The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The instant you mandate that every person-to-person sale have a federal review and regulation, the only way to enforce that is a national gun registry, and a gun registry is how a confiscation plan is carried out.” – Senator Ted Cruz

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 9, 2021

1

February 9th is the birthday of Major George Charles Nonte Jr. (Born 1926, died June 30, 1978.)

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 93 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

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.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. 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!

Round 93 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Forest Foraging: The Noble Oak, by Prepared Pamela

44

Nearly 500 species of oak trees populate five continents. In Greek mythology they were a symbol of Zeus, the “God of Thunder.” The botanical name Quercus means “beautiful tree.” The acorn or nut usually contains a single seed enclosed in a tough leathery shell and borne in a cup-shaped capsule. Acorns are 1 to 6 centimeters long and 0.8 to 4 centimeters wide. They take between 6 and 24 months to mature depending on the species.

Acorns were used as an important source of nutrition for thousands of years. They have been a treasured perennial plant fiercely protected by indigenous people in North America. The average life span of the oak is 200 years while some trees have survived to 400 years and more. An important participant in the ecosystem of our planet, they help to moderate the climate. In the photosynthesis process they produce oxygen. One mature tree can remove 6.6 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. Stored in the tree’s tissues, the carbon helps to create its bark, branches, leaves and nuts. The tree is a source of fuel, lumber, habitat and food for animals and for humans.

Oak trees produce acorns at 20 to 40 years of age. They require a multi-step process from the initial harvest to final food consumption. Each fall I collect hundreds of acorns from my 200-year-old Holly Oak which thrives in my backyard in California. A single tree can produce more than 2,000 pounds of nuts. My own tree was once defended for many decades by local Serrano Indians as their important food source. I continue to treat it with the respect and care it deserves as an elder on the land.

Perhaps the earliest well-known person to appreciate acorns as food was naturalist John Muir. He depended on acorn cakes to sustain him during his long treks throughout the Western United States. He called them “the most compact and strength-giving food” he had ever experienced. Acorns are a nearly perfect food on which to thrive. Many indigenous tribes obtained 50 percent of their annual calories from acorns which contain protein, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber. They have a low glycemic index and are considered a good food source for diabetics. During World War II, more than one million tons of acorns were collected by the Japanese to help feed their people as their supplies of rice and flour diminished.

Collecting and Processing

The process of acorn food production starts with harvesting. They are typically collected during late summer and autumn with August through September being ideal. It is best to pick the acorns before they drop to the ground. Care must include discarding any that are cracked or contain dark circular holes. They likely have worms. Dropped acorns could become infected. Green acorns still attached to the tree are milder in flavor. The best oak species from which to harvest acorns are the White Oak and Live Oak, for they contain the lowest levels of tannins. The least preferred are acorns of the Red Oak, which have a very high level of tannins. After one collects the acorns, they need to be cracked open, shelled and peeled. They have a consistency similar to chestnuts. Cracking can be easily accomplished with the aid of a nutcracker or hammer. Submerge the acorns in water soon after shelling and peeling to prevent them from becoming discolored through oxidation.Continue reading“Forest Foraging: The Noble Oak, by Prepared Pamela”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

15

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 some feloniously fictitious cattle. (See the Central & Eastern Washington section.)

Idaho

New bills addressing emergency powers emerge from Idaho Statehouse.  JWR’s Comment:  The Republican majority has clearly decided that Governor Little went more than a little too far!

o  o  o

I just noticed that The Good Simple Living vlogging family (vaguely near Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho) just surpassed 200,000 subscribers. My heartfelt congratulations.  BTW, If you haven’t already subscribed, then you should!

o  o  o

Three Idaho National Guard personnel killed in Black Hawk crash

o  o  o

FCC Fines Former Idaho Resident Nearly $10 Million for making racist calls

o  o  o

Blackfoot Man Facing Multiple Charges After Accident on I-15

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

2

“Let us not despair in the face of terror nor lose faith when we witness the death of the innocent. The darkness around is indeed great. But our task is not so hard as it seems. Still your hearts and remember. We don’t have to create the Light. We only have to give witness to it.” – Frank Klaassen, from the Quaker publication Canadian Friend, Vol. 97, No. 5.

Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 8, 2021

13

On February 8th, 1963 the Kennedy administration issued an order prohibiting travel to Cuba and banned financial transactions and commerce with Cuba, by U.S. citizens.

