So I just found out people have made comments to he blog and it never went anywhere. I had no idea.
We are starting a new blog and slowly moving things to the new sites one dedicated to the farm, growing, and Aquaponics, and the other to prepper stuff.
Www.wolfbeachfarms.com
https://suburbanpreppers.wordpress.com/
If you have comments ideas or suggestions go there.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Potatoes
So this is the first year either of us have ever grown potatoes. Have no idea why we haven’t until now, but just thought it was effort and trouble. That and potatoes are cheap.
We read about growing them in stacked tires. You lay one tire down. Put your seed potatoes in and cover. When the plants get 6” tall put another tire on and add more soil until plants are covered to the top with only the top of the last layer of growth exposed. Keep repeating until the tires are 4-5 tall. Each layer will sprout more potatoes in the new level. So each layer can have a couple of pounds of potatoes.
We started then and got about 2-3 tires tall then the plants died mid-summer from heat and drought. We didn’t water much in hopes to make plants stronger and reduce costs; we have city water, and hadn’t put in our rain collection systems yet.
So we let them sit until we started to cut down the remaining garden assuming our potato days were over. We still had two sweet potato plants and were still green so no big loss.
Once we moved the tires we found about 3 lbs of red, and Idaho potatoes in the dirt. We cooked them up and planted some of the potatoes we harvested that had already started to re-sprout. They are growing will and are not on level two.
Here is a picture of the sweet potatoes we got from TWO plants. Neither of us have ever cooked sweet potatoes, but that is some haul from only two plants. Next year we think we will plant 10 or so potato plots if not more. Trying to scope out more free tires. You would have thought the tire stores would just give them to you. No so. After visiting 4 different places, none would give them to me. And they have to PAY to get rid of them. More of our good ol’ government at work. Regulations prevent them for giving them to us I found out later. Back to good ol’ Craigslist and find me someone trying to get rid of them.
We read about growing them in stacked tires. You lay one tire down. Put your seed potatoes in and cover. When the plants get 6” tall put another tire on and add more soil until plants are covered to the top with only the top of the last layer of growth exposed. Keep repeating until the tires are 4-5 tall. Each layer will sprout more potatoes in the new level. So each layer can have a couple of pounds of potatoes.
We started then and got about 2-3 tires tall then the plants died mid-summer from heat and drought. We didn’t water much in hopes to make plants stronger and reduce costs; we have city water, and hadn’t put in our rain collection systems yet.
So we let them sit until we started to cut down the remaining garden assuming our potato days were over. We still had two sweet potato plants and were still green so no big loss.
Once we moved the tires we found about 3 lbs of red, and Idaho potatoes in the dirt. We cooked them up and planted some of the potatoes we harvested that had already started to re-sprout. They are growing will and are not on level two.
Here is a picture of the sweet potatoes we got from TWO plants. Neither of us have ever cooked sweet potatoes, but that is some haul from only two plants. Next year we think we will plant 10 or so potato plots if not more. Trying to scope out more free tires. You would have thought the tire stores would just give them to you. No so. After visiting 4 different places, none would give them to me. And they have to PAY to get rid of them. More of our good ol’ government at work. Regulations prevent them for giving them to us I found out later. Back to good ol’ Craigslist and find me someone trying to get rid of them.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Hillbilly wannabe
Just like being a prepper isn’t a bad thing being termed a redneck or hillbilly shouldn’t be either. Lets look at each of these and you tell me who is better off? The suburbanite cube dweller watching on demand real housewives while eating at Mcdonalds to keep the kids quiet. Or the true self sufficient country dweller working the farm, watching the sun go down, and telling to kids to play with dirt and a stick, and they are happy about it.
The Appalachian American, aka hillbilly, aka redneck are for the most part self-sufficient. Typically they will live out in the sticks away from cities and services cities provide (police, fire, medical), stores, grocery etc. You rely on your family and neighbors. If you need something you make it, fix it, grow it, harvest it, process it or do it yourself. If you don’t know how to do something you either ask family/neighbors for assistance who teach you to do it, because they sure as hell won’t do it for you, or you figure it out on your own. Redneck engineering? It may not be pretty, but it works, did the job it was intended to do, cost little to nothing, and did it on their own.
Most can hunt, fish, forage, or grow their own food.
Most live simple lives without the need of TV, electronic gadgets, or other means of entertainment, spending, or waste.
