An Idea I had to try again, after my cousins power outage. This is a direct use. Indirect would be to charge a Car battery or something like it to hold a charge. Then connect the clips with the lighter plug to it. I did this with my multi-function / Mp3 player. You could do something like this for charging a cell phone or anything else.
Larger items may require a larger solar panel or at least a longer time spent charging it.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Green Thumb?
Do you have a green thumb? If not, I know just the way to make use of your thumb regardless. Do not give up, stay with me a moment and read what I have to say. I want you to take some time, and do some hand watering of your yard. That's right I want you to forget the sprinkler and do some hand watering. Take a watering can or jug of water and hand water some plants in your yard. Take your hose and place that thumb of yours over the hose and hand water your lawn, shrubs and trees.
Why, you must be asking yourself? First of all for you to take notice of your own surroundings and the needs of your own yard and plants. Second to really look and see anything you would like to change about it. One thing is for sure, for myself I really needed to water more. This was to keep things from drying out and dying. This will also keep it from becoming fuel for a fire that could damage your home.
I Currently live in a area that I get my water from a public water source. We are currently in a stage 2 drought here. Watering with a sprinkler, you can water only once a week (or less), between 3-8 a.m. or 8-10 p.m. Your watering day is based on the last number of your address. No watering on weekends with sprinklers. (Hand Watering OK Anytime or Day) What better way to get started in getting to know, what needs to be done, than going outside to hand water your yard.
The Next Step: This could be a small baby step for you or a big leap of faith for you. Now that you have gotten used to doing some hand watering. You probably have noticed some improvement in your lawn, shrubs or trees. The next step for you is to prepare either a container or small plot at your home. Yes a area to plant something you can eat; or something that flowers and can enjoy. Pick up some garden seeds. Follow the planting instructions. Do some of the hand watering you have already gotten used to. Then let nature take its' course. You should be able to watch and enjoy, what you have put some of your time into. This can be very rewarding and become a new found joy for you.
The Second Step, "Repeat" :) Have fun, and be well on your way to having not only a great looking yard, but getting that Green Thumb you were looking for. Read about my first gardening experience.
Why, you must be asking yourself? First of all for you to take notice of your own surroundings and the needs of your own yard and plants. Second to really look and see anything you would like to change about it. One thing is for sure, for myself I really needed to water more. This was to keep things from drying out and dying. This will also keep it from becoming fuel for a fire that could damage your home.
I Currently live in a area that I get my water from a public water source. We are currently in a stage 2 drought here. Watering with a sprinkler, you can water only once a week (or less), between 3-8 a.m. or 8-10 p.m. Your watering day is based on the last number of your address. No watering on weekends with sprinklers. (Hand Watering OK Anytime or Day) What better way to get started in getting to know, what needs to be done, than going outside to hand water your yard.
The Next Step: This could be a small baby step for you or a big leap of faith for you. Now that you have gotten used to doing some hand watering. You probably have noticed some improvement in your lawn, shrubs or trees. The next step for you is to prepare either a container or small plot at your home. Yes a area to plant something you can eat; or something that flowers and can enjoy. Pick up some garden seeds. Follow the planting instructions. Do some of the hand watering you have already gotten used to. Then let nature take its' course. You should be able to watch and enjoy, what you have put some of your time into. This can be very rewarding and become a new found joy for you.
The Second Step, "Repeat" :) Have fun, and be well on your way to having not only a great looking yard, but getting that Green Thumb you were looking for. Read about my first gardening experience.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Episode-705- An Interview with Travers Oliver of Backwoods Survival
From: July 19th, 2011 on The Survival Podcast. Disclaimers & Policies
Today we are joined by Travers Oliver, survival instructor for Backwoods Survival. Travers 16 years old with a great love for the outdoors and teaching others traditional and modern wilderness skills.
Today he joins us to discuss the importance of today’s youth experiencing the outdoors and learning bush-crafting / primitive techniques.
I also provide an update on the progress so far with the new AgriTrue standard. There isn’t much to see yet but a lot progress has been made thus far. I will need some assistance in talking to the existing community of growers to ensure the final product works for everyone.
Join me today as we discuss…
On AgriTrue
Why AgriTrue, why now
The basic over view of the new AgriTrue standard
The vision for AgriTrue
How a free market system can solve its own problems
Why Home Gardeners should be AgriTrue certified
Why disclosure is more important than a “standard”
Why all food production is meaningful
Then with Travers Oliver
The main goals of Backwoods Survival
How wilderness skills build confidence in daily life
The importance of teaching youth survival skills
How the internet has changed the way we learn
The items Travers feels should be part of wilderness EDC
The five wilderness skills every person should develop
What we can expect next from Backwoods Survival
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Get Real--Get Prepared with Vickilynn Haycraft 07/16 by Preparedness Radio | Blog Talk Radio
Listen to internet radio with Preparedness Radio on Blog Talk Radio
Today’s Topic:Saturday, July 16, 2011.
6:00-7:00PM CT: Get Real–Get Prepared with Vickilynn Haycraft. Exploring preparedness from the grass roots up!