—

Two variants of the 15th Anniversary edition of the waterproof 2005-2020 SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick are available for pre-ordering, and selling quickly.  (One of them is a limited edition in a keepsake tin box, with a keychain. There will be just 500 made, and more than 300 of those have already sold! Be advised: I expect that this limited edition variant will sell out by Friday. Once those are gone, there will be no more produced.

Also, please note that we’ve taken pre-orders for more than 600 archive sticks in just the first three days. Orders will be shipped in the sequence that they are received. If your order comes in after the first batch sells out, then there will be a 10+ day delay, while we are waiting on the manufacture of the second batch.

—

Today, we present a review written by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.

Rock Island Armory GI Standard 1911, by Pat Cascio

12

Most folks don’t realize that more 1911 style of handguns are manufactured in the Philippines than are now being made in the USA. There are actually three main companies making most of the 1911s that come out of the Philippines, but there are a few other smaller manufacturers. Owning 1911s made in Philippines isn’t new to me. I’ve owned more than a dozen, and they came marked with various names on them. Today, we are looking at the Rock Island Armory 1911 GI standard model 1911. It is imported by Armscorp in Nevada.

For many years, I carried stock (full-size, 5-inch-barreled) Model 1911s, in various forms, and never gave it a second thought. My biggest complaint then, as now, is the tiny sights – front and rear. Now that I’m getting much older, my aged eyes have a difficult time focusing on the small sights, especially the front sight. The sights on the Rock Island Armory GI Standard 1911 are larger than the original Colt M1911 pattern. These are called the M1911A1 pattern. To be sure, these sights are rugged, and meant for war – the same sights have been on M1911A1s for many decades because they would stand-up against any kind of abuse.

This Rock Island Armory, GI standard 1911 isn’t quite all “GI”. Of course, we are looking at the full-sized Government Model, as it is called. We have a 5-inch barrel and full-sized steel frame. This is a big gun and it weighs in at 40-ounces unloaded. The finish is good ol’ Parkerizing – not the most durable, but it is functional. The slide has fine serrations on the rear of it (only). We have a standard GI hammer as well. Moving down to the frame, we have a serrated, not checkered, mainspring housing. The grip safety is also GI – no memory bumps or anything like that. This gun came with a nice stainless steel USA-made 8-round magazine – a nice touch. The magazine well is not GI. Rather, it is slightly beveled for faster reloads. The magazine release is all GI. I didn’t care for the plain wooden grips that came on the gun – they were smooth – not checkered. The slide release/stop is standard GI – not extended. The trigger is the short, GI style, but it broke at 5-lbs 2-ounces. This is a great trigger for street carry if you ask me. We also have the GI recoil spring set-up, nothing more, nothing less, and it works for me.

Here’s where we have some changes from the GI model, and the first thing I noticed was that the ejection port is flared and lowered, this is a good thing – makes ejecting empty brass or even loaded rounds more positive. Then, we move on to the barrel itself. The barrel is not GI – it has been very nicely throated and polished, as is the feed ramp on the frame as well. So I was sure this 1911 would feed anything I fed it. In the past, I throated a lot of 1911s barrels – opened them up – and polished the feed ramps. I found that it was time-consuming, and meticulous work, to say the least.

Nice Hand-Fitting

The frame/barrel/slide are expertly fitted, you have to really feel how tightly those three parts are fitted together, and this contributes to better accuracy. There is just a hit of “play” between the slide and frame, and no “play” between the barrel fit at all. Look, I’ve owned several high-end 1911s over the years, that were not this well fitted.Continue reading“Rock Island Armory GI Standard 1911, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Spanish Eggs

The following recipe for Spanish Eggs is from The New Butterick Cook Book, by Flora Rose, co-head of the School of Home Economics at Cornell University. It was published in 1924. A professional scan of that 724-page out-of-copyright book will be one of the many bonus items included in the next edition of the waterproof SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick. This special 15th Anniversary Edition USB stick should be available for sale in the third week of January, 2021. The 14th Edition sold out quickly, so place a reminder in your calendar, if you want one.

