Preparedness Notes for Monday — May 13, 2024

On May 13, 1787, the First Fleet headed by Arthur Phillip set sail with 11 ships of convicts for Botany Bay, Australia.

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A recent Jonathan Rawles interview with NC Scout has been released. They discussed relocation, real estate prices and affordability, how internal migration is driving a cultural change in rural areas, and how to get established and connected, post-relocation.

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An Update: The fundraising drive for the Baan SuFan orphanage and school in northern Thailand is now almost 50% complete. Thanks to everyone who has donated! The remainder is $2,900 — to fill their current renovation and expansion needs. Please prayerfully consider donating to help them in these projects, and also becoming a monthly supporter.  Thanks! –  JWR

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Today’s feature article is a product review written by SurvivalBlog staff Field Gear Editor, Tom Christianson.

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We are in need of entries for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 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.

Henry Pump Action Rifle in .22WMR, by Thomas Christianson

The Henry Pump Action Rifle in .22WMR reflects classic design elements from such iconic firearms as the Winchester Model 1890, the Winchester Model 62, and the Remington Model 12. With a 20.5 inch octagonal barrel, a 12 round tubular magazine, and a beautiful American Walnut stock, the Henry Pump Action Rifle provides better than average accuracy with a tight and smooth action and minimal felt recoil. It comes with iron sights and a grooved receiver for mounting optics. It weighs 6 pounds.

With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $654 at the time of this writing at www.henryusa.com , and widely available for under $600 online, it represents a viable option for the control of pests and small varmints. It is also fun to shoot.Continue reading“Henry Pump Action Rifle in .22WMR, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: One-Hour Homemade Bread

The following recipe for One-Hour Homemade Bread is from SurvivalBlog reader Tractorguy.  He writes:

“What is a better accompaniment to nearly any meal than hot, fresh, homemade bread? I know, most people think it takes a lot of time and effort, but it doesn’t have to. Give this fast recipe a try. It is so easy, and literally takes only 60 minutes from the time you dissolve the yeast until you pull the bread out of the oven! Since there is some downtime in the recipe, you can multi-task this in while you are preparing other parts of the meal.”

Ingredients
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tsp. yeast
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. honey
  • 1 ½ cups flour (approx.).
Directions

Add the salt and honey to the water, and heat it up to around 100 degrees (25 sec. in the microwave on high is about right). Add the yeast to the hot water and stir to dissolve. Allow the mixture to set until it has a head of foam on it (5-10 minutes). Add the mixture to one cup of flour. Stir to dissolve the flour in the yeast mixture, then keep adding flour and kneading to get it to the consistency of normal bread dough – usually not more than 2-3 minutes.

Divide the dough and form it into the desired shape(s) – one medium loaf, four medium-sized rolls, or six breadsticks. Allow to rise in a warm place for twenty minutes, then bake at 400 degrees – about 17 minutes for breadsticks, 22 minutes for rolls, or 25 minutes for a loaf. You will have hot fresh bread in about an hour!
(Serving tip – we love to make breadsticks with this recipe. The crust and texture are identical to the ones we used to get from a now-defunct area pizza chain. To serve, dip them in your favorite brand of Salsa Con Queso, if you have it!)

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Do you have a well-tested 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 recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic is a map that shows home affordability, by county. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

FYI, the only two counties shaded red in The American Redoubt are right next to Glacier National Park (Whitefish, Montana) and The Grand Tetons (Jackson Hole, Wyoming).

The thumbnail image below is click-expandable.

 

 

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Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The most interesting political questions throughout history have been whether humans will be ruled or free, whether they will be responsible for their actions as individuals or left irresponsible as members of society, and whether they can live in peace by volitional agreements alone. The fundamental question of politics has always been whether there should be politics.” – Karl Hess

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — May 12, 2024

On May 12, 1789, William Wilberforce made his first major speech on abolition in the UK House of Commons, reasoning the slave trade morally reprehensible and an issue of natural justice. Following a conversion experience and becoming an evangelical Christian Wilberforce became one of the leading English abolitionists. Wilberforce headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade for 26 years until the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807.

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On May 12, 1921 a solar storm began, dubbed The Great Geomagnetic Storm of May 1921. These were some of the headlines: “Telegraph Service Prostrated, Comet Not to Blame” — declared the Los Angeles Times on May 15, 1921. “Electrical Disturbance is ‘Worst Ever Known’” — reported the Chicago Daily Tribune. “Sunspot credited with Rail Tie-up” — in the New York Times.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First 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 $2,000.
  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. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. 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).
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  5. 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:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. 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.
  3. 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)
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 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.

Short Season Gardening, by Tunnel Rabbit

I am known for my many articles about radio communication, but my secret passion is gardening. My mother grew up barefoot in a dirt floor log cabin built by my Grandfather on his 100-acre farm he worked with a team of horses that fed a family of 10 during the Great Depression. I am half hillbilly/farm boy as that is how I grew up in the country on a small ranch, and 100 percent American as my father’s side represents how the other part of America lived. I wish I had more time for gardening. But I strive to be well-balanced. Fortunately, I learned to be a jack of all trades starting at a young age, so I could have been a rancher or farmer. I talk a lot about radio because communications is greatly underappreciated and there are more experienced gardeners out there than myself. However, because we are faced with a potential nationwide famine as our country is intentionally collapsed, and because most preppers do not have enough food storage and the ability to grow a productive garden, I feel it necessary to discuss my experience with gardening and pass along some of the methods that have helped me most.Continue reading“Short Season Gardening, by Tunnel Rabbit”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

That Face You Make — When You Are Told That In The Past Two Years Under Biden…

…The Number of Military-Age Illegals Entering The Country Was Six Times The Manpower of the Active U.S. Army

News Links:

U.S. Military Manpower.  (Estimated: 453,551 in the Active Army)

Arizona sheriff: Border crossings are by primarily ‘military-aged men’.

