Tree Planting and Care, by R.B.

Late winter into early spring is usually the time for planting, pruning, and getting trees ready for the coming summer. Since trees and maintenance services are usually expensive, you need to know how to do this for yourself. If you are thinking about planting new trees in the next 6 to 18 months, then now is the time to prepare. Purchases from a tree nursery must often be planned months in advance. Some nurseries take pre-orders a year ahead.

Whether you are planting a fruit tree, a nut tree, a deciduous shade tree, or an evergreen tree for privacy and wind reduction, the planting process is more than just digging a hole in the ground and dropping it in. My grandfather spent time planting trees for shelter belts during the Great Depression, when the wind picked up loose topsoil to create the Dust Bowl. Some of those shelter belts can still be seen around Nebraska and Kansas to this day, although many are poorly maintained. That is sad! Proper planting and spacing is essential.
Continue reading“Tree Planting and Care, by R.B.”

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.

Region-Wide

Today is election day in many states, for state and local issues. Examine the backgrounds of your candidates closely, and then get out and vote!

o  o  o

101 things to do in the Inland Northwest this summer.

Idaho

Reader R.J. sent this: West Coast exodus drives surprising political effect in red state, and it’s not a liberal shift. Here is an excerpt:

“Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, according to recent census data, with most of the increase coming not from births, but from West Coast movers. The rapid population gains have ballooned housing prices and strained inventory, while also sparking fears among conservative Idahoans that their new neighbors will bring liberal policies across the state line.

On the politics front, however, voter registration data suggests Gem State Republicans have nothing to fear.

‘Politically, we are not changing anything’ Bonner County Commissioner Luke Omodt said. ‘Idaho is actually growing redder.'”

o  o  o

Chad Daybell trial: Full recap of prosecution’s case.

o  o  o

‘This case is turning into a hamster wheel’: Family of slain University of Idaho student frustrated at pace of murder trial.

o  o  o

6 people killed, 10 others injured in Idaho when pickup crashes into passenger van.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Imagine the sea-level of the oceans rising at a rate of 50 feet in elevation per day … across the globe.  Naturally, out of self-preservation, any creature in its right mind would be compelled to move to higher ground for safety.

No matter how persistent the efforts to build levies with bulldozers and fill sandbags, the waters rush in, over, and through every countermeasure.  Eventually, the creatures congregate to safe havens and places of refuge.

Now think of the rising water in human societal and cultural terms.  There has already been a shift of people moving to “higher ground,” socially speaking of course.  Conservative, God-fearing men and women who love liberty and traditional American ideals are moving to safe havens and joining those already in places of refuge.  The waters of Marxism, Communism, Socialism, Humanism, Existentialism, Globalism, Islamo-fascism, anti-Americanism, and “Tolerance” are rising.

Christianity, Biblical doctrine and traditional American values are under attack from an increasingly hostile and intolerant  “ism” culture.

Most certainly one of the most significant demographic shifts in the United States today is the movement of people with fundamental American and Judeo-Christian value systems moving into the inland Pacific Northwest.  Particularly, this retreat to higher ground encompasses Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Eastern Oregon, and Eastern Washington.

It’s hardly visible, as a strong current under the surface.  But it’s there.  That, my friends, is the American Redoubt.  A stronghold.  A safe haven.  A refuge.” – Radio Free Redoubt Host “John Jacob Schmidt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — May 20, 2024

Today, some sad news of the passing of a famed fighter ace: Bud Anderson, the last World War II ‘triple ace,’ dies at 102.

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On May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off on the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight. He departed from Long Island in the United States and arrived in Paris, France at 22:22 on the next day.

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On May 20, 1862, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, which provided 160 acres of public land virtually free of charge to those who had lived on and cultivated the land for at least five years.

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May 20th, 1942 was the birthday of Carlos Hathcock.  (He died February 23, 1999.) Hathcock was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills.

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I just noticed that we’ve now archived almost 39,000 blog articles, columns, and quotes in SurvivalBlog. Please let your friends know that the entire SurvivalBlog archives are available free of charge. Subscriptions are entirely voluntary.  The archives can be accessed by category, by date, or via our search box at the top of the right-hand bar.

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

Fiskars Pro Folding Utility Knife, by Thomas Christianson

With a hefty, ergonomically-shaped, rubber-coated handle approximately 0.88 inches thick and a well-engineered, all-metal blade holder, the Fiskars Pro Folding Utility Knife provides a rugged tool for serious cutting. It is roughly 4.5 inches in length folded and 6.5 inches open. The supplied Carbon Max blade provides superior edge retention in comparison with standard utility knife blades. The chunky handle is comfortable to grip, but also takes up quite a bit of room when clipped into a pants pocket.

