Foraging: It's More Than Just Berries

There have always been groups of people that have been considered a little on the weird side. Homesteaders and preppers are on this list right along with goths and punks. It is strange to think about it, but to the society at large,  preppers are as far out on the fringe as any group can be. There is a group however that even the majority of preppers and homesteaders consider to be "out there". What group could be so strange that the people who are considered strange avoid them? Foragers. I know this isn't true of all, but if you talk to 100 people about foraging, 75 to 80 will look at you like you have grown another head. The ones that do not automatically think you are nuts usually think some type of berries like blackberries, blueberries, and the like. Once you tell them there is a lot more to it a large portion of these folks get the look. Some even find the topic interesting, but say they could never do that. I have friends that say I am the only one they know that can graze like a cow. They are exaggerating but I love foraging.

Like so many things, my love of foraging started with my grandfather. We would be out hunting or fishing or whatever and he would see a plant and would pick it and say "Here boy eat this." I would and then he would tell me about the plant. I honestly thought everyone had this kind of childhood for a while, but then I realized that my grandfather had given me something very special. He had given me a thirst for knowledge and a love for nature and the outdoors.

What is Foraging?

Forage is one of those words that can either be a noun or a verb.  Foraging can be a noun or an adjective. When I looked for the dictionary definition I was surprised by something that was clearly stated on the first site I went to. It clearly said that some English speaking people would know this word.

According to Dictionary.com

noun

 

1. food for horses or cattle; fodder; provender.

2. the seeking or obtaining of such food.

3. the act of searching for provisions of any kind.

4. a raid.

 

verb (used without object), foraged, foraging.

 

5. to wander or go in search of provisions.

6. to search about; seek; rummage; hunt:

He went foraging in the attic for old mementos.

7. to make a raid.

 

verb (used with object), foraged, foraging.

 

8. to collect forage from; strip of supplies; plunder:

to forage the countryside.

9. to supply with forage.

10. to obtain by foraging.

This definition almost makes it look like foraging is just for animals and thieves.  Another site was even less flattering. It included most of the above and the following.

Forage - raid, pillage, plunder,  loot, or scavenge.

Wow, I would have never thought of the word forage being used in that way. If the right person saw that and was offended they would have to take that down. 

A Rural Economist Definition

Forage - The art or skill of being able to find food and/or medicine where there appears to be none, using of the natural resources for provision.   

Now I will admit that I love foraging. I mean that. There are few things in the world as satisfying as seeing something growing in the wild and being able to use a resource that others think is useless. 

History of Foraging

 

There is really no way to adequately cover the history of foraging in anything less than a massive textbook.

Foraging has been an active part of the human condition for as long as there have been humans and it doesn't matter what your thoughts are on creation. If you are an evolutionist, foraging should be obvious. If you believe in a Divine Creation as written of in the Bible, then the Garden of Eden would have been foraging at its best. 

There are still tribes of people in this world that primarily support themselves through the acts of hunting/gathering. Even after what we would now consider agriculture started, people didn't abandon foraging.  It did shift a little, but not much. When a person was walking through a field or the woods and they found something that was edible, especially if it tasted good, they harvested it, no question. Many plants were harvested and dried because of their ability to make other things taste better. We now call those seasonings or herbs. 

There have always been at least one person in a group of any size that has specialized in medicinal herbs. In Native American cultures these were called Medicine Men or even Shaman. In the European culture these people were called either physicians or apothecaries. 

Foraging was not abandoned by the majority of people until the last couple of generations. 

How to Learn Foraging

Foraging is not one of those things that you want to learn by trial and error. There are some plants that taste bad that are edible, willow comes to mind because it is very bitter, and there are plants that I have been told actually taste pretty good that will make you very sick or even kill you. I have often wondered how someone figured out how to prepare American Poke weed. In my imagination I see a conversation going something like this.

Friend:"Joe are you okay?"

Joe:"Yeah, I'm fine, just got really sick after I ate that plant."

Friend:"Well don't eat it anymore."

Joe:"I wonder if it would be okay after I cook it?"

Friend:"Joe, are you serious?"

Joe:"Yup."

It had to be something along those lines because pokeweed leaves can make you very sick, but they were a Depression mainstay for many in the Southeastern United States. Not only do you have to cook it by par boiling, but it is suggested that you do so twice and dispose of the water each time. So how would someone who is interested in learning do so?

