tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post2084810385966248198..comments2024-03-28T19:35:24.365-07:00Comments on Rural Revolution: A wake-up callPatrice Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-3906778033302347022011-09-21T08:12:00.999-07:002011-09-21T08:12:00.999-07:00Welcome, Anon 1:11 !! I have a number of liberal ...Welcome, Anon 1:11 !! I have a number of liberal readers who don't seem to mind that I'm politically conservative. You'll have to excuse the occasional conservative soapbox upon which I climb every so often (wink) and of course you're always welcome to (politely) disagree and/or offer a counter-point opinion.<br /><br />Learning to can is about the absolute smartest thing you can teach yourself. There are lots of resources available, and after you're more comfortable with the basics you may even want to take a Master Food Preservers course through your local County Extension office.<br /><br />I'm so glad you found your way here!<br /><br />- PatricePatrice Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-75016305675194329742011-09-20T13:11:40.700-07:002011-09-20T13:11:40.700-07:00I just found this blog. It's amazing, thank yo...I just found this blog. It's amazing, thank you so much for writing it. I am just getting into prepping. My goal is to learn to can this year. <br /><br />I do want to say that I am a liberal but I do not think/believe that the government will always take care of me/us. I do believe, however, that we get the best results when we all work together. <br /><br />Thanks again for an awesome blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-77551353338952546442010-09-22T02:37:16.894-07:002010-09-22T02:37:16.894-07:00Patrice, if I might share a tidbit from my blog fo...Patrice, if I might share a tidbit from my blog for people who are on prescription medications and wondering how they can stock up...<br /><br /><a href="http://survivalprep.net/2010/03/27/stocking-up-on-medications-before-tshtf/" rel="nofollow">http://survivalprep.net/2010/03/27/stocking-up-on-medications-before-tshtf/</a><br /><br /><b>"I’m on an old-school antidepressant (nortriptylene) as a migraine preventive, which works rather well — I’ve been on it for about two years. I take 50 mg. at bedtime. My neurologist had originally written the prescription for up to 100 mg. Once I realized that 50 mg. was keeping my migraines in check, I kept getting refills on the same day each month and just put the new refills behind the older ones — first in, first out. At my six-month followup appointment, I told my doctor that 50 mg. was doing the trick but asked her if she could keep my prescription written for 100 mg. so that I could build up a surplus just in case of job loss or anything else, I told her. Since nortriptylene isn’t a controlled substance, she said she’d be willing to do that. I have 13 months worth of nortriptylene in my medicine cabinet at the moment."</b>Nickhttp://www.survivalprep.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-26241693237000632652010-08-24T07:14:11.364-07:002010-08-24T07:14:11.364-07:00I got to this blog of a link on Frugals and I'...I got to this blog of a link on Frugals and I've been reading and reading. Love it so far. Decided to comment here because I found that verse in Proverbs a week ago and couldn't stop smiling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-86595472885756564852010-08-10T09:07:29.535-07:002010-08-10T09:07:29.535-07:00Hey Everybody,
Just an update on the Bison well p...Hey Everybody,<br /><br />Just an update on the Bison well pump as described above. It took my two guys one hour to install (the directions were read days before so I'm talking actual DOING time). With our set up, it takes 9 pumping actions (strokes?) to fill a one gallon bucket. First I hung a bucket on the "nail" and pumped and filled that bucket with cold well water. Then I walked a few feet over to the garden and dumped it on a tomato plant. Then I got the garden hose and screwed it on to the end of the spigot. Had my son move the hose as needed because I wanted to pump. After 10 minutes in 95 degree heat, I was just starting to get tired and I said, "OK, lets change places and YOU pump"...my son said that I had already pumped enough to water 1/3 of the garden. I'm as pleased as can be! This has been a long time coming, and just like after the wood cook stove was installed, I feel a huge sense of relief.Save the Canning Jarsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-67040392298216520332010-08-08T20:57:53.440-07:002010-08-08T20:57:53.440-07:00Great thread. I like all the posts, and I'll b...Great thread. I like all the posts, and I'll be coming back to this one.<br /><br />I'm especially appreciative of Ray A's post. Good stuff, Ray. Thanks a bunch.<br /><br />And major congrats to StCJ on that hand pump! That's our major concern here. Although we're only a few hundred feet from a good clear river, it would still be a major challenge to get it safely up the hill to the house.<br /><br />I know someone who live off-grid for a long while, and being the resourceful lady she is, had the great idea of using an old water-bed mattress to haul water. It worked really well, and she was able to manage it without any help from her husband.<br /><br />I'm sure thankful for this forum and the opportunity it affords us to exchange our ideas and encouragement.<br /><br />Thanks and God bless you, Patrice and Don.<br /><br />A. McSpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-72075236489284692042010-08-08T14:38:24.361-07:002010-08-08T14:38:24.361-07:00To Ottar:
