Letter Re: Raising Beans

  This week we have been overrun. Not by looters, but by beans. We really look forward to our first spring green vegetables, which are green beans.  After raising green beans for generations on our farm, we have decided that “Contenders” is the very best variety for us. They come up the best, and produce the largest quantity of long slender green beans per plant. We haven’t saved any seeds from this variety, until this year. If you have read one of my previous posts, you will know why. After the great drought of 2011, all the stores in our …


Letter Re: Air Guns as Long Term Survival Weapons

JWR, Reader M.D.W. wrote a very informative article, as far as he went.  The newest technology in the air rifle race is the nitrogen piston, replacing the metal spring on the break action guns, both in rifle and pistol format.  The nitrogen piston, or nitro piston as it is known, uses the technology of the auto shock absorber.  When was the last time that anybody heard of one of those failing?  The nitro piston can be purchased as a spare and stored indefinitely on the shelf with no special attention.  The major advantage of the nitro piston is no spring …


Letter Re: Media Misrepresentation of Guns and Gun Laws

James, Reference the controversy about the Longmire television show. It is common on television and in movies to see 1911s carried with the hammer down and the act of cocking prior to shooting. Most folks versed in firearms recognize this as Hollywood adding some drama. The act of cocking being the lead up to a shootout. Hollywood is after all all about drama and not reality or safety.  E B  writing about the danger of carrying the hammer down on a round in the chamber is correct about the safety concerns of doing so.  However the older government models had …


News From The American Redoubt:

RBS sent: Groups offer reward for info on missing grizzly. I’d give that less chance than a murder investigation in the city of Boston, where 6 out of 10 murder cases go unsolved. Apparently some Bostonians know how to keep their mouths shut. Ditto for ranchers in Idaho and Montana, where “Shoot, Shovel and Shut up” is a commonly-heard phrase.    o o o Nate’s New York Pizza, in Post Falls, Idaho deserves your business. Great folks. They are one of the sponsors of the upcoming Patriots and Self-Reliance Rally at Farragut State Park, near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, July 26, …


Economics and Investing:

Moody’s takes rating actions on nine Hong Kong banks. JWR’s Comment: The timing of this is suspect. Is it a coincidence that Hong Kong just dragged its feet on the rendition of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, under the U.S./Hong Kong extradition treaty of 1996? The payback, apparently, is a down rating by an “independent” ratings firm. Venezuela on the Brink of Hyperinflation. (Thanks to Jim W. for the link.) Mortgage Rates on the Rise; Repeat of Lead-Up to 2008? JWR’s Comment: Interest rates are crucial. Once rates rise substantially then it will become impossible to service the Federal debt without …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Orange Jeep Dad has made his move to Oklahoma! He wrote me to mention: “I have to go chop down some overgrowth and explore the farm.” (The family farm had been left vacant for more than 20 years.) He plans to be blogging regularly, as he gets the place back into shape. This should prove to be both instructive and entertaining. Please post a comment, to encourage him and his “Wifey.” Tell him that Jim of SurvivalBlog sent you.    o o o Reader Ellen E. recommended the resources at the Utah State Ag Extension Web Site. The site has …



Notes from JWR:

Another reminder to Coloradans: You have some paperwork to do, muy pronto. The state’s new magazine ban will go into effect on July 1, 2013. Of particular note is the fact that the new law’s grandfather clause is not multigenerational. It will be limited to only then-current owners of magazines, as of midnight on June 30th. (When the owner dies, the magazines must be destroyed or taken out of the state.) Therefore I again urge Coloradans to be sure to properly document the gift of your magazines to your children and grandchildren (preferably via a multigenerational trust–which creates a fictitious …


Michael Z. Williamson’s Book Review: Destroy the Enemy in Hand-to-Hand Combat: An Authentic Field Manual of the Red Army

Destroy the Enemy in Hand-to-Hand Combat: An Authentic Field Manual of the Red Army. (Also available as a Kindle edition.) Gen A. A. Tarasov (Author), Boris Karpa (Translator) Translated from the Soviet WWII original.  Boris Karpa has done an excellent job of maintaining the flavor of the Soviet manual, keeping the read interesting, and making it reasonably clear. Some sections are a bit awkward, but it seems to be from the original writing, not a translation difficulty.  Those areas that don’t translate well are covered more than adequately by the original illustrations. The first half of the book covers moving …


Pat’s Product Review: VitalGrill Stove

Back when I was in the military I would have loved to have had a way to heat-up my C Rations – yeah, I’m “that” old – that we were issued C Rations in the military, when out in the field. MREs (Meals, Read to Eat) were still only just a concept in the mid to late 1960s. Nothing beats a hot meal in the field, even if it was just C Rats – a cold meal just doesn’t seem nearly as comforting or filling, as opposed to a hot meal. My late friend, Chris Janowsky, who ran the World Survival …


Letter Re: Mass Versus Bullets (and Hail Stones and Gamma Radiation)

James, I appreciate seeing some folks trying to build some sort of fallout shelter, as these may, unfortunately come in handy someday soon.   Since I build these for a living, I thought I’d throw some basic suggestions out there for the readers. For simple fallout shelters, assuming that blast will not be a factor, above ground concrete walls should be 24 inches thick (or better if you can afford it!).  Walls below grade can be a mere 10 inches thick.   Ceilings:  24 inches will provide fair protection, assuming “rainout” does not occur in your locale. [The Swiss shelter building code …


Recipe of the Week:

Jamie’s Toasted Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars 1 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 large egg 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips   Glaze 2 Tbsp cookie butter 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1-2 Tbsp water   Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add oats and cook, stirring occasionally, until …


Economics and Investing:

Some cogent observations by Bob Owens: Where is all the rimfire ammo? The new modest-budget indie movie “Alongside Night” is now in early release. The film is based on Agorist-Libertarian activist J. Neil Schulman’s novel of the same name. It seems that some gold and silver coins deserve “best supporting” awards. G.E.C. suggested: All the Gold in Fort What’s-Its-Name Michael Pento: Market Calls Fed’s Bluff Jim W. liked this piece by Alasdair MacLeod: Gold is being supplied by western governments. Here is a key quote: “From the point of view of the western central banks, as well as the bullion …


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this from over at KK Cool Tools: Amish Hackers. Mike’s comment: “A very interesting article. By the way, my wife has always said if she were colonizing a planet, she’d take a contingent of Amish.”    o o o Senator Rand Paul has introduced S. 744, a bill that would prohibit a National ID card or biometric ID. Please contact your senators, and ask them to co-sponsor it.    o o o Michael Bane had some great commentary on ammunition “hoarding”: Michael’s Rant de Jour…    o o o Reader Stan T. …