Tree Propagation Through Air Layering – Part 1, by T.S., PhD

It’s summer and you find yourself in a TEOTWAWKI situation. You wish you had access to more trees or shrubs that produce food. You realize things won’t be back to normal anytime soon, so investing the energy and time now seems like a good idea for the payoff in calories of fresh fruit or nuts a few years into the future. Propagation by seed is one easy way to get more trees, but you’ll have to wait until late summer or fall to harvest seeds, and then let them cold stratify (i.e., simulate winter conditions via subjecting them to cold temperatures) over winter. Additionally, most trees and shrubs won’t breed true (i.e., meaning the seeds will not grow into the delicious food-producing nursery cultivar tree you gather seed from). So how else can you propagate a tree or shrub? This article covers one of the easiest methods for tree or shrub propagation, air layering.

Materials needed (with possible substitutions discussed in this article):
1. Clear Kitchen Wrap ~ 18 inches
2. Peat Moss ~ 1 handful
3. Aluminum foil ~ 18 inches
4. Rooting hormone (~0.8% IBA strength)

Note: Items 1-3 on the above list are be easily substituted or improvised in a TEOTWAWKI scenario. Methods for improvising rooting hormone are not easy. Air layering can be performed without rooting hormone with much lower success rates. This article does discuss how to create your own rooting hormone solution using Salix spp. (i.e., trees in the willow genus) trees.

Air layering has been practiced for thousands of years. When a node (botany term for the part of a plant where leaves or branches form) containing part of many plant species finds itself tipped down into/onto the ground, roots form. For example, if a branch is bent over to the ground and kept in place using a rock, roots may form under the rock and over time the roots can support new shoots and live independently of the original plant. This process, which clones the original plant, is known as layering. Plants can be layered using the tip of a branch or mid branch. Air layering is simply what you call it when we artificially bring the ground up to the plant. Other common names for air layering include pot layering (because a special pot with premade holes is used to hold soil next to a branch) and Chinese layering (the method is believed to have been developed by the Chinese). Air layering can be done in many ways, which will be covered below.

But first, let’s understand why air layering is a good idea for a novice in plant propagation and well suited for a TEOTWAWKI situation. Note, several other plant propagation methods will be mentioned briefly, not as a how-to-guide, but to contrast them with air layering.Continue reading“Tree Propagation Through Air Layering – Part 1, by T.S., PhD”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

Bluesman wrote to mention:

“Today I had our 325-gallon propane tank refilled at $2.39 per gallon. We have owned the tank for 4 years and I inquired about buying a larger used one.  The driver mentioned that steel propane tanks were very difficult to buy at this time. He said by ordering now we may have it delivered next March or maybe April or ?  Buying one now you would not be sure of delivery date. He also mentioned that if a person gets 1 month in arrears on any payment associated with the tank it is repossessed. He said they need steel tanks and that this situation is common throughout North America. The lowest prices on propane in our S.E. Washington area [tends to be in] the last two weeks in July thru the first two weeks of August.”

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Tim. J. liked this instructional video:  KFC Style Keto Coleslaw – only 2g net carbs per serving.

“Hands down, my favorite coleslaw is the stuff from KFC. Unfortunately, KFC isn’t particularly keto, so I haven’t had their coleslaw in a couple of years.  In this video, I attempt to recreate the taste and texture from memory.”

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Reader James D. recommended this video: Peter McCullough, MD testifies to Texas Senate HHS Committee.

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Andre sent us these three links:

Volcano erupts on La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands.

BBC: Mega-tsunami: Questions and Answers

INTENSIFYING SEISMIC CRISIS AT LA PALMA VOLCANO: MEGA-TSUNAMI POTENTIAL

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D.S. spotted this headline: Japan ‘preparing for war’ in first major military drills for 30 YEARS as tensions rage with China over disputed islands.