The retired registered nurse in me howl...To Ottar:<br /><br />The retired registered nurse in me howled with laughter at your phrase, "when the excreta hits the rotary oscillator". Thanks for a great laugh.Save the Canning Jarsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-64978507804890512432010-08-08T10:02:51.198-07:002010-08-08T10:02:51.198-07:00WOW. This makes me realize what a disruption like ...WOW. This makes me realize what a disruption like this would cause. There are more people in the area where I live then there were in the state of Kansas that I moved back here from. Yes I live near the edge of town, but there are few ways out of town in my knowledge bank. I see some journeys of exploration in my future. I also see some prep work so we have some hope of pulling through a disruption of a week or so. I have zero faith that the government is going to bail me out when the excreta hits the rotary oscillator I need to get my prepaedness level up. Y'all have been a great inspiration for my thoughts.<br />OttarOttarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10600961390142898645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-38860390458409244302010-08-08T09:00:32.462-07:002010-08-08T09:00:32.462-07:00My daughter read a post on-line explaining a good ...My daughter read a post on-line explaining a good way to store more toilet paper. Carefully take the cardboard out of the middle of the roll and put the rolls into a space saver bag (sold at WalMart and other places) and then vacuum out the air to compress the t.p. I have not tried this as I still have plenty of storage (for now). I thought it sounded like a neat idea!<br /><br />My second comment is about wheat. The price jumped $2/bushel yesterday in Okla., supposedly because of Russia's drought and fires and that they have stopped exporting wheat to other countries. The U.S. will be picking up some of the slack with more wheat leaving the nation, and you guessed it...prices are jumping. You will see it soon at the grocery store.<br /><br />So I called my wheat supplier (who sells Montana wheat) and was still able to get 50 lb. bags of hard white at $25/bag while her stock lasts. Next month when she orders, she says the prices will indeed rise. Stock up now.<br /><br />New topic...water well pump: We are on Lehman's email and about one month ago we got a notice of a one day sale of 10% off. I immediately thought about needing the Bison hand pump (made in Maine...stainless steal, won't freeze up, nice product). Whether it is purchased directly from the factory or through Lehman's, it is the same price, but with the one day sale, I could save big (like having a coupon for a well pump!). <br /><br />I phoned my hubby at work and wouldn't you know it, just the week before he had emailed the factory and found out exactly what parts we needed to do the job, (I was stunned) so we were ready to order from Lehman's when we saw that email. It pays to prepare, even if you are just gathering information because then you will be ready to act when a great deal presents itself. By the way, my guys are SUPPOSED to install it today!Save the Canning Jarsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-57626018856800337232010-08-07T19:18:54.109-07:002010-08-07T19:18:54.109-07:00night before last had me thinking too! we had a po...night before last had me thinking too! we had a power outage just as we were preparing supper...well, no sense wasting an opportunity to try something out...several yrs. ago i went junking around and checking out antique stores. i came home with a $20.00 curiosity...it is a bakepot made of cast iron and aluminum made in 1913 in new jersey...don"t know how it made its way to mississippi...anyway it is a cast iron ring that looks like a really big bunt pan with holes and there are four pans that fit inside it..two kidney shaped pans, one round biscuit/casserole type pan,and a pan that had six sections for eggs/cupcakes/muffins. then all is covered with this heavy castiron/alumclad lid that had vents in the knob on top. i cooked roast chicken, creamed corn,carrots and taters and in 15-20 min. everything was cooked (the chicken was already cooked-leftovers) to perfection. served up and eaten at a table lit with the lantern it was really nice. the point i am trying to make is many old things work just fine and that you don't have to spend alot of money getting ready for emergencies. mostly you just gotta have and exercise a little common sense. be prepared, don't panic, and get on with living the best you know how, but keep learning too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-65337130435560738232010-08-07T18:58:13.818-07:002010-08-07T18:58:13.818-07:00I think you're right on the money about no one...I think you're right on the money about no one really being prepared for a major bad event. I don't think we can really comprehend it and we can never be "ready enough". But, any state of readiness puts you in a much better position than you were with no preparation. It can truly be the difference between a serious inconvenience and a major disaster.Groundhoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11989539152338872547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-46372382687336486972010-08-07T18:52:33.115-07:002010-08-07T18:52:33.115-07:00Hey I am sorry but may I post another committ.
