Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil world) 2

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1504

Hagakure,
I know the feeling. I built a corn crib, and cut a couple cords of firewood once when I had pneumonia, eating antibiotics, but I wouldn't do it again. It has long term effects.
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Local fix-it guy..

mystiek

Patience, I just want to complement you on what all you are doing-I am learning so much from you about your approach between the wheat bread and soap making (I've been reading your posts on other threads too). I agree with you VERY MUCH with your approach to have developed skills that will help not just you but your children to survive 10-50 years from now. Its unreasonable to think one can "stockpile" for 50 years. Too bad you are not closer to my location-I am more of a visual learner and it would be so neat to watch you make wheat bread, soap, etc.
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Rev 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

Hagakure_Leofman

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1504

mystiek,

You might want to try a batch of pancakes using whole wheat flour. Buy some by Hogdon"s Mill (sp?) at the grocery if necessary. This will give you an idea how you might like the bread.

Just look up a scratch pancake recipe and substitute the flour, maybe use slightly less liquids, to get a suitable consistency, and throw in some pecan pieces. Get some real butter and maple syrup (we make imitation: 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup water, and a 1/2 teaspoon of artificial maple flavoring. Nuke it till it boils, or bring to a boil in a saucepan. Serve hot. It keeps for weeks in the fridge.) We made some today for breakfast. GOOD stuff. I'm not a cook, but I can operate a saucepan, a skillet, and a coffee pot. My wife and girls are the breadmakers, but I can get info when you want it.

I harvested about a cup of kale seeds today, from plants that wintered over and went to seed. We're putting more emphasis on saving seeds this year. Some of our daughter's favorite Brandywine tomatoes self-seeded and came back true to the original, so they'll be saving those seeds, too.
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Local fix-it guy..

FoolYap

"Found" (was told about) a place not two miles from the house that has pick-your own blueberries. Not exactly survival fare I know Rolling Eyes

but nice to have local sources of any kind of food these days.

Took advantage of a nice sunny day, to take a vacation day and went and picked 12 pounds of very nice, very large berries. They operate on the honor system there; no one monitoring, a scale, a spiral notebook to write down how many pounds you bought, and a Tupperware box to put your cash in. Was an enjoyable time picking, and was happy to plunk my $31.20 in, even if frozen berries are cheaper by the pound at the Giganto-Mart. Smile

Froze most of the berries, am going to make low-sugar jam with some of them, and pies & muffins with more.

Also ordered a Squeezo Deluxe (food strainer & extra screens) from the Frugal Squirrels:

More expensive than others I've seen, but: all-metal body, still made in the US. Going to try canning some tomato sauce when the tomatoes come in later this summer.

Pulled some weeds in the garden. Been getting drenched with rain here lately, so things have gotten a bit too happy. Much lusher & weedier than it was back at the start of the month, below. (The "fence" is just a visual barrier, to remind visitors when backing up their vehicles -- this is right in front of the house, with driveway off to the right of the photo.)

Not a big garden, and I want a bigger one, but will have my work cut out for me to carve out more space in this very rocky, mostly forested property. I don't have any illusions about being able to feed myself on the current small plot, but it's fresh food and an enjoyable hobby.

Cukes are small, but looks like it's going to be a heavy crop "set". I dug some new potatoes last weekend; still too small, but very tasty. Should be able to have green beans starting this weekend. Peas are nearly completely done; eating some stragglers out of hand, when weeding.

--Steve

Cloud9 · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 1025

I bought a Garretson try fuel conversion system for one of my generators. This unit bolts on to the end of a standard gas carburator and allows the user to burn gas, natural gas or propane. A neat little set up.

Ludi

Looks great FoolYap! All that beautiful green! Smile

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patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1504

Cloud9,

I wonder if that rig would work with "producer gas"? (wood gas).
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Local fix-it guy..

FoolYap

Cloud9 · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 1025

The kit I bought is supposed to work with both low pressure and high pressure gases. It has a machined spacer that goes between the air cleaner and the carburator. The high presssure line is controled with a regulator that looks just like the one I have on my gas grill. That feeds into what the company calls a KN regulator. It is a low pressure regulator. I just got the kit this evening so I have not had time to study the componants. It looks to me as though the KN regulator would feed most any kind of low pressure gasious fuel. Wood gas seems logical.

mystiek

Thanks patience, I bought some whole wheat flour and will give it a try. The only pancakes I've made have been Bisquick pancakes. I probably have a recipe from scratch in my cookbooks so I'll give that a try and the syrup too.
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Rev 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1504

Our older girl and her hubby are deep into developing their off grid home. He's currently working on winding a low speed alternator for a 10 ft. dia. windmill, and I made some parts for that yesterday.

Their 32 acres of mostly forest has a meadow that will convert to some garden next year, but at present, they are only growing fresh vegetable for table use. The house is super-insulated (6" styrofoam panel walls and 8" styrofoam ceiling construction panels), and takes near nothing to heat/cool. They have solar PV electric started, and more on site to be installed, using rebuilt forkift batteries for storage. We share the work and produce from our garden with them, and they have a pretty deep food storage already. They are both metalworkers with horse farming backgrounds, he has a forestry degree, and she has a degree in chemistry along with expertise in herbal medicine.

Currently, the stove and refrigerator run on LP gas. They are building a solar oven, and just started on solar window box space heaters. They have done some logging to clear areas for wind and solar paths. Fencing is under way, as they collect on traded labor with friends. Once the logging/clearing is done, a pond goes on the hillside. This adjoins a state forestry area, and other similiar homesteads, with large game populations. Today they work on the windmill and passive solar heater boxes. They are off to a good start. Gotta brag on my kids!
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Local fix-it guy..

Ludi

mulching and planting Smile

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mystiek

Come on down, folks! We'll squeeze you in somehow! (taken from another thread)
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Hi Ludi! I figured you were preparing for the peak oil party at your house!(ok, Ludi-just being silly-but if you do hold a party for peak oil-let us know!)
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Rev 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

Ludi

I would love to have a peak oil party at my house! Very Happy

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