Today’s Topic: Container Gardening and Solar cooking. Vickilynn and special guest Brenda Berry discuss container gardening and solar cooking with plenty of how-tos and resources. Brenda gardens extensively, even though she is confined to a wheelchair. Brenda says you CAN do more than you think! Come and join us and find out how you CAN prepare, no matter what your obstacles or challenges.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Canning Videos
Sorry I had to take down the six videos from youtube on canning. The person that had posted them, had deleted their account. That made them no longer available for me to use on this blog.
I will do my best to find some new ones to share with all of you here.
I will do my best to find some new ones to share with all of you here.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Survival Preparedness - Prepper - Doomer - Survivalist?
Prepper, Doomer, or Survivalist; These are just a few of the many titles, given to people who take a strong interest preparing for a unknown future crisis that can effect their lives or their loved ones. Survival Preparedness can mean many different things to different people. People prepare for things according to their own likes, dislikes, fear, current events, or crisis of their own choosing.
I am going to write a few things of my own. I hope this will help someone to start their own basic personal or family survival preparedness. You may be starting from scratch or with things you already own and use.
Start by making a basic list of things you need to keep yourself alive and healthy. You need shelter a place to stay warm or cool and out of the elements of bad weather or unclean air if that is the case. You will need water, figure at least one gallon of water per person per day. Food - keep food that you will actually eat, use the food and replace the items to keep a fresh supply.
First-Aid and health items - build yourself basic a first aid kit and if need be learn how to make use of them. If you have health problems that require you to take medications; make sure that you have what you need for a emergency and a safe way to store them. Security - A means to protect yourself from harm and keeping what you need to survive taken from you. Communications - A way to know what is going on around you. Any communication that works for you in a time of an emergency, portable radio, TV, citizen band radio, ham or shortwave radio, internet, word of mouth (from trusted sources).
I know I have not gone into much detail for needs, but really take time to educate yourself. Go over how long of a span of time your needs will be in preparedness. Look and see what you have already in your possession to get started in survival preparedness. Do something, start anywhere, but do get started.
A easy start is to recycle soda or water bottles, and fill them with clean water. This could be a beginning for a emergency water storage needs. This can cost you also most next to nothing to begin. Start to grow some of your own food. Get some garden seeds, plant things you like to eat. If you do not have much room, try gardening in containers. I think gardening is a great skill to learn. You can learn how I got started gardening here.
I found a interest in survival preparedness early in my life, click here to read a short biography about me. Preparing for survival is a skill that I believed has save my life on more than one occasion. This is also a skill that can greatly reward you. It can help you better handle some of what life throws at you; and give you a better peace of mind.
Ready, Get Set, Go - Get Started. ThunderHawk001
I am going to write a few things of my own. I hope this will help someone to start their own basic personal or family survival preparedness. You may be starting from scratch or with things you already own and use.
Start by making a basic list of things you need to keep yourself alive and healthy. You need shelter a place to stay warm or cool and out of the elements of bad weather or unclean air if that is the case. You will need water, figure at least one gallon of water per person per day. Food - keep food that you will actually eat, use the food and replace the items to keep a fresh supply.
First-Aid and health items - build yourself basic a first aid kit and if need be learn how to make use of them. If you have health problems that require you to take medications; make sure that you have what you need for a emergency and a safe way to store them. Security - A means to protect yourself from harm and keeping what you need to survive taken from you. Communications - A way to know what is going on around you. Any communication that works for you in a time of an emergency, portable radio, TV, citizen band radio, ham or shortwave radio, internet, word of mouth (from trusted sources).
I know I have not gone into much detail for needs, but really take time to educate yourself. Go over how long of a span of time your needs will be in preparedness. Look and see what you have already in your possession to get started in survival preparedness. Do something, start anywhere, but do get started.
A easy start is to recycle soda or water bottles, and fill them with clean water. This could be a beginning for a emergency water storage needs. This can cost you also most next to nothing to begin. Start to grow some of your own food. Get some garden seeds, plant things you like to eat. If you do not have much room, try gardening in containers. I think gardening is a great skill to learn. You can learn how I got started gardening here.
I found a interest in survival preparedness early in my life, click here to read a short biography about me. Preparing for survival is a skill that I believed has save my life on more than one occasion. This is also a skill that can greatly reward you. It can help you better handle some of what life throws at you; and give you a better peace of mind.
Ready, Get Set, Go - Get Started. ThunderHawk001
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Obsessives: Seeds
I like collecting seeds myself; and love being able to grow all kinds of plants for flowers or food. Everyone should at least try to grow something.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Small Animal Traps - Part 2 of 2
How to Select, Set, and Utilize a small animal trap for capturing raccoons, coyotes, foxes, etc.
Blank part in video from about 3:10-4:12 then it continues.
See Part 1 of 2 Click Here.
Small Animal Traps - Part 1 of 2
How to Select, Set, and Utilize a small animal trap for capturing raccoons, coyotes, foxes, etc.
See Part 2 of 2 Click Here.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Survival Podcast Giveaway!
The Survival Podcast Giveaway! – Win a Harvest 72″ Food Rotation System
How would you like to win a free Harvest 72 Food Rotation System from Shelf Reliance valued at over 450 dollars?
Now you can just for linking up with ShelfReliance on facebook and making a comment on their blog. Full details are available on the Shelf Reliance blog.
