"I am sure you have heard of the egg carton, dryer lint and paraffin. "

This reminds me of when I told a group of otherwise intelligent people that the grey egg cartons were actually made from recycled dryer lint and  this is why I always buy eggs in those cartons instead of styrofoam!. They all believed me with one of them going on to pass along this tidbit to a group of 5th grade students!

The carton does more to hold the mixture till it dries than to contribute to the burn process.  Styrofoam would work but would not contribute to the burn and could give off toxic gasses...so use this one only in the great outdoors.  I like the handy individualization of the burning components.  When I would go out for a two day hike, I would take two or three of these to expedite the small campfire.

I wonder what is in our area that would work for this

Reeds, pussy-willow, weeping willow branches, cat-tails, grapevine, ferns, ivy, any thin new growth tree that is pliable.  If I remember correctly wheat and oat straw make good baskets, although it takes a bit of practice to get good at it. 

OK, I have a question

why would you carry this in your pack instead of a flare?

http://www.survivalkit.com/blog/make-pull-fuse-smoke-bomb/

Jan, I wouldn't!

wow, even if you live in a city this is a convenient way to store from rainwater

On the island of Bermuda every house is mandated by law to have a rain collection system.  In my early days in the navy, my ship pulled into Bermuda and we ran the evaps at 100% capacity to make water for the island.  Their only source of fresh water is from rain.

and yet in the US we have this? http://www.naturalnews.com/046359_oregon_rainwater_collection_big_g...

And I seem to remember that Colorado is also making it a crime to collect rainwater.

Hope not!

My in-laws place in Colo, has IIRC a 15,000 gallon cistern in the basement in addition to their well. That water is used for laundry, watering the lawn/garden and of course when the well runs dry (happened once in 50 years and why they installed it in the first place).  

What we had done to ours is similar to the news article but since the largest I could get in barrels was 200 gallons I put three together, daisy chained, in the front and rear of the house and the same for the "barn".  The water is for irrigation, the animals and the one at the rear of the house is hooked to ts own interior tap for shampooing of hair. 

Our well is electric feed (pump) but I had found an old metal standup pump (ca. 1920) and attached that as well so if the electricity should go out we can still get water.

We are going to be building an additional to the rear of thr house that requires a basement foundation and we are toying with the idea of putting in a cistern beneath the slab but as that's a few years away we can decide later.

Water isn't really a problem as there is a meandering [nearly] six acre stock pond on the proprty that is shared with my neighbour for his cattle.  At its deepest it's 22 feet so we could winter fish but we haven't ever done so.  When it was being dug out they encountered some very large glacier deposited boulders (house size) and just left them in place and dug around them.  We get our limits of ducks and geese every year.  The blighters parade through our yard and truck garden at their leisure and we usually have a few families nesting.  

There are some benefits of living 50km from the city.

This seems to be a good guide for who is doing what as far as our states are concerned.  Best I can tell it is all over the place!  Some states offer incentives to collect and use "grey water" while others will put you in jail for it.  One study shows 97% of rainwater in most states either evaporates or is used by plants.  Therefor it cannot really be "owned" by the state.

http://www.harvesth2o.com/statues_regulations.shtml

Let's face it: Local and state governments have jurisdiction over water resources and can legally preempt individual rights.  Well water, for example, is under government jurisdiction to protect the public, and there are many other examples of the governments control of natural resources to protect the public. When an individual ignores a city's legal right to collect runoff to provide water to the public, that individual better be prepared for the consequences.  If that individual objects to the city's enforcement of its legislatively granted rights, there are legal ways to approach the issue such as changing the state law or proving that the city is acting outside its authority.  In my home state of Oregon, irrigators must obtain state permission to remove water from rivers and streams to irrigate their crops, and the amount they can remove is limited so that each irrigator gets their fair share while at the same time ensuring that it doesn't harm the aquatic ecosystem.  It's like a logging company cutting down more trees than their permit allows or an angler taking more fish than his license allows.  Again, public need supersedes private need, and Medford's enforcement of its legal rights is far from "government intrusion".  PS:  I'm not a socialist.  I just believe in obeying the law, or if the law is stupid, trying to repeal it.

Stupid is as stupid does.

http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/dammed.asp

James, I read that and laughed until I had tears in my eyes.  I shared it out too.  Thought I would show you what the place looks like today

In Chicago, where I live, people are advised not to drink rain water, especially if it is run off from roofs, which is how most rain water is collected. It is considered too polluted for human consumption

In my professional opinion, if society breaks down and we are left to fend for ourselves then no one will be telling us what to do...what to drink or not drink.  I have in my bug out bag a "Life Straw".  http://www.amazon.com/LifeStraw-LSPHF017-Personal-Water-Filter/dp/B...  This is a great filter which can filter the nastiest water out there.  It was developed for children in Africa to access clean drinking water.  All they have to do is go down to the river and bend over and suck up some clean water.  Of course...the crocodiles and hippos may have something to do with this as well.  I believe it is good for several hundred gallons of water.

