SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. Today, I’d like to mention camper conversion and rental companies in the American Redoubt. Conversions of Sprinter vans are very popular. And some folks are even converting cargo trailers into either overt or covert “stealth” campers. Both have had explosions of popularity in recent years. Some folks even live in them full time, as mobile tiny houses. The featured van photo is courtesy of (P)artCraft LLC.  (Used with permission.)

Region-Wide

If you live in the Western U.S. and want to “try before you buy”, to see what its like to travel and camp in a Sprinter van, Promaster van, or other van conversion, then see the folks at MercedesSprinterRVRentals.com.

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Another Sprinter campervan rental company in the west is Moterra Campervans.

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If you are looking to buy a van that has already been converted, then check out: RVTrader.

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And for some general “Pros and Cons” information, see: The Wayward Home.

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For those of us who are handy with tools, here is a great “how to” article, over at Instructables: Custom Sprinter Van RV Conversion. That is where I heard about (P)artCraft.

Blue Dog RV has a good selection of Class B RVs. Among others, they have locations in Bend, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, Kennewick, Pasco, and Post Falls.

Idaho

SYNC Vans in Hailey, Idaho does awesome work.  They are best known for their work on 4×4 Sprinter vans. Here is a video that shows their work: Custom 4×4 Sprinter van conversion – Sync Vans profile at Overland Expo West 2018 – Vanlife. And here is an article about them in Spokane’s biggest newspaper: A Visit to SYNC Vans

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Wander Vans in Boise, Idaho is quite well-known known for the mid-range conversions. They also do van rentals.

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Reader G.C. wrote to mention: Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019 is the grand opening day for a new army surplus store in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. It is located at 6606 South Main Street,  Bonners Ferry.

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

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”.  Today, we focus on the EU’s Controversial Copyright Reform.

Your Car and Phone are Selling Your Data

James C. sent us a link to this 9-minute video: Your Car is Selling Your Data.

And speaking for data, check out this piece at CNBC: Stores are starting to track your every move.

Bottom line: Either drive an older car or disable your car’s satellite and cellular connectivity. And if you must have a cell phone, then make it an older-generation flip phone with a removable battery–not a smartphone.

Thomas Sowell on a Socialist America

A good read, over at The American Thinker: Thomas Sowell Is Right to Predict a Socialist America. The article also has some great quotes from Alexis de Tocqueville.

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

Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 1, 2019

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April 1st, 1886 was the birthday of Arthur W. Pink, who died 15 July 1952 and was an English Christian evangelist and excellent Reformed Biblical scholar. It was his meticulously referenced arguments in his book, The Sovereignty of God, that first convinced me of the truth of the doctrine of Election.

April 1st is also both April Fool’s Day and (unofficially) Molly Ivins Day. The latter refers to this key verse: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1 KJV)

—

Today we are announcing the winners of Round 81 of our writing contest.

And we are also posting another product review from our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.

Writing Contest Results and a New Prize

We just completed the judging for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest, and have a list of the winners. But first, before we list the winning articles, I have a special announcement:

A New Prize!

Starting today, with the advent of Round 82, et sequentia for just the next 10 rounds of the contest (that is, for the next 20 months) we’ve added a new prize of considerable value. A SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous is donating All-Inclusive Diamond Lifetime Memberships to the Front Sight firearms training school in Nevada. Members at the Diamond level are entitled to enrollment at any class of their choice at Front Sight Nevada with no restrictions on repeating classes, free of charge, for life!  Diamond level members even have guaranteed placement in any course with two weeks’ advance enrollment. They also receive a 40% discount on products at the Front Sight Pro Shop. The Diamond level memberships have been sold out, but the donor of these memberships–who is an Ambassador level Front Sight member–has very generously granted 10 Lifetime Diamond memberships to SurvivalBlog. One membership will be added to the Second Prize package.

There are presently nearly 50 different different classes offered at Front Sight Nevada. They range from concealed carry and edged weapons, to long range rifle shooting, and even submachinegun classes.

Our sincere thanks to that “SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous”!

