As the year winds down, I want to give a special thanks to all my fantastic readers and blog sponsors! Blog traffic is up more than 250{660353129f8d892044c993645a1c75194301fec6786a7f617c15adde0b0011e9} over last year and I can’t tell you all how much I appreciate your visits, comments, and questions! Thank you! Looking back over the year, here are the top 10 posts from 2012: 10. What are Gamma Seal Lids and How to Install Them. You’ll want a few of these lids if you’re storing food in buckets! 9. Eight Great Powerless Cooking Options. How many of these do you have? 8. Four Reasons I Won’t Be Buying Survival Seeds. 7. 6 Tips for Success if You’re Planting Your Garden …
Category: News
Book Festival and Giveaway: An Interview with George Ure
Today I share the ninth author interview in the Backdoor Survival Fall Book Festival. George Ure, the author of Broken Web The Coming Collapse of the Internet, shares his answers to my questions and is also providing one of my readers with a free copy of his book. Before we begin, I would like to announce the winner of last week’s giveaway. “Sharon” has won a copy of The Weekend Homesteader: A Twelve-Month Guide to Self-Sufficiency. Congratulations! I have contacted you by email for mailing instructions. Here is Sharon’s favorite homesteading tip: When we moved to the country we did everything wrong, bought a fixer-upper farm and house and bought a couple horses we only occasionally rode. 10 years later we felt …
Review: Red Cross Blackout Buddy Flashlight
Quick. The lights just went out–where is your nearest flashlight? Can you find it in the dark? And does it have fresh batteries so it will actually work when you need it? Well, if you’re at my house with kids, I know where the flashlights are supposed to be and sometimes they are actually there and most times the ones that are where they belong will light up at least for a little while. But not always. So when I read about the Red Cross Blackout Buddy, I thought I better get one and test it out. Here’s how they work. The flashlight plugs in to a wall plug and you …
The Sunday Survival Buzz – Volume 46
Welcome to this week’s Sunday Survival Buzz – a roundup of preparedness news, tips, articles and recommendations from around the web. But first, an update on my own preps. We were recently given a friend’s discarded shelving so we cut the shelves down and re-purposed them for one of our food storage closets. As I may have mentioned, I am using my freeze-dried and dehydrated foods more and more in day-to-day cooking. The cost in some cases is more than the same product purchased fresh but there is no waste and if I can save a 20 mile round trip to town, then I am actually saving money. On the shelves below you will see a number of #10 cans, plus my Food Saver …
6 Herbs & Tinctures That Everyone Needs at Home and Their BOB’s
This article should be named “The 100 herbs needed to survive”, but then it would be to long to read. In the meantime, here is a list of the herbs I feel we can’t do without in our home or our BOB’s. echinacea Echinacea: Known throughout history as a cure-all to treat infections and wounds. For 400 years, Echinacea has been used to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria. While taking Echinacea to prevent a cold is infective, if you start taking it at the first signs of a cold it will reduce or shorten the duration of your cold symptoms such as cough, sore throat, …
Whats in my Backpack?
Whats in my backpack? Whats in here? (photo credit://https://flic.kr/p/2YybT) Being prepared doesn’t always have to apply to natural or man-made disasters. Being prepared should be a way of life no matter what you do. If you are a hiker, hunter, fisherman, camper, etc. You should always have a bag of goodies in your backpack or other pack, just in case things don’t go as planned. Each activity is different, but I will share what I carry in my backpack and who knows, it could get you out of a sticky situation in the Great Outdoors someday. My bag of goodies was developed from a list called the Ten Essentials, originally developed …
Morality: The Hard Line Between Revolutionary and Terrorist
In a war, it appears that it’s easy to become just as bad as the monsters that you are fighting. Just ask the survivors of a killing spree in Afghanistan last March, when US soldiers went on a rampage, killing 17 civilians, 9 of them children. Only one soldier, Army Staff Sgt Robert Bales, was charged but the witnesses have a different story: One mother-of-six, whose husband was killed during the incident, believes there were as many as 20 people involved. She told SBS Dateline journalist Yalda Hakim: ‘When they shot dead my husband, I tried to drag him into the house, they’d shot him in the head so his brain was all over …
The Toxic Agenda
There is a very good reason that I promote organic food storage – the food supply of the Western world is irrevocably tainted. One day your food storage might be all that keeps you out of the bread lines (best case scenario) or from starvation (worst case scenario). If you store up boxes of Chef Boyardee and HFCS-sweetened garbage containing GMO corn, you won’t die as quickly as those who are starving to death – instead you will poison your family slowly. GMOs actually alter our DNA. Excitotoxins kill our brain cells. Fluoride is a brain suppressant. Additives make us fat. The list of hazards could fill pages and pages of literature. David Icke outlines the toxins in our food supply in this must-…
Vegan Diet?
