Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds …



Preparedness Notes for Friday — October 3, 2025

On October 3, 1712, The Duke of Montrose issued a warrant for the arrest of Rob Roy MacGregor. — And on October 3, 1913, the  US Federal income tax was signed into law (at 1%) by President Woodrow Wilson. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, news of new highs for gold. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals: Reader H.L. suggested this article: Gold hit a new record. What Deutsche Bank says is driving the price of the metal. o  o  o At Gold-Eagle.com: Inflation: The Dow Is Down 36 Percent in Gold Terms Since 1929. o  o  o A …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — October 2, 2025

On October 2, 1535, French explorer Jacques Cartier first visited the Iroquois settlement of Hochelaga. It was later named Montreal. — On October 2, 1835 the ‘Come & Take It’ Texas Revolution began. — On October 2, 1866, J. Osterhoudt patented a tin can with a key opener. — And on October 2, 1889, in Colorado, Nicholas Creede struck it rich in silver during the last great silver boom of the American Old West. — I just heard of the passing of Jane Goodall, at age 91. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column: Some more threats in cyberspace. (Pictured is a data center in Prineville, Oregon.) UK to Require Digital ID for All Adults Over at the UK Metro: Every adult …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — October 1, 2025

Today is the 90th birthday of singer and actress Julie Andrews. She was born on October 1st, 1935. Her name will always be remembered for The Sound of Music. — On October 1, 1942, the Bell P-59 Airacomet fighter, the first US jet, made its maiden flight. — The final day! Our big inventory reduction sale at Elk Creek Company — with nearly all of our guns, knives, bayonets, magazines, et cetera deeply discounted — ends at midnight tonight, Eastern Time. Get your order in today! — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest: Round 121 Begins Today, we present the first entry for …


Writing Contest Prize Winners Announced — Round 120

We’ve announced the winners of Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Note to the top three prize winners: Please contact me and let me know your UPS and USPS address(es), for your prizes. Thanks. – JWR The top three prize winners will each receive some great prize packages. The winners for Round 120 are… First Prize Winner: First Prize goes to AppComms, for Memoirs of a Disaster Survivor. (See: Part 1 and Part 2.) It was posted August 1-2, 2025. He will receive as prizes: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Wayne in Canada sent this from the leftist/statist National Post: Noah Schwartz: Liberals’ botched gun buyback program may create a dangerous ‘grey market’. Wayne’s Comment:  “Power-grabs/gun-grabs like this will no doubt amplify calls for secession of the western provinces!” Here is related news with some details: Buyback program for banned firearms to begin …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 30, 2025

On September 30, 1791, the National Constituent Assembly in Paris was dissolved. Parisians hailed Maximilien Robespierre (pictured) and Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve as “Incorruptible patriots.” Three years later, at age 36, Robespierre was guillotined. Proscribed, pursued, and persecuted, Jérôme Pétion committed suicide that same year. — On this day in 1938, the Treaty of Munich was signed by Hitler, Mussolini, Daladier, and Chamberlain. This treaty forced Czechoslovakia to cede territory to Germany. — Some sad news: Preacher Voddie Baucham Passes Away at 56 Following ‘Emergency Medical Incident’. — Just one day left! Our big inventory reduction sale at Elk Creek …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. In this week’s column, a glimpse at remote Idaho ranch life.  (See the Idaho section.) Idaho This remote ranch with gravity-fed spring water at SurvivalRealty.com caught my eye: Very Private Western Ranch. o  o  o It Gets Worse: What We Know About the Drunk Driver Who …