Maximizing Prepping Storage Space – Part 1, by Iowa Dave

Author’s Introductory Note: I am not a carpenter or engineer. I am simply sharing concepts that have worked well for me and can be applied by anyone.

Beans, bullets, and band aids. Their volume grows over time, and we all need somewhere to put them. Mr. Rawles calls his storage space Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR). I call mine The Temple of Doom. Managing the storage of these items is a challenge faced by all preparedness-minded individuals. Most of us have limited resources, and few would say they have enough storage space. The concepts in this article will help you get the most utility out of the space you have

available. Preparedness-minded folks tend to have their “pet” areas, be it firearms, radios, first aid, etc. Storage skills are a topic that is not glamourous to talk about, but something we all need and that we can get better at. In this article, I’ll share my storage evolution with you and walk you through my latest storage improvement project.Continue reading“Maximizing Prepping Storage Space – Part 1, by Iowa Dave”

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 about several ongoing wildfire battles. But rainy weather is expected soon in most of the American Redoubt.

Idaho

Island Creek Fire burning 14,000+ acres north of Elk City.

o  o  o

Idaho’s only woman on death row moves closer to firing squad after Supreme Court ruling.

o  o  o

Local News 8 Investigates: 7 arrested for voter fraud in Fremont County.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“I am proud to have been born in Iowa. Through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy, it was a place of adventure and daily discoveries – the wonder of the growing crops, the excitements of the harvest, the journeys to the woods for nuts and hunting, the joys of snowy winters, the comfort of the family fireside, of good food and tender care.” – Herbert Hoover

Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 8, 2025

On September 8, 1628, Dutch privateer Piet Heyn captured the Spanish silver fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba.

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September 8, 1860: The excursion steamer Lady Elgin sank after being rammed in a storm on Lake Michigan, drowning about 300 people. This was the largest loss of life ever recorded on the Great Lakes.

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And on September 8, 1892: The first appearance of “Pledge of Allegiance” was published in the Youth’s Companion.

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Just in time to be ready for deer hunting season, we’ve just started a week-long sale on all of our Swedish Mauser rifles at Elk Creek Company.  Until Monday, September 15th, 2025, the prices of all of our 6.5×55 mm “Swedes” have been reduced by 10 to 25 percent. These are all pre-1899 no paperworkers that can be mailed right to your door. They include original military configuration rifles and carbines, as well as a few sporters. Note that if you want to pay in pre-1965 U.S silver coins, you can divide by 30!

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Today’s feature article is a review written by our own Tom Christianson.

 

Bear & Son 112A Framelock Assisted Opener Knife, by Thomas Christianson

With a rugged stainless steel handle, a 2.88-inch drop point blade made of high carbon stainless steel, and an assisted opening mechanism, the Bear & Son 112A Framelock Assisted Opener Knife has the right stuff for a solid everyday carry (EDC) knife. Since it is made in the USA and has a price at the time of this writing of $59.99 it is a good value for your hard-earned dollars. It is available at BearAndSonCutlery.com .

I only keep a small number of the knives that I test. Most of them I give away to family, friends, and acquaintances. I am happy to report that I have not yet begun giving knives away to random passing strangers. But the 112A is a knife that I will keep. I highly recommend it.Continue reading“Bear & Son 112A Framelock Assisted Opener Knife, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week:

The following recipe for Parmesan-Thyme Roasted Potato Wedges is from SurvivalBlog reader Ellen H..

Ingredients
  • 5 large potatoes washed and sliced into wedges. (Leave the skins on.)
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves from your garden.  (Or substitute ½ teaspoon of dried thyme.)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or less, to taste)
  • salt (to taste)
  • pepper (to taste)
Directions
  1. Pre-heat your oven to 325 F.
  2. Slice potatoes into wedges
  3. Spread potatoes in a greased 9×13 inch pan.
  4. In a bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour over potatoes.
  5. Place the pan in your oven.
  6. Bake for 45 minutes, turning at least twice during the cooking process.
SERVING

Serve them hot!

