The Secret Salad Garden – Part 1, by D.G.

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Introduction

In the spring of 2020, it became apparent that the coronavirus posed a potential threat to public safety. The severity of the threat was unclear, so my wife and I, being reasonably well-prepared, decided that our family would ‘batten down the hatches’ until we could better assess the situation. Like many people, we learned a lot. We learned how prepared we were, and we learned how prepared we were not. We had never made a trial assessment of our ability to adapt to a situation like this, so it was an eye-opening opportunity to learn and improve. One of the biggest challenges for us was no longer regularly bringing home fresh produce. That lack prompted me to take the steps to learn how to grow microgreens, the immature seedlings of herbs and vegetables, and I’m writing this to share with you what I’ve learned.

If you frequent this web site, you will likely already have mentally played through a variety of scenarios wherein you might be unable or unwilling to leave your home. Or you might be unable to get anything from grocery stores or restaurants. Or you might have to wait months before you can start a garden, and then months more while you wait until harvest. But if you learn the techniques I describe below, you would be able to keep putting fresh produce on your table under such circumstances. Mere minutes after harvest, you can have some of the freshest, most visually appealing and nutritious produce you’ve ever had. The flavors of radish, mustard, sunflower, arugula, basil, all these and more may be easily had with only a little preparation and practice.

From seed to table in as little as a week, and all possible without setting foot outside your home. Learning to grow microgreens indoors may be one of the simplest and most enjoyable of the many things you do to provide for yourself and your family. The abundance of information about microgreens online was daunting but, once I had it pared down to the essentials, I was floored by how simple it was. My first crop was a hands-down success, and little has gone awry in the many times since that I have repeated the process. And the sheer quantity of produce we harvest for so little effort and expense is striking, particularly given the fact that microgreens originated in the realm of high-end restaurant cuisine. Continue reading“The Secret Salad Garden – Part 1, by D.G.”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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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 dramatic rescue of a drowning man, on the Snake River. (See the Idaho section.)

Idaho

Mountain Home family helps save the life of a man drowning in the Snake River. The article begins:

“The day started as a typical day for Rachelle Ruffing and her family; They had planned a trip to Twin Falls after their family dog had passed away. They decided to spend the day paddleboarding the Snake River before their dinner reservations. They headed to Pillar Falls and spent some time there before heading back, but things took a turn when they noticed an empty kayak right behind them.

“And I just made an assumption or conclusion that somebody was supposed to be in that kayak, and then I just waited, and I started paddling as fast as I could in my paddleboard to get over to the kayak,” Ruffing said.

The kayak belonged to Brendon Lease, who was on a road trip with some friends. They made a stop in Twin Falls where Lease decided to go kayaking, but the currents in Pillar Falls cause his kayak to flip over.

A couple of minutes after noticing the empty kayak, Ruffing says they spotted Lease’s body, by that time his lungs had filled with water and Ruffing says his body was already blue.

After locating Lease, Ruffing’s daughter’s boyfriend immediately jumped into the water to retrieve the body.”

o  o  o

Flying into the Frank Church Wilderness to the river of no return

o  o  o

Investigators say campground shooting involved off-duty cop

o  o  o

Nelson outlines special legislative session

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Middle class America is no less violent than any other people. They seem passive because they’re results oriented. They rise not out of blood frenzy but to solve the otherwise insoluble. Their methods of choice are good will, cooperation, forbearance, negotiation and finally, appeasement, roughly in that order. Only when these fail to end the abuse do they revert to blowback. And they do so irretrievably. Once the course is set and the outcome defined, doubt is put aside. The middle class is known, condemned actually, for carrying out violence with the efficiency of an industrial project where bloody destruction at any scale is not only in play, it’s a metric. Remorse is left for the next generation, they’ll have the leisure for it. We’d like to believe this is merely dark speculation. History says it isn’t.” – The Late Ol’ Remus

Preparedness Notes for Monday — August 17, 2020

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While salmon fishing near the Klondike River in Canada’s Yukon Territory on August 17th, 1896, George Carmack reportedly spotted nuggets of gold in a creek bed. His lucky discovery sparked the last great gold rush in the American West  — the Klondike Rush. His two companions later agreed that Skookum, Jim–Carmack’s brother-in-law, actually made the discovery.