Most have knowledge passed down from generation to generation about healing, medicines, and cures for what ails them. They know what plants are good for what. They don’t have many of the issues a lot of us do because they don’t eat all the chemicals and crap that we do.
Almost none accept or want government handouts.
Security isn’t as much of an issue because 99% of the time they are armed, can shoot better than most trained individuals, and people generally know not to mess with them. Country justice is a pretty good deterrent. That and there isn’t much worth stealing to most modern criminals. Because they live in a close community, know their neighbors, and friends/family are all over where they live, chances are if something goes on, either you know who did it, or someone you know, and it will get back to you.
Your family, friends, and neighbors are there for you in your time of need, as you are there for them. If a storm knocks down a few trees across the road and takes out power, they will have it cleaned, power back on, and business as usually before the city dwellers can even coordinate because of the levels of government, permits, etc. who is doing what, who is responsible for what. It just gets done.
You use the barter system and there is a code/honor system. You trust and respect each other.
If the entire financial/economic system collapsed tomorrow would it affect them? Probably not, just no more taxes on their land. So they just may benefit from it.
Pandemic, many are so isolated may not even reach them.
No water, most drink from wells, ponds, creeks, streams or rivers anyway. They grew up on this water, and are immune to anything living or present in the water.
Terrorist attack, too far and few between targets in the country. Not an issue. Most would look sideways at someone not from the area, and if the individual was viewed as a treat, would be dealt with. No tribunals, no asylum, no apologies for offending their country. Come to my home to do me and mine harm, and well al-Qaida we got a gravel pit/mine shaft with your name on it.
Food sources wiped out? Usually stocked up, and if not, can hunt, gather grow their own. (Book title same name by Jason Akers, Hunt Gather Grow, not calling Jason a hillibilly in a derogatory way)
No power, no worries, most do with little to no power to start.
OMG the internet is down….Most don’t even use it today, and in some cases even know what it is.
Look at you own lives, and could you do all that they do? Do you have the community, the know how? I cannot, but I wish I could, and am trying to educate myself to have a simpler life, a more self-reliant life, a more prepared life. I even say a better life. Would I give up the city, cube, stressed out life to live out in the country with good neighbors, friends and family. You bet.
So maybe before so many use redneck, hillbilly or other term in a derogatory way or look down our noses at them, we should look up to them as how really knows how to survive adversity and disasters.
The Appalachian American, aka hillbilly, aka redneck are for the most part self-sufficient. Typically they will live out in the sticks away from cities and services cities provide (police, fire, medical), stores, grocery etc. You rely on your family and neighbors. If you need something you make it, fix it, grow it, harvest it, process it or do it yourself. If you don’t know how to do something you either ask family/neighbors for assistance who teach you to do it, because they sure as hell won’t do it for you, or you figure it out on your own. Redneck engineering? It may not be pretty, but it works, did the job it was intended to do, cost little to nothing, and did it on their own.
Most can hunt, fish, forage, or grow their own food.
Most live simple lives without the need of TV, electronic gadgets, or other means of entertainment, spending, or waste.
Most have knowledge passed down from generation to generation about healing, medicines, and cures for what ails them. They know what plants are good for what. They don’t have many of the issues a lot of us do because they don’t eat all the chemicals and crap that we do.
Almost none accept or want government handouts.
Security isn’t as much of an issue because 99% of the time they are armed, can shoot better than most trained individuals, and people generally know not to mess with them. Country justice is a pretty good deterrent. That and there isn’t much worth stealing to most modern criminals. Because they live in a close community, know their neighbors, and friends/family are all over where they live, chances are if something goes on, either you know who did it, or someone you know, and it will get back to you.
Your family, friends, and neighbors are there for you in your time of need, as you are there for them. If a storm knocks down a few trees across the road and takes out power, they will have it cleaned, power back on, and business as usually before the city dwellers can even coordinate because of the levels of government, permits, etc. who is doing what, who is responsible for what. It just gets done.
You use the barter system and there is a code/honor system. You trust and respect each other.
If the entire financial/economic system collapsed tomorrow would it affect them? Probably not, just no more taxes on their land. So they just may benefit from it.
Pandemic, many are so isolated may not even reach them.
No water, most drink from wells, ponds, creeks, streams or rivers anyway. They grew up on this water, and are immune to anything living or present in the water.