And The Winners Are…

Getting back to the Round 81 prize winners. We’ve completed the judging. All of the top three prizes went to multi-part articles. The winners are:

First Prize: Nivek, for New Zealand: Thoughts After Seven Years

Note:  Because he presumably still lives in New Zealand, some prizes may have to be substituted or transferred to relatives or friends in the United States, and some shipping costs may not be included. Working that out will be up to the prize donors and Nivek.

Second Prize:  The Jewish Prepper, for How NOT to Build a Retreat

Third Prize:  GritsInMontana, for From the Deep South to Northern Rockies

Honorable Mention Articles (the writers will receive $30 Amazon gift cards)

The prizes for Round 82 will be:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  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 Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. 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.
  3. 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,
  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. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 82 ends on May 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.

Get your article written and send it in soon. The top three prize winners will share more than $11,000 worth of prizes.

S&W M&P 9mm Compact, by Pat Cascio

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Back in the day, I used to be a huge fan of S&W firearms. It was usually my preferred choice in a handgun. However, over the years, some of S&W politics turned me off, as well as a few times I encountered poor customer service. S&W is less political these days, and their  customer service is said to be better. Today, we’re checking out the M&P 9mm Compact semi-auto, and it’s a real dandy for concealed carry.

I’m not really bashing S&W these days. Far from it – the old guard at S&W made some bad business decisions some years ago, under the Clinton Presidency, and it cost them a lot of business. Make no mistake, Smith & Wesson, still produces some of the best handguns to be had. S&W has taken a big chunk of business from Glock, with their M&P handgun line – available in .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. The county sheriff’s department in my area switched from Glocks to the M&P. The deputies I’ve talked to say that they prefer the M&P over the Glock, in a big way. And, I’m not knocking Glock, they set the tone for polymer framed guns back in the mid 1980s. I own more than a few Glocks myself, and I love ‘em, too.

Many Variations

When it comes to the S&W M&P line-up, you can have many of the models in a full-sized duty form, or in a more compact (and subcompact) handgun for concealed carry. I’ve owned all three sizes in nearly all the calibers. I really like the full-sized 9mm and .45 ACP models. When it comes to a .45 ACP I love the M&P Shield, and I can be caught carrying it quite often. It just fits my hand perfectly and feels great. I’ve owned the M&P Shield in 9mm and .40 S&W too – but I prefer the .45 ACP over those two calibers–even though the .45 ACP version is a bit bigger.

Let’s take a quick look at the specs on the M&P 9mm Compact version: Of course, it is chambered in 9mm and can handle all the +P ammo you want to fire through it. It comes with two mags, each holding 12 rounds. On the pinky catcher mag, I added some skate board friction tape, so that my pinky stays locked on under recoil. The gun only weighs 21.7-oz, so it’s a light-weigh for concealed carry. The barrel is 3.5-inches long, and the width is 1.18-inches. Of course, it is semi-auto, and short-recoil operated, the frame is black textured Zytel polymer.

Continue reading“S&W M&P 9mm Compact, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Enola Gay’s Beef Cabbage Soup

This recipe first appeared in Enola Gay’s book: The Prepared Family Cookbook.

By the way, we highly recommend both Enola Gay’s Paratus Familia blog and all of her books.

Ingredients

1 Pound Ground Beef (or venison, rabbit, etc.)
1/2 Head of Cabbage, shredded
2 Ribs of Celery, sliced (or celerac)
1 Small Bell Pepper, cut into small pieces (or dried peppers)
1 Medium Diced Onion (or dried onions)
2 Cups Cooked Kidney Beans (or (1) 16oz. can)
2 Cups Diced Canned Tomatoes (or fresh)
4 Cups of Water
2 T Beef Bouillon (or pwd soup base)
1/4 tsp Garlic powder (or 3 cloves fresh garlic, pressed)
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions

Brown ground beef, and drain. Add remaining ingredients to the ground beef. Add more water to achieve desired consistency. Bring to a boil and then simmer for at least one hour, or until the veggies are tender.