If this system is too big for your needs they will even let you pick a more compact system of your choice.
See site for details and more information.
Enter Contest Giveaway Here
How would you like to win a free Harvest 72 Food Rotation System from Shelf Reliance valued at over 450 dollars?
Now you can just for linking up with ShelfReliance on facebook and making a comment on their blog. Full details are available on the Shelf Reliance blog.
If this system is too big for your needs they will even let you pick a more compact system of your choice.
See site for details and more information.
Enter Contest Giveaway Here
How to Clean Fish-Part 8 of 8
How to Clean, Dress, and Filet Fish...and the tools and utensils needed.
How to Clean Fish - Part 1 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 2 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 3 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 4 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 5 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 6 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 7 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 8 of 8
How to Clean Fish-Part 7 of 8
How to Clean, Dress, and Filet Fish...and the tools and utensils needed.
How to Clean Fish - Part 1 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 2 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 3 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 4 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 5 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 6 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 7 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 8 of 8
How to Clean Fish-Part 6 of 8
How to Clean, Dress, and Filet Fish...and the tools and utensils needed.
How to Clean Fish - Part 1 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 2 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 3 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 4 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 5 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 6 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 7 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 8 of 8
How to Clean Fish-Part 5 of 8
How to Clean, Dress, and Filet Fish...and the tools and utensils needed.
How to Clean Fish - Part 1 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 2 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 3 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 4 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 5 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 6 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 7 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 8 of 8
How to Clean Fish-Part 4 of 8
How to Clean, Dress, and Filet Fish...and the tools and utensils needed.
How to Clean Fish - Part 1 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 2 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 3 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 4 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 5 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 6 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 7 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 8 of 8
How to Clean Fish-Part 3 of 8
How to Clean, Dress, and Filet Fish...and the tools and utensils needed.
How to Clean Fish - Part 1 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 2 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 3 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 4 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 5 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 6 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 7 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 8 of 8
How to Clean Fish-Part 2 of 8
How to Clean, Dress, and Filet Fish...and the tools and utensils needed.
How to Clean Fish - Part 1 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 2 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 3 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 4 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 5 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 6 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 7 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 8 of 8
How to Clean Fish-Part 1 of 8
How to Clean, Dress, and Filet Fish...and the tools and utensils needed.
How to Clean Fish - Part 1 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 2 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 3 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 4 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 5 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 6 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 7 of 8
How to Clean Fish - Part 8 of 8
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Episode-591- Planning and Building the Suburban Homestead
From: January 20, 2011 on The Survival Podcast. Disclaimers & Policies
"When you hear the word homestead you typically think of open spaces, rural America and some acreage. For many American’s though it just isn’t currently an option. Many of us are bound to the city by employment, family obligations or other considerations.
Still I believe homesteading is for everyone and there are some real opportunities for suburban homesteaders who want to convert their homes from consumer to producer.
Of course there are challenges for the suburbanite with considerations such as excessive shade, available space, ordinances and retaining marketability of the home for resale.
The key to successful suburban homesteading is understanding your limitations but focusing on making the most of the unique advantages inherent to small landscapes such as ease of management and easy irrigation." - Jack Spirko
Join Me Today As We Discuss…
Define the overall goal of a homestead
Evaluate your limitations and landscape
Define your wants and needs
What do you like to eat
What is cheap and easy to buy
What is expensive to purchase
What is difficult to acquire organically or locally
Define areas by shade, sun, wind, usage, etc
Focus on the right types of crops
Heavy producers
Not readily available commercially
Perennials over annuals
Easy to store for long term usage
Require special care that can be automated
Considering livestock
Poultry is highly efficient for eggs
Rabbits are probably the best meat option
Utilize wildlife for livestock functions like manuring
Aquaculture and Aquaponics are excellent options
Extending your seasons and productivity
The greenhouse or cold frames are essentials
Using and channeling roof run off
Understanding and maximizing micro-climates
Use climbers and vertical spaces
Taking big techniques and downsizing them
Swales
Hugelkultur
Food Forests
Ponds
Smoking 3 briskets and 10 pounds of chicken
Smoked Brisket is Awesome! I'm ready for some. I really need to go out and get another electric knife. You always should have good hand knives for carving and cutting up your foods; that are not powered, and a means to sharpen them.
Field Dressing Big Game- on a Wild Pig
Instructional video on how to gut a wild hog. This method will also work on deer, goats, sheep, and other medium size game mammals. I hope other hunters find this video helpful! Remember, there are as many ways to gut an animal as there are hunters.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Episode-690- Not the End but a Massive Shift of the World as we Know It
From: June 23, 2011 on The Survival Podcast. Disclaimers & Policies
"One of the favorite topics on prepper forums and in doomer literature is TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it). I think what many fail to focus on with this is the (as we know it) portion. The fact is the world as people of their time knew it has ended many times, it will continue to end.
At one time a Roman citizen was the most advantaged in the world, so also there was a time when it was a great to be a Greek, an Aztec or a member of the Hopi Tribe. None of these civilizations really “ended” they shifted and adapted, the decedents are here with us. In the case of the Greeks they are now on the verge of bankruptcy but we still have Greece. The Aztecs may be gone but their descendants are part of the blood of Mexican and Latin American citizens today as are many of their customs.
