Making Flour From Mesquite, by Pete Thorsen

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My goal this past year was to make flour from Mesquite pods and I did meet this modest goal. To do this I planned ahead and I was able to purchase an old hand crank meat grinder and a hand crank grain mill. Both were used but appeared to be in excellent shape. The all-metal grain mill looks much like the old-style meat grinder but has two flat plates between which the milling takes place. New hand meat grinders and new grain mills like what I bought are still made and readily available. Many can be found on eBay and other online sites. Thrift stores also often have these items. The ones that I bought were found used at yard sales and I ended up having only a $12 total investment for two items. (Yes, I am thrifty!)

On the Internet I had read about how people ground mesquite and they used many different means to do so (some quite expensive). This was something I wanted to try because the land here has plenty of mesquite trees and they produce an incredible amount of seed pods, even in very dry years. While the desert in the American southwest does contain many edible wild plants, it is still a desert and all plants are sparse. Except for Mesquite that is, at least in my general area.

Continue reading“Making Flour From Mesquite, by Pete Thorsen”

JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on stainless steel zip ties. (See the Gear & Grub section.)

Books:

The Prepper’s Canning Guide: Affordably Stockpile a Lifesaving Supply of Nutritious, Delicious, Shelf-Stable Foods

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52 Prepper Projects: A Project a Week to Help You Prepare for the Unpredictable

Movies & Television:

Something special for Terry Pratchett fans: Going Postal.  (Available on Amazon Prime.)

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I really enjoyed this review: Serenity Retrospective/Review. For any of our readers who have not yet seen it, I also recommend Josh Whedon’s Serenity.

Continue reading“JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:”

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’s focus is on Brandon Smith’s analysis of the economy. (See the Economy & Finance section.)

Precious Metals:

Barrick CEO defends $18 billion hostile Newmont bid as logical tie-up. (A hat tip to H.L. for the link.)

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It’s A Good Time To Be A Palladium Miner

 

Economy & Finance (Brandon Smith):

The latest from Brandon Smith over at Alt-Market.com: Fed Tightening And Crumbling Fundamentals Expose The Recovery Lie. Here is an interesting tidbit from Brandon Smith’s article:  “I also find it interesting that while retail sales are crumbling, consumer debt continues to rise. If consumers are taking on more debt, where is that money going if not into purchases? My suspicion is that new debt is being taken on in order to pay off old debts. If this terrible cycle is the underlying source of expanding personal credit, then retail sales indicate that we are close to the end of the game.”

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The US Housing Market Begins to Feel the Pain

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US Cities Face “Moment Of Reckoning” As China Halts Trash Imports

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“New Economic or Financial Crisis” in the Eurozone Could Start in Italy: French Government Frets

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“GOD, give us men!
A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty, and in private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.” – Josiah Gilbert Holland

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – February 26, 2019

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Today  is the birthday of Major-General Orde Charles Wingate (born, 1903, died 24 March 1944), an eccentric British Army officer who organized special military units in Palestine in the 1930s, and in Abyssinia, Sudan, and Burma during World War II. He is most famous for his creation of the Chindits, airborne deep-penetration troops trained to work behind enemy lines in the Far East campaigns against the Japanese during World War II.

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Seed for Security–one of our most loyal advertisers–is having a noteworthy sale: They are offering their Colossal Security Pack at 15% off. This pack has a total of 7 pounds of vegetable, herb, and grain seeds. All are open-pollinated and non GMO. Included are their three most popular collections: Their Super Survival Pack, 4 Grain Collection, and Heirloom Herb Collection. Each Colossal Pack comes with a four-page seed saving guide. This offer is for a limited time, so order soon.

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Warning: The floor vote on H.R. 8 is expected to be held tomorrow!  Please contact your congressmember ASAP and ask them to do everything that they can to stop it, including loading it up with Killer Amendments. And later this week do the same with your Senators, about the Senate version of the bill, S.42. Thanks!

JWR’s View: Storage Space Planning for Your Stuff

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As a survivalist since age 14–and now 58–I’ve reached the stage of life where I’ve accumulated a deep larder and a lot of stuff. Just writing can’t help but remind me of the classic George Carlin stand-up comedy routine on “A Place For Your Stuff.” (Be forewarned of Carlin’s foul language.) But seriously, every well-prepared family has mountains of stuff. Storage space planning presents three major challenges:

1.) Where to fit it all.

