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On August 4th, 1944, 15-year-old Jewish diarist Anne Frank and her family were captured by the Nazi Gestapo. The Franks had taken shelter in a small space in a sealed-off area of an Amsterdam warehouse along with another Jewish family and a single Jewish man. They were aided by Christian friends who brought them food and supplies. Her diary survived the war, overlooked by the Gestapo, but Anne and nearly all of the others perished in the Nazi death camps.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 102 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 $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. 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,
4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime low-cost training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
3. 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).
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. 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)
2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
3. A LogOX 3-in-1 Forestry MultiTool (a $189 value) and a WoodOx Sling (a $79.95 value), courtesy of LogOx, both made in USA.
4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique…

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Let’s face it. When it comes to tractor features and accessories, we tend to focus on the flashy: horsepower, attachments, implements, etc. We’re always eager to discuss engine horsepower versus PTO horsepower and exactly how much weight a given front-end loader can lift. In contrast, it’s easy to overlook the nuances of types of tractor tires, fuel stabilizers and ballast for improved balance and traction.

But less flashy doesn’t mean less important. To the contrary, tires, ballast and fuel stabilizers are important—and in some cases essential—to maximize the performance of your tractor.

Let’s give these three overlooked aspects some time in the spotlight and explore how they can make or break a tractor’s performance.

Tires

There’s an old saying about horses that goes, “no hoof, no horse.” Tractors have long since replaced horses for modern fieldwork. But we can apply a similar phrase: no tires, no tractor.

Without suitable tires, even a powerful tractor can struggle to complete its tasks. Equipping your tractor with the right tires for your needs requires some knowledge of tire types, tread designs, accessories and maintenance.

Let’s dig in and highlight the main areas to focus on.

Radial or Bias?

Although you might assume tire technology is standardized, that’s not the case. When it comes to tractor tires, two types—radial tires and bias tires—offer varying strengths and weaknesses.

Radials are Usually Best

In most cases, radial tires offer superior performance. Their design allows the tread to flex independently of the sidewall, which increases traction with the ground, improves fuel economy, reduces soil compaction, provides a smoother ride and prolongs the life of the tread—perhaps to as much three times longer than a bias tire.

But there are some downsides. The fact the tread can flex independently of the sidewall can make radial tires less suitable for negotiating hills and slopes. And the sidewalls can be a vulnerable point if you strike an unseen object while operating. Daniel Johnson

Time for Bias

This is where bias tires shine. They’re constructed from many layers of overlapping plies, giving them great durability if you’re negotiating rough terrain dotted with rocks, stumps, debris and other obstacles. Their stiffness provides solid performance on slopes. They’re also cheaper than radial tires.

Bias tires can also be less inclined to tear up the ground when turning, because less of the tread will be in contact with the ground at any given moment.

On the other hand, radial tire technology continues to advance, improving their weak spots while doubling down on their advantages. Increased flexion (IF) radials filled to the same pound-force per square inch (PSI) as regular radials can carry 20 percent more weight. Or they can carry the same weight with 20 percent less PSI.

Very high flexion (VF) radials double these metrics to 40 percent. The end result is an even larger tread footprint. This further increases traction and…

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Coop de Ville is my first poultry operation, but I studied lots of different plans for my cool coop. The floor is a 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood raised a foot above the ground. The interior features a roost, two sets of shuttered windows (one would have been enough), three nesting boxes (with room for more), an outside egg door, a sweep-out door, a heat lamp on a timer, and a light-activated chicken door.

All used bedding and waste is composted.

Read more: This Kentucky cool coop keeps chickens happy while bringing joy to their keepers.

The soil here is mostly sand, and the chickens love it. The run is very large, but I had an existing roof to work with. Both feed and rainwater dispensers hang from the ceiling beams. A chicken door leads into a fenced-in yard with wildflowers, garden boxes and an anthill.

Right now, we have three Buckeye and two Silkie hens, and they’re very happy and productive. This spring, I plan to expand my flock!   

— Erich Decker-Hoppen, Rio Rancho, New Mexico

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2022 issue of Chickens magazine as a “Cool Coop” feature. Have a cool coop you’d like to share? Email us a short write-up (~250 to 500 words) about your chicken coop along with a few images to [email protected] with the subject line One Cool Coop, and include your name and mailing address. Check out Chickens magazine for current prizes and contest rules.

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Many people don’t have much awareness about radiation and its drastic effects on health. One of those invisible dangers, radiation is something that most people only comprehend through science fiction films. The average individual is typically suspicious, perplexed, nervous, and distrustful when faced with the unknown.

In actuality, radiation’s science, capabilities, and risks are well established. A nuclear bomb’s radiation is different from that released in a nuclear power accident. There is a significant variation in the type of radiation discharged, even taking into account the explosions that have happened at Japanese nuclear reactors.