Alarming Rise in Military-Aged Chinese Men Entering US Illegally, Border Patrol Union Chief Warns.

Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!

Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

Honour widows that are widows indeed.

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.” – 1 Timothy 5:1-10 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — May 11, 2024

On May 11, 1910, Montana’s Glacier National Park was established.

On May 11, 1068, Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror, was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey, London.

And on May 11, 1949, Israel was admitted into the United Nations.

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I just put all of my knife and bayonet inventory on sale, at Elk Creek Company. This sale ends on Friday,  May 17th, so order soon!

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First 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 $2,000.
  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. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. 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).
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  5. 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:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. 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.
  3. 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)
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 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.

 

 

 

Shelving: Storage Projects – Part 2, by A.F.

Back to building cabinets. A cabinet is only a box built from materials the same width having smooth parallel sides. For wall hung units, the depth is usually around 12 inches. If you subtract for the thickness of face frame material (approximately ¾ inch) then the plywood panels can all be cut at 11-1/4 inches. You can make them which ever width you want, but an advantage of this size is that each full sheet of plywood can yield four sections eight feet long. If you are brand new to woodworking, keep in mind that a saw blade eats somewhere around an eighth of an inch with each cut. This width is referred to as the “blade’s kerf”. Some table saw blades, miter saw blades, and specialty blades can have kerf widths closer to a quarter of an inch. Although it sounds as though a kerf isn’t much, in sequential rip cuts on a piece of plywood your yield would be three 12” strips and a fourth around 11-5/8 inches. Failing to account for kerf loss is more embarrassing than limiting but I wanted to pass along the experience in hope of saving someone else my embarrassment.Continue reading“Shelving: Storage Projects – Part 2, by A.F.”

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 had an on-site meeting with another consulting client, but this one was fairly close by, so it was just a day trip.

I shipped out five more antique guns, from Elk Creek Company.  Folks certainly seem to be getting anxious about the upcoming ATF “engaged in the business” rule change that goes into effect on May 20th!

I helped Lily, by doing some manure hauling.

Later in the week, our family traveled to deliver a couple of our yearling heifers to a buyer who lives in an adjoining state. That was 11 hours on the road.  That made for a looong day of driving, while towing our three-horse trailer.

We also had our annual visit from our sheep shearer this week.

With the recent severe solar storm, we decided to sleep in one of our tents on Friday night, to hopefully see the Northern Lights.  That was disappointing, ironically, because we were too far north.  We could see just a few glimmering bands on our southern horizon.

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?

Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.” – Psalm 6 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Friday — May 10, 2024

On May 19, 1960, the US atomic submarine USS Triton (SSRN-586) completed the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe, code-named Operation Sandblast, following the same track as the first circumnavigation led by Ferdinand Magellan. Triton was then under the command of Captain Edward L. Beach.

On May 10, 1972, Top Gun Graduate Randall “Duke” Cunningham and his backseater Wally “Irish” Driscoll shot down three MiGs in a dogfight and became the first Ace of the Vietnam War. He later commanded the Top Gun school when they came to make the first movie. His Vice Commander was John McCain.

May 10th is the birthday of the late Col. Jeff Cooper (born 1920, died September 25, 2006).

May 10th is also the birthday of the late Janis Pinups (born 1925, died 15 June 2007). He was one of the last of the Forest Brothers anti-communist resistance fighters. He came out of hiding, after five decades, to obtain a Latvian passport in 1994, after the collapse of eastern European communism. (He was never issued any communist government identity papers and by necessity lived as a nonexistent ghost during the entire Soviet occupation of Latvia.) The history of the Forest Brothers movement certainly deserves more recognition.

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Important Update: Reader H.L. was the first of several to mention this:  VIDEO: Officials Issue ‘Severe’ Geomagnetic Solar Storm Watch Alert for Earth.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 112 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First 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 $2,000.
  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. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $359 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  5. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. 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).
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  5. 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:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. 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.
  3. 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)
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $875,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 112 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.

Shelving: Storage Projects – Part 1, by A.F.

We never have enough storage, do we? Be it a lack of dry coverage for equipment and gardening tools or pantries that are packed so full that first in first out rotation becomes a full contact sport. I enjoy working with my hands and trying to solve problems. In this two-part article, I hope to share some insights, ideas and projects that have helped us with storage for food, preserving supplies, and household items along our self-reliance journey.

When we purchased our home, the property included a 24-foot by 30-foot dirt floor metal building, a derelict house, and the most pitiful chicken coop you can imagine. The previous owners had invested the money to put a new roof on the old house to keep it from rotting down and told us they had intentions of making it livable again. At our time of purchase, the windows were broken, someone had stripped the wiring and plumbing out and birds had nested throughout it for years. They never made it past the roofing. Our hopes of using it for dry storage have been limited to overflow for mason jars and a couple of rooms that I’ve used to store salvaged trim and lumber. As for the metal building, keeping opossums and mice out given its dirt floor is impossible. It functions wonderfully as a tool shed and I’m grateful to have it, but with no hope of temperature or humidity control it can’t be used for delicate or perishable storage.Continue reading“Shelving: Storage Projects – Part 1, by A.F.”