 Get a Good Book

A good field guide is worth its weight in gold when it comes to foraging. You can start with a general foraging book. These will give you a lot of plants, some of which will be in your area and some will not. Things to look for are good quality pictures and a listing of toxic look a likes. If a book lacks either, find another book.

 

 

Find a Mentor

 

Even though about 75% of the people you run into will think foraging is weird that means about 25% don't and at least of few of those will have knowledge you don't. Thus far I have managed to find someone in every community that has some knowledge about foraging. I know this sounds too easy and just as it is written it kinda is. When you find someone who knows a thing or two about foraging ask them who they learned from. Sometimes they will be able to refer you to a mentor, sometimes they will be like I am and will have learned some from an ancestor and have self taught the rest, or you may find they taught themselves with a book. Either way it is always easier to learn when you have someone with you who is more experienced. But there are some guidelines that you should consider when choosing a mentor.

1. They should encourage you to bring your field guide with you.
2. They should be willing to answer questions.
3. They should eat everything they show you first.
4. They should be confident outside.

Join a Foraging Group

Foraging is actually as one article put it "on the cutting edge of modern culinary culture" needless to say foraging is suddenly back in style. Foraging groups are popping up around the world. Larger cities will be more likely to have a foraging group. I have even heard that there is an active foraging group in New York city. I hope they don't get caught eating plants in Central Park.




There is a lot to be said for being a part of a learning group. Someone may think of a question that you didn't, but as soon as you hear it, you really want to know the answer. There is safety in groups and more eyes means more success.

Watch Videos on Wild Edible and Medicinal plants

Not to toot my own horn, but as of now I have 18 videos each of which cover an edible or medicinal plant and have several more in the works, and I am not the only one. You can check out and subscribe to my Youtube channel HERE.  There are dozens of people out there that will help you learn. I personally like learning from videos, they give me a better understanding of the surrounding areas, what to look for, and even the textures of a plant than any book really can.

The Best Way is a Mixture

For anyone and everyone starting out I always suggest getting a book that is based on your area. When you take this in conjunction with videos, and either a foraging group or a mentor, it will make things so much easier.

One Word of Warning

I have had people ask where they could take a couple day course to become proficient at foraging and the answer is nowhere. If you find an instructor that tells you, you can effectively learn to forage in just a couple of days they are just out for your money and if you take their advice and actively start foraging you will get very sick or worse.

So get a friend and buy a book, watch some videos, find a mentor, or a combination and get out there and learn about all of the wonderful things that God has provided for us in nature.

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Life Lessons of Ants and Bees

Proverbs 6:6-8

6. Go to the ant, you lazy man! Observe its ways and become wise.

 7.  It has no commander, officer, or ruler,

 8.  but prepares its provisions in the summer and gathers its food in the harvest.

There are untold life lessons that are demonstrated around us daily. We could go our entire lives and never see them. In our modern world many of the lessons we should be learning are taught by creatures that in certain situations would be considered pests. Ants and bees are perfect examples.

If you have ever had the opportunity to watch ants or bees work you have to admit that they are amazing. The ant has been mentioned many times throughout history for it's industry or work ethic, no one who has ever watched ants work will deny that. What lessons can we see taught by these insects? We are going to go through a few. These are simply observations and human applications for these insects behavior.

All Ants and Bees Are Doers

There is no such thing as a lazy ant or bee. All of the members of the colony or hive are workers. Everyone has a job. There are workers, soldiers, and of course the queen. The queen isn't really a ruler though. For many species there are even different groups of workers. For ants there are foragers, gardeners, harvesters, nannies, and even more. The soldiers job is simple defense. Everyone works, everyone has a job, and everyone is important.

Be Courteous

While watching ants work you will notice that once a resource is found ants will go single file to that resource until it is exhausted. They will meet other ants coming back from the resource. Every time an ant meets another ant they stop very briefly. When they do this they are communicating. Ants lay down scent trails that communicate where resources and even where danger is, they even verify that they are members of the same colony.

The honeybee is similar but different. Scouts go out to find resources, when they come back they are greeted by the guards and workers. The guards verify that these scouts belong to this hive and the workers learn where the best pollen or nectar can be found. Communication is key to the survival of both of these insects. They are being courteous to each other because they are all on the same team and working toward a common goal, the survival of their colony. Always be courteous to other doers.