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An interesting listing at my #1 Son’s SurvivalRealty.com spin-off of SurvivalBlog: Remote Solar Cabin on 5 acres in Colville, Washington.

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

Ruger PC9 #19122 Variant, by Pat Cascio

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In January of 2018, I did a review of the then fairly-new Ruger PC9. I was more than impressed with this little 9mm carbine, as was my wife. She insisted on getting one, and loves shooting it. I have to ration the 9mm ammo when we go out shooting, or she’ll shoot-up every round we bring with is…she is fast on the trigger and deadly accurate as well.

I knew it was only a question of time before Ruger, brought out different models. I correctly predicted that they’d bring one out with a telescoping stock and a pistol grip. The people spoke, and Ruger listened. We’re going to take a look at the new Model 19122 and it’s one honey of a 9mm carbine.

Depending on who you talk to, or what you find in your research, a modern “carbine” can be described many different ways. In many respects, it is a rifle with a barrel around 16 to 20-inches, and typically it fires a handgun round. However, that isn’t always the case, to wit, the M1 Carbine of WW2 fame, fired what was called the .30 Cal M1 carbine round – it wasn’t a handgun round per se. I’ve owned more than a few M1 Carbines over the years, and they were all fun guns to shoot, and I would take one into combat without hesitation. I should mention that we are talking about military M1 Carbines, not some of the civilian copies – many of which weren’t very reliable.

The M1 Carbine, .30 Caliber round is something akin to a .357 Magnum round, and there isn’t nothing anemic about the .357 mag round. It is a well-proven man-stopper of a pistol round. Of course, the military was required to use FMJ bullets, no hollow points or soft points. I’ve taken several deer over the years, with a 110-grain softpoint lead round from an M1 Carbine, and they didn’t take a step after being hit – they just went down – fast!

The 9mm round is the most popular self-defense round in use, all over the world, bar none. Even, the US military switched from the .45 ACP to the 9mm back in the 1980s, as their service round. Right now, in the midst of this Coronavirus, there is a serious run on 9mm ammo, and when you can find it at a gun shop, it is expensive, and even more so on-line. I recently saw an ad for 9mm FMJ ammo that nearly gave me a heart attack. As near as I can calculate this, it comes out to slightly less than $700 for a case of 1,000-rds of 9mm FMJ. Yikes!Continue reading“Ruger PC9 #19122 Variant, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Apple Rice Pudding

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The following recipe for Apple Rice Pudding 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.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 large apples
  • 1/4 cup butter or butter substitute
Directions
  1. Wash the rice and boil in salted water until soft.
  2. Drain.
  3. Add the egg-yolks, sugar, raisins, cinnamon and salt.
  4. Cut the apples in very small pieces and add to the rice.
  5. Beat the egg-whites stiff and fold into the mixture.
  6. Melt the butter in a baking-dish and stir half of it into the pudding mixture, spreading the rest over the inside of the dish.
  7. Pour the mixture into the baking-dish and bake in a hot oven for about forty minutes.
SERVING

Serve hot.

Editor’s Note on Oven Temperatures

When using old recipes, you’ll likely see some unfamiliar terms for oven temperature.  Here is a general guide that you might want to print out and keep handy:

  • Very Slow Oven — 250°F to 275°F
  • Slow Oven or Roasting Oven — 275°F to 300°F
  • Moderately Slow Oven — 325°F
  • Moderate Oven — 350°F
  • Pastry Oven or Bread Oven — 360°F to 370°F
  • Moderately Hot Oven — 375°F
  • Hot Oven or Quick Oven — 425 °F
  • Extremely Hot Oven  — 480°F to 500 °F (Pizza!)