Read the five tips and things to survive a radiation disaster, and how radiation suits are at the top which help you in protecting from harmful radiation.

Gamma Radiation Suit

Scientists estimate that there is a 50% probability that a similar calamity will occur in the upcoming years. This indicates that the time has come to invest in a radiation shield, more precisely, a reliable gamma radiation suit.

There are a number of suits available that advertise protection against gamma radiation, but those suits do not give the level of shielding you would find in a radiation shield. On the other hand, gamma radiation suits do offer the necessary radiation protection for people.

Scientists have clearly shown that some body parts are more susceptible to radiation than others; therefore, protecting only the most vulnerable organs provides a considerably more effective and efficient radiation shield and is the only practical way to guarantee protection from gamma radiation.

The midsection and hip region, where the body’s bone marrow tissue is located, are in particular need of the highest protection that the gamma radiation suits offer. The system provides the most protection against gamma radiation, which is the primary reason a rescue worker would need a radiation shield.

Staying Indoors

Enter a building as soon as possible if you are outside. Go to a basement or multi-story brick or concrete building if you can get there in a short amount of time. However, being within a structure is always safer than going outside.

During a radiation emergency, make careful to remain indoors. Lock any windows and doors that are open. Head to the centre or basement of the structure. The recommended course of action is to stay as far away from the building’s walls and top as you can because radioactive debris collects on the exterior of buildings.

Clothing and Protection Suit

Take off your outer layer of clothing before going into the structure. Like dust or mud, radioactive particles can cling to your skin, clothing, and body. When you get inside, wash the areas of your body that were exposed outside. Dress in clean clothing. This will lessen the amount of radiation you are exposed to.

Limit Ventilation

Eliminate outside air by turning off fans, air conditioners, and forced-air heating systems. Shut the fireplace’s dampers.

Cover your Sensitive Body Parts

If you are outside and cannot go inside right away, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth, mask, or towel. The quantity of radioactive material may be decreased as a result.

Conclusion

Gamma radiation…

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When starting a farm, it is important to follow some good principles for layout. The organization of roads, buildings, plots and other major infrastructure and field layout can be a major opportunity or constraint for the property owner for years to come. One mistake in layout can result in repeated impediments to easy management every single year! 

Here are some principles for property layout for small farms 

Understand the Levels of Permanence on Your Property

Some aspects of your property are more easily changed, removed or modified than others. 

For instance, you cannot change where the municipal road is or the direction of the prevailing winds. On the other hand, you can more easily change the current vegetation of a field or shift the composition of the soil.   

Understand How to Work with Permanent Features, Channel & Direct Environmental Flows

You cannot change the road location. But you could modify your driveway to access your property at the best point for your farm layout. 

You cannot change the prevailing winds. But you can put in a wind break. 

Strive to understand ways to channel the energy moving through the farm, and work with existing infrastructure.   

Read more: Remove bottlenecks to improve farm efficiency.

Understand That Permanent Features Need More Consideration at the Planning Stage

If you want to shift the balance of your sandy soil and increase organic matter, you don’t need a lot of forethought before deciding to amend the soil with organic matter. On the other hand, raising a new building requires much more consideration to avoid placing in in the wrong location. 

A poorly placed building can dictate so much about your farm over the years. 

Layout Along Common Lines

When you start to design the layout for new roads, lanes, buildings, plots and such, you need to work with the lines that already exist in your property: fence lines, municipal roads, edges of buildings, current laneways, etc. 

Build out from these features to make your property easily manageable for tasks such as future mowing, plowing and fencing.  

Consider Natural Lines

You also need to work with the natural lines of the land. Consider your hillside slopes, wetlands and drylands, edges of woodlands and fields, old gravel pits and areas with rockier soil types. 

When we map and understand the environment of our property, we can plan our farm layout to avoid issues with snow accumulation on roads, woodlot encroachment into a garden and broken tractor implements from stones.   

Read more: Grow more with less through farm efficiency.

Make Sure to Make Themes for Your Property

Before you lay out major laneways, plots and buildings, look at the current common and environmental lines, and consider your intended use of different existing fields and areas. Give themes to these areas by employing a circle map technique.

First, print an aerial view of your property. Make a…

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Growing herbs in your garden is one thing. But growing an abundance of anything takes a bit of practice. While there is no easy way to go about this, we have some tips for producing an abundance of herbs in your garden. 

Choose the Right Herbs

The first step in creating a garden that is able to produce an abundance of herbs is to choose the right ones. Unfortunately, it is not possible to just grow anything and everything we like. Gardening requires a little more planning than just sticking some seeds in the ground and hoping they will grow. 

Some herbs are easier to grow than others. While other herbs only grow in certain environments. A few herbs that are ideal for beginners include Basil, Mint, and Parsley. These three herbs can take being harvested often and are great for growing in containers. 