Don't Get Hung Up On One Way To Do Things

One thing about honeybees and ants as soon as something is used up they move on to something else. I know people who do everything the same way every day. There are some that are so programmed that they cannot deal with interruptions or changes of plan. I hate to say this, but there are some days that are just an adventure. It doesn't matter how much you plan, it will not work the way you want.

When I was in college, we had to read a book called Who Moved My Cheese? This is a fairly short book and really could have been shorter, but it does give an important message. Don't rely too much on the same way of doing things. I do suggest everyone read this little book, it will help you.

Prepare for the Future

Each and every member of the colony or hive is working on being prepared. They are gathering food, way more food than they need each day. They are building a deep pantry because tomorrow may storm and they will not be able to work outside. They are storing up as much as they can so their community will be able to make it through the hard times. 

Life Can Still Be Sweet

This lesson comes specifically from honeybees, but I think it applies. While you are working on providing not only your daily provision you are also laying up stores for the winter. When winter time comes you get to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Nothing is better than fresh honey.

Stay True To Family

Both ants and honeybees are just one really big family. Everyone is helping everyone. Competing for things with other families but doing so for the most part peaceably. Every member is important.

Thrive Where Ever You Are

One thing I have always respected about almost all insects, especially honeybees and ants. They make the best of where ever they are. Think about it. Honeybees will make a home in a hive that we provide, a hollowed out tree, the cleft of a rock, and even if you are far enough south just a covered branch of a tree. They improvise and make the best of what is available. The same can be said of ants. I am sure you have seen an ant bed that the entry point was in the crack of a slab of concrete. I am not saying that you shouldn't strive to achieve better. What I am saying is that you should be a good steward of where you are.

Defend Your Home With Zeal

What to know what pain is? Mess with a beehive or an ant mound. Every member of the family will rise to defend their home. Honeybees give their very lives in defense of their family. I will never understand why we, as supposed superior beings have such a hard time defending our families. I am not just talking about defending our families when they are in physical danger. I am talking about a whole lot more.

I am sure you know at least one person, probably several, that talk bad about their spouse out in public. There are people who are not a good husband or wife that is true, but some of these people berate their spouse even though they love them dearly. I believe that when you have chosen a spouse you are no longer two people, you have become one. Our job is to be encouraging and supportive as much as possible. When we need to give our spouse a reality check we should do it in private. This builds respect and respect is something we all need. 

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Getting a Child and Yourself Ready for College

Do you want to know how to make an otherwise youthful and energetic mom feel old? Have a child that is getting ready to go to college. That will do it every time.

There is a lot more to getting one of your children ready for college beside grades. There is the self reliance portion that cannot go  unattended. Not to mention the expense of anyone going to college. Today we are going to focus on the nuts and bolts of selecting the right college and how to pay for it.

Not Everyone Should Go to College

We have developed a mindset that unless someone goes to college they cannot be successful. This is not true. I believe that there are people who shouldn't go to college at all. Two of my sons are not interested in college. One tried college and didn't do well. His grades were fine, he just found out he wasn't that interested. Instead of being honest and telling his mom and I that he didn't want to be in college anymore, he kept going to the school, he just didn't go to class. It wasn't very long before his mom (my ex-wife) received a letter from the school telling her that he had been kicked out and he was going to have to pay back the grant he had received. Yup, he got a grant because of his mom and also my income. He wasn't interested in going part-time, now he is not in school and he is in debt.

For some reason we have come to the conclusion that everyone should go to college. If we were to accomplish this ludicrous goal, we would have no trades people. Having a degree doesn't teach you everything you need to know about anything. A degree is just a beginning. They teach the very basics of what you actually need to know.

I have found this to be true no matter the course of study. I have a degree in business management my wife has a degree in respiratory therapy. We have both found that the real learning doesn't begin to you get a job in your field. College teaches you the basics, that is all. After you get out of school it is up to you to learn the rest.

CEOs would be worthless without the carpenters, plumbers, and sales force. Every job is equally important, no matter what society says or thinks.

Apprenticeship Programs

When I was growing up apprenticeships were everywhere. Machinists, mechanics, plumbers, you name it. You could find someone who was willing to teach you a trade. Slowly all of that has gone away. My dad learned to be a machinist through on the job training and he worked on parts for the space shuttle. Gradually , companies started requiring formal training. There are becoming fewer and fewer options for learning something outside of the system.