2.) How to keep it safe from deterioration.

3.) Keeping it organized, so you can quickly find, retrieve, and replenish it.

I will attempt to address all three of those, from my perspective.

Mouse & Rat Proof

One crucial design feature of storage containers is that they be mouse and rat proof. This is particularly important for clothes and for any items that have event the slightest hint of a food smell. A typical Sterilite transluscent bin with a white HDPE lid is NOT rodent proof, and they are surprisingly fragile when handled roughly. I’ve bought a few of those, to my regret. In contrast, heavy duty mil-spec transit chests, Pelican cases, and comparable cases from Plano) will keep out all but the most determined rodents. And most tool boxes, tool cabinets, tool carts, and steel freestanding cabinets with tight-fitting doors are also usually rodent proof.

Continue reading“JWR’s View: Storage Space Planning for Your Stuff”

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. The emphasis this week is on American Redoubt jobs.

Region-Wide (American Redoubt Jobs):

Are your looking for work to facilitate a move to The American Redoubt? Reader H.L. suggested these three web sites:

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SPLC attacks the American Redoubt Again!

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El Nino is back but it’s late, weak and probably no big deal.

 

Idaho (American Redoubt Jobs)

A hat tip to H.L. for sending this: Idaho teen donates $7,000 after he makes $35,000 in four days plowing snow in Seattle: ‘All glory to God!’ Here is a quote:

David Holston is not your typical teen.

The 18-year-old entrepreneur who started a landscaping business in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho last spring made more in four days than many make in a year after a lucrative trip to Seattle with his truck and a plow just when the Emerald City got hit with historic levels of snow — 10 inches in some parts of the city.

Streets, homes and cars remain snow-covered on one of Seattle’s steeper hills, Queen Anne, Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. Schools and universities closed across Washington state and the Legislature canceled all hearings as the Northwest dealt with snow and ice and prepared for more as a series of winter storms socked the region. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In total, Holston made $35,000 in four days and said he plans to give $7,000 of that “to God” through his local church and other Christian organizations.”

A Fox News article provided more details.  JWR’s Comment:  This articles illustrates the work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, and faith that is common in many teenagers in the American Redoubt.

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B.B. and R.E. were the first of several readers to send us this:  Idaho Senate Opens Door to Gun Confiscation Orders with SJR101 Vote ~ VIDEO

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Idaho will study wild steelhead

 

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 Appalachians.

Consider the Appalachians

The latest from our friends Patrice and Don Lewis, over at the great Rural Revolution blog: Consider the Appalachians.  Here is a quote from their essay:

“Yesterday Don stumbled upon what looked to be an academic paper published in a periodical called “Education and Culture,” Spring 2002. The paper is titled “Culture, Poverty and Education in Appalachian Kentucky.” Seldom have we read anything so breathtakingly condescending.

The Appalachian culture stretches back centuries. Ever since reading the Foxfire books (documenting Appalachian culture in the 1970s), I’ve admired the people for their self-sufficiency and rural skills.

But the author of this piece (Constance Elam) seems to think it an almost willful act of defiance that the Appalachian people like their culture and don’t want to alter, change, or leave it behind.

Dr. Elam writes: Appalachian Kentucky has a long history of poverty and subsistence living that has permeated the social structure and culture, including public education. Consequently, poverty has actually postponed or delayed the development of public education, as well as contributed to nonparticipation in the education system by much of the population well into the 20th century. … “Livin’s more important than schoolin'” is a powerful statement by one mountain woman that condenses a complex socio-economic situation into the priorities of mountain life.”

Chase Bank Slams Laura Loomer

Chase Bank Suspends Conservative Jewish Activist Laura Loomer From Her Online Banking Account

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

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“There are two kinds of people on earth to-day;
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.

Not the sinner and saint, for it’s well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man’s wealth,
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life’s little span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go, you will find the earth’s masses,
Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween,
There’s only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you? Are you easing the load,
Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner, who lets others share
Your portion of labor, and worry and care?”
– Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Bell & Howell TacLight Lantern/Flashlight Combo, by Pat Cascio

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When the lights go out, we usually reach for a flashlight. However, there are much better forms of portable light. Today we check out the TacLight lantern and flashlight. They are winners.