With a manufacturer suggested retail price of $26.99 at www.fiskars.com at the time of this writing, and widely available elsewhere online for as low as $12.98, the knife represents a good value for the money for people like me who tend to be hard on their tools.Continue reading“Fiskars Pro Folding Utility Knife, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Cassie’s Cucumber Salad

The following recipe for Cassie’s Cucumber Salad is from SurvivalBlog reader Cassandra H.

Ingredients
  • 2 Long English cucumbers (about 2 pounds)
  • 1 small red onion
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar or substitute a sherry vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh dill (or 2 teaspoons of dried dill.)
Directions
  1. Wash the cucumbers thoroughly. Take Note: These days a lot of store-bought cukes are coated with wax. (I use equal parts water and vinegar together in a baking dish. I soak cukes for a minute, turning them often, and then rub them down with a rough dish towel, and then rinse them with cold tap water.)
  2. Slice the cucumbers lengthwise, remove the seeds
  3. Slice them thinly, crosswise.
  4. Peel and then thinly slice the onion.
  5. In a colander, toss the cucumber and onion with the salt and let it sit and drain over a sink for 20 minutes.
  6. Press the liquid out of the vegetables and rinse well with cold water.
  7. In a medium bowl combine the vinegar and sugar and stir well.
  8. Add the cucumber and onion mixture and toss them to coat them well.
  9. Stir in the dill.
SERVING

Serve within two hours.  Cucumber salad is traditionally served with grilled chicken or fish. I have found that this salad goes particularly well with baked or grilled salmon.

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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!

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — May 19, 2024

On May 19, 1935, British archaeological scholar, military strategist, and author T.E. Lawrence, whose life inspired the epic film Lawrence of Arabia (1962), died at age 46 following a motorcycle accident.

On May 19, 1643 Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Harbor form the United Colonies of New England.

On May 19, 1796, the first game law was approved in the United States. The law created penalties for hunting or destroying game within Indian Territory. Modern American fish and game laws make “living off the land” nearly impossible, outside of Alaska.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 112 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 $875,000 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 112 ends on May 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.

A Subsonic 5.56mm AR – Part 2, by R.A.O.

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

AMMUNITION: STOCK UP ON 5.56 SUBSONIC AMMUNITION

I like to use Beck brand subsonic ammunition as they are good quality cartridges and best for this scenario. Subsonic means that it doesn’t break the sound barrier so there is no secondary boom (or “crack”) when firing. The first boom (from the powder charge) is silenced by the suppressor, and there is no secondary hypersonic boom, beyond the suppressor. Hopefully, that makes sense to everyone. Use subsonic ammunition in situations where you need to be nearly silent.

One caveat is that subsonic ammunition is not powerful enough to push the bolt carrier group on the AR-15 of the upper receiver all the way back to cycle the next round to allow semi-automatic fire. But you can work around this issue. Fire your sniping shot from your subsonic ammo magazine. (My magazines have green tape at the bottom to ensure I know they are not for semi-auto use.) Then manually cycle each cartridge by pulling the charging handle back, and releasing it.

Should a Close Quarter Battle (CQB) ensue and you need rounds that can cycle the bolt carrier group in the upper receiver for fast semi-automatic rifle then you simply swap that magazine out with your supersonic ammo magazine. (One without the green tape). But do not forget to cycle the bolt carrier group manually once, after the magazine is swapped out.  That will ready your rifle for semi-auto fire.Continue reading“A Subsonic 5.56mm AR – Part 2, by R.A.O.”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

Our Leftist Mass Media Tells Us That Protestors Can Freely Burn Flags as “Freedom of Speech”

But If Justice Alito’s Wife Flys One Upside Down, It is an “Ethics Violation”

News Links:

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:

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” – Hebrews 10:1-10 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — May 18, 2024

On May 18, 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state triggered the largest landslide in history, killing 57 people and causing over $1 billion in damage.

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May 18th, 1825 was the birthday of Daniel Baird Wesson, of Smith and Wesson fame.