I’ve had this thought bouncing around in my head for a week now and I’m curious to hear reader’s take on it. Would it be easier to prep for a vegan diet? It’s an odd thought, I know. I had a friend recently convert, and I heard an interesting piece on the radio about the rising numbers of vegans. Some are vegan for medical reasons. Some are vegan for ethical reasons. I’ve certainly never been tempted to give up meat, but I do admit, meat is trickier to store than the vegetables are. Freezing meat leaves you reliant…
It’s Winter – Don’t Go Hiking Without Proper Clothing!
It’s winter here in Maine and that means it’s pretty cold out there. As I write this at 9:15 pm on Wednesday evening the temperature outside is 3 degrees F. Not unusual for this time of year. At the top of the fire tower on the summit of Old Speck. About six years ago. I love this time of year! Hiking, snow shoeing, winter camping, ice climbing, skating, sledding with the kids, it’s all part of the winter experience for me. The first time I took Mrs Jarhead on a winter mountain expedition it was -22 F. when we left the bed and breakfast in Western Maine. B&B? I was going to hike partway up the mountain and camp, but the missus had …
Knife Safety Considerations
The knife is a highly versatile tool and your mastery of it is an indispensable skill for survival situations. A knife could be used for a myriad of things in the great outdoors, so in this topic we are going to teach you some basic knife safety skills to prevent accidents from happening to you and others. For starters you need to be aware that most knives have two critical parts, which are the sharp razor’s edge and the point. Rule number one keep all the sharp edges and the point, away from you and other people. Never point a knife at anyone, nor engage in horseplay when holding a knife. Following this rule at all times will ensure that you avoid accidentally …
The World of Zombies
Zombies are everywhere…in video games, movies, costumes, clothing, posters, books, and calendars… everywhere we walk zombies seem to be following in our shadow, just a short distance away. Is it possible that the world is being overrun by zombies? The popularity of zombies seems to have brought the walking-dead back to life. Zombie merchandise is gaining in popularity with a cult following that spans the ages. And the interest in zombies goes far beyond a population obsessed with movies and DVD’s. Zombies have found their way into costumes, conventions, magazines and books, artwork, music… in fact zombies appear to be taking …
Technology Addiction in the Electronic Age: Worldwide Progress or Servitude?
From Survival and BeyondBy Joel S. Hirschhorn – Global Research Everywhere I look outside my home I see people busy on their high tech devices, while driving, while walking, while shopping, while in groups of friends, while in restaurants, while waiting in doctor offices and hospitals, while sitting in toilets – everywhere. While connected electronically, they are inattentive to and disconnected in physical reality. People have been steadily manipulated to become technology addicted. Technology is the opiate of the masses. This results in technology servitude. I am referring to a loss of personal freedom and independence because of uncontrolled consumption of many kinds of devices that …
5 Lessons From the Panic of 2012
From Survival and BeyondTEOTWAWKI Blog The gun control madness has been frustrating for most of us, but I think there are some helpful observations we can extrapolate from the whole mess. This time around, we’re seeing panic buying of guns, magazines and ammunition. Now, extend that to the initial hours/days after a wide scale collapse scenario, when you have people running out and buying anything and everything under the sun. Food. Water. Batteries. Tools. Camping gear. Everything. Using the current panic buying environment as a case study, here are a few things you can expect to see: #1. Have what you need on hand: Pretty self explanatory. You don’t want to be in the situation …
What is the best survival food?
A look at various survival foods, and I give my humble opinion as to what the best survival food is! It may surprise you that I go against the tradition prepper advice and go with an easy to prepare, easy to put in a bug out bag food The post What is the best survival food? appeared first on SurvivalX.com Guide to wilderness Survival.
Great ways to mod the cold steel trail hawk
Many outdoor enthusiasts love to customize and modify there gear. This post showcases the most creative and original mods for the cold steel trail hawk tomahawk. The post Great ways to mod the cold steel trail hawk appeared first on SurvivalX.com Guide to wilderness Survival.
Raccoon Tracks and Sign
Raccoons at the Dunes It was around midnight on the first night of a week of tracking on Oregon’s coastal sand dunes with the Anake Outdoor School, and I was snug as a bug in a rug underneath my small tarp shelter. My dreams of clear fox prints and porcupine sightings were abruptly interrupted by View the full article at NatureSkills.com
Herbal Infused Oils vs. Essential Oils
Herbal Home Remedies: Be Your Own Herbal Expert – Part 6 In this, our sixth session, we remain in the herbal pharmacy and turn our attention to herbs in fat bases. We’ll explore fresh infused oils, ointments, salves, and lip balms, essential oils, and even herbal pestos. Herbal Oils: Infused vs. Essential I make and View the full article at NatureSkills.com
A little humor…..
Special thanks to SeasonedCitizenPrepper.com’s Executive Editor Bev for sending me this……. © 2013, Rourke. All rights reserved.
Been to a gun shop lately?