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Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“If you have harmed someone in self-defense, always remember that the active dynamic is not what you did to him, it’s what he was trying to do to you or another victim.” –  Massad Ayoob, Deadly Force – Understanding Your Right to Self Defense

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 21, 2021

On this day in 1780, during the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnold met with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British in return for the promise of a large sum of money and a high position in the British army. The plot was foiled and Arnold, a former American hero, became synonymous with the word “traitor”. It’s too bad the current crop of politicians are not held accountable for their treasonous acts.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 96 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 course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. 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).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.

Third Prize:

  1. 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)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Siege Stoves is generously donating a SIEGE® STOVE kit, including a Titanium Gen 3 Flat-Pack Stove with titanium Cross-Members and a variety of bonus items including a Large Folding Grill, a pair of Side Toasters, a Compact Fire Poker, and an extra set of stainless steel universal Cross-Members. (In all, a $200 value.)
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 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!

—

More than $700,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 96 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.

Processing Chickens on Our Homestead, by Ozark Redneck

Growing up, we had chickens and I dreaded butcher day. Momma would get a fire going and put a huge pot of water on for scalding the chickens to remove the feathers. Dad had two cord loops one for their feet, which I held and one for the neck, which he held while he used a hatchet & a chopping block to dispatch the bird. If you have butchered chickens this way you know where the saying “she is running ‘round like a chicken with it’s head cut off” comes from. That scene and the smell of scalding chickens in hot water is enough to turn the stomach of any 9-year-old.

Fortunately, there is a better way. Somebody invented a chicken killing cone, that I have used for many years. This device inverts the chicken. Be sure to get their feet out of the cone at the top, I have had a few chickens actually push themselves out of the cone. I grab the beak/head, stretch the neck and quickly cut the head off with a sharp knife. One could use pliers to hold the beak/head if needed. After the blood drains move the bird to your butcher table. I use a folding white one from Sam’s Club.

I have used these fish cleaning stations, basically a folding white plastic table with a sink and faucet, so your garden hose just hooks up to the sink, makes everything handy and easier, especially if you are dealing with a large volume of animals to butcher.

I set up a large 39-gallon trash can with liner under the lip of the table, and as I work I put the waste into the trash can. I use a large stainless-steel bowl and stainless steel deep serving trays to put the clean birds into. I use poultry shears like these Fiskars. They make good products.Continue reading“Processing Chickens on Our Homestead, by Ozark Redneck”

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 of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on the death of Gabby Petito. (See the Wyoming section.)

Idaho

Idaho’s unemployment rate continues to drop

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Labor shortages are still impacting Idaho industries. This is why.

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COVID-19 surge forces health care rationing in parts of West.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 20, 2021

On September 20, 1995, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to discontinue the national 55 MPH speed limit. This allowed the states to again decide their own speed limits, without fear of losing Federal highway funding.

On this day in 1519, Magellan left Europe on his voyage of discovery.

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Today we are posting another review by our veteran Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.

Desert Eagle .44 Magnum Pistol, by Pat Cascio

Much as I hate to admit, there was a time, a long, long time ago, when I lusted after every new type of firearm I saw in the gun magazines. And, truth be told, I did lay claim to a lot of those guns. As I grew older – and maybe a little wiser – I stopped this foolishness. I discovered that any number of firearms were pretty much the same – in many ways – as some of the guns I desired to own.

I believe it was back around 1975, when I was reading an issue of Soldier Of Fortune magazine, and spied the editor, Bob Brown, in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) with a Desert Eagle .44 magnum pistol in his hand. I had to have one. However, many years went by, before I actually was able to lay claim to one. Even today, the Desert Eagle, especially in .44 Mag is hard to come by – they’ve been in demand forever.

We’ve all seen the movies, where one of the good guys, in some cases, Arnold Schwartzeneggar easily carrying and using a Desert Eagle .44 Magnum pistol. How many of us, wanted one of those elephant killer pistols? I wouldn’t want to hunt big game in Africa, like elephants, rhino, etc., with a .44 Mag handgun, no matter what type of ammo I had stoked in it. However, for big game in the USA, I wouldn’t hesitate to hunt any North American big game with this caliber – assuming I had it loaded with the right type of ammo, for the game at hand.