Shifts are strange, at times they benefit us, sometimes they harm us and sometimes they can all but destroy us. Some our subtle and some are massive and even tiny shifts can cause massive change over time. The only constant in shifts it they ALWAYS occur, they never stop and we will always have to deal with them.
Today’s show covers a few such shifts but mainly focuses on being prepared for them, no matter what form they may take."
-Jack Spirko
Join me today to discuss…
A special farewell to my friend and brother Ron Hood
Why shifts must occur
Some current economic shifts
Some current cultural shifts
Some current climate shifts
Lessons from history
The truth about our economic future
How shifts don’t have to be bad but are for most people
Preparedness is really about needs first, wants second and luxury third
Monday, June 20, 2011
Episode-685- Dr. Eric Wilke on Survival Medicine
From: June 15th, 2011 on The Survival Podcast. Disclaimers & Policies
Dr. Eric Wilke, is a residency trained emergency medicine physician in practice for 12+ years. He also direct the local fire department and the tactical medics for the SWAT team in his area. He has traveled to Africa to deliver medical care in austere environments and with very limited resources. Today he joins us to discuss some common diseases with potential to kill and how they can be recognized and treated.
Join us today as we discuss…
- The top global killers world wide
- Prevention of illness in harsh conditions
- Making water safe to drink
- Improving hydration
- Treatment of bacterial and viral infections
- How to properly store medications
- Military research into the storage life of medications
- Thoughts on the current nuclear issues in Japan
- Common sense alternative medicine
- Ways to maintain your current health
- Building a first aid emergency medicine kit
Survival Medicine #5 -- Oral Rehydration Solution
Dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. Dehydration can be caused by losing too much fluid, not drinking enough water or fluids, or both. Vomiting and diarrhea are common causes. When dehydration is severe, it is a life-threatening emergency. >>>>>(Seek Medical Help! if you have severe dehydration)<<<<<
For some cases there are OTC (over the counter) medications for anti-diarrhea, one I have used are Loperamide Hydrochloride tablets. (Ask a pharmacist or your doctor for more info)
The information in the video may help you in replacing some of your fluid loss and help you out. I understand Coconut Water is also a great help for Oral Rehydration. In a survival situation when you can't get help for your dehydration I hope this information will help you. Also another similar Oral Rehydration Solution recipe I found.
The simple formula is 8 teaspoons of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt, dissolved in 1 quart of potable water. (if you can make it 1/2tsp. regular salt and 1/2tsp. some salt substitute (potassium chloride). I also sometimes add 1/2tsp. of baking soda.) (you could add some kool-aid or other flavoring for taste, helps when giving this to children. Who might not otherwise drink it readily; I personally like it in my drink too.)
Friday, June 17, 2011
How to find PDF Files and Cool Free eBooks
From: survivalpodcasting
This video is a simple Google hack that lets you find pdf files so you can get free eBooks and other cool documents in PDF file format. Don't let the term "hack" scare you it is very easy to do and it takes only about 3 seconds to use as well.
Why would you want to find PDF files exclusively? First and foremost because many eBooks are in that file format and free eBooks are cool and are available on about any subject you can imagine. Second a PDF is perfect to print, send to a handheld reader, etc.
So check out this quick video and go find all types of great free reading that is nicely formatted for printing and for reading on hand held readers like the Kindle.
This video is a simple Google hack that lets you find pdf files so you can get free eBooks and other cool documents in PDF file format. Don't let the term "hack" scare you it is very easy to do and it takes only about 3 seconds to use as well.
Why would you want to find PDF files exclusively? First and foremost because many eBooks are in that file format and free eBooks are cool and are available on about any subject you can imagine. Second a PDF is perfect to print, send to a handheld reader, etc.
So check out this quick video and go find all types of great free reading that is nicely formatted for printing and for reading on hand held readers like the Kindle.
Audio Podcast: Episode-672- Embracing Technology as a Modern Survivalist
From: Thursday, May 26th, 2011 on The Survival Podcast. Disclaimers & Policies
"Technology gets a bad rap with some preppers but I find it amusing that they voice their displeasure in places like an internet forum. To do so they are using electricity, a computer and an internet connection. I have asked more than one such person if they ride a hose to work each day or drive a car, that usually makes a solid point strait away."
"Also please consider that things like bow drill fires, the sun compass, the spear, the atlatl and dead fall traps were at one time, “cutting edge technology”. So today we discuss some of my favorite technology resources and how I use them as part of my planning, prepping and to create lifestyle redundancy." - Jack Spirko
Discussing the following technologies:
- Emergency Weather Alerts/Radios
- Google News Alerts
- Facebook/Twitter
- Off the shelf back up power
- Solar/Hand Crank Radio
- The GPS
- Thumb Drives – Portable Data
- Lap Top Computers
- Digital Camera
- Ready.gov etc.