Note: To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius: From the Fahrenheit temperature subtract 32. Then multiply the difference by 5, and then divide the product by 9.

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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

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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 gold and silver markets. (See the Precious Metals section.)

Precious Metals:

Bank of America: Silver Could Hit $50 “In The Near Term”

o  o  o

Why The Gold & Bitcoin Surge Is Just Starting: “Real Yields Will Be Negative Until The Financial System Collapses”

o  o  o

Hub Moolman: Gold A.D. – Death of the Dollar

o  o  o

New Sound Money Caucus Launched On Capitol Hill

o  o  o

Martin Katusa: The Dawn of Gold. Here is a snippet:

“Economists like Nouriel Roubini and Mohamed El-Arian are talking more about gold and the benefits of the safe-haven metal in these uncertain times.

Even Goldman Sachs is changing their tune. They once mocked gold as an investment that’s nearly always beaten by the market.

They’ve since joined the chorus of major financial institutions like Bank of America and Citigroup ringing the alarm on currency debasement.”

Economy & Finance:

In The Washington Post: After the fastest recession in U.S. history, the economic recovery may be fizzling

o  o  o

At Zero Hedge: “Democrats Are Holding This Up!” – Trump Rages After Ordering Mnuchin To Send $3,400 To US Families.

o  o  o

At Wolf Street: No Payment, No Problem: Bizarre New World of Consumer Debt

o  o  o

Another at Wolf Street: Number of People on State or Federal Unemployment Insurance Jumps to 32.1 Million, Second Highest Ever: Week 20 of U.S. Labor Market Collapse

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“In the wake of heart-wrenching and highly publicized mass shootings, the state of California barred its citizens from owning so-called “large capacity magazines” (LCMs) that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. But even well-intentioned laws must pass constitutional muster. California’s near-categorical ban of LCMs strikes at the core of the Second Amendment — the right to armed self-defense. Armed self-defense is a fundamental right rooted in tradition and the text of the Second Amendment. Indeed, from pre-colonial times to today’s post-modern era, the right to defend hearth and home has remained paramount.

California’s law imposes a substantial burden on this right to self-defense. The ban makes it criminal for Californians to own magazines that come standard in Glocks, Berettas, and other handguns that are staples of self-defense. Its scope is so sweeping that half of all magazines in America are now unlawful to own in California. Even law-abiding citizens, regardless of their training and track record, must alter or turn over to the state any LCMs that they may have legally owned for years — or face up to a year in jail.

The state of California has latitude in enacting laws to curb the scourge of gun violence, and has done so by imposing waiting periods and many other limitations. But the Second Amendment limits the state’s ability to second-guess a citizen’s choice of arms if it imposes a substantial burden on her right to self-defense. Many Californians may find solace in the security of a handgun equipped with an LCM: those who live in rural areas where the local sheriff may be miles away, law-abiding citizens trapped in high-crime areas, communities that distrust or depend less on law enforcement, and many more who rely on their firearms to protect themselves and their families. California’s almost-blanket ban on LCMs goes too far in substantially burdening the people’s right to self-defense. We affirm the district court’s summary judgment, and hold that California Penal Code section 32310’s ban on LCMs runs afoul of the Second Amendment.” – Ninth Circuit Appellate Judge Kenneth K. Lee, from the majority opinion in Duncan v. Becerra. August 14, 2020

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — August 16, 2020

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On August 16th, 1841, President John Tyler vetoed a second attempt by Congress to re-establish the Bank of the United States. In response, angry supporters of the bank gathered outside the White House and burned an effigy of Tyler.

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I strongly recommend that SurvivalBlog readers watch the new Shadowgate documentary before it gets deleted.  (UPDATE: It was indeed deleted. But it is still available on Brighteon.) This 90-minute film is political kryptonite! By the way, the timing of Millicent “Millenial Millie” Weaver’s indictment by a Grand Jury, her arrest, and the same day arrest of her husband Gavin Wince immediately before the documentary’s scheduled release is highly suspect. Millie Weaver was the film’s interviewer and writer. Gavin Wince was the director and editor.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 90 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  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 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. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  4. 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).
  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. 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.
  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!

