Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — August 7, 2024

On August 7, 1420, construction began on the dome of Florence Cathedral, designed by Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi.

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August 7th, 1933 was the birthday of Jerry Pournelle. He, along with Larry Niven authored the survivalist classic Lucifer’s Hammer.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 114 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Bartering in a Post SHTF World – Part 2, by D.K.

(Continued from Part 1.  This concludes the article.)

Equivalent Value

When most people think of the word ‘barter,’ they think ‘trade,’ or ‘like-for-like.’ The following is a list of possible items that you might want to consider having for bartering purposes, or charitable giving, should the need ever arise. These are merely suggestions.

Barter Item Categories & Suggestions

Air Gun/Archery:
BBs/pellets, CO2 cartridges
Spare bow strings, arrows/bolts		 Food:
Freeze dried, #10 cans, MRE
Flour, yeast, sugar, wheat
Coffee/tea, drink mixes
Hand crank grinder (meat/grain), spare parts
Alcohol:
Homemade wine/liquor
Airline mini-bottles		 Fuel:
93-octane, diesel, kerosene, white camp fuel, 1 lb. Propane
Fuel stabilizer, anti-bacterial, injector cleaner
Spare gas cans, assorted gallons, siphon
Ammunition:
See the ‘Equivalent Value’ section		 Games/Entertainment:
Boardgames, card games, dice
Books (assorted reading levels)
Baby Supplies:
Cloth diapers, pins, powder, rash ointments
Clothing		 Honey and Salt

(Both have an almost unlimited shelf life, if properly stored.)
Batteries:
AA, AAA, C, D, 6V, 9V (rechargeable and non-rechargeable)
Small solar charger, charging station		 Hunting:
See ‘Air Gun/Archery’, ‘Ammunition’, ‘Sling Shot’, and ‘Fishing Gear’ section
Cabling:
Assorted thickness, cable clamps		 Hygiene (feminine):
Diva Cups, pads, tampons
Yeast infection cream, UTI pain relief (see ‘Medical Supplies’ section)
Candle Making Supplies:
Beeswax, tallow, molds, wick material		 Hygiene (general):
Soap, cleaning products, razors, shampoo, conditioner, solar shower, lime (for outhouse)
Hair/nail clippers, scissors, combs/brushes
Toothbrushes/toothpaste, lotion, ChapStick
Canning Supplies:
Jars, rims, lids, funnels, tongs		 Fire:
Matches (all-weather), magnesium flint, Zippo fuel, lighters
Lint, fire starting cubes, kindling, firewood
Communication:
Handie-talkies, hand-crank radio, CB
Portable solar panels
Paper, pens/pencils, pencil sharpener		 Fishing Gear:
Line, weights, bobbers, lures, nets
Rod and reel
CondomsDuct Tape:
Muted colors, assorted roll lengths		 Kitchen Supplies:
Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, baggies, plastic ware
Assorted tools (whisk, knives, measuring cups/spoons)
Duct Tape:
Muted colors, assorted roll lengths		 Laundry Detergent

Continue reading“Bartering in a Post SHTF World – Part 2, by D.K.”

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.

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Reader H.L. sent us this link: How Appalachia Has Become a Hot—Even Hip—Place To Live That’s Still Dirt Cheap. Here are H.L.’s Comments:

“No one has to tell me how beautiful and affordable West Virginia is.  I lived there for 10 years. I loved the land and the people.  The four seasons are wonderful, no tornadoes nor hurricanes to speak of, fairly low crime rates, helpful folks, and a reasonable cost of housing.  There is lots to do, like fishing, hunting, skiing, and white water rafting. There are four seasons that rival much of New England. West Virginia is great for church-goers. They may be Rednecks, but they are a proud people with a very interesting heritage.”

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A fascinating and inspiring video for all you gardeners and orchardists: I Filmed Plants For 15 Years — Time-lapse Compilation.

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Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I see the liberty of the individual not only as a great moral good in itself (or, with Lord Acton, as the highest political good), but also as the necessary condition for the flowering of all the other goods that mankind cherishes: moral virtue, civilization, the arts and sciences, economic prosperity. Out of liberty, then, stem the glories of civilized life.” – Murray N. Rothbard

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 6, 2024

On August 6, 1819, Norwich University was founded in Vermont as the first private military school in the United States. Pictured is a squad of Norwich Army ROTC cadets on an air movement via a 10th Mountain Division Blackhawk helicopter, in 2021.  (U.S. Army photo by PFC Ethan Scofield.)

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August 6, 1699, HMS Roebuck, captained by “explorer and pirate”  William Dampier, landed at Shark Bay, Western Australia on the first British scientific expedition to Australia.

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August 6, 2011, a U.S. CH-47D Chinook military helicopter operating with the call sign Extortion 17 (spoken “one-seven”) was shot down while transporting an Immediate Reaction Force attempting to reinforce a Joint Special Operations Command unit of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Tangi Valley in Maidan Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board – 25 US Navy SEALs, one pilot and two crewmen of the United States Army Reserve, one pilot and one crewman of the United States Army National Guard, seven members of the Afghan National Security Forces, and one Afghan interpreter, as well as a U.S. military working dog.

