Understanding Your Garden Soil Cycle

Everyone who has ever tried to grow anything knows that it all starts with the soil. Most people never really think about the soil cycle that happens yearly, let alone things you can do at certain times to help improve it. Adding fertilizer alone is just not enough! In this article, we will look at the different stages of your soil and things you can do during each stage so you can reap the rewards at harvest time!

The first thing to remember is that soil is a living thing that’s made by the death and decay of other things. Mother Nature is efficient and nothing goes to waste! This article is written with the newbie gardener in mind and I encourage comments from other veteran food gardeners out there in the comment section below!

Fresh Garden. It’s spring and you’ve worked all winter long to plan and build your garden. You’ve got fresh soil, bursting with nutrients, to plant your seeds and sprouts in. Everything is set and ready for your gardening dreams to become a reality and you dream of fresh veggies from your own private ‘Produce Section.’ You’ve got your things planted in pretty little rows and now work on tending them as they grow. Since the soil is fresh, there is no need to amend much of anything – unless you’re growing something with special nutrient needs.

While there are no beneficial bugs in purchased soil, it’s still packed full of nutrients that are slow releasing to help those fragile plants get a good start! It’s important to not add anything to new soil, fertilizer-wise. Too much nitrogen can ‘burn’ and kill off plants before they really get started. Things like sand or perlite for drainage is …

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Convert an Old Washing Machine Into a Water Powered Generator

I am so thankful I came across this video. He shows us how to take an old washing machine and turn it into a 600 watt water powered generator. This thing is so easy to do and costs so little to build, he runs his entire off the grid cabin in the woods with just one of these bad boys.

With this set up you will have a great deal of energy being produced you could run full appliances and get all your hot water needs. If you camp a lot or have a cabin near a running water source this could save you thousands of dollars in electricity bills and …

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Six Ways to Store Food Long Term

When preparing food for long-term storage, consider how much is required, how long it needs to last, its nutritional value, and the resources available for preparation. Depending on your goals, there is a long-term food storage method for you.

Freezing

• Depending on the emergency, freezing may be an acceptable option. Storage times vary depending on the type of item and its packaging, but meats can last up to two years when frozen properly. Blanch fruits and vegetables to halt quality-compromising enzymatic processes before freezing them. Most of the nutritional content remains stable when frozen items are stored in air-tight packaging.

Dehydrating

• Dehydrated items maintain much of their nutritional content. Herbs, which are both beneficial to health and flavorful, are good candidates for dehydration. Fruits and vegetables also store well when dried. Blanch vegetables and fruits first to extend their shelf life. You can use a dehydrator or your oven on low heat to dehydrate items.

• The key with dehydration is to ensure that all of the moisture has been removed. Food fresh off the dehydrator may still feel soft or moist. Follow instructions for each food, and take a sample off the dehydrator to cool for a minute or two in order to test its dryness. Dehydrated items should be stored in cool, dry, …

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This popular drink destroys your thyroid

Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, mainstream nutritional guidelines have instructed Americans to eat soy and drink soy milk. BUT soy milk is not a healthy choice. By drinking soy milk you are not doing yourself a favor, you are destroying your health. Please, take a look at these reasons why you should avoid soy milk.

TOP TEN REASONS TO AVOID SOY MILK 

1. Soybeans contain large quantities of natural toxins or “antinutrients”. Drinking just two glasses of soy milk daily can significantly alter a woman’s menstrual cycle.
2. Soy has been found to increase the body’s need for vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
3. Soybeans also contain haemagglutinin, a clot-promoting substance that causes your red blood cells to clump.
4. 99% of soy is genetically modified. It contains  one of  the highest contamination by pesticides of any of our foods.
5. Soybeans and soy products contain high levels of phytic acid, which inhibits assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc.
6. Soy foods contain high levels of toxic aluminum,which negatively effects the nervous system the kidneys and has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s.
7. Soy contains a compound resembling vitamin B12 that cannot be processed by your body. Thus, soy foods can  contribute to B12 deficiency.
8. Fragile soy proteins are exposed to high temperatures during processing in order …

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Multi-Purpose Survival Tool

Outdoor enthusiasts are always on the hunt for quality equipment and supplies. Of course, this also includes looking for the best tactical hatchet to suit your needs. However, there are a number of wonderful options out there, and there are a number of important points to consider before making any choices.

