The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is 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. In today’s column, an examination of the rising number of feral pigs.

The Wild Hog Invasion

Over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Wild Hog Invasion: Threats, Fatalities, and Control Measures in America.

In Texas: Apocalypse Sow

As reportted in Texas Monthly: Apocalypse Sow: Can Anything Stop the Feral Hog Invasion? An excerpt:

“Like giant, pungent bedbugs, wild pigs provide little value to the ecosystem. Though they have been in North America since the sixteenth century, the population began compounding itself in recent decades and reached a tipping point, rendering the limited control efforts—including trapping, fencing, and hunting—cartoonishly insufficient. A 2003 publication by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimated that there were 1.5 million wild pigs in Texas. In 2012 a group of scientists estimated that the population had swelled to between 1.8 and 3.4 million”

Where Canada’s ‘Super Pigs’ are Most Likely to Invade the US

Reader C.B. sent this:  Where Canada’s ‘super pigs’ are most likely to invade the US — and potentially cause millions of dollars in damage.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — June 12, 2024

June 12, 1859: The Comstock Silver Lode in Nevada was discovered. This was the first major silver discovery in the US.

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On June 12, 1987, during a visit to the divided German city of Berlin, President Ronald Reagan publicly challenged Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 113 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 $2,000.
  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 $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

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. 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. 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 firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  3. 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)
  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. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 113 ends on July 31st, 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.

The War On Human Life – Part 1, by J.B.H.

This essay expresses some thoughts that rattle around in my head pretty much every day, lately. There is likely little in it that SurvivalBlog readers are not familiar with in a certain way. However, I would like to express what I feel and perhaps fear is a central theme in virtually all the topics we discuss and the events we witness in today’s world.

As a warning upfront, it is entirely possible that I am taking disjointed, some might say random trends of our time and desperately attempting to make sense of the nonsense by packaging them in one neat box. That might be true or not. I will let the reader decide on that matter as quite frankly I am not sure myself.

As another warning, I am an unapologetic Christian. I view all these issues through lens of Christianity and believe these things can only be solved through Christian principles.

What is the point of this essay? My purpose is to encourage people to be continuously focused on what I believe is the central theme of so many of the trends we are currently witnessing. That theme is a concerted attack on biological human life.

Before I get in very deep, I would also add that this theme is not new to man’s history. It waxes and wanes but never leaves. To those who say our present situation is unprecedented I would say to read history. To those who would say there really is nothing wrong or unusual going on, I would also say read history. I personally believe we are in an age of where bad trends are converging, the old attack on life is waxing and we need to stop it.Continue reading“The War On Human Life – Part 1, by J.B.H.”

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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We’ll start off with a video showing some Old School toolmaking craftsmanship by Timothy Dyck, in Canada: Why I bought this train rail.

o  o  o

Giant, Venomous, Flying Spiders Coming to U.S. Northeast. (Thanks to reader C.B., for the link.)

o  o  o

Reader S.H. wrote:

“The recent article about the importance of carrying cash was interesting. I have another angle on this story. Not too long ago, my family and I went to the big city of Bozeangeles (Bozeman). While there, on downtown Main Street, members of my family wanted a coffee drink. We wandered into Treeline Coffee at the Lark, they ordered, and I tried to give the girl cash to pay. ‘We don’t accept cash,’ she told me. ‘Sorry?’ I asked, thinking I must have misheard her. ‘We do not take cash. Cards only.’ I was boondoggled. She looked at me as if I was crazy to be carrying cash. To add insult to injury, the exact same thing happened to me the next morning at my hotel: I tried to pay for breakfast with cash, and they would not let me. ‘Cards only.’ My feelings at that point were a wide mixture of annoyance, frustration, disbelief, and sincere concern about the direction the world is going.”

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — June 11, 2024

On June 11, 1488, in the Battle of Sauchieburn, in a rebellion against the Scottish crown, King James III was killed.

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On June 11, 1742, Benjamin Franklin invents his now famous Franklin stove.

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June 11, 1864: The Battle of Trevilian Station, the bloodiest and largest all-cavalry battle of the American Civil War, begins in Louisa County, Virginia.

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John Wayne, the iconic American film actor, died on June 11th, 1979.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 113 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 $2,000.
  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 $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

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. 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. 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 firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  3. 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)
  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. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 113 ends on July 31st, 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.

Designing a 7.62×39 Handload, by Tunnel Rabbit

At this moment I am anticipating the arrival of an antique Mauser rifle that has been fitted with a new barrel chambered in 7.62×39. By the grace of God, I was able to obtain an antique custom rifle in the ubiquitous 7.62×39 from Elk Creek Company. This will be a scoped rifle that might use the same ammunition that I already stock for my semi-automatic rifles that use 7.62×39 ammunition with bullet diameters of .310 inches.

An Expectant Father Waits for the Arrival

As I wait for it to arrive via UPS, I am writing this article and thinking ahead and designing a load for it. And I am already shopping for reloading dies at the lowest price available that come with both .308 and .311 neck expander and bushings. It might have a .308 barrel instead of a .310 barrel so I may need to load for this using .308 bullets from my inventory, or order a more suitable .310 bullet. The load could closely duplicate .30-30 performance and could surpass .30-30 performance past 100 yards because it will use a spitzer bullets with a better ballistic coefficient instead round nosed or flat point .30-30 bullets that have very low ballistic coefficients. Here is my thought process as I design a practical hunting load for this rifle.Continue reading“Designing a 7.62×39 Handload, by Tunnel Rabbit”

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, news of a wayward bull at a central Oregon rodeo. (See the Central & Eastern Oregon section.)

