Kershaw Innuendo, by Pat Cascio

In my 29 years of testing and writing about knives (and firearms) I have always been on the lookout for the next “big” thing in these products. And, let’s be honest here. It is really hard to find something new and unique to write about, especially when it comes to cutlery. All knives have one major function, and that is to cut something – pure and simple.

I used to design knives, and still do, to a certain extent – and it is difficult to find a new style or design to come up with. Once again, all cutlery has one major purpose, and that is to cut something. Of course, I know more than a few people, who still tend to use a knife blade as a pry bar, and then when the tip of the blade breaks off, they don’t know why!

There’s a lot to be said about “style” when it comes to knives, if the design of the knife isn’t appealing to the buyer, they will just pass it up. So, when a knife company decides to come out with a new design, it takes a lot of thought. In this case, the Kershaw Knives Innuendo folder was a collaboration between custom knife designer and maker Les George, and Kershaw. And, just because something looks a little different doesn’t mean it will be a hot seller as many believe. One more thing to take into consideration is the price point. A good knife doesn’t have to cost a lot of money – and “good” is the key word.

The Innuendo folder was designed in the USA, and manufactured in Mainland China. So if that bothers you, then you can skip reading the rest of this review article. Sadly, this shows us consumer market forces at work.  Most buyers are not willing to pay for American-made knives, even if they are mass-produced. The production costs are simply too high. So a good portion of the knives sold by American companies are designed in the U.S., but produced overseas.Continue reading“Kershaw Innuendo, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Fry Pan Ham & Rice

The following recipe for Fry Pan Ham & Rice is from SurvivalBlog reader Lisa in Ohio. You will need a large fry pan with a lid, or a skillet with a lid.

Note that cooked turkey may be substituted for the cooked ham.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup of sliced mushrooms
• 1 medium-size onion, chopped
• 1 cup pre-cooked ham or turkey, cubed
• Ground pepper (to taste)
• 1/4 cup water (omit if using cooked rice instead of instant rice)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth or turkey broth
• 1 cup cooked rice or 3/4 cup uncooked instant rice
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions
  1. In a large fry pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat
  2. Saute onion and mushrooms until tender.
  3. Stir in ham, pepper, water (if used), and broth
  4. Bring to a boil.
  5. Stir in the rice.
  6. Reduce heat and simmer the covered pan for about 5 minutes.
  7. Fluff it with a fork.
  8. Top with cheese and chopped green onion.
SERVING

Serve immediately, or before it cools.

—

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!

These Dangers Loom Over the Fragile U.S. Economy, by Brandon Smith

Editor’s Introductory Note: Today, in lieu of our usual Economics & Investing For Preppers column, we are posting a guest article. This article was authored by Brandon Smith of Alt-Market.us. It was originally published at Birch Gold Group, and is reposted with permission. I recommend bookmarking Alt-Market.us and subscribing to Smith’s The Wild Bunch Dispatch newsletter. His writings have shown great prescience. – JWR

—

The U.S. and most of the world is at the threshold of what I would call a nexus point in history. There are establishment forces at play that seek to impose a permanent authoritarian presence within our nation in the name of Covid “safety.” This includes lockdown mandates and restrictions on economic participation for the unvaccinated (including being unable to keep a job).

At the same time, only 53% of the public has been fully vaccinated against Covid. A significant number of the unvaccinated seem likely to dig in their heels and will refuse to comply.

We are at an impasse. With incessant fear mongering over the latest covid variants and the government obsession with 100% vaccination, the pro- and anti-vaccine groups are squaring off . It is a conflict between those who see their submission to the vaccination as a badge of personal responsibility and civic-mindedness versus those who see it as merely an excuse for authoritarianism. Unless pro-vax people choose to stand down and walk away from the fight, our economic future will grow increasingly unstable.

This is the foreboding backdrop of our economic tale, and it is important to keep in mind that the technocratic exploitation of the covid non-crisis as a push for supremacy is going to color everything that happens in our financial system from now on. You cannot talk about our economic condition without including the effects of the pandemic theater.

I believe that the next year in particular is going to be adrenalized and chaotic beyond what we have already seen in 2020-2021. Like I said, there are two sides of America that are now completely opposed in almost every way. Something is going to snap, and I suspect this will happen in 12 months or less.

