Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make 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 this column, in …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“ I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 4, 2022

On February 4th, 1824 — J. W. Goodrich introduced the first rubber galoshes. Also on this day in 1789, George Washington became the first and only president to be unanimously elected by the Electoral College. This was repeated again on this same day in 1792. Because of the way the early American voting procedure worked, the electors cast two votes with no distinction for president or vice president. Washington was chosen by all of the electors and is considered to have been unanimously elected. Of the others on the ballots, Adams had the most votes and thus became the vice …


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. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the natural gas and propane markets. (See the Commodities section.) Precious Metals: Silver could be the primary market over gold ahead. o  o  o Why Is Goldman Still Looking For $2K Gold? o  o  o Hedging The Decline And Fall Of A Currency. Economy & Finance: U.S. National Debt …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Youth — nothing else worth having in the world…and I had youth, the transitory, the fugitive, now, completely and abundantly. Yet what was I going to do with it? Certainly not squander its gold on the commonplace quest for riches and respectability, and then secretly lament the price that had to be paid for these futile ideals. Let those who wish have their respectability — I wanted freedom, freedom to indulge in whatever caprice struck my fancy, freedom to search in the farthermost corners of the earth for the beautiful, the joyous and the romantic.” – Richard Halliburton


Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 3, 2022

Today is the birthday of painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell (1894–1978.) This is also the birthday of writer James Michener (1907–1997), known for his very well-researched epic novels, such as Centennial. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 99 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— 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. Today, we look at U.S. Freshwater Reserves. Amateur Radio Gear Being Sent to Tonga Frequent content contributor Tim J. sent us this item: Amateur radio equipment being sent to Tonga. Highway Funding Bait-and-Switch Reader …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 2, 2022

February 2nd is the birthday of Ayn Rand (born Alisa Zinov’yevna Rosenbaum in 1905), died – March 6, 1982) She is of course remembered for her novel Atlas Shrugged, which is considered a Libertarian classic. While I sharply disagree with her views on religion (since she was an atheist), I admire both her skill as a writer and her ability to articulate some core precepts of human liberty. — UPDATE: The first batch of 1,000 waterproof SurvivalBlog archive USB sticks sold out quickly, and they’ve all now been mailed out. The second batch of 600 sticks (now in transit to …


Writing Contest Winners Announced: Round 98

We’ve completed the judging for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Here are the results: First Prize First Prize is awarded to J.M., for An Ultralight Get Home Bag Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 — posted January 18-22, 2022.  He will receive these prizes: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: 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. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. Reader A.K. sent the following advice for the owners of cells phones with non-removable batteries: “In case anyone is interested in blocking their cell phone from being able to be located or who they meet with pinpointed or even used to determine if they’ve been around others with Covid- I tried this out with a friend …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 1, 2022

Today, we recognize the birthday of Christian economist Dr. Gary North. (Born, 1942.) North is a prolific writer on Christian Reconstruction and economics.  He recently announced that he is in failing health, and that he has published his final book. Please pray for his restored health. We also remember February 1st, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present the first entry for Round 99 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The …


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 of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on the new movie Last Survivors. (See the Montana section.) Region-Wide You know that a new term associated with a trend is firmly established when both poles of the political sphere start using it. See: The Boise Tent Protest community remains undefeated. It …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“It is one thing to secure to each man the unhindered power to pursue his own good; it is a widely different thing to pursue the good for him. To do the first efficiently, the State has merely to look on while its citizens act; to forbid unfairness; to adjudicate when called on; and to enforce restitution for injuries. To do the last efficiently, it must become an ubiquitous worker—must know each man’s needs better than he knows them himself—must, in short, possess superhuman power and intelligence. Even, therefore, had the State done well in its proper sphere, no sufficient …