Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 20 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include: First Prize: The writer of the best contributed article will be awarded two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value! Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing Round 20 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. …


Sabotage and Counter-Sabotage, by A. Farm Graduate

The purpose of this article is to put another skill (if not a skill, perhaps a seed) in the mental toolkit of preparedness-oriented individuals. Although not an exhaustive study on clandestine operations, this article will give you a glimpse into an advantage seeking two part mindset – sabotaging the enemy’s equipment and keeping your equipment from getting sabotaged! It is assumed the condition under which this article would find use is the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI). Please don’t go do something listed in this article that you don’t have the skill or legal right to …


Letter Re: 2,000+ Antique Books on Farming Available on-Line

Good morning, While shopping for an antique agriculture book, I found this web site at Cornell University. It is a link to 2,047 antique agriculture books online from Cornell University. Since I farm organically I like to read how the farmers did it 100+ years ago before cheap oil and John Deere tractors. I thought your readers might be interested. – Adam in Ohio JWR Replies: I must add this proviso: Keep in mind that 19th Century safety standards were considerably more relaxed than today’s, so old formularies and “farm knowledge” books often do not include any safety warnings. Use …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Storm Cuts Power to More Than One Million Homes in New England. But of course SurvivalBlog readers were well-prepared. One key quote from the article: “It’s kind of lawless out there right now. There’s a lot of people very frustrated, stacking up at the gas stations. It’s pretty ugly.”    o o o Sans culottes! Wall Street sage Jim Rogers declares that most of the big banks in the US are “totally bankrupt.” The comment was made in the Reuters Investment Outlook 2009 teleconference: “Without giving specific names, most of the significant American banks, the larger banks, are bankrupt, totally …



Notes from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $1,050. The auction is for a large mixed lot that includes: A.) 15 brand new 30 round M16/M4/AR-15 magazines from JWR‘s personal collection. These include four scarce and desirable brand new HK steel “Maritime Finish” magazines, and 11 new USGI alloy magazines made by Center Industries. (Note that most of these were made during the 1994-2004 Federal ban, so most of them have restriction markings, but those became null and void after the ban sunsetted.) Even if you don’t own an AR-15, these magazines are great to keep on …


On Livestock and Self Sufficiency by TAS

Most of the readers of Survival Blog agree on at least the distinct possibility, if not the absolute certainty, of a collapse. This may come in a variety of forms – flu pandemic, economic depression, or an EMP attack are likely scenarios. Regardless of the form, the result will be very similar and our concerns are as well: How do we protect ourselves and our families and provide a living? While stocking up on beans, bullets, and band-aids is the initial response, further preparation encourages us to find a defensible, as well as productive retreat. But then what? So you …


Two Letters Re: Plastic Food Grade Buckets and Other Storage Food Issues

Hi JWR, About the recent post on HDPE food grade buckets: Please note: Plastic food grade buckets are oxygen and gas permeable and will not store food for a long time by themselves. That is what a mylar liner is for, to greatly slow this process down (it will not stop it entirely). Here is some data for oxygen permeability & plastics: Material…………………………….ml o2/(day*mil*sq. meter*atm) PE (polyethylene)…………………..6000-15000 HDPE…………………………………1500-3000 Saran………………………………….10-350 Mylar…………………………………..50-100 Foil laminate………………………….0 Plastic laminate………………………10-400 Regards, – Malcolm   JWR, Just an add-on for Don in Ohio’s post: I live fairly close to a major soda bottler/distributor. Their flavoring comes in …


Letter Re: Feedback on Foodsaver Vacuum Packers

James, Just a note of thanks. Years ago I purchased a Bosch brand food saver, which has worked well but died about a year ago,. Since it cost over $300 years ago I had not gotten another. When you mentioned the special sale on the FoodSaver v2830, I ordered one (Dec 1) which I just received. I strongly recommend these units, I just received mine yesterday, and it is every bit worth the $59. Thank you James! I love your novel, have read it 4.75 times now, (taking notes) and can see the truth of the story line being fulfilled …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Scott D. suggested this piece on commentary: Constitutional Convention Sleight of Hand?    o o o Courtesy of Hawaiian K.: How a Zero-Electricity Fridge Will Bring Medicine to the Developing World    o o o From Sean M.: Money is not the only thing you can lose in a failing bank    o o o Ann M. sent this “must read” piece from Fortune magazine: Eight really, really scary predictions; Dow 4,000. Food shortages. A bubble in Treasury notes. Fortune spoke to eight of the market’s sharpest thinkers and what they had to say about the future is frightening. …



Note from JWR:

I often get e-mails from students and retirees on fixed incomes that mention that they enjoy reading the blog, but that they can’t afford a voluntary Ten Cent Challenge subscription. This is perfectly understandable. One thing that they can do to help that costs nothing but a bit of time, is to spread the word about SurvivalBlog. For example, please mention SurvivalBlog in your annual Christmas letter. Hopefully, this will result in some of your relatives and friends getting “squared away”. (Which, BTW, is in your own best interest. Every individual that prepares represents one less that will have to …


Letter Re: Plastic Food Grade Buckets and Other Storage Food Issues

Dear Editor: Food grade plastic buckets can be found for free or fairly cheap ($1-$2 each) by checking with Dunkin’ Donuts, grocery store bakeries and restaurants. Some throw them away and will be happy to sell them. The fillings and glaze coverings for donuts all come in buckets. Fast food restaurants get their pickle slices in buckets (the strong pickle flavor/odor will be hard if not impossible to remove from the bucket-watch what you store in these, it will absorb that pickle odor). When you get used buckets (make sure you ask for lids!!!) you will need to clean them …


Letter Re: Is a .22 Rimfire Better than Nothing for Home Defense?

Mr. Rawles, I am a junior college student on a quite limited budget. Right now, my only guns are a Daisy Model 881 pellet [.177 caliber air] rifle and a Ruger 10/22 [.22 Long Rifle semi-auto rifle.] I hope to buy an [M1] Garand [semi-auto rifle] that belongs to my uncle, but for now my “battery” is limited. (LOL!) Here’s my question: Will a .22 [LR rimfire] actually be sufficient, if I put enough rounds into a bad guy, to stop him? Thanks, – G.H. JWR Replies: If circumstances dictate that you must use a .22 for self defense, then …