I’ve owned many LED lanterns over the years, some were really bad, and some were a bit more than okay, when it came to giving us light, when the lights went out. Living in the boonies, we lose electricity quite often from trees falling on power lines because of heavy snow, rain, and winds. It just comes with living out in the country, and we are usually the last to get the lights back on. The nearby towns get power first.

We have small, high intensity flashlights within reach in every room in our house, and they work great. However, when you need something hands-free, the flashlight isn’t always your best or first choice. We used a small battery-powered fluorescent lantern for a lot of years, it threw a lot of light, and operated on those great big 6-volt lantern batteries. The problem was with those lanterns was that while they threw a lot of light, the batteries didn’t last long at all – a couple hours at best. This is because filament light bulbs draw a tremendous amount of current compared to modern LEDs. Also, the batteries were bulky, heavy, and never lasted more than a year just sitting on the shelf.

We used another LED lantern that had tiny LED lights in the bottom of it, and a cone shaped mirror, that reflected the light – not a bad choice, but not a great choice, either. It didn’t shed enough light to light-up the smallest room. However, it did last a good long time – on “D” sized batteries and it was better than candles – and of course safer, too.

The TacLight Combo

I’m sure many of our readers have seen the television commercials for the Bell & Howell TacLight lantern. These commercials play all the time. I was more than a little impressed with what I saw in the commercials, but still had my doubts. All these products we see in these “as seen on TV” commercials usually aren’t as well-made as advertised. A couple that do live up to the hype are the Flex-Seal and some of those cooking pans that have a special coating that prevents foods from sticking.

Continue reading“Bell & Howell TacLight Lantern/Flashlight Combo, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Yogurt Ranch Dressing

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Okie Ranch Wife’s Yogurt Ranch Dressing

This yogurt ranch dressing is a pantry-friendly recipe. I have made it several times already and it is always gone quickly. What I like about making this recipe is that you choose what you put into it. I stay away from commercial products like mayonnaise that has soy or canola oil in the ingredients. You can make your own mayonnaise using just olive oil. You can also make your own yogurt and apple cider vinegar.

This recipe easily doubles or triples.

 

Ingredients

½ cup Plain Yogurt (not Greek style)

2 Tbsp Mayonnaise

1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

½ Tsp Garlic Powder

½ Tsp Sea Salt

½ Tsp White or Black Pepper

1 Tbsp dried Parsley

1 Tbsp Chives

1 Tsp dried Dill Weed

 

Directions

Thoroughly mix all ingredient together. Place in wide mouth jar.

 

Because this includes yogurt, be sure to keep it refrigerated and use it all within one week. If not, then feed it to the chickens, compost it, or discard it.

I hope that you enjoy this!  – OkieRanchWife

 

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’s focus is on Black Gun Lowers. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Wall St., Main St. Still See Gold Bull Running Strong

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What’s Up With Australia’s 80 Tonnes Of Gold At The Bank Of England?

 

Global Economy & Finance:

From Wolf Richter: What the Fed Actually Said About Ending the QE Unwind. Here is a snippet:

“That the QE unwind would continue on autopilot at least until the next meeting was clear from the post-meeting Implementation Notes, released on January 30. And it was repeated in the minutes – same language as it has been since late 2017.

“The Committee directs the Desk to continue rolling over at auction….” Up to $30 billion in Treasury securities and up to $20 billion in mortgage-backed securities would be allowed to mature and roll off the balance sheet without replacement, same as before.”

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At Zero Hedge: Shocking Philly Fed Collapse: Biggest Drop Since 2011 US Rating Downgrade

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Venezuela: Hunger, punishment and fear, the formula for repression used by authorities under Nicolás Maduro. (Thanks to G.P. for the link.)

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 24, 2019

On February 24, 1970 an avalanche took the lives of 29 Swiss army officers in Reckingen, Switzerland.

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A reminder: We are seeking non-fiction articles for the SurvivalBlog Writing Contest. There is still just over one month remaining in the current round. With more than $850,000 worth of prizes awarded since 2005, the contest has tangible rewards for the most informative writers! More than $10,000 worth of prizes will be distributed to the top three prize winners, in the current round. Get busy writing! Share what you’ve learned, and we all win. Thanks.

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Today we present a guest article by Brandon Smith, of the excellent Alt-Market blog.