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 Montana’s Democrat Governor, and one presidential hopeful, Steve Bullock. (See the Montana section.)

Region-Wide

Here is an article on the American Redoubt movement, written by a religion reporter who interviewed me: 20 years after Y2K, preppers ready for societal collapse.

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The 60th Annual Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show will be held March 19th to 22nd, in Spokane.  It draws attendees from throughout the Inland northwest.

Idaho

I heard that U.S. Tactical Supply has completed their move from Albany, Oregon, to Post Falls, Idaho. They have a broad line of gear, now in a PDF catalog. If you live in the Spokane-CDA region, then drop by, and check out their wares!  In particular, see their camouflaging supplies. Their address is:

U.S. Tactical Supply Inc.
1910 E. Seltice Way
Post Falls, ID 83854

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We are pleased to welcome aboard our newest advertiser: Redoubt Scout. If you are considering a move to northern Idaho, then you should definitely take a look at their web site.

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Two Nampa men arrested after fatal stabbing outside marijuana dispensary

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Deputies Turkey Wrangling (Ada County)
Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — March 9, 2020

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March 9th is the birthday of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin – the first man to ever travel in space. He was born in 1934 and died in the crash of a MiG-15-UTI fighter on March 27, 1968.

Today is also the birthday of writer John McPhee (b. 1931), a master of creative nonfiction. One of McPhee’s most widely read books is Coming into the Country, which eloquently describes the Alaskan wilderness.

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We are pleased to welcome aboard our newest advertiser: Redoubt Scout. If you are considering a move to northern Idaho, then you should definitely take a look at their web site!

Cold Steel AD-15, by Pat Cascio

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I’ve been an amateur knife designer since the early 1980s, and several of my designs have actually been produced by custom knife makers, as well as some factories. One custom designer went so far as to add my design to his inventory – never giving me credit for the design, nor paying me any royalties, but that’s okay, I don’t hold a grudge. Another knife company has been producing several of my designs for quite a few years now, and I actually gave them my design, to help them get their company up and running – no problem there at all – I earn nothing from the sales of those designs – like I said, I gave them the designs.

By no means am I professional “knife designer,” by my own designation. I used to love mechanical drafting when I was in high school, I was a fair hand at it – but not great at it. These days, its hard for me to draw a straight line with a ruler, but when I submit a design, either to a custom maker or a factory they somehow manage to muddle through what I want and the knives have turned out fantastic. I can visualize a knife in my mind, but its sometimes hard to put it down on a piece of paper. I’ve been blessed to have worked with some great custom knife makers, who could somehow make heads and tails out of my vision.

I love fixed blade knives, because they are so much stronger than a folding knife. However, its not always practical to carry a big fixed blade knife on my belt, so I usually carry a folding knife of some sort. Of course, we are giving up something in the way of strength, when carrying a folder, instead of a fixed blade knife, but we can’t always have the best of all worlds.

Over the years, I’ve really tried coming up with a new folding knife lock, so it wouldn’t fail me. And, no sooner do I get a good idea in my head, then someone else must have read my mind, and came out with a folding knife lock before I could even begin to get it on paper and prototypes produced. Such is life, I guess.

I still remember when the first liner-lock folding knives started appearing on the scene, and they were, and still are, one of the hottest locking mechanism to come along. However, they are not nearly as strong as you believe them to be, I’ve had more than a few liner-locks fail on me during testing, and we are not talking abuse, just serious testing. Still, they are a good design, much better than the old slip-lock designs used on many folders.

We also have various other locks for folders, from buttons, to a sliding lock, to – well, let your imagination run wild. And, everyone claims their locks are the best or strongest on the market – we call that “hype” – not a lot wrong with hype, so long as you realize that’s what it is…it sells knives, lots of knives.

Long time friend, Lynn Thompson, who owns Cold Steel Knives is always coming out with new knife designs and he has introduced us to some pretty strong locking mechanisms, one is his is the Tri-Ad lock. That was designed by custom knife maker, Andrew Demko, and it is a super-strong lock, if not one of the most strong locks on the market. We are talking brutally strong locks. I’ve yet to have one of Cold Steel’s Tri-Ad locks fail on my during testing, or regualr use.

Today, we’re checking out the new Cold Steel AD-15 – the AD stands for Andrew Demko, who designed this folder and his new lock. There’s one thing you can always count on when you own a Cold Steel knife of any kind, and that is they are strong – really strong. It took me the better part of 6-7 months to get my hands on the AD-15 – they sell out just “that” fast. I have to admit, though – the AD-15 didn’t really make me appreciate it – at first.Continue reading“Cold Steel AD-15, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Jen’s Storage Foods Brownies

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Jen kindly sent us three recipe options for small batches of brownies baked in a bread loaf pan.  Jen says: “Make a small batch of brownies when you need a little “comfort food” fix.  It will help make your supplies of these ingredients last longer.”

