Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 12, 2025

On February 12, 1818, Chile gained independence from Spain. — February 12, 1870: An official proclamation set April 15 1870 as the last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada. — Ready Made Resources (our longest-running advertiser) has announced a special overstock sale on military contract canned freeze-dried foods. These include some premium meats and are available in individual #10 cans, or in six-can case lots. Stock up! — I’m scheduled for cataract surgery on my right eye, today. Even though this surgery is now considered a “routine” outpatient procedure, I’m still feeling a bit anxious.  …


Fuels for Cooking, Warmth and Comfort – Part 2, by Lodge Pole

(Continued from Part 1.) Tools for Cutting Wood at Home Wheelbarrow or manure cart- I use these to haul wood and cutting equipment. Occasionally, someone will offer me free firewood they cut some time previously. Sometimes, if it is seasoned and not split, the wood can be heavy. In these circumstances, I will use a furniture dolly, but I try to never cut and/or haul anything that large/heavy. Hunting/Boy’s Axe – I prefer using a two-pound “boy’s axe” because it is extremely light, and easily maneuverable. This is strictly used for delimbing. Splitting maul – I use these not only …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our 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. — Will North Carolina Be The 30th Constitutional Carry State? o  o  o A recent purchaser of one of our waterproof 2005-2024 blog archive USB sticks wrote to ask about what appeared to be inconsistent access to the “Index” page and to the library of bonus books.  I sent him this explanation: The …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 11, 2025

On February 11, 1851, gold was discovered in east-central New South Wales, sparking Australia’s first gold rush.  Pictured is Bernard Otto Holtermann with the world’s largest monolithic gold specimen, in North Sydney.  It reportedly weighed 630 pounds. — On February 11, 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini seized power in Iran. Just a few days after Khomeini’s triumphant return from French exile, the Iranian army stepped aside, making way for the creation of an Islamic theocracy. — Because I have the first of two eye surgeries scheduled for tomorrow, I have put a pause on the automated ordering system for Elk Creek Company. I’m …


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 located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, an emphasis on some backcountry adventures in the American Redoubt. Idaho This video gives you some glimpses of our “back yard”: Almost Canada —  Outdoor Idaho. o  o  o And farther south, in the Bitterroot range: IN THE SHADOW OF THE BITTERROOTS, PART 1 — …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 10, 2025

On February 10, 1906, the British battleship HMS Dreadnought was launched after only 100 days. It rendered all other capital ships obsolete with its revolutionary design. — February 10, 1918: In Finland, General Carl Gustaf Emil Von Mannerheim gathered an army known as the ‘White Guard’ to mount a counter-revolution against the Bolshevik ‘Red Guard’. — February 10,  1951:  “John and Marsha” by Stan Freberg, a parody of daytime soap operas which had only two voices repeating each other’s names, peaked at #21 in the USA. — Today’s feature article is a review written by our own Tom Christianson.  


Recipe of the Week:

The following recipe for Grandma’s Dutch Oven Corn Dodgers is from SurvivalBlog reader Joanna E.  She says: “Corn Dodgers are just round or oblong balls of cornbread. They are usually served with chili or with stew. But you can eat them separately, as a trail food. These store fairly well, but you may have to soften them with either broth or milk if they’ve been stored more than a day or two.” Ingredients 2 cups of cornmeal 1 tablespoon of white sugar 2 tablespoons of butter ½ teaspoon of salt 2 cups of milk 1 teaspoon of baking powder Directions …




Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 9, 2025

On February 9, 1870, US President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law resulting in the US Army Signal Service’s establishment of its “Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce”. This later became known as the National Weather Service. — On February 9th, 1555, my 17th great grandfather, Rowland Taylor (born October 6, 1510) was burned alive at the stake during the Marian Persecutions, for professing that Bible scripture is inerrant. He died singing hymns. His martyrdom is described in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. – JWR — February 9th is the birthday of gun writer Major George Charles …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Sorry, Kid You Must Be This Tall To Deploy Nukes News Link: Volodymyr Zelensky demands nukes to end war with Russia. Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks! Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.  


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 8, 2025

On February 8, 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle aged 44 after being convicted of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth I in the Babington Plot. — February 8, 1879: Sandford Fleming first proposed dividing the world into 24 equal time zones and adopting a Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute. This was adopted in 1884. — And on February 8th, 1963, the Kennedy administration issued an order prohibiting travel to Cuba and banned financial transactions and commerce with Cuba, by U.S. citizens. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for …