Writing Contest Prize Winners Announced — Round 106

We’ve completed the judging for Round 106 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prize-winning writers are:

First Prize

First Prize goes to G.F., for: Pest Control for Keeping a Bug-Free Home.  (Posted April 26-27, 2023.  See: Part 1 and Part 2.) He will receive the following prize.

1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize

Second Prize goes to Captain Nemo, for A New Freeze Dryer, by Captain Nemo.  (Posted May 9-11, 2023.  See: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.) He will receive the following prizes:

1. 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.
2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
3. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
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. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
6. A transferable $150 FRN 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!

Third Prize

Third Prize goes to St. Funogas, for Invisibility: Increasing OPSEC (Posted May 23-26, 2023.  See: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.) He will receive the following prizes:

1. EBL is providing an EBL Voyager 500-Watt Power Station with deep cycle lithium batteries, providing reliable 120 Volt AC and DC (12 Volt and USB) power for emergencies or outdoor use. (A $399 value.)
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. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

Honorable Mention

Each Honorable Mention Prize winner has been awarded a transferable and accruable $100 FRN purchase credit toward the purchase of any antique or percussion replica gun from Elk Creek Company.

Honorable Mention Prizes go to the writers of these 13 articles:

• Building a Dedicated .22 Small Game Rifle, by Steve A.  See: Part 1 and Part 2.
• A Retreat for Aging Preppers, by Barbara H.
• Simple Home Logistics Planning Tips, by Kevin C.
• Commo for Family, Group, or Community, by Tunnel Rabbit. See: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
• AR-15 Setup and Maintenance – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, by John Smith
• Gifts for Sojourners, by K.R.
• March 2023 Snow Storm & Power Outage, by Rocky Hill
• Get Started With Scratch Cooking, by SaraSue. See: Part 1 and Part 2.
• Some Options for AR Pistols, by Legal Eagle
• Air Rifles as Survival Tools, by S.C.
• Proper Load Securement: An Essential Safety Skill, by Swampfox
• For Love of a Troy Bilt Horse, by MZee
• Our Experience in Raising Meat Rabbits, by K.B.

More than $800,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Round 107 is already underway and ends on July 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.