The traditional recipe utilizes fresh ingredients.

Both just-add-water mixes use powdered eggs and powdered vanilla extract.  You can find powdered vanilla extract in upper-end grocery stores right near the liquid vanilla extract and on Amazon.com.

Just-add-water mix #1 has straight coconut oil.

Mix #2 replaces some of the coconut oil with butter powder and water and thus the brownies are a little less oily.

Both mixes can be prepared in advance with water added later when you’re ready to bake.  However, before you make multiple mixes, make one batch to try out first.  These recipes produce fudgy brownies, not cake-like brownies.  These are not overly sweet brownies.

INGREDIENTS (Three Variations)
Traditional recipe Just-add-water mix #1 Just-add-water mix #2
¼ cup butter ¼ cup coconut oil 2 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoons butter powder
½ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar ½ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar ½ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa powder ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa powder ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg 2 tablespoons egg powder 2 tablespoons egg powder
¼ cup flour ¼ cup flour ¼ cup flour
½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon vanilla powder ½ teaspoon vanilla powder
¼ cup water 1/3 cup water
Directions
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  • Line a bread loaf pan with parchment paper.
  • Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl just until combined.
  • Spoon the batter into the prepared bread pan.
  • Bake for 23 minutes.
  • Let cool 5 minutes in the pan
  • Then use the parchment paper to remove the brownies from the pan.
  • Let cool on a cooling rack.

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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 investing in AR-15/M16 Magazines, as a hedge of future legislation. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Gold price is on a path to $1,700 but volatility will be high – analysts

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Investment demand for gold outweighs weak consumer demand

Economy & Finance:

The bloodbath continues: Dow plummets more than 1,400 points, S&P 500 sinks 5% amid oil price war. JWR Asks:  So, will this be known as “Black Monday”, or “Black Monday Through Friday”?

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File Under: I Told You So… US Airline Stocks Crushed. Southwest Warns on US Domestic Demand. UK Airline Collapses, Abandoned by Its Coronavirus-Spooked Owners

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At Zero Hedge: Negative Rates In The US Are Virtually Guaranteed Now

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The 10-Year US Treasury yield moved from 1.88% in January to 0.66% today. Here is the history of big quarterly changes in rates and the performance of the S&P 500.

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Indian Government Nationalizes 4th Largest Bank As Shadow Banking Crisis Looms

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And at Wolf Street: Stock Market Volatility Jangles Nerves. Something’s Afoot

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“We looked into the abyss if the gold price rose further. A further rise would have taken down one or several trading houses, which might have taken down all the rest in their wake. Therefore at any price, at any cost, the central banks had to quell the gold price, manage it.

It was very difficult to get the gold price under control but we have now succeeded. The US Fed was very active in getting the gold price down. So was the U.K.” – Sir Eddie George, Governor Bank of England in a letter to Nicholas J. Morrell, chief executive of Lonmin Plc, 1999

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 8, 2020

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March 8th is the birthday of revolver shooter, big game hunter, and gun writer Elmer Keith, who co-designed the S&W .44 Magnum and .41 Magnum cartridges. He authored the book Sixguns, which is still considered a standard reference. His fascinating life story is told in his last book, Hell, I was there!  A proto-Redoubter, Keith spent the second half of his life on a ranch near Salmon, Idaho. (Keith was born in 1899 and died February 12, 1984.)

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 87 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $10,000 worth of 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 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 (an $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, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A $300 purchase credit for any of the products from EMPShield.com
  4. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
  5. 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).
  6. 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. Good2GoCo.com is providing a $400 purchase credit at regular prices for the prize winner’s choice of either Wise Foods or Augason long term storage foods, in stackable buckets.
  2. 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)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. A transferable $100 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 87 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.

A Prepping Reality Check – Part 4, by Mama Bear

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(Continued from Part 3. This concludes the article series.)

Security/Defense

There have been many articles on the blog about security and defense. Let me just throw out a few thoughts.