I live in South Carolina and have visited several gun shops as well as stores that carry firearms and ammunition. All are pretty much the same – no semi-automatic firearms (centerfire or rimfire), no magazines, and several calibers of ammunition virtually absent. Don’t see this anymore. With the threat of a new Assault Weapons Ban just over the horizon, there has been a massive rush on guns, magazines and ammunition – specifically AK’s, AR’s and the like. 7.62 x 39mm, .223/5.56mm, and 9mm ammunition have disappeared off the shelves along with .22LR. Any and all magazines holding over 10 rounds are gone or selling online for big bucks. …..nor this. I felt pretty squared away with all of the above. I felt that way…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Creek Joins WorldNetDaily (WND.COM) as Weekly Survival Commentator
Whether it’s the car breaking down on a deserted stretch of road or the national infrastructure breaking down because of economic disaster, are you prepared to survive when all goes wrong? You don’t have to wait until it’s too late to get ready. Beginning today exclusively on WND’s Diversions page, nationally recognized survival expert Creek Stewart will be bringing a weekly column called “Not if, but when” to help equip you for the worst. “In our daily hustle and bustle, it’s easy not to consider or plan for the ‘what ifs’ in life,” Stewart told WND. “But whether caused by nature or man, real disasters happen to real people on a regular basis…
The 9 Most Awesome MOVIE Bug Out Vehicles of All Time
There’s nothing I love more than a good BUG OUT movie truck. Below is a collection of some of my favorite movie vehicles that I’d take on a BUG OUT any day of the week. I’m sure I missed some, so please add your own favorites in the comments section below! Here they are in no particular order: MOVIE: Red Dawn (the original) VEHICLE: 1978 Chevrolet K10 Cheyenne WOLVERINES!!!! Need I say more. I still vow to buy a 78 Cheyenne one of these days. Nothing says BUG OUT like Swayze tearing through the mountains of Colorado in this awesome K10. I loved this truck when I first saw Red Dawn in the 80′s and I love it now. MOVIE: Dante’s Peak VEHICLE…
Don’t Even Talk About Ending QEI
That’s Quantitative Easing (to) Infinity. The futures for the precious metals were (how to politely say this?) in the crapper this morning with Gold down $40 on the futures earlier and silver down 4{660353129f8d892044c993645a1c75194301fec6786a7f617c15adde0b0011e9} as well. What’s going on is a titanic battle between the forces of Deflation and Inflation since we’re in the Second Depression by my reckoning, and will be until 2017, more’n likely. Inflation, is in the process of having its butt kicked. Which, as I have warned before, is a problem for the metals just waiting to happen. In play this morning. In fact, what’s happening right now is that the Fed is not pushing so much money into the economy as to make inflation show up – which could save gold. Instead, while…
Episode-1050- Listener Calls for 1-04-13
Today on The Survival Podcast I take your calls on investing, cooking, gardening, gun rights, alternative housing, financial mindset and more. Remember to be on a show like this one just pick up your phone and call 866-65-THINK. The best … Continue reading →
Episode-1049- Surving Superstorm Sandy and The Southern Maryland Beekeeper
We have two interviews for you today, first up Mike Prunty “The Backyard Pioneer” who has a small urban homestead in Long Island New York on his experience with Hurricane Sandy. Mike is a 39 year old suburban husband and … Continue reading →
Doom and Bloom Hour:Jim Cobb Prepper’s Home Defense,Flu pt 1
; ; On Today’s show Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy finish up part 2 of Sanitation in a survival situtation and discuss Influenza (the FLU) part 1. Our special guest is Jim Cobb, author of “Prepper’s Home Defense” and owner of survivalweekly.com. Join us as Jim shares sound advice to “protect your family by any
Fungal Infections
Minor infections can affect your group’s efficiency in times of trouble. In addition to viruses and bacteria, our body may be susceptible to “yeast”. Yeast is a fungus that is one-celled and reproduces by budding off the parent. The human body naturally harbors certain types but can be damaged by others. Fungal infections may be
Swiss Firm Introduces Divisible Gold Card For “A Scary New World”
As uncertainty about the stability of the global economy spreads and investors look for ways to diversify their assets, precious metals companies are looking for ways to cater to those who are seeking a safe haven in assets like gold and silver. Though often described as “the money of last resort,” one gripe from potential investors about owning gold is that it is costly, currently running around $1700 an ounce, and not feasible as an emergency exchange mechanism in the event of financial and economic catastrophe that may disrupt food supplies and the normal flow of commerce. The problem with one ounce gold coins, or even 1/10th of an ounce fractional coins, is that if you needed to buy a few loaves…
Notes from JWR:
I’m sad to report that John Noveske died in an automobile accident on Friday night, near Grants Pass, Oregon. John was the president of Noveske Rifle Works. Please keep his family in your prayers. Our sincere condolences. — Today we present another entry for Round 44 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be 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, and C.) Two cases of …
Wilderness Fire Making: We Have Ignition, by Brad M.
I have been a scoutmaster for 18 years. It is a lot of fun teaching scouts how to make fire using unorthodox methods. Seeing the look in their eyes as they get their first fire built in the outdoors using no matches is a great experience. As a matter of fact, in winter camps where the ground is not frozen I like to use a trench fire pit with rocks in it, then bury it and sleep on top for a very cozy and warm night. I too was bitten by the survival bug when I was a young scout, and the first priority in survival is ‘keeping your wits about you” so you can focus on what is important. One real …