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On August 6th, 1945 at 8:16 a.m. (Japanese time), an American B-29 bomber– the Enola Gay– dropped the world’s first war-time atom bomb over the city of Hiroshima. Approximately 80,000 people were killed as a result of the blast, with another 35,000 injured. At least another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout. History is always written by the victors, so the reasoning and justification for this will be argued for years to come. But one thing is for sure: this action officially ushered in the nuclear age in war and has generated mass fear among civilization ever since, even though the firebombing of Japanese cities caused far more damage and loss of life. An interesting side note is Tsutomu Yamaguchi was 3km from the Hiroshima blast but survived. Along with a few other survivors, he made his way to his hometown, Nagasaki, and was again within 3km of the second blast yet survived this one also.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 114 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Bartering in a Post SHTF World – Part 1, by D.K.

What is Bartering?

Bartering is the exchange of goods and services between two interested parties that does not utilize the current U.S. fiat monetary system, or any national currency system for that matter. Movies and television have presented numerous visuals that help people conceptualize what this might look like on a large scale like “The Hob” in the movie The Hunger Games. In lay terms, incorporating barter items in your preparedness plans is an attempt to anticipate the future needs of those near you or at your destination if bugging out.

Words of caution when it comes to bartering:

  1. Anyone contemplating the accumulation of bartering goods, do so only after you’ve gotten your own situation/home squared away.
  2. Considerable time, financial resources, and planning are generally required to begin including barter items in your preparedness plans.
  3. If you find yourself bartering in a post-SHTF world, then do so away from prying eyes until things settle down unless there is organized community or regional swap/faire with reasonable security.

First things first, let’s differentiate between some common terms often found floating around the concept of bartering. How does bartering differ from preparing and hoarding?

Preparing Hoarding Bartering
Optimal Purchasing Prices

  • Bought when demand is low
  • Bought when supply is high
 Sub-Optimal Purchasing Prices

  • Bought when demand is high
  • Bought when supply is low
 Tradeable Commodities, Goods, and Services
Goal Oriented Price Gouging Fill Gaps in Planning
Buy in Bulk Non-Christian and Sociopathic Replenish Resources and Rebuild Local Economy
Survival/Preparedness Driven Greed-Driven Mutual Self-Interest

Continue reading“Bartering in a Post SHTF World – Part 1, by D.K.”

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. In today’s column, we cover some “remote” possibilities.

Region-Wide

Video: The Great Scenic Loop Of Idaho And Montana.

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SurvivalRealty.com land search: Off-grid properties.

Idaho

Idaho Off the Grid: An Intimate Look at One of America’s Most Remote States.

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Clark County, Idaho: The least densely populated county in Idaho. Population: 982.

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Limiting remote work: Bill in Idaho House would cap number of days state employees could work from home.

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Explore It All: Adams Ranger Station, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Idaho.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 5, 2024

On August 5, 1775, the Spanish packet boat San Carlos entered San Francisco Bay for the first time. It was under the command of Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala.  He and his crew of 30 men spent six weeks surveying the bay from its shallow southern end to the northern end of what is now known as Suisun Bay.

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August 5, 1861: President Lincoln signed the first US personal Income Tax into law.  It levied 3% of incomes over $800.

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On August 5, 1846, the Oregon territory was divided between the United States and Britain at the 49th Parallel.

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August 5th is also the sad anniversary of the Mann Gulch Fire in Montana that took the lives of 13 firefighters (including 12 smokejumpers and one former smokejumper), in 1949. The intense, fast-moving forest fire took place in what later became the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness. The events of that fire were chronicled in the book Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean and immortalized in the haunting lyrics of the ballad “Cold Missouri Waters“, by James Keelaghan.

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A reminder: I will have five tables at the Missoula, Montana Gun Show on August 9-10-11, 2024. This is your chance to shop from about 80% of the Elk Creek Company inventory, including more than 30 antique cartridge guns and percussion guns that have not yet been cataloged. This will include a new batch of several antique Model 1896/11 Swiss rifles. The show will be held in the modest convention center of the Hilton Garden Inn, on North Reserve Street, just south of I-90. To find my tables, look for a five-foot-wide tan “Pre-1899 Guns” banner sign, five tables with dark blue table drapes, and beau coup Mausers.  Out-of-state buyers are welcome. But of course, consult your state and local laws before you make a purchase. Thankfully, both pre-1899 guns and blackpowder replicas are exempt in most states.

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Today’s feature article is a review penned by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

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We are seeking entries for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 114 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Bear Knuckles Work Gloves, by Thomas Christianson

I recently tested several pairs of work gloves that I am really enthusiastic about. They are tough, supple, comfortable, and have excellent dexterity relative to their thickness. They provide the best grip of any gloves that I have ever used. They are Bear Knuckles Gloves.

Bear Knuckles Gloves were originally designed by bareback rider Shawn Schild to give himself a better grip during rodeo competition. The gloves utilize a double wedge pattern along the sides of the fingers to conform to the natural curve of the fingers. This provides a better grip while producing less resistance and fatigue.