Alternative Method

Left-over meat works well in this recipe. Often, I will use roast meat from a previous meal. Canned meat (either venison or beef) also works well.

For a quick meal, I can my beans in the pressure canner so they are ready to add to the soup without having to sit overnight. During the fall, I can tomatoes with onions and green peppers and add that to the soup rather than the individual ingredients. I make sure to add the liquid that the veggies have been canned in, to add extra flavor.

Notes and Serving Suggestions

This is our hands-down favorite winter soup. Cabbage keeps well in the cellar and is a staple of many winter-time recipes. This soup is flavorful and hearty – a real crowd pleaser when served with fresh, warm bread.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it 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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we focus on housing bubbles.

Precious Metals:

We’ll start today with this from Frank Holmes: Gold Mining Stocks Are Surging On Global Economic Fears

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Are We Running Out Of Gold?

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And for the chartist believers, there is this from Clive Maund: Gold – Is A sharp C-wave Drop Imminent?

Economy & Finance:

Some polling data, cited by Zero Hedge: America 2050: Inequality Crisis, Automation Threat, Debt Shock

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Michael Snyder: Wall Street Red Flag: A Bond Market Indicator That Has Predicted Every Recession In The Last 50 Years Just Got Triggered

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And at Wolf Street: The Most Splendid Housing Bubbles in America Deflate Further. A snippet:

“The most obvious one was Seattle. Now it’s joined by a second most obvious one, the San Francisco Bay Area. According to the CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index released this morning, single-family house prices in the five-county San Francisco Bay Area — the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo (northern part of Silicon Valley), Alameda, Contra Costa (both part of the East Bay ), and Marin (part of the North Bay) — fell 1.3% in January from December and are now down 4.3% from the peak last July, the biggest six-month drop since the six-month period ended in February 2012, the bottom of Housing Bust 1.”Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 31, 2019

March 31 is the birthday of economist Dr. Walter E. Williams, PhD., who was born in 1936. His book American Contempt for Liberty is highly recommended.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present the final entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  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 Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  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 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. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 81 ends on March 28th, 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 Greenhouse for Your Homestead, by Ozark Redneck

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“Breathe in. The air is rich, humid, fragrant and full of life, warm on your face. It’s comfortable. What is it about a greenhouse or sunspace that feels good to almost everyone? It’s more than just stimulation of the senses. It goes deeper, further back. The tropics were the womb of human life, and the greenhouse is a connection to our origins.” – Shane Smith, in Greenhouse Gardener’s Companion

Having a greenhouse can extend your growing season, allow you to start plants earlier and perhaps allow you to grow food that couldn’t survive in your outdoor garden. We started our greenhouse in 2012. I will share what we have, how it was built and some tips we learned along the way.

We inquired about building our own greenhouse or having someone help us at the local commercial nursery/greenhouse. She suggested this retired couple that lived in a nearby town that built greenhouses. Their 10’ x 20’ prefabrticated greenhouse unit was perfect for us. The boards on the bottom frame of our unit are treated 2” x 6”. All of the other wood was regular untreated kiln dried lumber.

Note: The next one that I buy or build will be built out of all treated lumber, since the door frame and window frame have experienced some decay with the weather.

The hoops are made of 1-3/8” galvanized top-rail (like used for chain link fencing). The window is an aluminum storm window with screen, 30” x 44” in a 2” x 4” frame. The door is 36” wide by 75” tall and made from 1” x 4” lumber inside a 2’ x 4” frame. The total height of each end (door end and window end) is 86” measured from peak of greenhouse roof to top of 2” x 6” base. Galvanized pipe was used for the bracing on the front and the back. You will need the 20’ x 50’ 6ml poly sheeting to build the 10’ x 20’ green house.

Continue reading“A Greenhouse for Your Homestead, by Ozark Redneck”

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”.  Today, we focus on how a Federal judge declared the California 11+ round magazine ban unconstitutional.

Your Car and Phone are Selling Your Data

James C. sent us a link to this 9-minute video: Your Car is Selling Your Data.

