the world techniques to make even the most dry areas bloom without wasting water. There is plenty of information available from US university agriculture outreach services on the Israeli system. The technique is simple but there is variation on the theme. Cheap perforated irrigation tube is buried along the rows. plastic sheet is laid down and the seeds are planted through a hole poked in the plastic sheet. Between raised planting rows sand, gravel, or dirt is laid onto the plastic to hold it …


Two Letters Re: How Long Can You Tread Water?

Dear CPT Rawles: The article “How Long Can You Tread Water?” was indeed a scary analysis of the advent of either an EMP attack, or a natural sun storm which would create the same series of events. There is no doubt that our society would come unglued in many parts of the nation. There is also no doubt that eventually, urban gangs will fan out across the countryside in search of food, women, drugs, liquor, weapons and gold. If your farmhouse is in their avenue of advance, it will be taken. As in all military activities and survival of TEOTWAWKI …


Economics and Investing:

KAF flagged this: Venezuela nabs two for trying to ‘Twitter’ a run on banks. Consider this fair warning on a new threat: “flash mobs” that could trigger crises including bank runs, and runs on key commodities. Do you remember how Johnny Carson made one offhand remark that sparked “The Toilet Paper Crisis of 1973”? The burgeoning social networks could be used to spread a panic far and wide, whether it is justified or not. SurvivalBlog reader Tony B. sent us this: Dollar weakness reflects optimism. Tony’s comments: “How upside-down is people’s thinking when the value of the dollar falling is …


Odds ‘n Sods:

The editor of the Rural Revolution blog mentioned a company that makes nifty fixtures that turn Mason jars into kerosene lamps. The editor wrote: “Specifically I purchased item # 10BR3273, which is a bulk purchase of ten fixtures. They come with wicks. (Here is a photo.) A package of 10 of them costs $22 plus shipping. I’m also buying glass globes every time I see them at thrift stores. These usually don’t cost more than $2 each. I’m also buying extra wicks.” For stability, the larger the jar, the better. With a two quart jar and a long wick, one …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“It appears we have appointed our worst generals to command forces, and our most gifted and brilliant to edit newspapers! In fact, I discovered by reading newspapers that these editor/geniuses plainly saw all my strategic defects from the start, yet failed to inform me until it was too late. Accordingly, I’m readily willing to yield my command to these obviously superior intellects, and I’ll, in turn, do my best for the Cause by writing editorials – after the fact.” – Robert E. Lee, 1863


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will 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 between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of …


Lessons Learned From a Novice Hunting Trip, by Russell L.

Last fall I was lucky enough to join a friend and his father on a hunting trip. It was their umpteenth trip into the woods, but my first. They had been going to the same place since my friend’s father had started hunting, almost 45 years ago. We were hunting deer, and my friend and his father and both won in the lottery to hunt Does as well as Bucks. (Note: they don’t use deer stands. It is more, “you cover this area and I’ll cover that area.” And while my friend and his father often just pick a spot …


Three Letters Re: Starting Your Desert Backyard Garden

I have some tips and ideas to add to Colleen’s wonderful article on desert gardening. I have successfully cultivated summer & winter gardens throughout the southwest desert regions of Arizona & New Mexico for the past 7 years. My methods are not necessarily in support of OPSEC in WTSHTF scenarios, but just desert gardening in general. * Try to set up raised beds along the west or south facing side of the house or block wall – the walls retain heat all day and provide some radiated warmth during cold evenings. * A very simple winter “greenhouse” method is to …


Economics and Investing:

An interesting piece, over at the Dr. Housing Bubble blog: Frankenstein real estate market – $3.5 trillion in commercial real estate debt and $10.3 trillion in residential real estate debt. Items from The Economatrix: AP Analysis: Economic Stress is Easing More Slowly Investors Shake Off Slowdown in Services Growth Deficit Hysteria in Times of Depression New, Nearly Dictatorial Powers Go to Fed Economic Gloom Shrouds Spain Market Forecaster Sees Plunge to 1,000 Dow Repeats Great Depression Pattern Retailers Launch Their Own Stimulus Packages


Odds ‘n Sods:

I got this from an newspaper editor in Alaska: Bear Attack: A Firsthand Account. The editor’s comments: “We had one of our readers submit this article today about a mama grizzly bear and her two cubs. It is a great story about man’s best friend helping as well as the importance of having a deterrent like Bear mace.    o o o KAF flagged this: Louisiana’s New Law Allowing Churchgoers to Pack Heat    o o o There was an excellent 21-page article in the July issue of National Geographic about the current state of the power grids in the …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 29 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will 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 between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of …


Starting Your Desert Backyard Garden, by Colleen M.

One of the first things many preppers begin with is starting a backyard garden.  Those of us living in desert regions have additional challenges when beginning this task as water conservation and soil quality are serious issues in desert regions.  It’s tempting and easy to become overly dependent on technology when reclaiming the landscape around you, but with patience, trial and error and a little bit of skill you can use low tech strategies to build good soil and have a productive, water friendly garden.  The first two seasons of backyard gardening in the desert can be frustrating but are …


Two Letters Re: How Long Can You Tread Water?

Mr. Rawles: I have been reading your site for over two years now and have two of your books. I have a growing concern on what is going on in the world and working to prepare myself and my family for what the future may or may not bring us. I eagerly await the next day postings of SurvivalBlog each and everyday and look forward to what your other readers bring to the table. I took great interest in “How Long Can You Tread Water?” by Tom S. but more in the initial response. I am sure there will be …


Letter Re: Equipping my My G.O.O.D. Boat

A couple of points bothered me about Doug W.’s plan to G.O.O.D. with his boat. First, his idea about using logs to keep out intruders in his retreat anchorage has one possible flaw. According to Murphy’s Laws of Combat, anyplace too difficult to get into will be too difficult to get out of! Next, I am no sailor, but I’ve been around the ocean and I’ve seen some horrific storms. I saw no plan for riding out bad weather, unless these bays are very sheltered. Next is that unless tied up close to shore, sitting at anchor in the middle …