Field Intelligence Collection – Part 1, by J.M.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War

In a post-disaster scenario, your survival and the survival of those you care about is going to depend heavily on several factors:

  • Skills and experience – Knowing how to perform tasks that are critical to survival
  • Mindset – The ability to face reality and take appropriate actions
  • Resources – Having the right equipment, tools, and supplies
  • Information – Knowing what’s going on around you and how it impacts you

While the first three have been pretty extensively discussed on SurvivalBlog, comprehensive approaches for collecting and managing information/intelligence in a post-disaster scenario haven’t been addressed nearly as much. The focus of this article is on collecting information and intelligence while you’re away from your home base and mobile, although much of it can also be applied to activities while in and around your home.Continue reading“Field Intelligence Collection – Part 1, by J.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, two updates on the Greater Idaho movement. (See Central & Eastern Oregon section.)

Idaho

Idaho Department of Lands reports over 389,000 acres burned this year.

o  o  o

Active-duty troops assist in fighting Boise and Payette forest fires.

o  o  o

Video: Best Motorcycle Roads in Idaho — Top 7 Rides!

o  o  o

Nine day CWD Surveillance Hunt.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“All around my hat I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat for a twelve month and a day
And if anyone should ask me the reason why I’m wearing it
It’s all for my true love who’s far, far away

It’s a quarter pound of reasons and a half a pound of sense
A small sprig of time and as much of prudence
You mix them all together and you will plainly see
He’s a false deluding young man, let him go, farewell he and

All around my hat I will wear the green willow
And all around my hat for a twelve month and a day
And if anyone should ask me the reason why I’m wearing it
It’s all for my true love who’s far, far away.” – From the lyrics to All Around My Hat, by Steeleye Span

Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 19, 2024

On August 19, 1561, Mary Queen of Scots arrived in Leith, Scotland to assume the throne after spending 13 years in France.

—

On August 19, 2020: Apple became the first US company to be valued at $2 trillion, just two years after it reached $1 trillion valuation.

—

UPDATE:  SOLD OUT — We have sold out of a batch of 10 antique Swiss Schmidt-Rubin Model 1896/11 rifles. We had them here at the ranch for just a week. An importer kindly hand-picked all antique (1898 or earlier) ones for me. There were only 10 antique ones out of about 200 that they had on hand. The 1896/11 model can shoot the modern high-pressure 7.5 x 55 ammunition.  We will try to locate another batch. – JWR

—

Today’s feature article was written by SurvivalBlog Filed Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

—

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.

Log Home Repair, by Thomas Christianson

One of the major drawbacks of owning a log home is the amount of maintenance that such homes require. Logs decay if they are not properly maintained. To keep a log home from decaying, a log home owner must constantly inspect, stain, and repair the logs.

My wife, “Kari”, and I have lived in a log home for the past 11 years. The home was built about 36 years ago. Kari and I have worked hard to maintain the home, but not all of the previous owners were as diligent as we are. At least one previous owner neglected to stain the logs for much too long. That owner also evidently stacked firewood against the wall of the home near one of the sliding doors. That stacked firewood trapped moisture against the logs at that point, allowing decay to begin in one of the logs. Eventually, the decay progressed to the point that action needed to be taken to prevent further damage.Continue reading“Log Home Repair, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: R.J.’s Canned Meat Patties

The following recipe for Canned Meat Patties is from SurvivalBlog reader R.J.  It works well in combination with other storage foods.

Ingredients
  • Canned chicken, salmon, or almost any type of canned meat or seafood will suffice.
  • Bread crumbs, or cornmeal, or ground-up crackers
  • Eggs (fresh, or you can use reconstituted powdered eggs.)
Directions
  1. Combine canned meat, bread crumbs, and eggs in a mixing bowl.
  2. Combine it all together thoroughly and start making individual patties of desired size.
  3. Pour a bit of cooking oil into a pan and turn heat on to medium-high, be sure to let the oil heat up for a few minutes
  4. Place patties in the cooking oil and cook on each side until golden brown, the exact time will vary. Typically about 5 minutes for each side.
SERVING

Serve while still hot.

—

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 Stand Your Ground (aka “Castle Doctrine”) Laws and legal precedents in the United States. Note that this data ironically comes from The Giffords Center, a rabidly anti-gun legislative pressure group. This map shows how out-of-touch the gun grabbers are with the majority of Americans and our long-standing legal traditions.