Oh, and speaking for data, check out this piece at CNBC: Stores are starting to track your every move.

Bottom line: Either drive an older low tech car or disable your car’s satellite and cellular connectivity. And if you must have a cell phone, then make it an older-generation flip phone with a removable battery–not a smartphone.

Federal Judge Strikes Down California Magazine Ban

Some great news! Fed Judge: California’s ‘High-Capacity’ Magazine Ban Unconstitutional. JWR’s Comments:  Even if this court order is eventually reversed by the Ninth Circuit Court, it created a window of opportunity for magazine acquisition for Californians. They should stock up, heavily, ASAP. It is also noteworthy that there was heretofore no “plausible deniability” for any magazine manufactured between 2000 and 2019. For example, MagPul PMAGs were not released for sale until 2008. So any Californian caught with one over 10-round capacity couldn’t claim that they had it “before the ban.” But now…  What a great window of opportunity.

Thomas Sowell on a Socialist America

A good read, over at The American Thinker: Thomas Sowell Is Right to Predict a Socialist America. The article also has some great quotes from Alexis de Tocqueville.

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” – Romans 1 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — March 30, 2019

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On March 30, 1981, President Reagan was shot and seriously wounded outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John W. Hinckley Jr.. Also wounded were White House news secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent, and District of Columbia police officer Thomas K. Delahanty.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  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 Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  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 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. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 81 ends on March 28th, 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.

From the Deep South to Northern Rockies: Pt. 3, by GritsInMontana

27

(Continued from Part 2. This installment concludes the series.)

The Homestead

We ultimately settled on a home with some acreage. The hilarity ensued as we moved farm animals (cue the Benny Hill music), hay, our combined supply of preps, furnishing, farm equipment, and other items. The move took weeks…literally weeks. We fell into bed each night, exhausted and cranky. As much fun as all this sounds, our regular full-time jobs and household chores continued. By the time the last load was hauled, we had injured backs, knees, and ankles… And the work was just beginning. Fortunately, the skills I learned through trial and error while living at the Slightly Cockeyed Cabin were all easily transferable to our new homestead.

American Redoubt Gardening

The one thing I hadn’t mastered at my rental home was a garden, and I was eager to install one at our new homestead. My husband kindly installed 10-foot posts and deer fencing for a 30 x 30-foot garden. We later learned that rabbits will chew right through deer fencing material, so if you want to make your garden truly pest-proof, you’ll need to dig down along the perimeter and install hardware cloth that extends up from the ground about 3 feet. Yes, it’s a pain. In fact, everything about gardening here is a pain. I can’t emphasize how much hard work it is. Except for the Clearwater River Valley in Idaho and a few other low-elevation places, gardening in most of the Redoubt is only for the insane or highly-optimistic. Fortunately, I’m both. And, as if to prove that gardeners are God’s favorite people, we have daylight in most areas of the Redoubt until 9:30 PM or later each summer evening, allowing us gardeners to enjoy our hobby for many hours after our day job ends.

While most experts suggest that you “start small”, I disagree. My motto is GO BIG! Go ahead and get your garden infrastructure in place and make it as large as you imagine you will ever need. (After only a few years, I wished that  I had made my garden footprint larger.) You’ll probably need some good soil delivered, too, as our soils tend to be poor. I advocate that you start large because any area you can’t garden (due to time restrictions, cost, etc.) can simply be covered with cardboard and a thick layer of straw. Then, when you’re ready (or if there’s an urgent need for it), it’s there waiting for you. In the meantime, you can toss in any compost you may have, steadily building up your own healthy soil for future use.

After much trial and error, straw became my number one favorite garden helper. It not only keeps weeds at bay, but it helps keep the soil from drying out in our arid climate. And, after living on our homestead for a few years, I had several nice piles of mellow cow poo accumulated from cleaning the corrals. This aged cow poo is a wonderful amendment to the soil in my garden. (Note: I don’t recommend horse poo… it creates more weeds.)

Continue reading“From the Deep South to Northern Rockies: Pt. 3, by GritsInMontana”