  • What is the field of fire from each side of your grid-down retreat?
  • Have you practiced with your family/group how to defend your retreat? Paintball is great for this.
  • Have you thought about how far you are willing to go to defend your supplies, your home, your family?
  • Have you thought about a procedure for admitting additional people to the retreat?
  • Have you thought about which of your friends/family you would admit and which you would not?
  • How will you maintain a security watch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
  • What is each person’s responsibility in case of an alert or attack?
  • How much charity are you willing to extend and how will you do so without endangering your group?
  • Are you willing to kill to defend the group?
  • What supplies/skills do you and your group have for the security/defense of the home, supplies and people?
  • How will you conduct barter/trade without endangering your group?
  • How will you enforce discipline in the group?
  • What circumstances would cause you to expel someone from the group?
  • How will you defend against the knowledge that the expelled member has about your defenses?
  • What identification codes can be put in place for use by the group?
  • What training do you and other members of your group need to be effective?
  • Do you have a detailed map of the local terrain?
  • Have you learned the local roads and alternate routes?
  • How will you perform long range patrols (LRP) for security?
  • How far can you see to keep watch?
  • Do you have binoculars?
  • Can you navigate your property/area in the dark without articial light or night vision?

Old military manuals are a wonderful source of information for operational security, light discipline and other issues. Thinking through organizational structure and putting it and guidelines in writing ahead of time may also be helpful. I have made a list of friends and family and their potentially useful skills and behavioral pros and cons as a guideline for who is acceptable and who is not. For some their skills may outweigh difficult personality traits. For others it may not. Think about this ahead of time. Medical skills may be particularly valuable. This list may also be valuable to those who succeed you.

There is a game that youth groups in our area play that is great training. The group picks a location, such as a home, and drops off several defenders. The rest of the group is taken 2-3 miles away and dropped off. This is done after dark. It is the defenders job to catch each of the incoming group before they can reach the position being defended.

Assess local resources such as libraries, medical facilities, pharmacies, stores and determine which are feasible for your use and which are not. Assess the local area for feasible locations for barter/trade.

  • Is there an existing farm market/flea market/swap meet within feasible travel distance?
  • If not, is there an area where one could be developed after the SHTF?
  • How will your group be safe in traveling to and from the market?
  • Are there alternative routes so that your travels are not predictable for ambush?

Continue reading“A Prepping Reality Check – Part 4, by Mama Bear”

Letter: Some Wuhan Coronavirus Observations

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Everyone will have a different perspective on this.  Here are some ramblings:
Things are rapidly downshifting in greater Seattle.  In less than seven days.  There are strong parallels with the 2011 B-movie Contagion.
  • Numerous employers are telling much of their workforce to work from home through the end of March (I expect that to continue beyond March…). Amazon, Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy (utility), Russell Investments.  Those are four big ones that I am aware of as of now.
  • The Northshore School District just closed through the end of March, and will attempt to begin Remote Learning on Monday, March 9.  What will those working parents do if they cannot work from home?
  • Restaurants are emptying out.  People are trying to be positive but getting nervous.
On the virus from what has been observed worldwide to date:
  • 85-90% who get the virus will experience minor symptoms.
  • 10-15% who get the virus will get hit hard, likely with respiratory-related issues such as Viral Pneumonia.  I sincerely hope you or your loved ones are not in this statistic.
  • The local healthcare system will crack. There will be too many people needing significant care.
  • In Seattle they’re already bought a motel and are talking about mini houses.  I think this is the typical Bravo Sierra approach in Seattle.  Seattle should call it for what it is, and be prepared to commandeer school gyms to setup MASH-like wards.
  • In a perverse way, if you are going to get really sick from this virus then it would be better to be an ‘early adopter’ such that you likely get better medical care.
In general:
  • A person is naive if they think ‘it can’t happen here’.  It’s on this continent and spreading.   It won’t be like a tornado, but watch between now and the end of March.
  • There will be economic impacts.   Airlines, hotels, restaurants, etc. may take the first hits.   How might this impact your income and family?
  • There will be supply-chain impacts.  China has been stopped for a while.  Even if things go well on this continent you’ll start to see some unavailability of seemingly-random things.  For example, China produces many ingredients for multiple medicines, so don’t be surprised if things go Tango Uniform for a while for a medicine you or a loved one needs.
Regards,  – Peter

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we are linking to a plethora of Wuhan Coronavirus news.

South Korea’s Hospital Bed Shortage

The Reuters news service reports , with a possible preview of some American news headlines, once Mr. Wuhan arrives and transitions into full community transmission: Thousands wait for hospital beds in South Korea as coronavirus cases surge

Macron Orders Seizure of Face Masks

Reader DSV forwarded this from the Reuters news wire: France reports fourth coronavirus death, requisitions masks. JWR’s Comment: So is is it supposed to sound nice and “legal”, when they call seizing private property “requisitioning”?  Note to Monsieur Petit Tyran Macron: Your truncheon is showing!