(Graphic courtesy of Reddit and Statista.)

The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

 

—

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:

“Oh Napolean Bonaparte, You’re the cause of my woe
Since my bonny light horseman to the wars he did go
Broken hearted I wander, broken hearted I remain
Since my bonny light horseman in the wars he was slain

When Bonny commanded his armies to stand
And proudly to his banners all gaily and grand
He leveled his cannons right over the plain
Andy my bonny lgith horseman in the wars he was slain

And if I was a small bird and had wings and could fly
I would fly over the salt sea where my true love does lie
Three years and six months now since he left this bright shore
Oh my bonny light horseman, will I ere see you more

The dove she laments for her mate as she flies;
“Oh where, tell me where is my true love? ” she sighs
And where in this world is there one to compare
With my bonny light horseman who was killed in the war.” – Lyrics to the traditional Irish song: Bonny Light Horseman

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 18, 2024

On August 18, 1872, Aaron Montgomery Ward issued the first “catalog” for his mail-order business, it was one sheet listing 163 available items.

—

August 18th is the birthday of Meriwether Lewis, an American explorer, soldier, politician, and public administrator who was best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

—

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. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  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. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  6. 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.

Observations on an Attempted Assassination, by R.G.

What a world we live in when we are given evidence that we cannot believe our government institutions. This assassination attempt keeps getting crazier and crazier. This is proof before our eyes that we are currently living in a world of disinformation and subterfuge. In the days of Kennedy and Reagan, the alphabet agencies could get away with something like this. But with smartphones and social media of today, it becomes infinitely harder to attempt an assassination and then get away with it.

I am a retired quality assurance manager who in my past life specialized in determining what went wrong during unplanned problems/accidents. If it was a physical issue, then you just focused on physics, math, and software, but eventually, it would get to human error. That is when you had to be prepared for human nature: protection of self and friends. So, you expected some misinformation/disinformation or even outright lying. Since I am now retired, I have plenty of time to sift through all the attempted assassination data and conspiracy theories that are flying around out there. So, I will try to enumerate what we think we know and what else is being said that “could be” considered conspiracy theory.Continue reading“Observations on an Attempted Assassination, by R.G.”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

These Are The People

Who Characterize J.D. Vance as “Weird”

News Link:  JD Vance Blames His ‘Weird’ Label On ’24-Year-Old Social Media Interns’.

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: 

“I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:18-32 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — August 17, 2024

On August 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille struck the US coastline and killed 259 people (mainly in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.)

—

On August 17, 1859, the first air mail (in a balloon) took off from Lafayette, Indiana.

—

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. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  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. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  6. 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.

Growing and Preparing Dried Beans – Part 2, by A.F.

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

When the time to cook arrives, the first step is to sort through the beans and remove any detritus or shriveled beans. In commercial products, it isn’t uncommon to find small rocks that were collected by the combine at harvest mixed in with the beans. Your next step is deciding if you are going to pre-soak or not. I tend to pre-soak dried peas but skip the pre-soak for beans. In both cases, I prefer cooking in a crock pot over using a pot on the stovetop. The common belief is that adding salt to soaking beans prevents the beans from fully hydrating and softening. I have never added salt for this reason and therefore can’t say if its presence before cooking negatively impacts the texture. I do give my rehydrated peas a rinse with cold water before cooking.

As to flavoring your dish, both garlic and onion in fresh or powdered forms are mainstays in our home. Field peas pair well with small amounts of bay leaf or rosemary whereas pinto beans deserve a bit of cayenne and butter beans only need time and salt (in my opinion). For cooking liquid, never use water alone. Beef stock, bullion powder, apple cider and marinades can be used as partial water replacement to impart unique or specific flavors to dishes. For crock pot cooking I aim for six cups of liquid per pound of beans and cook on low all day.Continue reading“Growing and Preparing Dried Beans – Part 2, by A.F.”

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:

I was busy this past week cross-cutting, splitting, and stacking firewood. Our youngest daughter did most of the stacking.

I helped Lily harvest part of our potato crop and put them in storage in our cool room.

One day this week, I did an on-site seminar for one of my consulting clients and a couple of his close friends.

I also mailed out several Elk Creek Company orders. These included several pre-1899 Schmidt-Rubin Model 1896/11 rifles. There is now just one of them left, from a batch of 10. “Going, going…”

Now, Lily’s part of the report…Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”