Archives

August 2020

August 31, 2020 - "10 Reasons to Raise Ducks Instead of Chickens" The days when chickens were the thing everyone raised for meat and eggs are long gone. These days, many preppers are opting to raise ducks instead. If you don’t already have a flock of ducks waddling around in your backyard, here are a few reasons why you should. Read more

August 31, 2020 - "Dealing with Fire Ants" Some feeds stores sell dried molasses. It does not kill fire ants, but they do not like it. They will move away from where it is scattered or applied. Blackstrap molasses is high in calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium. It also contains sulfur and a host of micronutrients. Using molasses as fertilizer provides plants with a quick source of energy and encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms. It can be ordered in 50-pound bags. Although I do not live in an area which gets fire ants, I keep it in a big metal trash can around at all times for use as fertilizer in the garden. One of the advantages of living so far up north. The fire ants cannot handle the cold. If you have these annoying ants here is a homemade formula to use with them. Read more

August 31, 2020 - "LDS Preparedness Guide" I have always had a great deal of respect for the Mormons and how they  are prepared for emergencies. Here is a copy of their preparedness guide which they use. It has a lot of useful information in it for survivalists and Preppers. Enjoy. Read more

August 30, 2020 - "How to make Bone Broth" A good broth, or stock, is one of those common ingredients that’s a kitchen staple everywhere. Or at least it used to be, and should be today. Unfortunately, the convenience of canned “broth” (and I use that term loosely) and bouillon cubes has taken over that niche in many modern kitchens (it’s amazing how often we see “convenience” and “poor nutrition” together, almost like there’s some kind of correlation between our poor health and the fact that we eat everything out of bags, boxes, and cans). Read more

August 30, 2020 - "The Modern Tale of the Ant and the Grasshopper" Here is an updated tale of the ant and the grasshopper. It is so appropriated for today's society. Enjoy it. Read more

August 28, 2020 - "Food Rationing It Will Break You Down Mentally" With the way current trends are going, chances are that one day you’ll need to break into your emergency food supplies. Whether you’ve stored whole grains, freeze dried emergency foods or meals-ready-to-eat, what it all boils down to is having enough of a reserve to get through a crisis, whether it be short- or long-term. Read more

August 28, 2020 - "Organic Recipes Homemade" As I was wandering around the internet I chanced upon this file which has an assortment of different formulas which may be of use around the homestead and home. My thanks to Howard Garrett for these recipes. Read more

August 24, 2020 - "Survival Hint" In order to make a lot of natural products or colloidal silver, distilled water is an absolute must. I was lucky enough years ago to purchase a distiller while the prices were reasonable, however, today the cost is outrageous. Do not despair however, for if you have a Mirro-pressure canner, you can still make the water you need. To use the canner as a still merely connect a plastic tube from the vent stem on the canner to a cooling coil made from copper tubing. The outlet from this cooling coil should go to pot or basin to catch the liquid. This is essentially the same method that is used in distilling corn liquor. In its simplest understanding we see the process as boiling the water in the pot while allowing the steam to rise to the cooling coils thus condensing back to water again as it collects in the catch basin.

August 22, 2020 - "Sweet potato Storage" My family has always loved sweet potatoes in just about any form, be it fried, boiled or baked. On occasion we may purchase a bushel or two of these delightful foods in the fall, and store them in various ways over the winter. Read more

August 22, 2020 - "Corn Cob Wisdom" Many people grow field corn in their home gardens producing an abundance of the sweet, tasty vegetables. Have you ever wondered what to do with corn cobs after the harvest is finished? You have already frozen as much of the fresh corn as you could, you have canned umpteen dozens of jars with both whole, and creamed corn, and even made multiple jars of corn cob jelly. What more can you do? Read more

August 22, 2020 - "Don’t Scare the Kids" Early in the hours of the morning, we temporarily lost our internet, which means that we had no internet, but also no telephone, or cable. These services were off for approximately one hour. As I sat there without these useful utilities, I began to think that if it were electric, we would have no electric for that hour. Read more

August 21, 2020 - Rooster to give away" I have a rooster to give away free. When I purchased my chicks Farm Supply gave me several rooster in the flock. I am located in Seaford Delaware. If interested in picking it up email me.