Idaho

Idaho Bar Explodes In Popularity For Celebrating ‘Straight Pride Month’.

o  o  o

Wild horses and burros up for adoption at BLM Off-Range Corral.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — June 10, 2024

Some sad news: Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, who captured ‘Earthrise,’ killed in plane crash.

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On June 10, 1898, US Marines landed in Cuba during the Spanish–American War. Roosevelt’s Rough Riders (The 1st  US Volunteer Cavalry) landed later in June.  The famed Battle Of San Juan Hill was not until July 1st.

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On June 10, 1967, the Six-Day War ended as Israel and Syria agreed to observe a United Nations-mediated cease-fire.

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

 

Travel Berkey Water Filter, by Thomas Christianson

Most SurvivalBlog readers are probably familiar with the rule of threes:

  • You can survive 3 minutes without breathable air or in icy water before losing consciousness.
  • You can survive 3 hours without adequate shelter/clothing in conditions of extreme heat and (especially) cold.
  • You can survive 3 days without water. Drinking unpotable water may extend your survival somewhat, but you may ultimately succumb to illness due to waterborne pathogens or toxins.
  • You can survive 3 weeks without food.

This rule outlines your priorities in a survival situation. If you fall through the ice into a frozen lake, obtaining an adequate supply of food is not your first priority.

In light of this, imagine that a severe weather event has taken down your local power grid and blocked avenues of transportation. You are safely at home. Your air supply is unaffected. Your home is undamaged, and is providing adequate protection from the elements. But your water supply is cut off, and it does not look like it will be restored for more than a week. What can you do to remain properly hydrated until your water supply is restored?

In my case, I have access to alternate sources of water. Among others, these sources include a pond, rain barrels, and a high water table that could be easily accessed via a shallow well. In someone else’s case, these sources might include rivers, lakes, swimming pools, and similar bodies of water. Unfortunately, it would not be advisable to drink water taken from many of these sources without treating that water somehow first. Fortunately, my wife, “Kari” and I have a Travel Berkey Water Filter. The Berkey would enable us to filter water from surface or near-surface sources in order to obtain potable water in a grid-down situation.Continue reading“Travel Berkey Water Filter, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Cookie Sheet Baked Feta and Vegetables

The following recipe for Cookie Sheet Baked Feta and Vegetables is from SurvivalBlog reader  Liz D.  This is intended to be baked on a cookie sheet with a full perimeter lip. It seems that Liz is a fan of the Terminator movies. She writes: “There is no feta but what we bake for ourselves.”

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary plus 2 tablespoons of rosemary leaves
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Kernels from 4 ears of sweet corn
  • 8 mini bell peppers, stemmed, halved and seeded
  • 1 medium zucchini (about 8 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch chunks
  • 6 scallions, trimmed and cut into 2-inch lengths
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 12 ounces feta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slabs
  • 1 cup fine bulgur
  • 8 cups of torn inner escarole leaves or baby spinach
Directions
  1. Place a rimmed baking sheet on the lower rack of the oven.
  2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  3. Combine the vinegar, rosemary sprig and honey in a small saucepan.
  4. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer until thick and syrupy and reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
  5. Remove and discard the rosemary sprig.
  6. Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven.
  7. Scatter the corn, peppers, zucchini and scallions on the baking sheet.
  8. Sprinkle with the red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt.
  9. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and toss.
  10. Nestle the slabs of feta in among the vegetables.
  11. Roast until the vegetables are tender and the feta is warmed through and softened, about 15 minutes.
  12. While the feta and vegetables are roasting, combine 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir in the bulgur. Remove from the heat and cover. Let sit for 8 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
  13. Once the vegetables are tender, turn on the broiler and move the baking sheet to the top rack of the oven.
  14. Broil until the cheese and vegetables are browned in places — about 2 minutes.
SERVING

To serve: Divide the escarole among 4 shallow bowls. Top it with the warm bulgur, vegetables and feta. Drizzle with the balsamic reduction and serve.

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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 the recognition of the right to openly carry a firearm, by state. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

Update: Reader V.T. wrote to mention some possible errors in the graphic:

“Oklahoma has open carry with no permit required (although one is available).  I believe Missouri passed the same.”

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:

The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.

For, today as in the past, each of us, more or less, would like to profit from the labor of others. One does not dare to proclaim this feeling publicly, one conceals it from oneself, and then what does one do? One imagines an intermediary; one addresses the state, and each class proceeds in turn to say to it: “You, who can take fairly and honorably, take from the public and share with us.” Alas! The state is only too ready to follow such diabolical advice; for it is composed of cabinet ministers, of bureaucrats, of men, in short, who, like all men, carry in their hearts the desire, and always enthusiastically seize the opportunity, to see their wealth and influence grow. The state understands, then, very quickly the use it can make of the role the public entrusts to it. It will be the arbiter, the master, of all destinies. It will take a great deal; hence, a great deal will remain for itself. It will multiply the number of its agents; it will enlarge the scope of its prerogatives; it will end by acquiring overwhelming proportions.” – Frédéric Bastiat, The Law