Round 90 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.

The Bookends of the Prepping Life: Investing and Diversifying, by Mr. B.

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I was a “closet” prepper until recently. Years ago, I began to slowly amass both long-life food and countless resources that would be necessary if basic commodities were no longer available. The spark, if you will, was in the wake of reading articles about global shifts that sought to deconstruct and reconstruct economies based on dangerous ideologies. I also purchased hard assets in case conventional means of buying ceased overnight, for I read of once strong banks and currencies collapsing or weakening with each financial year.

Recently, with the events leading up and still being felt because of COVD-19, I became more open about my prepping lifestyle, as I witnessed misinformation shut down global economies, medical assumptions stated as “facts” and differing views persecuted and suppressed, and precedents becoming policies. That is not to say that I told everyone I know that I have been quietly prepping for years and that they need to do the same, but rather, I began connecting with like-minded preppers in the online community and will slowly introduce the concept to others. I am still on this journey.

In enjoying my interactions with those who are preppers, mostly online as it is difficult to connect with other preppers locally (as it is not something one broadcasts or has a group meeting once a week), it has also been beneficial to read articles of the experiences of those who are preppers, of successes and failures. There is a lot of good material out there, but there are also poorly researched and sensational writings pieces as well. Preppers should not think of themselves as prophets, but purveyors of truth. It has been a blessing, however, to read articles from a variety of different perspectives and of not only what to buy and do as a prepper, but how to act and think as a prepper.

It is my intention in this article to share some thoughts I have in my own experiences and wide reading in relation to what I will phrase are the bookends of the prepping life; investing and diversifying. This may not be ground-breaking, but it may be new to some, while for the veteran prepper, I hope that it will refresh and even revise your train of thought.Continue reading“The Bookends of the Prepping Life: Investing and Diversifying, by Mr. B.”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

2

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” – Philippians 3 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — August 15, 2020

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On August 15, 1961, two days after sealing off free passage between East and West Berlin with barbed wire, East German authorities began building a wall–the Berlin Wall–to permanently close off access to the West. For the next 28 years, the heavily fortified Berlin Wall stood as the most tangible symbol of the Cold War–a literal “iron curtain” dividing Europe. The wall has now been torn down for longer than it stood, but the scars in memory are still there.

—

News Flash!  Here is a great headline for gun-owning Californians: 9th Circuit ends California ban on high-capacity magazines. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog reader D.S. for sending that link.)  I strongly recommend that Californians stock up on magazines heavily, in case the California State Assembly finds another way to ban them.  (Most likely with another Sunset Clause.)  Readers in other states should take note: The upcoming high demand from California may exacerbate the current run on magazines. So stock up NOW, while they are still relatively plentiful and inexpensive.

And a special note directed to SurvivalBlog readers in California:  I have a small supply of magazines available, via mailorder or face-to-face delivery in Livermore, California, in the month of September:

  • Ruger Factory-made Mini-14 blued steel 20-round magazines,  new in factory clamshell pack. $30 each. SOLD OUT
  • Ruger Factory-made Mini-14 blued steel 30-round magazines,  new in factory clamshell pack. $35 each. SOLD OUT
  • MagPul Gen 2 black 30-round AR-15//M4 PMAGs, new in wrappers $18 each (16 remaining.)
  • Israeli metric FAL 20-round steel magazines VG+ to excellent condition $25 each (12 remaining.)
  • Metric FAL 20-round steel magazines from various countries VG+ condition $20 each (6 available.)
  • Original Belgian metric FAL 20-round steel magazines VG+ to excellent $35 each (6 available.)
  • Original Colt factory made M16 30-round alloy magazines, used.  $16 each (6 available.)
  • Original Glock factory Model 17/19 9mm magazines, 33-round. These are “SF” cut, but not ambi-cut. New, but not in wrappers. $38 each SOLD OUT
  • Saiga .308 25-round polymer magazines made by Surefire.  (The good ones!) New in wrappers. $38 each (5 available.)