If ...Hey I am sorry but may I post another committ.<br />If we have at least 3 days notice, do all of<br />your laundry the last day. And then warsh out<br />your washing machine with bleach and water.<br />The bleach should kill all germs and take all<br />soap out of the inside. tnen put it through the<br />rinse cycle to get the bleach out. fill up the<br />machine again and you have alot of drinking water. if it doesn't come to pass you have some<br />warsh water again. Just add soap. But do not add the soap, if it looks like something may happen. Also i do clean out my toilet tanks once a week with bleach and the toilet brush,<br />if it is in a holder, gets bleached also once a<br />week.One cannot be to clean from the start if this is to last.<br />Blessings,<br />DebbyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-6152411748700229122010-08-07T18:31:11.797-07:002010-08-07T18:31:11.797-07:00Patrice -
"What if it had been a Class 1 sol...Patrice -<br /><br />"What if it had been a Class 1 solar flare capable of taking down the grid? Could we have gotten ready for it in a mere three days?"<br /><br />Maybe not, but you could do a lot. Your situation will not be the same as mine, but here is what I think I would do:<br /><br />1) Buy lots of wide aluminum foil.<br /><br />2) Fill all my vehicle gas tanks, and gas cans for my generator (a simple passive ignition portable model).<br /><br />3) Locate the gas siphon or buy a new one.<br /><br />4) Unplug everything electrical that does not absolutely need to be running. If it has a wire going into it, unplug the wire. This includes power lines, phone lines, cable TV lines, home network cables, audio & video cables, satellite dishes, and antennas of all sorts. I will probably wait until the last moment to unplug the refrigerator and deep freezer. If not opened they can hold the cold for many hours.<br /><br />5) Take the batteries out of all battery operated items including cell phones & portable radios.<br /><br />6) Get off the road and shut down car and truck engines. Electronics including those in cars and trucks have _much_ better odds of surviving if not running.<br /><br />7) Take stock of what are the very most critical of the now disconnected electronic/electrical items you own. Starting with those that would hurt the most to not have post solar flare, start wrapping them in aluminum foil, overlapping and folding the seams. Do _not_ wrap batteries in foil unless you first warp them in something insulating like plastic, paper or cardboard.<br /><br />8) Just before the flare is predicted to hit, shut off the main breaker or open the main power disconnect, and shut off all branch circuits. This will separate your house from the power grid, and protect things that can't be unplugged such as your furnace and air conditioning.<br /><br />9) After the event is supposed to be over, unwrap a battery powered radio, put batteries in it, and try to find news. If we are lucky it will have been the biggest non-event since Y2K, and you will be out a bit of time and the cost of some aluminum foil. If we are unlucky, you will have at least done a large amount to protect your family and property, and be one of the bright spots of hope and preparation from which society can start rebuilding.<br /><br />I was living in New York City during the great Northeast blackout of 1965. Most of the city lost power. The "Big Bertha" generator in Queens was not running when the blackout hit. The problem was it took electrical power to start the generators needed to make the emergency power to pump lubricant through the bearings of Big Bertha so it could safely be started. Because a power plant operator on Staten Island had disobeyed orders and taken his plant off grid when the blackout hit, he had power not that far away from Big Bertha in Queens. The electric company sent employees to manually switch power through switch points, and transmission lines and route power from the only operating plant to Big Bertha so it could be started. I have read that if that operator had not disobeyed orders it would have added days to the restoration of power.<br /><br />I suspect that in the event of a massive solar flare or EMP attack we will see something similar. Most of the power system may well go down, but not uniformly. There will be bright spots of power from which recovery can start.<br /><br />If I have any warning I (and now you) can do a lot to make my house one of the bright spots from which recovery can start.<br /><br />As Dr. Jerry Pournelle likes to say, "Despair is a sin." America has pulled through many things in the past, and I believe we can get through any rough times to come.Ray A. Rayburnhttp://www.soundfirst.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-73021893150133006212010-08-07T16:53:37.749-07:002010-08-07T16:53:37.749-07:00http://droptheshoe.blogspot.com/2009/12/unusual-pl...http://droptheshoe.blogspot.com/2009/12/unusual-places-to-shop.htmlLambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04083153173061255844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-34643339036267422482010-08-07T16:52:59.450-07:002010-08-07T16:52:59.450-07:00Great post!
I wrote a post on getting frugal in cl...Great post!<br />I wrote a post on getting frugal in clothing and fabric buys, I think that was in one of my early posts.<br />Found it!<br /> <br />Now...onto another strange place...check with companies in your area that rent out linens for events. Tablecloths in particular. Call a wedding planner and ask what company they use. You want the BIG tablecloths. They discard them after they get a stain or the edges fray or they get a hole in them. Frequently, they are 100% cotton, but since they have been washed so many times, the fabric will be pre-shrunk when you use it. Some use cotton-poly blends. Most take dye really well. They are perfect for curtains, quilting, I have even made skirts and dresses out of some. You can dye the fabric using various techniques...solid color, tie-dyed, batik, etc.<br />From way back in December of 2009, lol!<br />http://droptheshoe.blogspot.com/2009/12/unusual-places-to-shop.htmlLambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04083153173061255844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-63467084584004484162010-08-07T16:50:23.083-07:002010-08-07T16:50:23.083-07:00You've got it, Patrice. You've pegged libe...You've got it, Patrice. You've pegged liberals (progressives? Whatever) to a "tee." "Liberals tend to believe the government will always be there to take care of them." Irrational? Absolutely. Disagree? Deny? Argue? Always. You can point out all the common sense in the world to them and it goes right over their heads. There's just no talking sense to a liberal, because they are so brainwashed that they're convinced without a doubt that they are always right. The poor dears truly are, as veteran doctor and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Lyle Rossiter, Jr. has stated, "clinically insane."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com