A Fruit and Nut Tree Primer by Jujubee

I am seeing fruit and nut trees for sale now in the Southeast where I live so I wanted to share some thoughts on how I approach tree cultivation. I usually try to plant trees earlier in the winter in order for the roots to get a good start but retail outlets know that people start getting restless towards the end of winter and want to get their gardens and orchards going and they are only too happy to accommodate them. I am an arborist by trade and I’ve provided some guidelines I follow in raising trees. It is not …


Become Your Own Central Banker, by L.B.G.

 As I compose this essay the news of the proposed “taxation” of the depositors of the banks in Cypress via a confiscation of up to 9.9% of the balance from all savings accounts (and then the decision to not take that step) is rocking the financial world. The government of Cypress expressed the need for this measure in order to meet their obligation to the European Union. They called it a “tax on deposits” and “giving depositors a haircut”. I think a better term would be “stealing depositors’ money”.  So go to Plan B….seizing funds in pension accounts and turning …


Letter Re: Why Colorado is Running Out of Water

Hi Folks, I’m a transplant to my now-home state of Colorado.  When I came here where I’m living now was about the edge of suburban development.  Denver has a law that restricted it from growing called the Poundstone Amendment (wherein cities couldn’t annex without a vote of approval of land owners.)   My wife is a fifth generation native, her ancestors settled and farmed northeast of Denver for a few decades.  Winter wheat was a big crop, Rocky Ford produced perhaps the best melons I’ve eaten and in the summer it was nearly impossible to drive around without tripping over a …


Letter Re: Thoughts on Dogs at Survival Retreats

Hello Jim, You have had a couple of good articles about having dogs for retreat/home protection recently. I couldn’t agree more that dogs are a wonderful resource in many ways. I have two German Shepherds who keep my farm and home safe from humans and predators.  There are a couple points I would like to add. First of all, not all dogs will fight to protect their pack. I had a German Shepherd several years ago who would try to hide behind me if there was danger. He was a complete coward, in spite of his attack training. When picking …


Economics and Investing:

The recent experience in Cyprus set a dangerous precedent. With similar debt levels in Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Slovenia, and Spain, the European Banksters are likely to stage more heists. I suspect that there will be bank runs and some draconian withdrawal limits will be imposed. And FWIW, I’m not the only one predicting this. Oh, and I should also mention the Debt to GDP levels are even worse in the U.S. and Japan than they are in Europe’s southern tier. The bank runs could quickly spread from Europe. Be ready for them. Keep plenty of cash at home, and …


Odds ‘n Sods:

F.G. sent this short video: Cerakote Generation II Coatings For Night Vision Camouflage    o o o Prepper Fest Arizona will be held April 26-28, 2013.    o o o Senate votes 53-46 to stop US from joining UN Arms Trade Treaty. It is frightening to see that this vote was so close. Take note of which Senators were willing kiss goodbye US sovereignty over the key issue of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. (The yea votes listed were pro Second Amendment.)    o o F.G. liked this: International Morse Code: Hand Sending Pt. 1-2 1966 US Army …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 45 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 …


Survival, Beyond The Gun, by Jack H.

I have read a lot of articles on preparedness and agree full heartedly that any thinking man or woman should be fully prepared for the worst. However in most of the blogs I read I have not seen to much about reality self defense. I feel that all preppers should enlist a hand to hand self defense program into their lives. I am not promoting any certain form. Nor am I saying that people should blow a bunch of money on things that do not work. In my honest opinion, WWII combative styles and other quick to learn and employ …


Letter Re: The Right to Open Carry Guns: Use It or Lose It

James, I hope your readers don’t lump all police officers into the ignorant category. I’m retired now, but I clearly remember an instance about 15 years ago… I was on grave shift and received a call of a man with a gun in a Shari’s restaurant at about 2 a.m.. When I asked the dispatcher what the man was doing, she told me he was eating.   I walked in and spotted him fairly quickly. He had a Ruger Blackhawk in a leather western style holster. I sat down in the booth with him and asked him why he was …


Letter Re: Dealing With Mentally Unbalanced Trespassers

James, Regarding the recent post “Dealing With Mentally Unbalanced Trespasser, I’d like to begin with a relevant Bible passage, Matthew 25:31-45, King James Version (KJV): When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his …


Economics and Investing:

Toby Connor: The Dollar and the Real Inflation Story Stanford University Kills Popular Course on Free Market. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.) Dr. Gary North: Housing: Addicted to Fiat Money Banks criticized for moving into payday loans Items from The Economatrix: Quick Update on Cyprus Cyprus Shows Your Savings Will Be Stolen!  UK Theft Will Be By Means of High Inflation Sinclair:  Cyprus, Gold, Russia and a New Monetary System Spain Brings Pain to the Investors Words Oof Warning:  Get Your Money Out f European Banks


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Ryan B. sent: Here’s 52 issues of a 19th-century British craft magazine, courtesy of a Brooklyn tool company.    o o o LPC Survival has announced that they’ve dropped all Wise Food Storage products from their catalog. They instead now offer the complete line of Mountain House long term storage foods, packed in #10 cans and in stacking plastic buckets.    o o o Keith B. spotted this: Ms. Cheap: Franklin family takes a break from modern conveniences    o o os F.G. mentioned that at a recent armorer’s course, Glock USA representatives in Smyrna, Georgia told him that …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 45 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 …