Note that quantities are limited to stock on hand.  I will keep this post updated, as my inventory is depleted. Prices do not include postage. These are NOT listed in my Elk Creek Company store page. First dibs to any folks still trapped in California.

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And just for fun, my buddy Commander Zero (of the great Notes From The Bunker blog, that has been around even longer than SurvivalBlog) posted this: Alexa We Need Guns – Home Automation Setup.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 90 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A gift certificate from Quantum Harvest LLC (up to a $2,200 value) good for 12% off the purchase of any of their sun-tracking models, and 10% off the purchase price of any of their other models.
  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 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. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  4. 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).
  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. 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.
  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!

Round 90 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.

Going Old School, By 3AD Scout

35

As Preppers we like to use the adage of “one is none and two is one,” and there is a good lesson in those words but if we have two of everything are we really safe from the doom that will befall us when a particular piece of equipment and its spare no longer work or are gone? One of the trends I see in the survival and prepping community is trying to maintain our reliance on technology for our survival. Relying on technology for survival in my opinion is an oxymoron, at least if that technology requires electricity.

There is no doubt that technology has advantages is a grid down world but for how long? The reason we have technological advancements is to make our lives easier. “Easier” usually means it takes less time and/or fewer people. Like in our current society, our reliance on technology in a survival situation brings with it certain risks. In a non-survival situation, the loss of technology can equal nothing more than a big inconvenience but in a long-term grid-down scenario, loss of technology can have very dire consequences. If we embrace the “two is one — and one is none” saying then we need to realize that the quality and sustainability of our “two” needs to be considered. As we prepare for TEOTWAWKI, we should embrace technology but our backups should be old school.

After building two 8’x7’ buildings this summer, there was no doubt that the 20-volt DC cordless drill and saws made the job easier. But let us talk about and fully understand the logistics behind a cordless drill. We have to have a power source to recharge the batteries. Regardless of that source (solar, wind turbine, hydroelectric, or internal combustion engine-powered generator) it will involve a complex system. What happens in TEOTWAWKI when those wonderful but limited batteries no longer take a charge or our system to charge those batteries fails? Sure, we can have numerous backups but they will all have limited life even in storage. So, as we apply our “one is none, two is one” strategy we should modify our thinking. So drill number one is a handy light-weight cordless drill but our back up should be old school and I don’t mean a corded drill but instead a hand drill that is powered by you cranking or turning the handle.Continue reading“Going Old School, By 3AD Scout”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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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. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

This week I cut more firewood. This poke of wood was very well-seasoned, from a two-year old log pile that I had kept tarped. I also did some more ATV repairs. That necessitated three time-consuming trips into town. I also replaced two of our aging Simmons frost-free valve yard hydrants. Those seem to last 12 to 20 years, depending on how much use each particular valve gets. As my father would say:  “They definitely work, but they can’t be expected to work indefinitely.”  (Barring any unforeseen truck/tractor/ATV collisions–yes, it happens, sometimes even with a stout cedar log post carefully positioned next to each of them for both quick visual recognition and impact resistance.) Therefore, I recommend buying one rebuild kit per valve, and one complete hydrant assembly for every 3 or 4 hydrants in your water system. Thankfully, a lot of the repairs and all of the adjustments can be done from “topside”. But occasionally, I need to dig one up. We bury our water pipes 5 feet deep, so replacing those two hydrants took a lot of digging.

I’m still receiving an average two orders per day for my part-time mailorder business, Elk Creek Company.  On Friday I received orders for four guns. As I’ve mentioned before, those antique guns are now consistently selling faster than they are coming into my inventory. So, if you want any of them, then jump on this dwindling supply, soon!

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”