Army Doubles Purchase of Sniper Rifle 

From Zero Hedge: Army Doubles Purchase of New Sniper Rifle. A snippet:

“The Tennessee-made PSR, which is produced by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, is a bolt-action Multi-Role Adaptive Design (MRAD) system and called the Mk 22, which will be chambered in 7.62×51 mm NATO round. The PSR is the next generation of sniper rifles, and it’s lightweight, more accurate, and more reliable than legacy systems. “

Native Bees are Reliable Pollinators

C.B. sent this: Flower faithful native bee makes a reliable pollinator

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  – Galatians 3: 10-29 (KJV)

A Prepping Reality Check – Part 3, by Mama Bear

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(Continued from Part 2.)

Communication

Communication methods must be well thought out, ahead of time. Most communication methods that are mentioned on the blogs/literature involve electronics such as ham radios, CB radios, walkie-talkies, portable radios, etc. All of these require some source of power. As discussed earlier, computers are very fragile and should not be depended on for communications.

  • What power source does your communications technology use?
  • Do you have backups?
  • If using rechargeable batteries, how many times can they be recharged before they die?
  • Are your communication methods subject to eavesdropping? (HINT: the answer is yes.) How will you communicate securely when needed?)
  • What is the range of your communications technology?
  • Have you practiced using it?
  • Can you communicate with your neighbors or similarly minded preppers?
  • Is the technology stored in such a manner that it is safe from an EMP?
  • What will you do if the government/invaders/whoever knock on the door to confiscate your communications?

Look into alternatives as well. Telegraph between close neighbors might be feasible given a battery, telegraph key and wire (old phone wires, perhaps?). Coded light signals using lights or lanterns might be another method. Another method might be drum codes. A drop location to leave messages that can be checked by those who share that drop location might be another option. After all, humans communicated for many years before our current electronic technology became available. Consider researching and learning some of these older methods.

Medical Care, Health and Hygiene

An extremely important part of planning is to prepare for the health, hygiene, and medical needs of your family. An assessment of the health issues of members of the family/group is essential. As is the overall physical fitness of each member. I mentioned earlier that I went on a program to lose weight and improve my physical fitness. I have also changed my diet and lifestyle and been able to get off all prescription medication.

  • Is your weight at a healthy, physically fit level?
  • Have you had a recent physical?
  • Have you made any necessary diet and lifestyle changes to eliminate prescription medications as much as possible?
  • Do you have a year’s supply of prescription medication stored? Do you rotate this supply?
  • Have you had a recent dental exam and cleaning?
  • Taken care of any caries or necessary dental work?
  • Have you had a recent eye exam?
  • Do you have a spare pair of glasses? Plenty of extra contacts and solution? Spare reading glasses?
  • Have you stocked up on medical supplies? Bandages, antibiotics, burn ointment, splints/wraps, disinfectant, sutures, etc.
  • Have you taken any first aid/medical training?
  • What herbs and/or essential oils do you have on hand?
  • What will you do if a member of your group is giving birth?
  • Is there a local midwife?
  • Is there a local doctor who is similarly minded?
  • Do you have soap, toothpaste and other hygiene items?
  • When you run out of hygiene items, can you make more?
  • How much toilet paper do you have and what plans do you have for when it runs out?
  • Do you have the means to wash clothes when the washer and dryer are not functional?

I located two books which have been very useful in preparing. One is called “Where There Is No Doctor” and the other is “Where There Is No Dentist.” Both are available online as free PDF downloads. I found the dental one very helpful in describing exactly the dental tools and techniques needed when no dentist is available. The medical one is also very helpful.

Many medical supplies such as scalpels and sutures can be purchased from veterinary supply catalogs when unavailable from other sources. Even IV saline can be purchased from these suppliers. Some drugs may require prescriptions, discuss this with your friendly fellow prepper doctor or veterinarian.Continue reading“A Prepping Reality Check – Part 3, by Mama Bear”

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:

Even though I’m presently traveling, I made some prepping progress by topping off our NBC protective equipment.  I mail-ordered more disposable plastic booties and nitrile gloves. We probably already had enough, but this will give us extras for barter and/or charity.  I’ve also been on the hunt for more pre-1925  reference books to scan for use as bonus material for next year’s SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick. I want to make that one really special, since it will be our 15th Anniversary edition.

Oh, by the way, we are now sold out of the 2005-2019 edition of the blog Archive USB sticks. The family that handles order fulfillment for us  has promised to get them all in the mail by around March 14th. So that means all of the buyers in CONUS should have theirs in hand no later than March 21st. Folks in the UK, EU countries, and Australia may have an additional 2-week to 3-week wait. Thanks for your patience!

I’m also taking this opportunity to do some minor repairs on our “daily driver” — a four-wheel drive SUV. It now has logged more than 300,000 miles–with no major repairs. I’ve been scrupulous about maintenance, but I now have one regret: I now wish that I had used synthetic motor oil, from the outset. That might have meant making it past 450,000 miles without an engine overhaul.

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”