Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both 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.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

This week I helped Lily complete the reorganization of our Hall/Pantry.  I discovered that I mail-ordered a few too many Sterlite plastic storage bins for the hall shelves, but the excess bins will go to good use in our workshop.

I split and stacked some more firewood.

At this stage of my life, most of my firearms acquisition and gunsmithing is for the benefit of our grandchildren. I just completed another M4-length .223 Wylde AR build.  For the first time ever, I used a 1/2″x28-threaded Kaw Valley Precision “MACH 3” Modular Linear Compensator.  I ordered that from Optics Planet. (They are one of SurvivalBlog’s affiliate advertisers.) I also ordered a few additional threaded MACH 3 body sections, for greater versatility.

These “linear compensators” have no baffles, so they are not classified as “suppressors” or “silencers” by the ATF.  But they do a great job of throwing sound forward, so there is less sound heard by the shooter.  By the way, I plan to order another one of these goodies to install on our SW .22 rimfire pistol. It has a now ubiquitous 1/2″x28 threaded muzzle. I’ve found that pistol is the one that I grab the most often for pest shooting, or putting down livestock. It has a high-mounted red dot sight, so the large diameter of the Kaw Valley compensator won’t be an issue.

Now, Lily’s part of the report…Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.” – Ecclesiates 9:1-7  (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — January 10, 2025

On January 10, 49 BC, Julius Caesar defied the Roman Senate and crossed the Rubicon, uttering “alea iacta est” (the die is cast), signaling the start of civil war and his appointment as Roman dictator for life.

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January 10, 1776: The “Common Sense” pamphlet by Thomas Paine was first published, advocating American independence.

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January 10, 1920: Following the inflationary  First World War, silver reached a record $1.37 an ounce on the open market.

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A Special Note From JWR: Please pray for everyone in the path of the Southern California wildfires! It was not just millionaire movie stars who’ve lost homes. This is now estimated to be the Costliest Fire Disaster in U.S. History.  I predict that its farthest-reaching effects will be on the insurance industry.  We’ll probably see some rates soar, and entire segments of the nation’s populace denied insurance coverage. This may not bode well for rural preppers living in forested regions.

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Today’s feature article is a guest post by one of my consulting clients. It is not eligible for the writing contest judging. – JWR

We are seeking entries for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 ends on January 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.

Thoughts on Farming – Part 4, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 3.)

The Future of Farming

The smallest of agricultural tools demonstrates the largest of problems in farming today. Small funnels are often thought of as almost disposable, but this one and its sticker saying the price survived all of these decades to become a component in this discussion. The funnel is from 1977 when my dad was young long before I was born. It was 59 cents. A comparable funnel today is around 5 dollars. Let us call it almost a ten to one ratio because you have in many states to add sales tax. Corn prices back in 1977 were about $2.30 a bushel. Corn prices 40 years later were $3.61. (I recently had a quote for corn at $4.30 a bushel.

The highest that corn sold for is a little under $8.50 a bushel back in 2012 due to some serious weather issues and decreased production forecasts.) Farmers were selling corn a little over 50 percent more 40 years later while purchasing equipment that could have been 1,000 percent more. Even with increased yields with improved varieties, this is simply not sustainable. Every piece of agricultural equipment that I can think of is higher in that time span. Back in 1977, a 125 hp tractor was about $20,000. Something comparable today can be over $100,000. Even larger tractors can easily cost a million dollars today. There is a lot of truth in the joke of how to make a million dollars farming: start with two million.  There is still money to be made for the most efficient farms, but it requires people to have an understanding about business, weather, and history as much as it is about equipment.Continue reading“Thoughts on Farming – Part 4, by Single Farmer”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we examine the prospect of new tariffs, starting in 2025.

Precious Metals:

From BullionVault: Volatility Hits Gold and Silver Prices on ‘Tweak’ to Trump’s Trade Tariffs.

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Reuters reported on Tuesday: Gold pares gains as dollar rebounds following US jobs data. Here is a key quote:

“Uncertainty surrounding the tariff policy in the run up to Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 has fuelled concerns about future moves in U.S. policy.

Investors have been pricing in a scenario where proposed tariffs could inflame U.S. inflation, limiting the Fed’s ability to cut rates and thereby pressuring gold.”

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Here’s How Tariffs Could Impact the Precious Metals Market”

Economy & Finance:

Tariffs on the move? A guide for CEOs for 2025 and beyond.

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How proposed tariffs could reshape U.S. economy and global trade in 2025.

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David Haggith:  The Trouble with Tariffs and the Economic Nuclear Bomb, Part Two.

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A good background piece from Morgan Stanley, published back in November: Unintended Consequences: The Economic and Corporate Trade-Offs of Tariffs.

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From the statist/globalist perspective of Global Finance magazine: Bracing For A Tariff War.

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Reported by CNBC on Wednesday: Fed officials are worried about the inflation impacts from Trump’s policies, minutes show.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — January 9, 2025

 

On January 9, 1855, the clipper ship “Guiding Star” disappeared in the Atlantic, with the loss of 480 lives.

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January 6, 1880: It was reported that six feet of snow had fallen in Seattle, in five days.

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And on January 6, 1936, the U.S. Army adopted the M1 semiauto rifle, designed by John Garand as its new standard-issue weapon.

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Today’s feature article is a guest post by one of my consulting clients. It is not eligible for the writing contest judging. – JWR

We are seeking entries for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 ends on January 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.

Thoughts on Farming – Part 3, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 2.)

Wheat Farming in the Heartland: A year in the life of a wheat farm

We are a diversified family farm actually growing multiple crops to provide diversified income streams. We own all of our acres and have no debt. This will be covered extensively in the part which covers the “Economics of Farming.” Everything is grown that is sold is for profit. If a crop is no longer profitable or has a strong possibility of becoming unprofitable, it is not grown or sometimes grown in a limited amount. Just because we can grow something in quantity, does not mean that we should.