- YouTube (Download Helper)
- Mobile Apps
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Free Solar Daytime Lighting
Ever wonder how you could get some free lighting for a dark shed, outbuilding, barn, workshop, etc. Especially useful when you don't have any windows to light a room up during the day. This Project could be just what your looking for. Try using a 2-Liter Bottle as a 50 Watt Light Bulb lightbulb hack. Cheaper than adding windows or a sunroof.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Gardening; Old Stories and New Beginnings
Gardening was introduced to me by my grandparents on my moms side of the family. When I had lived in Stockbridge, MA, before the age of 5. I remember my grandmother tending a flowerbed outside her home, and my grandfather taking me with him to garden on a plot somewhere else in town. The "Gardening Bug" really did not hit me to many years later. I had moved with my family to California. I by this time was almost ready or had started in Jr. high school.
My Grandmother and Aunt Vic. had traveled all the way from the state of Massachusetts, on a bus to visit us. Sometime during the visit for a few days my grandmother spoke about (or seemed to have complained about) why the flowerbeds were empty, mostly dry dirt and weeds. As said before, this went on for many days (hint).
One day upon returning from a shopping trip in town, my grandmother handed me a garden hoe. She asked me to undertake the job of pulling up the weeds and to start chopping up the dirt, in a small flowerbed under the dining room window. This went on for at least what seemed about 3 hours. This was only maybe a 2 foot by 5 foot area. My grandmother wanted the soil to be very soft and dug deep. Later while I was loosening the soil up, my grandmother called me in for a snack and something to drink. While I sat and relaxed a bit she pulled out a couple of seed packs out on the table. She then instructed me on how she wanted them planted, and how to care for them. I then returned outside, I planted and watered the seeds into the flowerbed. I had planted marigolds and nasturtiums. Many days had passed in what seemed like a eternity, while I watered and watched over the flowerbed. Later by then my grandmother and my aunt, had left California back home to Massachusetts, and still nothing had sprouted yet. I had just about loss any hope in anything coming out of that patch of ground. Then one day I noticed some new sprigs of life, popping out from the ground I had planted the seeds in. Weeks later there were a great many flowers in bloom, and I could see where all that work had payed off. I now had a spark within me and a new love for growing things.
Later on a weekend I had gotten to talk to my grandmother on the phone to tell her about the flowers and how great it was to grow stuff. Later in the month, I had gotten a letter from my grandmother and a gift of $10.00 (that was a good amount of money for me back then.) I took my my gift and gotten some more garden seed and some bags steer manure (I am sure I also spent some of it on candy too). That summer I had turned my backyard into one huge garden. I had a lot of everything growing I was really happy about it. I had so much stuff I shared with my friends and neighbors on the street. That was a great summer.
My grandmother that gave me the gift of gardening, has passed on. She was a great blessing in my life to have shared her own love of gardening. As a adult I had done some research on my grandmother and her family. I learned of her family having a family crest, which I remember seeing on some plates in her home, and also a small one my mother had in the house. Upon researching the crest, it was given to my great or great great grandfather. This crest was given for feeding an entire town where he lived. He did it by gardening / farming. In the country of Ireland, during a great potato famine he planted all kinds of things. Potatoes were the main crop there, and many farmers there used to grow the same type of potatoes. One of the main types of potatoes were prone to a disease that either rotted or killed the plants. My great or great-great grandfather had grown many different types of potatoes that did not get that disease that the others had gotten with their variety of potatoes. That is how he was able to take care of his family and his town during those dark days of a potato famine.
You just never know what gardening can do for you, or for others. If your not already growing plants, try it, you may like it too. Do it for fun, do it to save on your grocery bills, do it for health, do it to become part of your life and part of your preparedness skills. Gardening does have its rewards. Enjoy.
Thunderhawk001
My Grandmother and Aunt Vic. had traveled all the way from the state of Massachusetts, on a bus to visit us. Sometime during the visit for a few days my grandmother spoke about (or seemed to have complained about) why the flowerbeds were empty, mostly dry dirt and weeds. As said before, this went on for many days (hint).
One day upon returning from a shopping trip in town, my grandmother handed me a garden hoe. She asked me to undertake the job of pulling up the weeds and to start chopping up the dirt, in a small flowerbed under the dining room window. This went on for at least what seemed about 3 hours. This was only maybe a 2 foot by 5 foot area. My grandmother wanted the soil to be very soft and dug deep. Later while I was loosening the soil up, my grandmother called me in for a snack and something to drink. While I sat and relaxed a bit she pulled out a couple of seed packs out on the table. She then instructed me on how she wanted them planted, and how to care for them. I then returned outside, I planted and watered the seeds into the flowerbed. I had planted marigolds and nasturtiums. Many days had passed in what seemed like a eternity, while I watered and watched over the flowerbed. Later by then my grandmother and my aunt, had left California back home to Massachusetts, and still nothing had sprouted yet. I had just about loss any hope in anything coming out of that patch of ground. Then one day I noticed some new sprigs of life, popping out from the ground I had planted the seeds in. Weeks later there were a great many flowers in bloom, and I could see where all that work had payed off. I now had a spark within me and a new love for growing things.
Later on a weekend I had gotten to talk to my grandmother on the phone to tell her about the flowers and how great it was to grow stuff. Later in the month, I had gotten a letter from my grandmother and a gift of $10.00 (that was a good amount of money for me back then.) I took my my gift and gotten some more garden seed and some bags steer manure (I am sure I also spent some of it on candy too). That summer I had turned my backyard into one huge garden. I had a lot of everything growing I was really happy about it. I had so much stuff I shared with my friends and neighbors on the street. That was a great summer.