STORAGE

These lose their crispiness if stored. But leftovers are okay to refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Expect a huge loss of their proper texture if frozen and reheated.

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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: Map of Nunavut. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Nunavut (population 41,000) is the Largest Electoral District On Earth. It is 8 Times Larger Than The UK.

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

 

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

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 7, 2025

On September 7, 70, the Roman army under General Titus occupied and plundered Jerusalem.

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On September 7, 1876, the Younger Brothers outlaws, who were often allied with Jesse James, were captured following an unsuccessful bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota. There, armed townsmen bested the robbers in a protracted gun battle.

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Today is the birthday of novelist Taylor Caldwell. (Born 1900 – August 30, 1985).

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And September 7th is also the birthday of Richard Cole, born in 1915. He passed away on April 8, 2019, at age 103. Cole was the last living Doolittle Raider. He was General Doolittle’s co-pilot.

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Today’s feature piece is by JWR.

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We are in great need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 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. 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.

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:  

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

As The Song Goes… There’s Only Two Things That Money Can’t Buy

And That’s True Love And Homegrown Tomatoes

Guy Clark’s song: Homegrown Tomatoes.

Photo Credit: Yan Krukau

Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!

Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” – Matthew 19:1-9  (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — September 6, 2025

September 6, 1899: The Carnation Company processed its first can of evaporated milk.

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September 6th, 1757 was the birthday of Marquis de Lafayette (often known simply as Lafayette), a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. (Sept. 6, 1757 – May 20, 1834) came to America at age 19 and served meritoriously in the American Revolution at his own expense.

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Today’s feature article is a guest post by Jennifer Rader, an author who is a prize donor for our writing contest, so it is not a writing contest entry.

We are in great need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 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. 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.

Prayer as Medicine, by Jennifer Rader

Some of the best things in life are free. The same holds true in medicine. A caring heart, a listening ear, a good laugh—these don’t cost a dime, and most everyone agrees that they work.

Prayer, on the other hand, gets a bit controversial.

While a significant number of studies with prayer and healing have been conducted, the results have been somewhat mixed. This can be attributed to the way the study was designed, how prayer is defined and practiced, and to the placebo effect.Continue reading“Prayer as Medicine, by Jennifer Rader”

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’ve been quite busy cataloging new inventory for my Elk Creek Company side business. I also took a trip yesterday to attend a gun show. I only found one gun there that was suitable to add to my inventory: A scarce  Ballard single-shot rifle with an octagonal barrel, chambered in .38 Long Colt.

On the way home, I dropped by to pick up a few antique guns from a friend who has an FFL. He very kindly takes delivery of pre-1899 guns sourced from Internet gun dealers and auction houses that mistakenly put antique guns in their FFL bound books “just to be safe.” They insist on those being sent only to fellow FFL holders. That idiotic practice really aggravates me. But thankfully, my FFL buddy handles this for me, free of charge. And, of course, he never logs them into his bound book. They don’t belong there any more than a BB gun does. (Since pre-1899 guns and blackpowder muzzleloading guns are not considered “firearms”, under Federal law.)  I try to reciprocate by doing favors for him, like occasionally letting him have an appealing gun at my cost, or buying him a restaurant dinner.

It looks like we will have some late summer rains starting on Monday.  That will relieve me from the monotony of moving the sprinklers around on our near pasture.  (It measures about two acres.) I’ve managed to keep that green, all summer long.

This coming week, I plan to install a replacement drop pipe and stainless steel sandpoint into the casing of one of our two shallow backup wells. Both of those wells are less than 30 feet deep. This particular well will also get a new Pitcher-type Hitzer brass and cast iron hand pump that I bought from Ready Made Resources.

I have been experimenting with making fermented pine needle sodapop.

Now, Lily’s part of the report…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”