Despite what many people believe, gun writers, in general, honestly don’t make a lot of money, and we have to hold down other jobs in many cases, so we can pursue our passion about writing about guns, I’m one of them – without my lovely wife working a full-time job (she’s now retired) and helping pay the bills, I would have stopped writing many years ago. One of the “problems” we gun writers have is that, we want to own every gun we test and write about. I can’t do it, and oftentimes, return a gun sample when I’m done with it. Now, many of the gun companies, give us writers a decent discount if we want to purchase the gun sample they sent us – still, we can’t afford to purchase all the samples we test and write about…just not possible on our income.

Many people believe that, because I write about guns (and other topics) that I have a huge gun collection – nothing could be further from the truth. When I worked for the late Col. Rex Applegate, one of my duties was maintaining his gun collection. At that time, he had no less than 850 guns, so it was almost a full-time chore some months to care for those guns. One of the perks of the job was that Applegate, allowed me to take home just about anything from his collection to test and write about them.

On to the subject at hand, and that is a sample of the Desert Eagle, chambered in .44 Magnum caliber. To be sure, they are an awesome handgun, to handle and shoot. I didn’t get the chance to test the Desert Eagle on any big game hunting, my hunting days are about over these days – sad to say! However, I did get to shoot this pistol all I wanted, and the nice folks at Black Hills Ammunition, kept me well-stocked with several of their .44 Mag loads. One thing about the Desert Eagle is that, it is a big – and heavy – pistol, and weighs in at 4-lbs 6.6-ounces, so the recoil really was all that bad.

One thing to keep in mind is that the .44 mag is a gas-operated, rotating bolt semiauto pistol, and that helps keep the recoil down a bit, too. You can NOT shoot cast lead bullets in any handgun with a gas-operated recoil system, because those soft lead bullets will clog-up your gas port in short order – ‘causing malfunctions. My sample, in .44 Magnum, stood 6.25-inches high, and with an overall length of 10.75-inches so you can see, this is a monster of a handgun, not to mention how wide it is.

My sample came in the black oxide finish, however, you can have your Desert Eagle customized in any number of finishes and colors to suit your taste. The frame, barrel, and slide on my sample were all carbon steel, and that alone contributes to the heavy weight. Trigger pull is advertised at 4-pounds, but my sample was a bit heavier, not a deal-breaker because the trigger is a single action and that helps in a reduced “feeling” trigger pull.Continue reading“Desert Eagle .44 Magnum Pistol, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Zucchini Soup

The following recipe for Zucchini Soup is from reader M.N.R.  He says: “Super easy. No exact measurements needed.”

Ingredients
  • Onion  (I prefer a sweet onion such as Vidalia)
  • Garlic to taste (I use 2 cloves sliced into tiny pieces)
  • Two large potatoes (I use Yukons because they’re ready)
  • Lots of sliced zucchini (A great way to use up those oversized zucchini)
  • Water
  • Salt to taste
Directions
  1. Put all ingredients in large saucepan.
  2. Add just enough water to cover.
  3. Boil until everything is soft.
  4. Pour everything into a blender.
  5. Blend on high until thoroughly blended (a minute?)
    Yummy creamy zucchini soup! Note:  More water makes the soup thinner so before blending I pour off some water. I have also pressure canned this soup, but don’t know what it will taste like after storage.

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Do you have a favorite 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 and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, I describe ratio trading, in your tangibles portfolio. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

There should be a bounce-back in precious metals, from the drops on the mornings of Thursday and Friday, last week. I try not to let short-term market volatility bother me. I’m more of a “Long Haul” metals investor.