If you need a machete, Colonial Knife Corp. has a closeout special..  It is regularly $24.99 but while supplies last it is $7.00.  Here is the link.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=f2eafa9d7ab0b0ff0d3ba7a19&i...

That is a GREAT offer!

Indeed a fantastic price.  Does anyone know if it is 420 stainless or 1070 CS.

Tobias

It is 440 stainless steel.

http://www.colonialknifecorp.com/MacheteCowboyUp.htm

That's not bad.  I know a lot of people have issues with 440 or even 420 on a big blade like this but if the blade is thick enough and the machete is used correctly, its really pretty good.  I wouldn't use it for heavy duty chopping but for clearing brush that would be an ideal chopper!

Sorry, I followed the links and tried to order and it came up full price plus shipping.  Maybe ordering by phone would be different. 

I tried it just to see what would happen.  It came up full price for me too with no way to get the reduced price.  I would suggest calling them and telling them you want the $7 price.

James...

Check this site out.  This is a common brand of Machete widely used in Central and South America where machetes are like an extension of your arm.  This is a good quality machete:  http://www.survival-pax.com/Tramontina-22-Polymer-Handled-Machete.h...

In my professional opinion, Ontario makes the best machete and it is made in the "USA".  On their website it sells for about $30 but on ebay one seller has it at $22.95 with free shipping.  See this ebay advertisement:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ontario-CT1-12-Traditional-Cutlass-8295-/40...

All these guys do is machetes:

Machete Specialists (http://www.machetespecialists.com/)

Clint, Shlomo,

Thank you both for the information. The reason I was considering this purchase was that a friend of my ask about a machete a few days before the posting and at that price point I was going to buy it and give it to him. It however appears that this email campaign was not from the vendor, but someone who wished to amuse themselves.

Jim

Costa Rica Has Gotten All Of Its Electricity From Renewables For 75...BY KATIE VALENTINE 

Costa Rica got 100 percent of its electricity from renewables for 75 days straight this year, the state-run Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) announced this week.The Latin American country hasn’t had to use fossil fuels at all so far in 2015, due to heavy rains that have kept hydroelectric power plants going strong. Wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy have also helped power the country this year.“The year 2015 has been one of electricity totally friendly to the environment for Costa Rica,” ICE announced in a press release in Spanish this week.This reliance on renewables has prompted the country to lower electricity rates by 12 percent. ICE predicts that rates will continue to drop for Costa Rican customers in the second quarter of the year.In 2009, Costa Rica announced its goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2021. Already, Costa Rica gets about 88 percent of its total electricity from renewable sources. Hydroelectric plants supply the bulk of that electricity — 68 percent — while geothermal plants provide about 15 percent, wind power provides 5 percent, and solar and biomass also contribute slightly to the country’s energy mix.Costa Rica’s reliance on hydroelectricity makes it vulnerable to climate change, however. A drought or even a slight change in rainfall patterns could disrupt Costa Rica’s supply of hydro energy, and since climate change is likely to alter rainfall patterns — making the rainy season come early or late, for instance — hydroelectric power could be disrupted in the future.Last year, Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly approved a $958 million geothermal project. Read the article

I have a question, is this even practical? http://survivalblog.com/the-power-of-steam-part-1-by-a-y/

I can see the practical side of it but it seems rather dangerous unless you have an engineer in your survival group 

Jan, You may be interested in reading about the Stanley Motor Carriage Company.  Their automobiles were often referred to as "Stanley Steamers" and were indeed powered by steam.  They were expensive cars, I believe competing in price with the Cord.

Even today steam is used to generate electricity. 

And yes Jan, if one were to consider using steam to power mechanical devices or generate electricity, they would need a considerable amount of training.  The building of steam engines is not a DIY project.

James,

That is what I was thinking.  Yes it is a viable option and it has worked for a very long time to power items.  But even the simplest project I can find are not for someone that doesnt know a good deal about this type of power 

OK, so not too long ago we talked about the fact that some states WANT you to collect rain water and others send you to jail.  The FDA wants to regulate your back yard BBQ and now your soap???

Lawmakers want FDA to crack down on soap makers

People who are trying to do good for their families and the planet by living a simple life based on traditional skills are facing yet another assault. Artisanal soap makers say new regulations, proposed by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), will put them out of business. Many soap makers are rural “kitchen table” operations that rely on the income to fund their simple living lifestyle.  Some use milk from goats they raise and ingredients they harvest from the land.

The Handmade Cosmetic Alliance posted this form on its website that...

Read the article here

Yet another government intrusion.  There is nothing fine about Feinstein!

It's okay, Steve.  ISIS is composed of peace loving people trying to rid the world of infidels and war mongering Christians.  You need to relax and sip more kool-aid!