My grandmother that gave me the gift of gardening, has passed on. She was a great blessing in my life to have shared her own love of gardening. As a adult I had done some research on my grandmother and her family. I learned of her family having a family crest, which I remember seeing on some plates in her home, and also a small one my mother had in the house. Upon researching the crest, it was given to my great or great great grandfather. This crest was given for feeding an entire town where he lived. He did it by gardening / farming. In the country of Ireland, during a great potato famine he planted all kinds of things. Potatoes were the main crop there, and many farmers there used to grow the same type of potatoes. One of the main types of potatoes were prone to a disease that either rotted or killed the plants. My great or great-great grandfather had grown many different types of potatoes that did not get that disease that the others had gotten with their variety of potatoes. That is how he was able to take care of his family and his town during those dark days of a potato famine.
You just never know what gardening can do for you, or for others. If your not already growing plants, try it, you may like it too. Do it for fun, do it to save on your grocery bills, do it for health, do it to become part of your life and part of your preparedness skills. Gardening does have its rewards. Enjoy.
Thunderhawk001
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Survival,ThunderHawk, Hindsight is 20/20
This is a re-posting of a story I wrote from in bed at a Nursing Home on Wed, Oct 15 2003 9:40 pm.
I hope that it may a survival lesson that can be learned from a accident and my mistakes.
Subject: ThunderHawk, Hindsight is 20/20
Hey all,
Well just a quick note, to let you know I am still around. I have been holding up in a nursing home sence mid-September. Maybe I could go into the details of surviving in a nursing home hehehe, Ya right.
Hindsight being 20/20 would have been great. I could prepare for the best and worse of times. However, some small matter of lack of common sense or comfort got in the way. Me . . . Guilty as charged. I happen to have a few health problems one of them being I have high blood sugar, not always controlled. It all started with me doing what I like to do, walking around barefooted around the house. Sure I had a wife that always nagged me about putting some shoes or sandals on my feet. But, I rarely listened and neither did I want to, since I really enjoyed being barefooted, as I usually wore high top boots most of the time for work and regular use.
It started on a Sunday night. I was with my son alone, and up late at night playing on the computer. I needed something from a room in the back of the house. The light was on the other side of the room, and I was walking barefooted in the dark to turn it on. OUCH! . . . . I had stepped on something that hurt, and crunched into my foot. I got into a chair on my knees, got the light on and looked over my shoulder and saw a large gash in my foot with some glass, and bleeding heavy. My son came into the room and looked and started to panic, and wanted to call 911. I said, not to call and let me take care of it. I did my best to remain calm for my son so he would calm down and not panic anymore, however lots of blood was pouring out. I pulled the glass out and wrapped a towel around my foot. First, bad news hard to stop the bleeding. Two, I looked into my first aid bucket, only to find that the hings that I needed to patch myself up had already been used up and had not been replaced. I moved to a place with better light to see what I was doing. I sent my son to get some of my wife's personal pads and get me a roll of tape. I then sealed my foot up. It seemed it would be ok. Ya, Right . . . so I thought.
The bleeding stopped and I had a closer look at what kind of glass I stepped on. One of my mini-kerosene lamps had fell off the shelf. The top had broken and there it had laid waiting for my bare foot. Well I soaked my foot for a couple of days and took some medications for the pain and swelling. On day two I had the things I needed to patch the foot up right. I had some military medical superglue and sterile-strips. I put a fresh bandage wrap on it. It looked great and did not feel too bad. I then returned to work on Tuesday with a slight limp and worked for two more weeks this way. Nine days later the strips fell off and the foot looked good. Friday after work the foot hurt and I went to take a nap at 4pm. No one could wake me, and I slept there on the couch with my foot up till 1am. I then took a hot shower, which after it had some junk discharged from my foot and it hurt to walk. I went back to sleep and went to work again the next day at 6am. By 11am I could not walk anymore. I finished at 2pm hopped near fence and waited to have my wife pick me up. I later got home and laid up on the couch with my foot up. I figured since I did not have insurance I would wait to Monday and go into the clinic. I thought I would be ok.
Then it happened. At 9pm Chest pains and a sick feeling all over. To the hospital I went, to the emergency room. I was very lucky, they were very busy, and they took me right away. They drained the foot, and fixed me up from the chest pain. I remained there till about 7;40am. They then put me in a room there till Wed. night. Then was transferred to the nursing home I am at now. Lots of IV antibiotics every 6hrs. Shots of other
stuff, and lots of different medications. Here I lay, or get in a wheel chair for an hour at a time every 4 to 5 hrs. I could end up staying here for 3 or more months since still now my foot is not getting better, and I still could end up loosing it. It is very hard to be away from my wife and kids. Nursing homes and not a great place to be at and the care people may not come after you hit the button for long periods of time. Average wait time 15-20 minutes, and one time I waited 40 minutes.
What I have learned so far from my current experience.