Once there is a public realization that the claimed “transitory” price inflation of the U.S. Dollar will actually become chronic inflation, I expect to see a substantial rally for precious metals and many durable base metal commodities.  I anticipate that chromium, copper, and nickel will all increase, in Dollar terms. Those “in Dollar terms” rallies will most likely begin in October or November of 2021. Time will tell.

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50 Years Since The Closure Of The “Gold Window” (Part 1)

Economy & Finance:

Who Pays For Dems’ Plan To Spend Trillions To ‘Stimulate’ Economy? Hint: Not The Rich.

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H.L. sent us this: Here’s how coin circulation issues are affecting some CT retailers. JWR’s Comment:  Presumably, many of these same effects are still being felt nationwide.

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Jobless claims rise to 332,000 as economy tries to regain momentum.

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Treasury Department Seeks to Track Financial Transactions of Personal Bank Accounts Over $600.

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At Wolf Street: Business Travel, Conventions, Office Occupancy Stuck in Collapse: Been so Long, People Forgot What Old Normal Was.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The end of capitalism will be due to the unbelievable amount of debt that is currently being created. This will create monster inflation that will destroy every currency. The only currency that cannot be destroyed is gold. When investors realize this, we’ll have the makings of the greatest bull market in gold ever seen.” – Richard Russell, Editor of The Dow Theory Letters

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 19, 2021

On this date in 1796, George Washington addressed the nation in his farewell address as President.

And on September 19th, 1778, the Continental Congress passed the first budget of the United States. While the budget may have passed, the states responded poorly to the call for taxes to fund the government, and the government resorted to printing paper money to cover debts. In effect, the first budget was a failure, due in large part to the states not responding to the demands of Congress and the depreciation of fiat paper money.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 96 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 course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. 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).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.

Third Prize:

  1. 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)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Siege Stoves is generously donating a SIEGE® STOVE kit, including a Titanium Gen 3 Flat-Pack Stove with titanium Cross-Members and a variety of bonus items including a Large Folding Grill, a pair of Side Toasters, a Compact Fire Poker, and an extra set of stainless steel universal Cross-Members. (In all, a $200 value.)
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 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!

—

More than $700,000 worth of prizes have been awarded, since we started running this contest. Round 96 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.

Oviedo M1893 Mauser Short Rifle – Part 2, by The Novice

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

The First Range Session

I went to the range behind my barn, placed the Caldwell Lead Sled 3 and the homemade lead sled on a table at the position from which I wanted to fire, and then placed the rifle on the Caldwell sled.

I removed the bolt, and bore-sighted the rifle on the bottom center target. I then checked the aim point of the iron sights, and found them to be in the same general ballpark.

Next, I pounded a t-post fence post in the ground at the back of the lead sled to serve as a substitute for my shoulder. I used a nylon strap as a substitute for my hand to secure the forend of the rifle to the front rest of the sled. I took a rubber band cut from a bicycle inner tube, put it around some paracord, and used it to hold the paracord in place on the trigger. I ran the paracord around the back of the t-post, and ran it over to the wood stack that I planned to shelter behind while firing the first shot. I then tested the arrangement by cocking the rifle on an empty chamber, and dry firing it from behind the wood stack. The experiment was a success.

Next, I chambered a round, took shelter behind the wood stack, pulled the paracord, and fired the round. I ejected the brass, and examined it for any signs of deformity, bulging, or a blown primer. The brass appeared completely undamaged. I also carefully inspected the breech and bore for any signs of problems. There were none.

Based upon this successful test firing, I chambered another round and fired it normally, using the lead sled. The shot hit low and to the right. I fired two more rounds using the same aim point but without adjusting the sights. One bullet hit high center, and one hit low left. I checked to see if the sights might be loose, causing inconsistency in the point of aim. That was not the case.

I fired an additional two shots using the same aim point. They were a bit closer than the previous shots, but nothing to brag about. An examination of the target suggested that the bullets were tumbling in flight, producing keyhole-like tears in the targets.Continue reading“Oviedo M1893 Mauser Short Rifle – Part 2, by The Novice”