Monday, April 11, 2016

Episode 55 The Hollywood Disasters Part 1



In this episode we talk about 2 of the disasters that Hollywood loves to portray. In this episode we talk about an asteroid strike and a massive super-volcano eruption. The reason I approached these two together is because their impact and the causes of their impact are so similar.  I hope you enjoy.

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Thursday, April 7, 2016

Episode 54 Training a New Shooter



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Teaching a Child the Proper Handling and Use of a Firearm

When teaching a child about firearms I believe it is best to introduce them to a BB gun.  I like so many more started with a Red Ryder BB gun made by Daisy. I am of the opinion that this is the best starting point for a young shooter. The child should be taught to always treat the gun as if it is loaded. The gun should never be pointed at anyone or anything that they shouldn't shoot. The child should also be taught how to care for their firearm. There isn't much to caring for this weapon, but we want to teach good habits from the beginning.

The first several months the child should always be under adult supervision, at least until they have proven to be responsible. The child cannot take their gun out without someone with them. They should never play war with a BB gun or airsoft

Airsoft can be an effective training tool. These can be purchased in many configurations and can actually be the true weight and design of several real firearms. This will help a shooter and will enable them to practice at home. Some older children use airsoft to play war. There isn't any real danger, but they do hurt when hit with one of these plastic bbs. 

After spending a significant period of time with either a bb gun or an airsoft a child can be introduced to a 22 long rifle, with strict adult supervision. I strongly advise that you either use a single shot or treat what you have as a single shot. This forces the new shooter to take their time with each shot. It is very easy to just keep shooting till you hit the can or make the target ping and feel like you have done something. I love reactive targets, but a reactive target, a new shooter, and a semi automatic wastes ammo and can create bad habits.

We cover a lot more in the podcast so check it out.

If you enjoy the show consider giving us a rating on the podcast directory of your choice.

Enter the Listener Appreciation  Contest.

You can like The Rural Economist on Facebook follow on The Rural Economist on Gplus. We now have a YouTube channel and we cover all sorts of things. Hop on over and check them out, oh and don't forget to subscribe. I have just joined Instagram if you would like you can follow us HERE. We will be sharing several things over the next year, I hope to see you there.


Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Homestead Blog Hop #77

Homestead Blog Hop will take place every Wednesday featuring real food recipes, natural health remedies, DIY, crafts, Gardening Tips, and more...

Welcome to the Homestead Blog Hop!

When life gets so heck-tick that you almost feel like you don't have time to breathe, it helps to force yourself to stop and look around at what others are doing. I always enjoy the hop because I get to share in other people's triumphs and trials. The hop is a way to remind myself that even though I may feel alone at times, there are others on the same journey. I hope you enjoy the hop.

Now on to the hop... Homestead Blog Hop will take place every Wednesday and is for all things homesteading: real food recipes, farm animals, crafts, DIY, how-to's, gardening, anything from-scratch, natural home/health, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, natural remedies, essential oils, & more! Basically anything related to homesteading.

Meet and Follow Your Hosts!

Homestead Blog Hop will take place every Wednesday featuring real food recipes, natural health remedies, DIY, crafts, Gardening Tips, and more... 
 Bonnie - The Not So Modern Housewife (Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter/G+) Gregg - The Rural Economist (Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter/G+/Instagram) Jenn - Little House on the 100 Farm (Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter/Instagram) Jennifer - Homesteading on Grace (Facebook/Pinterest/G+) Katey - Mama Kautz (Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter) Kelly - Simple Life Mom (Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter/G+)

Featured Posts from the Last Homestead Blog Hop

Each week we will choose three posts to feature. Each post will be shared on all social media platforms by all of the hosts! Here are the features from Last Week's Hop: How to Make Rose Hip Medicine - Featured on the Homestead Blog Hop
1. How to Make Rose Hip Medicine from Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth
Learning Your Grandparent's Skills - Featured on the Homestead Blog Hop
2. Learning Your Grandparent's Skills from Little House on the 100 Farm
Growing a Garden: Organic Pest Management - Featured on the Homestead Blog Hop
 3. Growing a Garden: Organic Pest Management from Flaws Forgiven
Congrats! Feel free to grab the featured on button for your post.
Just right click and 'save image as...'
Homestead Blog Hop every Wednesday featuring real food recipes, natural health remedies, DIY, crafts, Gardening Tips, and more...
Guidelines for this Get-Together:
  1. Click on the “Add your Link” Button below and add a great image of your project or recipe. Make sure you link to the page of your family friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
  2. Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
  3. Please link back to this post somehow (a text link is ok). This is one thing we look for when choosing who to feature. We will share on multiple social media if you are featured!
Let the Party Begin!
Homestead Blog Hop will take place every Wednesday featuring real food recipes, natural health remedies, DIY, crafts, Gardening Tips, and more...