Other popular herbs to grow are: 

It is best to start with just a few herbs at a time. If you take on too many plants at once, you may become overwhelmed, and your plants will be the ones to suffer. Always start small, you can increase your selection of herbs slowly as you get more comfortable with your plants. 

Skip the Seed, Use Seedlings

Once you have chosen the herbs you wish to start with, the next step is to start growing them! It is best to get yourself some seedlings rather than to try starting seeds. Unless you are an experienced gardener, it is much easier to use plants that have already been started. 

Using seedlings is not only easier, but it will save you a couple of weeks too. It will also increase your chances of a successful harvest. The best places to source seedlings from are your local nursery or a plant nursery online. Although, the latter may not always sell seedlings. You could also try a farmer’s market! 

When you have your seedlings, you will need to transplant them out of their seedling trays. You can either transplant your seedlings into another pot or container, or you can plant them directly into the ground. To transplant your seedlings, gently remove them from their seed trays and place them in small holes either in the ground or a larger pot. Press down the soil gently to secure them and then water your newly transplanted herbs. 

Check the Herbs Care Requirements

A good gardening practice is to know your plant’s individual needs. It is best to do some research on your desired herbs before you purchase or plant them, so you know what they need. This is especially true as different herbs and plants require different sun exposure, soil types and pH levels, and even different watering amounts and frequencies. 

For each new herb you plant, make sure you know what its ideal sun exposure should be. You should also ensure your herb is planted in the correct soil type. Where their soil is concerned, check the herb’s ideal soil pH level, and ensure you test your soil before your plant the herb. 

You should…

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John Davisson, director of litigation and senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said that although steps to protect your privacy mainly depend on the specific app, users can opt out of personalized ads on Google and turn off cross-app tracking.

“That prevents the data that you input to one application from being correlated or collated with data uploaded to another application,” Davisson told NPR.

Read the full story here.

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Right now, though, states can only do so much, says Alan Butler, executive director and president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Because the U.S. lacks a comprehensive set of federal digital privacy laws, women in states banning abortion are especially vulnerable. 

“The states that are more likely to restrict abortion rights,” he says, “are also the states that don’t have strong privacy laws.”

Read the full story here.

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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Guerilla gardening is the act of taking something ugly or unused and making it beautiful or useful, with plants. It is a rebellious creation of smile-worthy planting.

Imagine a popular park with a tree recently cut down. What once was a beautiful tree is now a stump that has hollowed out in the center from rot. A guerilla gardener will see that hole as an opportunity to recreate beauty and plant the stump like a flowerpot.

Article continues below.

There’s a river that runs through my town. Right in the center of the river is a small island with an abandoned truck. Every summer, a guerilla gardener fills the bed of the truck with flowers.

I was able to meet him, and he told me that it bothered him to see that pollution. As an act of protest, he liked the idea of making it something pretty to behold.

Another example of guerilla gardening is using a plot of unused space to plant vegetables for a community to use. It can be as an act of protest in abandoned spaces, or a productive way to cultivate life and sharing.

This began as a way to combat food deserts. A food desert is a town that has low access to quality or affordable food, and an edible guerilla garden is a productive rebellion against that social injustice.

Guerilla gardening can be satisfying when you’re able to sit and plant greenhouse-grown flowers or plants, but that’s not always possible depending on where the spot is located, due to time or accessibility.

Want to prep but not sure where to begin?
Click Here to Get Your FREE One Year Urban Survival Plan!

Another alternative to be a successful guerilla gardener is by making seed balls to drop in convenient places when you need to plant more discretely, or to avoid trespassing. The idea is that the ball of dirt, compost, and seeds will gradually break down with rain, then germinate, and finally grow.

Another perk of guerilla gardening with seed balls is that it allows you some spontaneity in your planting. Nature is spontaneous, so you may be surprised by where you find an opportunity if you are prepared.

There are a few ethical principles to consider before you decide to become a guerilla gardener:

• Not all seeds are created equal for this project. It is essential to be considerate of the ecosystem that you’re dropping seeds in. Do not plant anything invasive that will negatively impact the ecosystem. Use plants that are native to where you live. The goal is for your rebellion to complement, not contradict. This tool will help you navigate some native species in North America by typing in your…

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Today, the Senate Commerce Committee is holding a markup of two bills related to the privacy of children and teens, S. 1628, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act and S. 3663, the Kids Online Safety Act. EPIC joined over 100 advocacy organizations in supporting the legislation, but also sent a letter to Chair Maria Cantwell and Ranking Member Roger Wicker urging the Committee to schedule the American Data Privacy and Protection Act for a markup. “All Americans, young and old, deserve privacy. Privacy is a fundamental right, and it is long past time for Congress to act to protect the privacy rights of all Americans,” EPIC told the Committee. “While we commend this Committee’s work on children’s privacy, the best way to protect the privacy rights of children, teens, and adults would be to consider the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (“ADPPA”) as amended and reported favorably out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee last week.”

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