Realistic expectations and research will ensure that you make an informed decision. Remember that this is the kind of tool that needs to withstand a fair amount of punishment and it needs to last for a reasonable amount of time. The last thing you want is your axe letting you down halfway through your camping trip!

Why you need a hatchet

One of the first questions that people ask is why they need a tactical hatchet. There are so many other tools out there that it can make some wonder if an axe is really necessary. Different tools are used to perform different tasks and your regular axe is great for chopping wood and wood is essential for keeping that campfire going. Fires are not just for cooking. They are also for keeping warm, providing light, and they are great for social interaction.

Unfortunately, regular axes are also quite heavy which is never a good idea when you have several miles to cover on foot. Hatchets are scaled own axes, and you can use them with one hand alone. They are tough, compact, and lighter than a regular axe, and they will make your outdoor lifestyle that much easier. Apart from chopping wood, hatchets also offer various other benefits that will add to your outdoor experience.

Hatchet uses

There are a number of fantastic uses for a survival hatchet, the most obvious being wood chopping. However, it goes beyond simply splitting wood. You can also chop smaller branches that are perfect for getting your fire started. You can also chop down a tree, although this might not always be permitted or advisable.

Remember, when you cut wood for a fire, it’s always best to look for the driest wood you can find. Not only is dry wood easier to chop, but it also burns faster. Damp or wet wood can be used on a fire that’s already burning strong.

If you buy a hatchet with a hammer, you can use the hammer to secure tent pegs and perform other tasks. Just make sure you place the sheath on the blade so that you don’t accidentally cut your face in the process!

You can also use your hatchet to chop up any game that you need to clean and prepare for lunch or dinner. It’s excellent for tough jobs like separating the limbs from the body and removing the head.

Many people enjoy throwing axes as a kind of recreation. If you choose to do so, make sure that you follow all the right safety rules and don’t leave any room for error!

What to look for?

Shopping for a tactical axe can be overwhelming at first. There are so many choices out there that it’s easy to become a bit confused. It’s important to note that not all hatchets are made equal. Different types and makes offer different advantages and disadvantages.

1. A cheap one might save you money in the short-term, but it is bound to be dull out the box and difficult to sharpen, among other things.
2. If you’re not a fan of vibration when chopping or hammering, you should look for one with a wooden handle since they absorb more of the shock. Wooden hatchets can also be repaired if they become loose although some might argue that replacement is safer than repairs.
3. If you want to get the most out of it, look for one with a well-defined hammer on the opposite side to …

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Four Survival Uses for Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is a white or colorless soft solid derivable from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. The wax is solid at room temperature and begins to melt at around 99 °F (37° C). Its boiling point is plus or minus 698 °F.

The wax was first created in the 1850’s and it wasn’t long after that it began to replace tallow candles and whale oil as lighting for homes. People found that paraffin candles burned much more cleanly than tallow ones, and the wax was readily available and easy to work with. The most common applications for paraffin wax include lubrication, electrical insulation, and candle making.

Survival Uses

One of the properties of paraffin wax is its ability to absorb heat and then release that heat. Wax can be modified for use in building materials such as drywall. The drywall is infused with wax and during the heat of the day the wax absorbs the heat and expands, (wax expands as it is heated) and when night falls the wax cools, and then …

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Survives in a Urban Environment

Rudy Reyes, a recon marine demonstrates the skills needed to stay alive after Armageddon inside an urban environment.

Many preppers and survivalist focus on how to make it in the woods. While these are very important skills to learn, so is surviving in the city and learning how to maneuver in and out in a way you won’t get caught. It is very apparent in this video …

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Survival Groups

Your job as group leader is to bring out and to take advantage of the talents of others. You are not their mommy and daddy that stand ready to protect them from the harsh realities of a crisis. Your job is to keep the group operational and mission oriented. Your mission is to survive the crisis and the days after, and if so inclined help those less fortunate, and we do not mean less fortunate by choice but left helpless by circumstances out of their control. You will know the difference when you see it.