In pre-industrial America, a wheat farmer had to do these tasks by hand: cutting, bundling the sheaves, drying, threshing, winnowing, and storing. When wheat is at the stage which can be expressed as “amber waves of grain,” it describes the color transformation stage from green to amber in the ripening process on the road to harvest. This first stage of the harvest required great physical stamina in swinging a scythe where two acres a day would be a routine amount using a scythe with a cradle. This was an improvement over using a sickle where usually well under an acre could be cut, but this was a forward movement in efficiency.Continue reading“Thoughts on Farming – Part 3, by Single Farmer”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is 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. In today’s column, we look at the risk of terrorist sleeper agents and cells in the United States.

More Than 1,000 Jihadi Sleepers In The US?

Video: Former CIA Officer: There Are More Than 1,000 Jihadi Sleepers In The US Planning Major Homeland Attacks.

Countering Terrorist Sleeper Cells in the United States

FBI’s Frontline Defense: Countering Terrorist Sleeper Cells in the United States. JWR’s Comments:  Based on its track record, the FBI seems to manufacture far more terrorists by grooming them and conspiring with them. If need be, undercover agents or their paid informants even gives terrorists driving lessons.

Abortion Was the Leading Cause of Death in 2024, Worldwide

Abortion was the Leading Cause of Death in 2024, With Over 45 Million Killed.

JWR’s Comment: That is a staggering figure. About the same as the entire population of Argentina, every year. Or think of it as nine Nazi Holocausts, per year. Please pray for the lives of the innocent unborn!

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

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — January 8, 2025

On January 8, 1656, the longest-running commercial newspaper, “Weeckelycke Courante van Europa“, now known as “Haarlems Dagblad“, still in printed circulation first began publication in Haarlem, Netherlands.

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January 8,1835: The US national debt was reduced to zero for the first and only time in history.

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Today’s feature article is a guest post by one of my consulting clients. It is not eligible for the writing contest judging. – JWR

We are seeking entries for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 ends on January 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.

Thoughts on Farming – Part 2, by Single Farmer

(Continued from Part 1.)

Successful survivalists consider a variety of scenarios including looking at how previous generations survived to glean any wisdom that they can take as compensation for their time. All of us are only here because our ancestors somehow managed to carry themselves genetically forward. For most of human history, it was difficult to get enough calories to barely stay alive and this fact is lost upon most people as they have so many choices today often struggling on what cuisine to eat, and not how to find food.

A common cause of death throughout history has been starvation, due to crop failure. A lot of individuals reading this if asked to name a critical event of the 14th Century would say the “Black Death” — also known as the Bubonic Plague — reducing Europe’s overall population from 1346 to 1353 by about a third with mortality rates of often 80 percent or higher depending on the plague year. Few people know that just a little earlier in the 14th Century there was a large food crisis that is very important to our discussion on farming. Throughout history, people would often go from harvest to harvest and the slightest interruption often meant disaster as crop yields were not large multiples, but were often in low single-digit multipliers in productivity. Often it was two to one or even lower with even higher loss percentages.Continue reading“Thoughts on Farming – Part 2, by Single Farmer”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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Mike in Alaska wrote:

“The local climate here is our version of a freezer and refrigerator solution. I took the photo above on my way to work this morning … and it is now dropping even further. We are expecting -45 F this coming weekend. In the summer (June, July, and half of August) we have permafrost and can easily use underground bunkers for food. My basement under my house (really just a 5-1/2 foot deep crawl space, or what we called a “Michigan Basement” growing up, never gets much below or above 45 degrees, even when the temps outside are at -64 below zero. I hope you guys are all good, and I pray every day for you folks.”

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Lily mentioned a useful video that she found for any folks looking for their ticket to living out in the hinterboonies: 10 Boring But Stable Remote Jobs That Pay $30+ Per Hour.

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As a followup to the release of the Homestead feature film, Angel Studios has started early release of a Homestead streaming series.  For now, the series episodes are only available to Angel Studios “Guild” members.

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Reader L. wrote us the following on preparing to isolate rooms, in the event of power failures:

“Buying a couple of king-size flat sheets and some hooks or nails, and poking holes in the top hem on a sheet and hanging it on hooks or nails in the doorway(s) between rooms will do much to keep precious heat in one small room. Or you can hang the sheet on a spring-loaded tension type curtain rod and stick it up in a doorway, assuming you don’t live in an “open-plan” house. For those of you with houseplants or vegetable plant starts, you can keep them survivable in the smallest room in the house (usually the bathroom) with several lit candles, in the bathtub. This will keep them “baseline” warm until the polar vortex subsides.

I found a local business that puts its scrap lumber pieces in a bin out by the street and was able to obtain several totes full, I also found a local rock and gravel supply place that happened to carry $5 BIG bundles of firewood, much cheaper than the mini-mart bundles which are now priced at $9.00 for about 6 pieces of wood. Some of us [older people]  have lost the ability to chop firewood anymore.

I remember seeing very old photos of my grandparent’s farm with dirt heaped up all around the foundation, for insulation, boy those single pane windows in wooden frames must have been fun, with ice melting on the inside and rotting the frame.”

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Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — January 7, 2025

January 7, 1785: The first balloon flight across the English Channel, by Jean Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries.

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January 7,1927: Commercial transatlantic telephone service was inaugurated between New York and London.

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Today is the birthday of Senator Rand Paul, born 1963.

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This is also the birthday of Cresson Kearny (born 1914, died December 18, 2003.)

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Today’s feature article is a guest post by one of my consulting clients. It is not eligible for the writing contest judging. – JWR

We are seeking entries for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 ends on January 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.