The U.S. economy is itself an underlying disaster in the making and in many ways the Covid issue is a convenient distraction away from a much larger threat.Continue reading“These Dangers Loom Over the Fragile U.S. Economy, by Brandon Smith”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The tragic history of civilian disarmament cries a warning against any systematic attempts to render innocent citizens ill-equipped to defend themselves from tyrant terrorists, despots or oppressive majorities.” – Attorney Daniel L. Schmutter

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 26, 2021

On September 26, 1908 an ad for the Edison Phonograph first appeared in The Saturday Evening Post.

—

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.

 

Consider Where We Are – Part 2, by APD-4

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

The Unravelling era by definition had no peak or pinnacle and one finds it hard to pick out sentinel events. The normalization of alternative lifestyles, education and mores was reflected in the government by its multiple scandals (Monica Lewinsky/Clinton), and in the preeminence of the Entertainment industry. The lack of regulation would lead to various economic bubbles (real estate, Internet start-up) and deference to Big Business (repeal of the Glass-Steagal Act). Meanwhile, the 1993 WTC bombing attempt, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the 2000 presidential election would portend a coming storm.

A Crisis Era

Unravellings end, and Crisis eras begin, suddenly and abruptly as evidenced by the Boston Tea Party, the hanging of John Brown, and the 1929 Stock Market Crash. The latest Unravelling ended with the events of 09/11/2001. It also ended about five years too early and the various generational cohorts were not ready to take on the roles needed in a crisis era. Past Crisis eras were a time where we came together and solve problems and overcame external threats. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for our Nation to date.

The Baby Boomer generation was slated to be the leadership for our current crisis era in their elder years. Since the spark of the crisis era (9/11) came early, the Quiet generation still held control of the federal government (except for the presidency). At least on the surface their indecisiveness led to poor decision-making after 9/11 and the War on Terror, and more national division. The Millennials were slated to be next GI Generation but were too young to have any impact yet. Very little was asked of the Baby Boomers and Gen X to come together and rally for the nation, and we as a whole obliged.

As the crisis era rolled on more national problems were managed poorly, the American people coalesced into the Left and Right, and any issue was used for political advantage, as the Leftist Boomers/Gen X took leadership of the Nation. The 2008 Financial debacle was postponed by QE; the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ended without positive conclusion; and COVID has become a complete fiasco. Even the entertainment industry is failing and bereft of new ideas. Instead of addressing real issues, half of the Boomers/Gen X took the Millennials under their wing to usher in a socialist change in our Nation, and the other half have moved more to the Right to oppose this change. Events in the Obama and Trump presidencies, that we all experienced, reinforced this division and a “Cold Civil War” has ensued.

Our nation is now moving in steady institutional decline and moral decay, and the ability of us as a Nation to come together is passing into a twilight. Unlike the Civil War of the 1860s, this National crisis is devoid of distinct geographic lines and 1-2 points of difference. Many individual states, and the public, are split between Left and Right on many issues. With the media bias and the Left/Right dichotomy, the truth is now near impossible to find.

The economy is likely too far gone to save our prosperity. Many parents want to save their children from the evils of the Left and Right respectively. Many African-Americans take Juneteenth as their July 4th and disavow Independence Day. Individual States and the Federal government are actively threatening and ignoring each other. Gender lines are blurred and moral compass is individualized for the masses.Continue reading“Consider Where We Are – Part 2, by APD-4”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” – Mark 7:1-23 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — September 25, 2021

On September 25th, 1789, the first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification.

This is also the birthday of Will Smith (born 1968), best known for his roles in I Am Legend and Enemy Of The State.

—

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.

Consider Where We Are – Part 1, by APD-4

Consider where we are, in our nation’s history. We are no longer at a crossroads as a nation. We are in decline as a nation and society. This can seem a blunt assessment, but it needs to be said and understood if anyone is to successfully prepare for the future. Although no one has clairvoyance, and it is still possible to turn our nation and society around to a path for prosperity, there are undeniable facts that support the assessment that the U.S. is in deep trouble and in decline. Many of you are all too well aware of this but many are not as clear. The Western world has had 1,500 years of progress and is due for a new Dark Ages. One cannot escape the cycles of history.

Although our decline as a nation likely began in around 1969, and many may already realize the current situation our nation is in, many people and those self-sufficient, are not clear just how dire our current circumstances are. Past empires/nations in the history of humankind declined in a gradual manner over many years, such as the Roman empire. Due to the structure of our modern society, and its interconnectedness and reliance on technology, the speed of our deterioration will be faster by factors of 10 compared to Rome. In addition to American society, the world may very well follow the U.S. into decline due to our position as a world super-power and our influence in the world.