1. Wear something on your feet, to protect them.
2. Seek Pros for medical help. They said, I would have not lasted over the weekend to Monday.
3. Enjoy what little time you do have with wife, kids, family, and friends.
I am sure there are other things too, like resupplying the medical bucket, and securing items in place to prevent things from breaking on the floor. Also to take better care of my health. I have a high pain threshold
and had enough knowledge to take care of a emergency at home but, I should have followed up with some outside help of a Doctor. Which if I had I might not have ended up here. (Hindsight is 20/20) Ya Right!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aftermath; After spending almost 3 months at the nursing home. about 8 years have past and I am alive; my son who was 6 at that time is 14 and entering high school. (Time really does fly) I do have some residual health problems and disabilities. I try my best to do what I can each day as is comes. Have Hope, Live for today, survive for tomorrow, and beyond. You Can Too!
Your Friend, ThunderHawk
I hope that it may a survival lesson that can be learned from a accident and my mistakes.
Subject: ThunderHawk, Hindsight is 20/20
Hey all,
Well just a quick note, to let you know I am still around. I have been holding up in a nursing home sence mid-September. Maybe I could go into the details of surviving in a nursing home hehehe, Ya right.
Hindsight being 20/20 would have been great. I could prepare for the best and worse of times. However, some small matter of lack of common sense or comfort got in the way. Me . . . Guilty as charged. I happen to have a few health problems one of them being I have high blood sugar, not always controlled. It all started with me doing what I like to do, walking around barefooted around the house. Sure I had a wife that always nagged me about putting some shoes or sandals on my feet. But, I rarely listened and neither did I want to, since I really enjoyed being barefooted, as I usually wore high top boots most of the time for work and regular use.
It started on a Sunday night. I was with my son alone, and up late at night playing on the computer. I needed something from a room in the back of the house. The light was on the other side of the room, and I was walking barefooted in the dark to turn it on. OUCH! . . . . I had stepped on something that hurt, and crunched into my foot. I got into a chair on my knees, got the light on and looked over my shoulder and saw a large gash in my foot with some glass, and bleeding heavy. My son came into the room and looked and started to panic, and wanted to call 911. I said, not to call and let me take care of it. I did my best to remain calm for my son so he would calm down and not panic anymore, however lots of blood was pouring out. I pulled the glass out and wrapped a towel around my foot. First, bad news hard to stop the bleeding. Two, I looked into my first aid bucket, only to find that the hings that I needed to patch myself up had already been used up and had not been replaced. I moved to a place with better light to see what I was doing. I sent my son to get some of my wife's personal pads and get me a roll of tape. I then sealed my foot up. It seemed it would be ok. Ya, Right . . . so I thought.
The bleeding stopped and I had a closer look at what kind of glass I stepped on. One of my mini-kerosene lamps had fell off the shelf. The top had broken and there it had laid waiting for my bare foot. Well I soaked my foot for a couple of days and took some medications for the pain and swelling. On day two I had the things I needed to patch the foot up right. I had some military medical superglue and sterile-strips. I put a fresh bandage wrap on it. It looked great and did not feel too bad. I then returned to work on Tuesday with a slight limp and worked for two more weeks this way. Nine days later the strips fell off and the foot looked good. Friday after work the foot hurt and I went to take a nap at 4pm. No one could wake me, and I slept there on the couch with my foot up till 1am. I then took a hot shower, which after it had some junk discharged from my foot and it hurt to walk. I went back to sleep and went to work again the next day at 6am. By 11am I could not walk anymore. I finished at 2pm hopped near fence and waited to have my wife pick me up. I later got home and laid up on the couch with my foot up. I figured since I did not have insurance I would wait to Monday and go into the clinic. I thought I would be ok.
Then it happened. At 9pm Chest pains and a sick feeling all over. To the hospital I went, to the emergency room. I was very lucky, they were very busy, and they took me right away. They drained the foot, and fixed me up from the chest pain. I remained there till about 7;40am. They then put me in a room there till Wed. night. Then was transferred to the nursing home I am at now. Lots of IV antibiotics every 6hrs. Shots of other
stuff, and lots of different medications. Here I lay, or get in a wheel chair for an hour at a time every 4 to 5 hrs. I could end up staying here for 3 or more months since still now my foot is not getting better, and I still could end up loosing it. It is very hard to be away from my wife and kids. Nursing homes and not a great place to be at and the care people may not come after you hit the button for long periods of time. Average wait time 15-20 minutes, and one time I waited 40 minutes.
What I have learned so far from my current experience.
1. Wear something on your feet, to protect them.
2. Seek Pros for medical help. They said, I would have not lasted over the weekend to Monday.
3. Enjoy what little time you do have with wife, kids, family, and friends.
I am sure there are other things too, like resupplying the medical bucket, and securing items in place to prevent things from breaking on the floor. Also to take better care of my health. I have a high pain threshold
and had enough knowledge to take care of a emergency at home but, I should have followed up with some outside help of a Doctor. Which if I had I might not have ended up here. (Hindsight is 20/20) Ya Right!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aftermath; After spending almost 3 months at the nursing home. about 8 years have past and I am alive; my son who was 6 at that time is 14 and entering high school. (Time really does fly) I do have some residual health problems and disabilities. I try my best to do what I can each day as is comes. Have Hope, Live for today, survive for tomorrow, and beyond. You Can Too!
Your Friend, ThunderHawk
Monday, June 13, 2011
Save Money With a Garden NBC Philadelphia
Here is the Link, to the Seed of the Month Club, the Site opens better with Internet Explorer.