That's what the prez tells me just about every time he speaks.  Islam is a religion of peace and Christians have been killing in the name of Jesus for centuries! 

And while both comments are true -- to a point, the fact is, there are Muslims who corrupt the teachings of Mohammed and wage holy wars  in the name of Allah and Christianity is and always has been a religion of peace.

And despite what many politicians say  these people are just a much a part of Islam as the Westboro Baptist Church is to Christianity. 

The ranting of Westboro are largely kept in check by the saner voices within Christianity.   The sane voices within Islam need to speak up and start taking care of the insanity within their religion.

Unfortunately politicians and other narcissistic sociopaths love to use religion (any religion) to gain power and wage wars.  And you are not going to stop them from waging their war without recognizing them for what they are and if they are hi-jacking your religion, taking it back from them.  The bottom line, unfortunately is there are way too many Muslim leaders who flat out hate Jews and Christians and don't have a problem with groups like ISIS, as long as they aren't threatening their power.  Come to think of it there are plenty of non Muslims leaders who also hate Jews and Christians and feel about the same way.

https://www.facebook.com/DavidAvocadoWolfe/videos/10152649671531512/

with recent events, I was thinking about the first prepper

Good one Jan!

Wait for it.............................

EPA Grants Itself Power To Regulate Ponds, Ditches, Puddles

The EPA has released its Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule critics say would allow the agency to regulate waterways previously not under federal jurisdiction, including puddles, ditches and isolated wetlands.

Republicans, farmers and industrial groups have called the rule an EPA “power grab” because it extends the agency’s powers to new heights. Environmentalists and the Obama administration, however, argue the WOTUS rule is necessary for protecting water quality.

and on another front???  FL has made it illegal to live off grid.  Any perm structure MUST be hooked into the power grid

Jan said: "and on another front???  FL has made it illegal to live off grid.  Any perm structure MUST be hooked into the power grid"

Are boats and duck blinds permanent structures?  If you move the structure every three weeks, say an inch or two to the left or right is it really permanent.    And if the structure isn't hurricane proof is it really permanent?

Tiny House?

Another Case of State Hassle

Robin Speronis lives off the grid in Florida, completely independent of the city’s water and electric system. A few weeks ago, officials ruled her off-grid home illegal. Officials cited the International Property Maintenance Code, which mandates that homes be connected to an electricity grid and a running water source.

That’s like saying our dependency on corporations isn’t even a choice. The choice to live without most utilities has been ongoing for Robin, the self-sufficient woman has lived for more than a year and a half using solar energy, a propane camping stove and rain water.

Earlier this year, Texas state brought several SWAT teams to a sustainable community and threatened to shut it down. Each one of the community members were initially handcuffed at gunpoint. It was called “The Garden of Eden Community,” and was totally self sustainable. You can read more about that here.

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/03/09/florida-makes-off-gr...

The EPA needs more power.  The laws are largely in place to allow for all sorts of conservation measures, but with funding removed from the agency it has almost no enforcement authority.  Only with the capacity to enforce the laws can it be used as a power for good, because it's a good agency to have.  

Florida is all kinds of messed up, by the way, & it currently has one of the most extremist governers currently in office.  Rick Scott is not about the common man, in case you haven't noticed.

hmmmm, may have played a part in our exodus??

The EPA is an agency that is necessary in my opinion.  But it does seem they have gotten a little off track.  CA has been handing out rain barrels for a year, which is how it should be in a drought.  Other states are jailing folks for collecting it, I think this is a reach if not a blatant stretch of power

As with any government agency the EPA has good and bad qualities.  The biggest problem with federal agencies is its "one size fits all" policies,   i.e.  what is good for California may not be good for all of America and  what is good or necessary for New York City may be detrimental Nantucket.

As for for Florida, you can vote your governor out but with many federal agencies they are monoliths that cannot be moved and when they are allowed to write unchecked policies without the oversight of the people then tyranny is not far behind. 

Actually, as far as I recall the problem with the EPA has been that most of it's abilities have been undercut by gutting the funding that has only been rebuilt slowly.  This is an agency that is meant to ensure that companies comply with relatively lax (in my opinion) pollution standards.  Will there be problems?  Yes, of course, there always are, it's not going to be perfect.  But effectively removing enforcement authority gives the corporate sector carte blanche to pollute as much as is profitable.  Bad idea.  

Not dissimilar to removing regulations entirely & returning the the early 20th century, when no regulations meant 6 year olds were working in factories & women couldn't work if a company policy said that women belonged in the home.  Again, bad idea.

And Rick Scott seems to be one of those pushers for corporate deregulation.  Rick Scott is therefore also a bad idea.

Has anyone checked these out?

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/7877

I have it in my e library.

Do you agree?  I have the Becker BK-2 and I love it.

www.besthuntingknives.org/best-survival-knife/