It is important to keep Greenhouses at an reasonable temperature during the winter to keep plants safe. The sun is usually the biggest contributor to the process of heating a greenhouse but during the winter this not an option. It can also be very costly to pay for electricty to keep your plants warm. Thankfully passive solar heating is a cost effective option to keep the temperature where you … [Read more...]

The tools of our ancestors may make life easier, but they are often seen at garage sales. We often use other tools that are good for the job to perform the tasks that we need to accomplish, but life may have been simpler with old-fashioned tools.You can buy something like a dutch-oven that cooks your food outside and keeps the heat outside. Food mills, french presses, and pressure cookers would … [Read more...]

For those who want to preserve the ways of the past, including cooking methods used by our grandparents, drying or canning foods is a good option to preserve left-over foods from harvests. To dry plums, you will need either an oven or food dehydrator, plums, and an airtight container. Freestone plums have skins that peel away easier than some, and you will want to use plums with tight skin that … [Read more...]

Colds and flus were around long before the advent of antibiotics and other modern pharmaceutical options, which begs the question how did our ancestors cope without our modern treatment modalities. Oftentimes what would now be deemed alternative forms of medicine were in affect. One herb that was widely leaned on during cold and flu season was the elderberry. Studies show that the elderberry's … [Read more...]

In a survival situation, drink mixes can provide a lot of different benefits that can make a real difference to your health. They can provide caffeine, which can keep you alert and stave off caffeine withdrawal, as well as a good supplementary source of dietary fiber. They can also be a good source of concentrated calories and nutrition, and can help you have more energy while allowing your food … [Read more...]

Although prepping as a way of life is often associated with being ready for a world-rocking end-time event, that's really only part of the story. At it's core, prepping is a philosophy of independence and self-reliance. It's about taking pride in being able to provide for oneself and one's loved ones without leaning unduly on outer sources. This can be done in a variety of arenas. Preppers can … [Read more...]

Medicinal medicine isn't brand new. It's thousands of years old with many options. Dandelion roots can be consumed like coffee. Comfrey roots can be used as a salve. Burdock has many benefits for numerous ailments. Nettle can tend to an enlarged prostate. Poke helps to fight inflammation. Raspberry leafs can be used as a form of tea to help with infertility. Jewelweed combats skin conditions like … [Read more...]

While many people dream of moving off of the grid, many do not appreciate the need for a high level of technical proficiency if they will be using older alternative power equipment that may need considerable maintenance. Getting to know the neighbors is also important, as most off-the-gridders don’t have the resources to live in truly remote areas, and will have other people living nearby. … [Read more...]