The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — June 22, 2024

On June 22, 1476, the army of Charles the Bold of Burgundy invaded Switzerland. Their first engagement was the Battle of Morat (pictured), which was fought about 30 kilometers from Bern. The successive Burgundian invasions were successfully repelled by the pike tactics of the well-trained and organized Swiss militias. — On June 22, 1940, France surrendered to Nazi Germany, with the northern half of the country occupied and the south established as the Nazi client state Vichy France. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this …


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 …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — June 21, 2024

On this day in 1788, the US Constitution came into effect when New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify it. — June 21st is the birthday of Rex Applegate (June 21, 1914 – July 14, 1998), author of Kill or Be Killed. He was a friend and mentor of SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio. — All of the percussion revolvers in our Elk Creek Company inventory are now on sale.  No paperwork is required. These can be mailed right to your door, in most states.  Cartridge conversion cylinders are available for many models. This sale ends on …


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, another look at the U.S. Nickel 5-cent piece. (See the Precious and Base Metals section.) Precious and Base Metals: RBI moves 1 lakh kg of gold from UK back to India, the first such move of this quantum since 1991.  JWR’s Comments:  That is 100 tons of gold!  Perhaps this is more evidence that the …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day

“To live his life in his own way, to call his house his castle, to enjoy the fruits of his own labour, to educate his children as his conscience directs, to save for their prosperity after his death — these are wishes deeply ingrained in civilised man. Their realization is almost as necessary to our virtues as to our happiness. From their total frustration disastrous results both moral and psychological might follow.” – C.S. Lewis


Preparedness Notes for Thursday — June 20, 2024

On June 20, 1840, American inventor Samuel F.B. Morse patented his telegraph. — Today marks the Summer Solstice, here in the Northern Hemisphere. — On June 20, 1867, US President Andrew Johnson announced the Alaska Purchase. — On June 20, 1921, there was 11.5″  of rainfall the town of Circle, Montana (a state record.) — June 20th is the birthday of Audie L. Murphy. He was born in 1925. He died in a plane crash on May 28, 1971. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for …


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, we look at ancient wheat. Genetic Treasure: Historic Wheat Collection Reader C.B. spotted this: Finding hidden genetic treasure: Study uncovers untapped diversity in historic wheat collection. The article …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — June 19, 2024

On June 19, 1991, Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar surrendered to police. — June 19, 1778: Continental Army troops finally left their winter encampment at Valley Forge. — June 19, 1834 was the birthday of Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon, who died on 31 January, 1892. He was a British Particular Baptist preacher. — On June 19, 1914, the Hillcrest Mine Disaster: An explosion at Hillcrest mine, Alberta, killed 189 men in Canada’s worst mining disaster. — On June 19, 1917, the British Royal Family, which had strong German ties since George I, renounced its German names and titles and adopted …


D-Words: Countering American Decadence

It is abundantly clear that we are living in a decadent society.  Though I may sound like a dystopian taxonomist, I’ll add some more “Ds” to the list, to encapsulate America in the early 21st Century: Degenerate Disaffected Democratic (founded as a Republic, but now we hear that it is “our Democracy.”) Despotic Demagogic Depressed/Depressing Debased (especially our currency) Deluded/Delusional Defrauded Decrepit Disenfranchised (our votes are now either not counted or ignored) Despicable Disillusioned Drifting Devaluation (of human life) Dissident Divergent Decomposing/Decomposed Disagreeable Dastardly Dissolute Depleted Distorted Deplorable (a term that is misapplied by statists to describe honorable, traditional people) …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This 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. — I’ll start today’s column with a video about our kind of guy, serving as a representative, in Washington, DC.: Off the Grid with Thomas Massie. o  o  o A Practical Tip From JWR:  To avoid confusion with your family’s pairs of mud boots, use a quick blast of spray paint on the …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — June 18, 2024

On June 18, 1682, English-born Quaker William Penn founded Philadelphia, in the Pennsylvania Colony. — On June 18, 1767 English sea captain Samuel Wallis sighted Tahiti. He is considered the first European to reach the island. — June 18th is birthday of Pastor Douglas Wilson. Born in 1953, he is the pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho and a prodigious author of books and articles on Reformed theology. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 113 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at …