I am going to outline some background information on historical cycles and generational theory in order to provide a lens to view our current situation, and provide a clear basis for this assessment. I have a medical and public safety background which has allowed me a position to be an astute observer of people, populations and society. I couple this with education in history, public health and sociology. A historical/generational lens provides clarity to where we are, where we were and where we may be headed as a nation. The target of this article is every preparedness- minded person, family and group in the U.S.
After this background information I will then outline some of the steps that need to be taken in light of our current scenario in order to begin building prepared communities. Many of the steps for preparing and creating preparedness-minded communities have already been detailed on this blog, but I will be attempting to show the urgency of them due to what faces us as a nation and society.

Some of this background is based on the work of historians Neal Howe and William Strauss who authored the book The Fourth Turning. Mr. Straus also maintains a blog on these topics. I highly recommend this resource for anyone prepping and looking at future with a strategic lens. Unfortunately, Straus’ recent work has taken a liberal political bend in order to support a specific liberal narrative and is off-base with our current conditions. But with that being said, the premise of this work remains accurate. There are others who also have compiled works on generational theory and historical cycles that support the work of Straus and Howe.Continue reading“Consider Where We Are – Part 1, by APD-4”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make 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 this column, in the Odds ‘n Sods Column, and in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

I am now counting the days until my return to the Rawles Ranch. My out-of-state travels are tiring, but at least I’ve been gathering some great inventory for Elk Creek Company. Among others, I’ve found a couple of more stainless Ruger Old Army revolvers, a scarce 1898-dated Swedish Mauser carbine, a custom Ludwig Loewe Mauser sporter, and a Winchester Model 1894 takedown rifle that was made in 1898. I’ll resume taking orders on September 29th.

As of this month, I’m now 61 years old. I’m doing my best to stay lean and physically fit. I’m pleased to report that I now have another grandnephew, and my eldest son and his wife are expecting another child. Those are accomplishments that mean a lot more to me than books with my name on their covers.

Now, over to Lily…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.

If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.” – Job 8:3-22 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — September 24, 2021

In 1493, Columbus set sail with 17 ships on his second voyage to the Americas.

Also on this date in 1775, Ethan Allen was captured by the British.

—

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.

Tree Propagation Through Air Layering – Part 3, by T.S., PhD

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.)

The EU database listing for Salix states as a fungicide it is useful against leaf fungus and powdery mildews[EU]. The recipe for making a Salix solution: “30 L of natural or rain water is brought to simmering in a stainless steel tank with cover, at 80°C infuse 200 g of Salix spp cortex for 2 hours. After cooling down, and filtration with a stainless steel sieve, adjust pH to 6.2 and proceed the dilution by 3 with water. Use within 24 hours to avoid bacterial contamination [EU].” Some recipes refer to the “aerial” part of the plant, this recipe to the “cortex”. In practice, one might just get some pencil size or smaller shoots from a willow tree and chop them up to fit inside where you are performing the extraction. However, never having tried this willow concoction before, a reputable recipe is cited. I have heard from a friend who went to school for botany that in the greenhouses on campus they would place cuttings in buckets along with cuttings of willow branches to enhance the rooting of the cuttings, albeit that was second-hand information. If you do make a Salix based fungicide/rooting solution, I would apply it to the girdling and bud incision wounds via soaking a towel in the solution and tying it to the wounded twig for a few hours, and then use the same solution to wet the soil in the air layering packet.

How to air layer: Cover the incision with moist soil and protect from the elements.

This is the fun part of air layering, where you get to use your imagination and materials on hand to keep freshly wounded twig covered in soil and moist. But before we get to the covering, lets discuss the soil. The most common soil used for air layering (and what I use) is peat (i.e., sphagnum) moss. Peat moss is ideal because it is naturally anti-fungal, and if you buy it wrapped in plastic it is going to contain very little fungal spores, once wet it will hold water. It also provides a “light” growing medium for the roots. Whatever soil you choose, you want a soil that will not promote fungal/bacteria growth (so don’t use your compost) and that is “light” (so don’t use soils with a high clay content).Continue reading“Tree Propagation Through Air Layering – Part 3, by T.S., PhD”