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Episode 53 Building Community







You can subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher or iTunes

We really don't have a lot of notes on today's episode, but we are talking about the hows and whys of building community. Looking out for your neighbor is always a good idea. It allows for the development of mutual security and even trade. Community development is always worth wild and it doesn't matter if your are talking about a homestead or a prepper community. Most people will help their community, but they are much more likely to help those they know and get along with.
If you enjoy the show consider giving us a rating on the podcast directory of your choice.


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You can like The Rural Economist on Facebook follow on The Rural Economist on Gplus. We now have a YouTube channel and we cover all sorts of things. Hop on over and check them out, oh and don't forget to subscribe. I have just joined Instagram if you would like you can follow us HERE. We will be sharing several things over the next year, I hope to see you there.

Check out The Rural Economist on Pinterest

Friday, April 1, 2016

Episode 52 The Self Reliant Mind

You can subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher or iTunes
I try to be a student of human nature and I have found that homesteaders and preppers have some things in common. One of the things they have in common is the way they look at the world and what they do. We are going to dive into the thought processes of the homesteader and prepper. I hope you enjoy.

Internal Locus

I have found that most homesteaders and preppers have what is called an internal locus of control. This means that they believe they have the greater amount of control in their success. They don't look around for someone to fix their problems.

A person with an internal locus tends to apply themselves to their problems, have projects, and believe they should be able to enjoy the fruits of their own labor. The thought process tends to go beyond that, they want to be able to decide whom they will bless with their abundance. I want to be able to choose to whom I will give extra zucchini.

One reason I believe this is the case especially with homesteaders is because of their closeness to the land. They want to teach others and they take very little for granted.

We want to teach and share. We really want to empower people.

We Believe What We Do Matters.

This one is the one that I believe gives us hope. There are so many people that say and I guess believe that what they do doesn't matter.

Preppers demonstrate this belief of what they do matters every time they add to their food storage or increase their medical kit. With each new skill they are proclaiming that what they do matters.

This is just as much true for the homesteader and possibly even more so. The act of planting seeds, working in animal husbandry. Is a hope for the future. You don't plant a seed today and harvest tomorrow. You have to believe in the future in order to plant.

Responsibility

There are a lot of people that whenever something bad happens they just sit down and wait on someone else to rescue them. The world isn't fair, but if we want to make our world better, we have to do it. No one else is going to. The powers that be are really not interested in helping the individual. They are interested in advancing their power.

Are there times when you have to accept help? Absolutely. The way a person responds and acts after receiving help defines whether or not the person believes they are responsible. When they have to accept help, they do so with a thankful heart. Once a person has made it through a difficult situation, they look around and try to make a plan to help ensure that they will not be found in that situation in the future.

More Observant

I have talked about situational awareness in the past. You cannot be a prepper or homesteader and not be situationally aware. Noticing people while out in public or the health of your plants is an absolute must. If you are not paying attention in your garden, bad bugs can take over.
In permaculture there is a principle that states "Observe and interact".

We Take Action

There are lots of people that will see something that is going on and will not even try to do anything about it. You cannot be a prepper or homesteader and not take actions.

Looking to Be Good Stewards of Our Resources

Many people go through feast and famine cycles. This is especially true for homesteaders. During the summer and fall there is an abundance. If a homesteader doesn't learn to preserve that harvest, famine times will come soon. We store as much of the abundance as possible because we know winter is coming.

Preppers are extremely similar. They put up supplies when things are going good in anticipation of harder times. This is just smart. I am not talking about the end of the world, just hard times.

Conculusion

If you will think about it these behaviors set us apart from many. All of these behaviors are good. We shouldn't look down our nose at someone who has some of the same goals with different methods. What we do really does matter and how we look at the world helps us achieve our goals.

Bringing Rural Back

Enter the Listener Appreciation  Contest.

You can like The Rural Economist on Facebook follow on The Rural Economist on Gplus. We now have a YouTube channel and we cover all sorts of things. Hop on over and check them out, oh and don't forget to subscribe. I have just joined Instagram if you would like you can follow us HERE. We will be sharing several things over the next year, I hope to see you there.

Check out The Rural Economist on Pinterest