Ingredients
  • 1 slice of onion
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 tablespoon butter or butter substitute
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions

Rub the onion over the inside of a frying-pan. Pare the tomato and cut it into small pieces. Melt the butter or butter substitute in the frying-pan, add the tomato and cook for five minutes, stirring it now and then. Beat the eggs well and add to the tomato, then add salt and pepper and cook slowly, stirring constantly, until the eggs thicken like scrambled eggs.

SERVING

Pour into a hot dish and serve at once.

—

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

78

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, we look at the fate of the U.S. Dollar. (See the Commodities section and the Forex & Cryptos section.)

Precious Metals:

US Mint Warns It Can’t Meet “Surging Demand” For Silver & Gold

o  o  o

Investor Gold Demand Running At Red Hot Levels

Economy & Finance:

Despite Terrible US Economy in 2020, Workers of Mexican Descent Sent Most Dollars Ever Back to Mexico

o  o  o

At Zero Hedge: What’s fueling debt mania? Americans are Struggling to Manage Personal Finances

o  o  o

Government’s Money Monopoly and the “Great Reset”

o  o  o

Behind the Scenes: Personnel as Policy in the Biden Administration.  JWR’s Comment:  By surrounding himself with Bolsheviks, it is clear that Joe Biden intends to wreck the economy.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 7, 2021

22

February 7th, 1867, is also the birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder (died February 10, 1957). We highly recommend the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as well as her biography.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 93 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

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.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. 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!

Round 93 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Starting Seeds Indoors: Tips and Trials, by CAL

43

Last year I began to get much more serious about starting my plants from seed. As my garden has grown in size each year, I saw the wisdom in starting my own seeds. Never mind the increased pressure to make sure we have a sustainable food source during these turbulent times. I reasoned that starting my own seeds would give me a jump on the growing season. I could control for erratic early season weather and I would save a great deal of money as the price of seedlings as the nursery has been doubling in price. I have been expanding my growing space in order to increase the amount that we eat from the garden versus need to buy from stores.

With the shutdowns and food scarcity issues, the popularity of growing your own garden has increased greatly. So just finding the seedlings you want to grow is more than a little difficult. I cannot find many heirloom seedlings grown in organic soils at our local nurseries. In fact, one of the more popular organic nurseries locally was shut down for much of the spring this last year. And lastly, starting your seeds indoors when possible may address some of the changes in our weather we are seeing as the Grand Solar Minimum continues to impact our growing season.

My hope is that if I can have healthy, strong seedlings that have begun in a controlled environment, they will have a better chance of dealing with weather variations that might occur in May and June in our local area. For instance, too much or too little rain, late frost dates, and colder than normal temperatures all may occur. Stronger plants may tolerate these variations better when it comes to planting time. Only time till prove me right or prove me wrong. Nevertheless, these are my excuses for investing in seed growing equipment and so far, my spouse is in agreement with my plan.

I have an abundance of windows in my home which face both east and west. So last year I purchased sterile potting mix and filled 72 cell seed containers. I then proceeded to move these containers from my east windows for early morning light to my west windows for late afternoon sun. I did so on a daily basis to maximize the light. I did not add any amendments to the soil or extra light. My plants got lots of daily care and nurturing but nothing else. Well, I did end up with lots of seedlings, but they were leggy, started too soon to plant into my garden and I lost many of the seedlings. In the end, I did not achieve any jump on the growing season. In fact, I delayed it as many of my plants experienced transplant shock and it took even longer before they began producing, if they did at all.Continue reading“Starting Seeds Indoors: Tips and Trials, by CAL”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

2

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 6, 2021

18

Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6th, 1911.

—

I’m announcing a big sale at Elk Creek Company: The Tiebreaker Time of Trouble Sale. This sale is designed to draw attention to the fact that the Senate Democrats have now demonstrated that with the help of Vice President Kamala Harris, they now effectively control the Senate. Along with Democrat rule in the House of Representatives, they are now in a position to push forward most of their dastardly “gun control” agenda. Chances are, this will include “Universal Background Checks” for post-1898 guns. I have put more than half of the Elk Creek Company pre-1899 guns on sale, for just 10 days.  This sale will end at 9 PM PST, on Monday, February 15th, 2020.  Please contact your Senators and congressmen, and insist that they oppose all “gun control” legislation.  And in case this legislative effort fails: Stock up! Pre-1899 guns will become the last bastion of firearms transaction privacy.

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 93 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. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

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.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. 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!

Round 93 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.