August 21, 2020 - "How to Divide and Grow Supermarket Basil" Keep pots of basil alive by planting the strongest plants into their own pots. Grow supermarket basil this way and you’ll have dozens of plants that will thrive all year long. Read more

August 21, 2020 - "The Mysterious Derinkuyu Underground City in Ancient Cappadocia, Turkey - 10,000 BC" Imagine setting up a retreat city as this. It is simply amazing to consider that this city was built without the assistance of any sort of modern tools.

August 16, 2020 - "Homestead Goats - What You Need to Know to Get Started." Raising your own homestead goats as dairy animals is a great way to get connected to your food source. Goats are not only a fabulous source of high-quality milk, but are an incredibly versatile animal on a homestead. Homestead goats can also provide meat, fiber, carry a pack, clear brush, or serve as a livestock companion. Dairy goats have endearing personalities, which make them a joy to keep on virtually any size homestead. Read more

August 16, 2020 - "19 Ways to Make Money from Your Homestead" Buying a huge piece of property, going off-grid and producing enough food to feed a small army; sounds pretty amazing huh? Moving out to a rural homestead and being completely self-sufficient is a dream for a lot of Preppers. Unfortunately, it’s no longer possible to load up the wagon, head out to wilderness and carve out your own little piece of paradise. (I mean you can try, but don’t call me when the cops show up!) It costs a lot of money to go completely off grid these days. Even after the initial expenses of land, housing, power and all the other basic necessities, moving to a rural homestead still requires some expensive upkeep.  Read more

August 15, 2020 - "Making Herbal Medicinal Tinctures" Here is a short video on how to make herbal tinctures.

August 14, 2020 - "Without Warning" It has come to my attention that this months disaster movie entitled "Yesterday's Girl" was removed from the link, thus I have included an alternate on this day. The movie is called Without Warning. in this movie, a television program is interrupted by a news network announcing that three meteors have hit the United States, France and China. At first, it seems natural, but after interviews by scientists, and eyewitness seem to suggest that it is not. Three more meteors are coming and the various Earth governments combine forces to stop them.

August 14, 2020 - "Make Your own Tire Sandals" I'm hard on shoes. It's not uncommon for me to go through half a dozen pairs of shoes, or more, each year. I maintain an active lifestyle, hiking, playing, camping, and working. Water wears out a shoe quicker than anything else. A few trips in and out of the creeks, puddles, and swamps, and they just come unglued. Read more
 

August 14, 2020 - "Several items often overlooked in the food pantry" Out of the mouths of children often spring words of wisdom. A few years ago, my granddaughter was at our home, and during the course of her visit my wife, and I was replacing some depleted food supplies in the pantry room. As she watched us with an inquiring eye, she remarked, “why don’t you keep a can opener in the food pantry, and let it stay there all the time.”  Read more

August 13, 2020 - "Homemade Canning of Bacon" We all can appreciate the American fascination with bacon. The question at hand is what would you do if this delightful breakfast meat was no longer available when the SHTF? You could no longer run down to the local grocery store and purchase a pound or two, so again I ask what would you do? Read more

August 13, 2020 - "Wild Yeast Starter" Bubbly, fizzy, and just a bit murky, making a wild yeast starter can seem a little daunting, but it's one of the easiest kitchen projects you can undertake. There's only a single step: sealing fruit into a jar filled with water. And then you wait. In less than a week, you have a yeasty starter you can use to bake bread. Read more

August 12, 2020 - "A Vegan Spicy Italian Sausage" Suppose the SHTF tomorrow, and you have no meat products stored up, or since we are in hurricane season, the local grocery store shelves are bare including the freezer section. What would you do? Suppose your garden did well, and you have more vegetables than you know what to do with, how will you survive? You could exist on a diet of vegetables with no problem, however like most people, if the time goes on for an extended period, you are going to want meat. Read more

August 12, 2020 - "Survival Hint" Asparagus Tough Ends. Sometimes you can get some really great bargains in the produce store. Not long ago the  Produce Junction in Dover was selling asparagus at $1.00 per bunch. That is really a good deal. My wife, and I purchased a considerable number of these at that price. Beside eating it fresh for several days, we dehydrated some for future use. We took the tough ends, and blanched and dehydrated them as well. Afterwards we powdered them, and used the powder as flavorings in soups, and sauces.

