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

Hagakure_Leofman

"It is smarter for the marketer to sell the consumer a flashy trinket that will wear out and break quickly. It is even better for the product to be part of a continuously changing fashion market, where items in a nearly-new and good condition must be replaced in order to stay current with the latest product trend."

from wikipedia on comsumerism

I'd say if you can find anything provides a basic function, that is solidly built, take it. I think we all have to make the assumption that virtually all items we've been raised to buy, fit the model above. Our grandparents generation's wares are more desirable.

steam_cannon · Expert Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 2455 Location: MA

You're a strong cup of coffee Hagakure, well said. Very Happy

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1502

Hagakure,
An editorial in The Mother Earth News long ago challenged readers to look around at their own possessions and ask themselves if they had anything worthwhile. That is, things that could help meet their basic needs of food, water, energy, etc. If so, fine, but if not, you are dependent on a broken lifestyle model.

Brainwashing by marketers feeds the trashing of our resources. To quote my daughter, "We are parasites on the earth, and we are killing our host." Cheers!

camefromthecorn

I'm in the process of making spears, today i bought two more oak shafts. I've got enough steel bit n pieces to make the tips, now its just a matter of sharpening and shaping them.

In some of my earlier models i fixed big chopping knifes to the ends, a bit crude but they'll do the job.

I've also got these spear fishing guns that i want to convert into crossbows, they've got really good trigger latch systems but i can't figure out what to use for the front bracket and tension wire.
Any ideas would help.
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Hagakure_Leofman

Speaking of coffee Steam_Cannon, if you love coffee (and you appreciate the quality of old fashion design and make, find yourself one of these - an Atomic Coffee Machine! I've had one for years, and they are indestructible! Designed in the 1950, I've never had a better cup.

Interesting you say that Patience. Several years ago if I looked around at what I 'had', I'd say with certainty that I was dependant on a broken lifestyle model.

I made the decision to take up a custodianship of my grandfathers farm after he died. It took some time for the smoke to clear from my distorted way of thinking, so for the first 12 months of so, I looked around all of the old sheds and all I wanted to do was throw out all the 'stuff' that was there (really because I couldn't see its value). We're talking about all equipment, chains, saws, nuts and bolts, timber and other things my grandfather collected over the years and came to rely on to maintain the place.

I saw it as junk, and in my way of thinking at the time (which was still thoroughly 'city' in its stupidity) I wanted to clear it all out and buy a small amount of essential things I thought I need to look after the place. Fortunately, it proved on of those tasks left til last and since then my attitude has changed 180 degrees.

The more I learn, the more valuable this collection of 'stuff' is. There are all kinds of useful things in these sheds that I'll end up using. I don't think about constantly replacing everything as I did before. This philosophy actually extends to most things now. For example, I wouldn't buy clothing from the china-marts any longer, instead opting for opportunity stores with second hard clothing.

People throw out perfectly good things. The quality is better (as they are generally older clothes), and there is much more choice; you don't have to look like a fool (as the china-mart clothing is mostly terrible quality and design) just because you're on a budget.

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1502

Hagakure,
My parents and their family lived throught the 1930's in the US and the lessons they learned were so much a part of my growing up that I"ve held on to the lifestyle through 50 years of plenty. Soon to come to an end, it seems. Anyway, once learned, it won't go away. The whole of society around me has looked insane for a lot of my life. I'll survive what comes, but I have my doubts about the consumers out there.

My deep respect goes to people like you who have figured it out on their own, without benefit of teaching.

Hagakure_Leofman

Thank you Patience Smile

I've got plenty to learn from people like yourselves. This board is brilliant.

Blacksmith

Today I bought two Harris Tweed Jackets for $15 each could have bought more. The thrift store said I was the first person to purchase them in a long time. These are really good jackets not in style, but will last forever.
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Appuis ait fabrum esse suae quemque fortunae.
Alias Redneck

SpringCreekFarm · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 881

PeakOiler

The pic below shows three food processing items: a solar veggie dryer which is extremely easy to make. Just screw the wood together, attach screen to the bottom, add supporting eyescrews on the inside to support the glass with some strip insulation to seal the glass, and you have a veggie dryer. The glass rests upon the insulation and you just tilt the box over to remove the glass. I mainly have used it to dry basil and to dry unshelled pecans after I've washed them.

The next item is an antique meat grinder my grandparents used. It's over 50 years old and still works. My younger brother recently gave it to me. He never used it. I'll use it to chop up pecans.

The last item is one of those hand-cranked blenders.

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patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1502

PeakOiler,
Cool! Where in the world do you get a hand cranked blender???

PeakOiler · Last edited by PeakOiler on Sun Feb 24, 2008 3:31 pm; edited 1 time in total

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1502

Thanks Peak, Gotta have one of those.

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