Terrorist attack, too far and few between targets in the country. Not an issue. Most would look sideways at someone not from the area, and if the individual was viewed as a treat, would be dealt with. No tribunals, no asylum, no apologies for offending their country. Come to my home to do me and mine harm, and well al-Qaida we got a gravel pit/mine shaft with your name on it.
Food sources wiped out? Usually stocked up, and if not, can hunt, gather grow their own. (Book title same name by Jason Akers, Hunt Gather Grow, not calling Jason a hillibilly in a derogatory way)
No power, no worries, most do with little to no power to start.
OMG the internet is down….Most don’t even use it today, and in some cases even know what it is.
Look at you own lives, and could you do all that they do? Do you have the community, the know how? I cannot, but I wish I could, and am trying to educate myself to have a simpler life, a more self-reliant life, a more prepared life. I even say a better life. Would I give up the city, cube, stressed out life to live out in the country with good neighbors, friends and family. You bet.
So maybe before so many use redneck, hillbilly or other term in a derogatory way or look down our noses at them, we should look up to them as how really knows how to survive adversity and disasters.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
I'll take a Jack and...
Written by Rick aka DH
So no this is not about Jack Daniels or any other type of alcohol. This is about Jack Spirko from The Survival Podcast (TSP). While getting ready for my job this morning for some reason I got a quote stuck in my head. I originally heard it in the movie Pulp Fiction. I used to just think it was interesting from the movie, but it was originally from the Bible. I am not a religious person, do not claim to be, and do not aim to offend others by this post. Here is the quote.
Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."
I really thought about this and for some reason (maybe lack of sleep, maybe new found purpose) and probably because I have been listening to TSP from episode one again for about 12 hrs a day while in my cube and is just in the background. Here is what I got out of it today.
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.” This is you surrounded by government, government policies, big corporations, and the millions of grasshoppers out there living on the handouts, welfare, credit cards etc. These are the people dragging down the country today and leaches and parasites of the country who feed on those that pay taxes and actually work for a living. This is you trying to live a better life, help others, and doing the right thing.
“Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness.” This is Jack, through the podcast, the forum, and the TSP community. Educating and leading others out of the dark of their ignorance of what all was going on. He, the community, and the forum do this without expecting anything in return. The Valley of darkness if what this country has become and the tough times that are approaching. More on what Jack and TSP has done for me and my family later.
“For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children.” Jack and the TSP community are all looking out for each other like family and constantly on the lookout for those lost in the darkness leading them to the light. I was lost, in debt, unprepared, unaware of my surroundings, unaware of what my government was doing. I was a grasshopper, I was a sheep.
“And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.” When one of us is done wrong by government, a right violated, yet another tax, a restriction placed, we all rally around the camp fire, gather strength, and we defend our rights. This may come in the form of a call campaign, e-mail, or just letting us all know either from the podcast, the forum, our blogs, or news media. We (the community) have now gained enough mass that it is no longer one or two voices, it is a crown of 50,000 or more as far as I can tell, and growing daily as more lost children are found.
“And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you." I mean no disrespect here to the religious people, but I took this as “You will know we are The People when we stand up and oppose you”. Others may see this as God, or whichever higher power you believe, is using you, Jack, etc. as an instrument of their will.
What has Jack and the TSP (referring to the TSP community and forum) done for me….
Without Jack and the TSP I would still be living as a grasshopper. I would still believe in debt, credit cards, and the belief that the government would save us no matter what.
Without Jack and the TSP I would have not started a blog, reaching out to other people and helping enlighten them. If I enlighten 3 people and each of them spread to three people. Now multiply this by 100, or 1000. How many more will wake up.
Without Jack and the TSP I would not be on my way to starting my own business and stop being one of the sheep in the cube farm working just to pay for the stuff I have. I would not have thought that I am more than a 9-5 button pusher in a cubicle.
Without Jack and the TSP I would have not found a community and family where I feel I belong. No judging, no assumptions, no guilt. Only support and help. You post something to the community and people you have never met, may never meet other than in cyberspace reach out offering to help, advice, information, understanding, and compassion.
Without Jack and the TSP I would be so far less educated than I was before. I have gained more REAL education here than any time spent at a university. Real life education and knowledge and it didn’t cost me a thing. Theoretical Physics or English Lit has no applications in much of my life today. But how to plant a garden, how to make my own food, how to power my own house I can use EVERY day.
Without Jack and the TSP I wouldn’t have my expanded my garden, build my aquaponics greenhouse, discovered permaculture, realized I could have back yard chickens in city limits, medicinal herbs, essential oils, and the list could go on.