August 11, 2020 - "How to Butcher a Chicken: 7 Steps to Humanely Kill, Pluck, and Clean Your Chickens" Do you have certain chores you do every fall that you like better than others? Well, I have a certain chore I must do every fall that I don’t enjoy but it is a necessity none the less. That chore is culling chickens. Read more

August 10, 2020 - "10 Things for Which I Will NOT Apologize For" I recently found this on a webpage and thought it was well written and made a valid point. I did however make a few changes which may reflect my view better. Here we go. I have posted this on my Facebook page also, If you find that it reflects upon your beliefs and values feel free to repost it. Read more

August 10, 2020 - "Hints on the Natural Weed Killer" A reader recently conveyed an email message to me upon reading, and trying the inexpensive natural weed eater listed on the web site in April. (See April, 2020 Archives). In her email she rationalized how the natural remedy usually will work well with the cheaper white vinegar, rather than the more costly cider version. The cider vinegar frequently demands 3 times the cost of the more common white vinegar, I totally agree with her, use the white vinegar in your weed killer, and reserve the cider vinegar for use in your pickling recipes. Read more

August 10, 2020 - "Welcome to my Nightmare" Life often gives the impression of being composed of cruel factors, and you frequently misconstrue where you stand. One day everything is fine, while the following day brings your world is tumbling down. I am not merely describing events which exist in a daytime existence, but let’s think about what develops in the dark of night. Over the years I have learned not to be afraid of anything, especially death. Lately, I have been experiencing a series of unusual, and strange dreams, or more aptly nightmares. Read more

August 9, 2020 - "Natural Basic Shampoo Recipe" Give your hair the luster it deserves in cold, dry winter weather. This recipe includes enhancers for oily, dry, and normal hair. Read more

August 7, 2020 - "6 Survival Skills You Can Practice in Quarantine" In the absence of anything else to do, I’ve recently found myself enthralled by the reality show Naked and Afraid, in which a man and a woman are left to survive in some remote wilderness for 21 days with little by way of tools and nothing by way of clothing. I love the show for the same reason I love adventure books featuring protagonists thrown into miserable, life-threatening situations: They make me feel cozy. It’s not that I want anyone to break their leg while falling off the west face of Siula Grande or to have to weigh whether to eat their seatmate after crash landing in the Andes. It’s that stories of extreme outdoor hardship help me to be grateful for where I am: nestled on the couch under a freshly laundered blanket, one hand petting a sleeping cat and the other plunged deep into a family-size bag of cheese curls. Read more

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WIFE PAM

August 6, 2020 - "A lesson learned on home Defense" Recently an acquaintance which I know from the Midwest contacted me, and related the enclosed horror story to me. She is a middle-aged lady who once lived in Delaware, but now resides on her small mini-farm out in the middle of nowhere. Her rationale in recounting her adventure to me was so I might inform my female readers of how important it is to be prepared for anything. In general, she usually felt safe in her home since it was only her and her small Beagle dog. Her story went like this. Read more

August 5, 2020 - "Learning from Tropical Storm Isaias" Preppers credit every disastrous incident with a learning experience. My wife and I ordinarily analysis the situations we had experienced, and derive lessons learned from the data gather. This is how we come to the realization as to where our weak points are. This past Tuesday we experienced tropical storm Isaias passing through the state of Delaware. As a result of this storm, we lost electricity for most of the day. Upon sitting down in the aftermath of the events, we recognized that even though we had our own well, and do not need to rely upon the community water supply, we still have a water availability issue. Read more

August 4, 2020 - "Organic Gardening" Discover the top tips for growing your own garden naturally, easily and quickly. Read more

Reminder: The Garden Books are no longer online.

August 3, 2020 - "Straw Bale Gardens Complete" Here is a PDF on setting up a Straw Bale Garden. Read more

August 3, 2020 - "KIA Soul Bug Out Setup" Here is my bug out setup for my car.

August 3, 2020 - Turn an Exercising Bike into an Energy Bike" Why pedal a stationary exercise bike for exercise? Put all that sweat equity to good use while getting into shape. Turn you exercise bike into a power generator to run lights, a TV, stereo, blender, etc. Recharge a 12V battery or drive appliances directly. This is an excellent educational tool for science and technology classes. There are several options for how you design and build it. I'll show you how to build this one and point out other options along the way. Read more

August 2, 2020 - "Strawberry PVC Tower" Here is a PVC Strawberry tower that you can build at home with 6" diameter pipe. Read more

Delmarva Survival Training Website in Seaford Delaware - We must learn to take care of ourselves