JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. The focus is usually on emergency communications gear, bug out bag gear, books and movies–often with a tie-in to disaster preparedness, and links to “how to” self-sufficiency videos. There are also links to sources for both storage food and storage containers. You will also note an emphasis on history books and historical movies. This week the focus is on Fall and Winter Gardening. (See the Books section.) Books: Reader E.M. wrote to recommend the book American Nations, by Colin Woodard. Here is how …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 3, 2019

As of Monday morning, Hurricane Dorian had estimated wind speeds that were beyond Category 5!  Please pray for the folks in the path of this very powerful storm. — On September 3, 1752, Great Britain and it’s colonies, including the future United States of America officially adopted the Gregorian calendar, and it immediately became September the 14th. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present Part 1 of a five-part entry for Round 84  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar …


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 Google’s censorship of Redoubt News.   (See the Region-Wide section.) Region-Wide Redoubt News reports: Human Rights Task Force Segregating Redoubters. JWR’s Comment: Since I’m quite vocally anti-racist and have been my entire life, they can’t be talking about me. And since Alex Barron …


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 a Warsaw Ghetto survivor’s lessons. House Judiciary to Hear Three New Gun Laws During Recess In Some Deep Schumer: Tomorrow (Wednesday, September 4, 2019), while the rest of the House …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Over the last thirty years, the United States has been taken over by an amoral financial oligarchy, and the American dream of opportunity, education, and upward mobility is now largely confined to the top few percent of the population. Federal policy is increasingly dictated by the wealthy, by the financial sector, and by powerful (though sometimes badly mismanaged) industries such as telecommunications, health care, automobiles, and energy. These policies are implemented and praised by these groups’ willing servants, namely the increasingly bought-and-paid-for leadership of America’s political parties, academia, and lobbying industry. If allowed to continue, this process will turn the …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 2, 2019

September 2, 1969 is the day that the first automatic teller machine (ATM) made its first public debut, dispensing cash to customers at Chemical Bank in Rockville Center, New York. While being as indispensable to most people as cell phones and e-mail, they have introduced a whole new set of issues. Consumers are faced with scams, skimmers, and robbers, and even fake ATMs have been discovered. — This is the last day of Good2goco.com‘s grand opening sale. They have some of the most competitive prices available on Augason, Wise Foods, and Legacy Foods long term storage food, primarily in rectangular …


Recipe of the Week: Phil’s DIY Dry Pancake Mix

Reader Phil in Utah kindly sent us his recipe for his dry pancake mix. Each batch of the dry mix makes enough for about four meals of five pancakes each. To use, just measure out one cup of the dry mix and add the moist ingredients. Presto! Dry Pancake Mix Ingredients 4 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon salt To Prepare Pancakes Combine and mix briefly: 1 cup of the above-described dry pancake mix 1 egg 1 cup milk 1 tablespoon cooking oil or melted butter Bake these 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. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at investing in gold pocket watches. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Platinum is still languishing down near one half the price of gold. Wow! Remember my advice: When it comes to ratio trading, buy at the extremes. In the long term, reversion to …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 1, 2019

Please pray for all of the folks in the path of Dorian — presently a Category 4  tropical storm. — September is Kilted to Kick Cancer Month. (Pictured are Tactical Duty Kilts.) — The month of September is also National Preparedness Month. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 84  of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A …


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 take a look at the ongoing “slow slide” Venezuela. Lessons From Venezuela: Violence, Crime, & Gangs When SHTF Reader H.L. Suggested this over at Zero Hedge: Lessons From Venezuela: Violence, Crime, & …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — August 31, 2019

August 31st, 1992 is the day that Randy Weaver surrendered to the Federal Authorities, ending the 10-day siege at Ruby Ridge. This is the incident that preceded the Waco siege and is known for the unconstitutional rules of engagement and overzealous actions by the jack booted thugs of the federal authorities that resulted in the death of two innocent people– Sammy and Vicki Weaver, Randy’s son and wife. It is notable that Randy was acquitted of all charges except missing a court date and violating bail conditions on an ATF sting operation where it is suspected that Mr. Weaver did …


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 the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready! Jim Reports: We had some family travel early …