Without Jack and the TSP I wouldn’t be heavily involved in my own prepper community, found my prepper store, ISD, or teach free classes to others on things I have learned. These classes have gotten me more friends, community involvement, sense of belonging, and pride in educating others on what I have learned.
Without Jack and the TSP I wouldn’t have built stronger bonds with my family as we all work to common goals of being more prepared. Relying on these bonds and preparations such that if something happens, we can rely on each other and our preparations to get us through just about anything.
Without Jack and the TSP I wouldn’t have applied, and gotten my LTCH (License to Carry a Handgun), and OC (open carry) regularly. Not to intimidate, not to make a spectacle or cause trouble, but to reach other people. To spark a conversation, and help educate others. Many in our area don’t know the rights, laws, or regulations. This led me to start a free class for “Intro to Firearms” to educate others. While it may not get them to carry or even become a gun owner, they are now educated, and more than likely will help oppose future attempts at firearm restrictions, or at the minimum, will not join the fight to further regulate.
Without Jack and the TSP I would still be a grasshopper, a sheep, an ignorant blip droning through the days, oblivious to what is around me.
This could go on, but this is just since January 2012. I wish I would have found it sooner, but making up for lost time and listening to back episodes. Of all the podcasts I am aware of TSP is the highest count number at 1000+.
So Thanks Jack and the TSP community. If you are already involved in TSP thanks, if you haven’t been yet, helpfully this will encourage you to do so.
www.thesurvivalpodcast.com
grasshopper = someone who is unaware, hasn't awakened yet. based on the fable the ant and the grasshopper.
Sheep = those that follow without question or understanding
TSP = The Survival Podcast
ISD = Indiana Self Defense (my local prepper store)
OC = Open Cary of firearms
CC = Concealed Carry of firearms
DH = Dear Husband
Ass Clowns = government in general who do dumb things
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
299 Days & Glen Tate II
So I managed to connect with the author of 299 Days, Glen Tate. He is giving Indiana Self Defense free bookmarks to hand out at the store. I am very grateful to him for this and we will be handing them out with every purchase. This is something you cannot buy or get anywhere that I am currently aware of. Thanks Glen and Prepper Press. Hopefully they will arrive for our next class at the store.
I have finished both books and am eagerly awaiting book 3 and 4 supposed to be out mid November. I am totally hooked. The whole family is, even the 10 year old loves the books.
These books made me think of things in a new light. I thought we were better prepared than most but showed me things I had not yet realized. It also made me start paying attention to the economics and financial situation around me. I went to the grocery store tonight (we only go once a month or longer and usually buy at restaurants supply in bulk) and realized how much food prices have gone up and continue to go up. I find myself saying literally out loud "I am not paying that much". Times are changing and I feel it is going to get worse.
I also think the book is good to have people read who are not all into the prepper world. I think it may open their eyes just ever so much. I think they are enlightening so much so I am putting the book and a reference into the free classes I give at ISD for "intro to prepping" and "getting your spouse or family on board". If you have read or checked the books out please do so.
I have finished both books and am eagerly awaiting book 3 and 4 supposed to be out mid November. I am totally hooked. The whole family is, even the 10 year old loves the books.
These books made me think of things in a new light. I thought we were better prepared than most but showed me things I had not yet realized. It also made me start paying attention to the economics and financial situation around me. I went to the grocery store tonight (we only go once a month or longer and usually buy at restaurants supply in bulk) and realized how much food prices have gone up and continue to go up. I find myself saying literally out loud "I am not paying that much". Times are changing and I feel it is going to get worse.
I also think the book is good to have people read who are not all into the prepper world. I think it may open their eyes just ever so much. I think they are enlightening so much so I am putting the book and a reference into the free classes I give at ISD for "intro to prepping" and "getting your spouse or family on board". If you have read or checked the books out please do so.
HS432
All, if you want a free education in permaculture type in the above into iTunes university. 36 hour university course lecture on permaculture. I have watched it once and will watch it again because there is a ton if info and I didn't get some of the concepts until later in the course. Short as posted from phone. Sorry no links.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Power out...
So, big storm the other night and wind took out power. No worries. We cooked out on the grill. Home made pasta, with garlic, shrimp, butter sauce made on the grill. All the other neighbors forked out cash to go out to eat. Grasshoppers.... The ants had two tanks of gas, ate by oil lamp, and had a nice meal.
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