I tested one pair of HD361 Double Wedge Heavy Duty Cowhide Driver Gloves (Gen 2) in size large, one pair of the same model in size extra large, and one pair of D357 Double Wedge Water Resistant Cowhide Driver Gloves in size large. All three pairs provided outstanding performance. I liked the water-resistant gloves best.Continue reading“Bear Knuckles Work Gloves, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Fish Meat Egg Rolls

The following recipe for Fish Meat Egg Rolls is from SurvivalBlog reader Mrs. Alaska.

She notes: “I have used freshly caught and/or frozen fish of six different species for this dish – all delicious, but you could try canned fish, too.
This is based on a recipe I first discovered through the wonderful, national organization called BOW:  Becoming an Outdoor Woman.  Its courses and weekends are offered through the state departments like Fish and Game.  Highly recommended for both women and men (my husband attended, too).”
Ingredients
  • Egg roll wrappers (not wonton wrappers – they are super small)
  • Fish of choice, boned, and cut into finger shaped pieces.  You can leave the skin on many species.
  • Cream cheese, cut into finger shaped pieces
  • Other cheese of preference, like cheddar, sliced into finger shaped planks
  • Onion, diced
  • Jalapeno or chili peppers, chopped
Directions
Keep the wrappers covered or they will dry out.
Have a finger bowl with water in it.
Have all other ingredients chopped and accessible on a platter before starting.  You will have to estimate the amount of each ingredient given the number of egg rolls you intend to make.
Lay out 4 egg roll wrappers on a cookie sheet.  Wet your finger in the finger bowl and draw a wet line along all four edges of the wrapper.
On each square wrapper, arrange the other ingredients diagonally, on top of each other, multi-layered (fish, onion, jalapeno, cheeses) with enough wrapper above and below the narrow ends to touch when you fold them over the food.
Then roll one remaining side of the wrapper tightly over the finger of food and toward the far corner.  If the corner is loose, touch the inside with a watery finger so it will paste to the roll.
TIGHT is key.  If your roll is loose, the oil will get in and the ingredients will get greasy or spill out.
Set the finished roll aside.
Make the rest of your egg rolls.
I recommend putting a cookie sheet of non-touching egg rolls in the freezer, if you have one (covered with saran wrap, a cloth, or foil) for an hour to tighten the rolls before frying.  If no freezer, you should heat the oil while assembling the rolls and cook them immediately.  Otherwise, the egg roll wrappers will dry and crack.
ou can cook these in an air fryer if you have the electricity for its 1700 watt draw or in a pan or in an oven.
The texture will vary depending on whether you cook it in hot oil or in the air fryer or oven.  I have enjoyed all three.
In a medium-sized cast iron pan with 1/2 inch of hot, melted Crisco, I cook 4 rolls at a time (with space between them) over medium heat and turn the tubes 2 or 3 times, every 3-4 minutes.  A larger pan can accommodate more egg rolls at a time.
For the air fryer, I heat the appliance to 400 degrees, lightly oil the pan and the egg rolls and turn every 5 minutes until they look crispy.
For the oven, I heat the interior to 400 – 450 degrees and turn the rolls every 5 minutes until they look done, but they will not be as crispy as the other two methods.
When you remove the rolls, lay them on paper napkins or paper towels to absorb any excess grease.  If making many batches, you can keep them warm in a warm (low) oven.
SAUCES
I love offering a variety of sauces, dips, and dressings for meals.  For this one, here are some that have been popular:
*low salt soy sauce
*lemon or lime aioli (basically mayo with the citrus juice and zest)
*aioli with chipotles in adobo sauce (my personal favorite
*vinegar based dips:
      chimichurri sauce (cilantro and other herbs in vinegar)
      vinegar, sesame oil, peanut butter, and soy sauce (a family staple sauce)
Serving and Storage
These egg rolls can be made in advance, frozen before cooking, and then fried fresh for a meal or appetizer.
They can be reheated after cooking, but the texture degrades.

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Mrs. Alaska blogs at:  Alaskauu1@gmail.com

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic shows corn (maize) production in the United States. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit, with USDA data.)

The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

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Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“It’s about food. It’s about your home. It’s about your life. The government is worried about all of the above. All I’m saying is you should be worried they’re worried. Here’s why: They’re telling you that you can’t take care of yourself. You can’t be trusted with what you put in your mouth or what you sign on the mortgage dotted line. So they’ll tell you what to put in your mouth and they’ll save you from what you signed on that dotted line. Does anyone see a trend here? Personal responsibility has now become government responsibility.” – Neil Cavuto

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 4, 2024

On August 4, 1821, the first edition of the American magazine “The Saturday Evening Post” was published.

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August 4, 1914: The United States declared neutrality on the outbreak of WWI.

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On August 4, 1961, Spokane, Washington reached an August record high of 108°F.

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Today’s feature article is a guest piece that was too short to qualify for the judging in the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. We are now seeking entries for Round 114 of the contest. More than $900,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 114 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.