You should bring people together and this does not mean that you are all clones with the same thoughts, opinions, and ideas. You need talent, because you don’t know everything and if you do, then you are doomed to fail before you even get started. Embrace ideas, be willing to change and have the confidence to make a decision based on the facts and not on your ideology or long held beliefs. Times change quickly, and you have to change quickly as well sometimes or you are rolled over.

There are as many opinions on what you should carry as there are people that carry, but right now the only opinion that matters is yours. In an ideal world where money is no object and everyone is well trained and can pick up any firearm and be proficient with it, you have options. The reality of it all, however, is that most people that come to the group, come with limited training or none at all, and yet they own a handgun, and/or long gun. The fact that someone owns a firearm in no way indicates expertise with said gun. It is your job to find out, however.

Things that you need to consider include ammunition availability. You will not be able to run out and buy more Ammo so you will have to procure it elsewhere. Therefore, choosing the most common calibers will benefit you in the long run.

An alternative, of course, is to load your own ammo, but then you still need supplies that would be in short supply during a crisis. The group may have to share ammunition, so keep this in mind. The time for training and …

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Six Survival Uses for Your Belt

Belts have been in use since the Bronze Age according to historians, but it wasn’t until the 1920’s that belts became a common item used mainly to hold one’s trousers up. Belts, before pants had belt loops were mainly decorative in the civilian world and utilitarian in the military.

Soldiers had gear to carry and so a wide heavy belt was usually buckled around the waist so things could be attached to it such as sabers, daggers, money, water, and tobacco pouches along with rations in small leather sacks. In some militaries, a belt cinched tight around the waist gave a soldier a trimmer looking physique. A tightly cinched belt produced a puffed out chest and a trimmer looking waist, the perfect looking soldier.

Belts today still function as a fashion accessory and a belt can be used as a survival tool. Holsters for handguns, knives, axes, canteens full of water and magazine pouches can all be attached to a belt, but there are other uses as well.

1. Self defense

A belt wrapped around your closed fist can help protect your hands and fingers from cuts and to create greater impact against an assailant’s body. A heavy belt can also reduce bruising and broken hands/fingers caused by striking the head and/or face of an aggressor.

A belt swung with the belt buckle end toward someone can be used to strike at the face or body or used to distract an aggressor so you can escape. A sturdy belt can also be used to deflect baton blows by grasping each end of the belt and holding up so a club/baton hits the belt to help reduce or stop the impact.

2. Emergency First Aid

A belt can be used as a tourniquet, though, not ideal in some cases. Some belts can be drawn tight enough to stop or restrict the flow of blood, while others cannot, so consider this …

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2-Way Radios For Pre & Post SHTF

2-way radios (walkie-talkies) do not require a working infrastructure as do cell phones (antenna towers, network service providers, power-grid, a paid service plan). A set of 2-way radios “just works”.

The only thing a 2-way radio needs is a charged battery. 2-way radios may have their limits on how far they will transmit and receive, however there are some that are perfect for local communications while serving a wide variety of purposes.

We have been using GMRS 2-way radios here at the homestead for awhile now, and they’ve been great (The General Mobile Radio Service). Since it’s just Mrs. C and I, whenever either of us goes out somewhere on the property, we ALWAYS bring a 2-way radio. It’s not only convenient for normal comms, but you just ‘never know’ when an emergency situation may arise. I also always keep a set of handheld radios in the truck for ‘just in case’. Here’s a bit more about GMRS radios, a decent ‘base station’ concept (and base antenna), handhelds, and why I like GMRS for local general purpose comms.

CHOICES

There are several choices when it comes to choosing the best type of 2-way radio for local communications. In short, there’s MURS, FRS, GMRS, and CB radio. I’m not going to get too technical about it, but to put it simply…each of these types of radios operate on different frequency bands and each have their pros and cons. I feel that GMRS is the best for ‘local’ communications, especially given that these radios can operate up to 5 watts power.

“LOCAL”

What do I mean by “local”? I’m talking about a range within just several miles or less. Again without getting into potentially boring technical reasons (although I find it interesting ), there are many factors which affect range. GMRS is ‘line of sight’ (from one radio to the other) although it will transmit through forest, buildings, some terrain, etc.. to an extent depending on …

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