So Cut and paste the link if you need to. I'll post up a few Pics from gardening at home later.
>>>>>>>>>>CLICK HERE TO GET SEEDS<<<<<<<<<
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A Little Bio on Me!
Well a small bit about me. Survival instinctive to me and all of us. I had a friend that worked with me when I was about 19 or 20 years old. He had a copy of "American Survival Guide" I had read. I am now going on 45 years old. During the years I enjoyed most of the printings of it. Prior to reading them and learning other things over time. I have been into gardening,computers, hunting, fishing, electronics, camping etc; and learning many things a person could learn. I am a jack of many trades but, not all. I would like to learn from others. I have had some time to use my outdoor skills in the trinity wilderness at age 22-24 years old. I spent 6 months the first time very new and hard time at it. Then went again for another 8 months, this time with some better supplies and a few new things to keep me busy and make things a lot easier. I have been around and had some life experience thru out my life.
Now days I am like most men, have gotten married, have children, grown a bit older and hopefully wiser; But I have become a bit rusty and maybe have gotten into a lazy way of living day to day life. Sure I still store some extra supplies and water and read once in awhile on skills of survival. Now on the front burner of the mind and not taking for granted anymore is not just everyday survival of life. It is a quality life of survival. There are many aspects to survival in our current time. Some persons think of just some supplies are all they need. Some believe they just need some weapons, others a knowledge of books. To others its gardening, or building some other skill. It is that all type of skills and trades are needed for quality survival.
The truth be said, for many when the lazy-boy stops vibrating and the remote control stops working it is the end of their own world. A time to get into trouble in invade someone's else. There are natural and man made disasters that can happen at anytime. Survival really depends on a few things. Preparedness, Keeping a clear head and your wits about you, and community. Community could be family, friends, and maybe just someone your just met or trust around you or your family. Why, you might ask. Number one, no man or woman is an island to themselves. Examples ... I have a few.
Once alone I while I was doing something simple in the mountains by myself, I was cutting kindling for a fire and missed the wood I was chopping and cut through my thumb. It was 2 days before I could get any kind of outside medical help. Things did not turn out too bad for me but it could have. Case taken maybe I could have gotten a bad infection or what would have happened to me had I had cut an major artery and lost my blood. Me or even lets say someone else had a fall where legs could be broken or back injured. Way out in the middle of nowhere. Just as easy as happening in the wilderness things could get bad in a city with riots, or the aftermath of some natural disaster.
Here we all have the opportunity to become a community. It takes the skills of a community to rebuild in any aftermath of any disaster. I could say jack of all trades, but that would not be true. I am just like the next guy, learned a lot of things that I cared to learn, and not cared too much about the rest. Until the real thought of survival it takes a lot of skills from a lot of different people to have good quality survival. I hope to post some useful information that someone here will be able to use. I also look forward to learning some new stuff too. It has been a few years since I have done some heavy blogging and hope to do some catching up on new things as well as see some re-posting of some great things I have missed. Thanks all for reading my ramblings, post at you all soon.
Your Friend,
ThunderHawk
Now days I am like most men, have gotten married, have children, grown a bit older and hopefully wiser; But I have become a bit rusty and maybe have gotten into a lazy way of living day to day life. Sure I still store some extra supplies and water and read once in awhile on skills of survival. Now on the front burner of the mind and not taking for granted anymore is not just everyday survival of life. It is a quality life of survival. There are many aspects to survival in our current time. Some persons think of just some supplies are all they need. Some believe they just need some weapons, others a knowledge of books. To others its gardening, or building some other skill. It is that all type of skills and trades are needed for quality survival.
The truth be said, for many when the lazy-boy stops vibrating and the remote control stops working it is the end of their own world. A time to get into trouble in invade someone's else. There are natural and man made disasters that can happen at anytime. Survival really depends on a few things. Preparedness, Keeping a clear head and your wits about you, and community. Community could be family, friends, and maybe just someone your just met or trust around you or your family. Why, you might ask. Number one, no man or woman is an island to themselves. Examples ... I have a few.
Once alone I while I was doing something simple in the mountains by myself, I was cutting kindling for a fire and missed the wood I was chopping and cut through my thumb. It was 2 days before I could get any kind of outside medical help. Things did not turn out too bad for me but it could have. Case taken maybe I could have gotten a bad infection or what would have happened to me had I had cut an major artery and lost my blood. Me or even lets say someone else had a fall where legs could be broken or back injured. Way out in the middle of nowhere. Just as easy as happening in the wilderness things could get bad in a city with riots, or the aftermath of some natural disaster.
Here we all have the opportunity to become a community. It takes the skills of a community to rebuild in any aftermath of any disaster. I could say jack of all trades, but that would not be true. I am just like the next guy, learned a lot of things that I cared to learn, and not cared too much about the rest. Until the real thought of survival it takes a lot of skills from a lot of different people to have good quality survival. I hope to post some useful information that someone here will be able to use. I also look forward to learning some new stuff too. It has been a few years since I have done some heavy blogging and hope to do some catching up on new things as well as see some re-posting of some great things I have missed. Thanks all for reading my ramblings, post at you all soon.
Your Friend,
ThunderHawk
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