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Unless a preliminary injunction is issued in the pending Texas v. ATF case, the ATF’s grossly-expanded redefinition of “Engaged in the Business” will go into effect on Monday, May 20th.  I strongly recommend that my readers be very cautious about making any sales of post-1898 guns or receivers without an FFL. Intrastate private party sales at gun shows, via newspaper classified ads, or through online sites such as gun forums, Armslist.com, and GunBroker.com will surely be closely scrutinized by the ATF. Anyone with a high political profile will be at particular risk of prosecution. This is because Federal law enforcement has been weaponized for political purposes by the Bidenistas. Thankfully, pre-1899 guns are still Federally exempt.  And 80% complete frames will also continue to be exempt, if the current injunction stands. Stock up, while you still can.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 112 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 $875,000 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 112 ends on May 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.

 

A Subsonic 5.56mm AR – Part 1, by R.A.O.

PROLOGUE

There are deep state characters who are pulling the strings on the senile installed puppet in the Oval Office. That same man who reportedly received “the most votes in any presidential election.” Yes, that installed President.

“Ultra MAGA” is a term now utilized by the Antichrist principled in power to further divide the US population. It is a group of people that are placed into a bucket to vilify by the Leftist media and the Biden administration. Last I thought, the President of the United States should unite a nation not call out to half the country as MAGA Republicans as evil Americans. This is sort of like Adolf Hitler speaking of Jews as lice. It will only get worse.

Kamala Harris has stated that January 6, 2021 was akin to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. She also stated that the BLM riots needed to be ramped up. These rioters murdered police officers, torched shopping districts across America costing $100 billion dollars to repair, looted stores, throngs blocked traffic, and then harmed/harassed/assaulted common Americans, for “social justice.” Not one of these Leftist Rioters have seen the inside of a federal prison. However, the Grandmothers waving American flags, not touching a thing inside the Capitol building on January 6, AD 2021 are still in prison today and have seen solitary confinement.

On the other side of the coin, only Republicans go to prison and Democrats get off scot-free from crimes they have committed. Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Gen. Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, Allen Weisselberg (Trump’s corporate executive), and the entire host of January 6, 2021 election protestors at the US Capitol have all been sent to jail. President Donald J. Trump had his mug shot taken at the Fulton County Jail recently and currently has over 100 felony charges against him.Continue reading“A Subsonic 5.56mm AR – Part 1, by R.A.O.”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

A local buyer came with his stock trailer to take delivery of two of our yearlings: A heifer and a steer. That went smoothly, with no real rodeo required.

I had to make a trip to town, for some grain and other supplies.  I also bought a 25-pound sack of juicing  carrots. We use those as training aids, for our horses and cattle.

We dehorned and elastrated a week-old bull calf.

I helped Lily with more manure hauling and rototilling.

I turned the water back on, to our fenced orchard/garden. (That part of our water system had been drained, for the winter.)

I’ve also been very busy, adding a backlog of pre-1899 antique cartridge guns to my Elk Creek Company online inventory. At the risk of sounding self-promotional, I want to mention that a whopping 19 antique cartridge rifles have just been added. They include:

  • A Restored Winchester M1892 Carbine in .45 Colt, with Half-Magazine
  • A Ludwig Loewe M1895 .45 ACP Scout Conversion Supressor Host Carbine
  • A Fine Winchester Model 1894 Round Barrel .32-40, Made in 1898
  • A Chilean Loewe M1895 Mauser 7×57 Boyd’s Laminate Stock Sporter
  • A Ludwig Loewe M1891 Argentine Mauser Scoped Sporter
  • A Scarce Pre-1899 Schmidt-Rubin M1896/11 Rifle, 7.5 Swiss
  • Two Turkish M1893 Mauser 8x57mm Mauser – Ankara Arsenal Rework Rifles
  • A Nice Finnish Valmet M39 Mosin-Nagant on an 1896 Receiver
  • A Remington Rolling Block 7×57 Mauser Rifle – Circa 1896
  • A Chilean Loewe M1895 Mauser 7×57 Iron-Sight Sporter
  • A Winchester M1892 .44-40 with 23″ with Round Barrel
  • A Sporterized Swedish Mauser, 6.5×55 with Weaver Scope
  • An 1895-Dated Swedish M1894 Carbine 6.5×55 Semi-Sporter
  • A Winchester M1894 .30-30 Saddle Ring Carbine — Made in 1897
  • An Early Winchester M1892 .38-40 with 23″ Barrel
  • A 7.62mm NATO-Converted Ludwig Loewe Chilean Mauser
  • A Ludwig Loewe M1891 Argentine Mauser .308 Winchester Scoped Sporter
  • A Ludwig Loewe M1891 Argentine Mauser Scout Sporter (7.65mm Argentine Mauser)

I haven’t yet posted photos of all of them, but please take a look at the Elk Creek Company website.

Now, Lily’s report…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”