I understand the argument given for this transition, that there should be standards that apply across the board. Part of this shift though is a desire for control by the education system.

Self Taught versus Instructor Lead

Now that I have you thoroughly convinced that I am against college all together, we are going to change gears just a little. I am a firm believer that any time a person can teach themselves something, they will have a better understanding of the concept. They may want or need someone more advanced to help with parts, but this is primarily, individual driven.

Lots of the things we take courses to learn could be done this way. My great grandfather was a self-educated doctor. You couldn't do this now because of the organizations and public perspectives. But this can still apply to several other job skills.

This idea should most certainly be applied to almost anything computer related. Anyone can pick up a book and begin learning a programming language. The more a person teaches themselves, the quicker a person will pick up on anything related.

A person should learn all they can about whatever they are interested in before they ever step foot in a classroom. They may find out they are not that interested or that they don't even need the class.

Put the Child in Charge

I kinda feel bad calling my youngest son a child. He is 18 after all, but he is still our child. When a family starts looking at college it is important to make the person that will be going to school, take the leadership role in finding the schools to talk to and learning about scholarships or student aide. They need to prove that they are ready to go to school. Far too many are pushed into college before they are ready. Most should take at least a year and work a job before going to school. This will give them tine to decide what they would like to study.

Our son knows that we will help him all we can. But he has to take the leadership role in finding funding options. He has talked to several schools and has even had interviews with a couple. We talk about each school, but he gets to decide which ones are still in consideration. I am thankful that he values our opinion and is glad that I do some extra research. Due to that alone he has taken some colleges off his list.

Funding

Funding is and is going to continue to be a major issue for everyone when it comes to going to school. For me when I achieved my associates degree I paid for it all, well kinda. The company I worked for at the time reimbursed 50% of all tuition and books as long as you received a grade of C or better. I saved up the money for the tuition my first semester and I actually held a yard sale that made enough to pay for my first set of books. Once I got through my first semester it became easier. I resold the books back and with the reimbursement I only had to add a little more each semester to get through school. I went to school during the day and worked full time at night. It was tough, but I got through. The government actually paid for me to get my bachelor's degree because my job was eliminated due to overseas competition. I guess that was their way of saying they were sorry for creating an atmosphere were companies were sending jobs to other countries.

When my wife was going to school, it was a different story. Her ex husband had left her and she was trying to find a way to support herself and her(our) children. She was able to get a grant and was working a low paying job, but in order to make ends meet she really had no choice but to take out student loans. We are still facing that challenge. 

We are going to talk about some of the ways to fund school.

Working Your Way Through

Working your way through school is tough. Trust me I know. Everyone I know who has worked their way through school has started at a community college. There is nothing wrong with a community college. I have found that a good community college offers just as high a quality education as many of the larger universities at a way lower price tag. If a person is careful they can  take only the classes that will transfer (if a 4 year degree or more is what they are shooting for). A person can take one class at a time if need be and still slowly peck away at their degree. 

Working your way through school has another huge benefit. A person really appreciates the education they receive and I believe applies themselves more if they are picking up the tab themselves. I am not saying that people who receive student aid do not apply themselves, my wife busted her but and did great. I am saying that I saw way too many young people whose parents were paying for their education that just played at school. Some of which dropped out because class was getting in the way of them partying. Even if they are not partying, some children just do not take school seriously if they don't have to pay for at least part of it. Remember the story of my son?

Scholarships

Scholarships are a great way to either pay for or help pay for school. I am going to talk about 2 different types of scholarships. Traditional and non traditional scholarships. 

Traditional Scholarships

Traditional scholarships are normally based on either extracurricular activities i.e. sports or academic excellence. I qualified for a scholarship for my bachelor's degree due to my grades at the community college level. This was granted in conjunction with the governmental help that I received due to my job being shipped to another country. There are scholarships for people on the math team as well as the football team. Tell your child to check with their high school counselor or go to the counselor at the college they are wanting to go to and ask about scholarship opportunities. You can find a list of these type of scholarships at www.mycollegeoptions.org. As your child is looking through the list, they will find that a lot of the scholarships listed only apply to certain schools and some apply only to certain majors, there is help out there. 

Non Traditional Scholarships

A lot of large organizations have scholarship opportunities as well. Lowe's Home Improvement offers a scholarship for children of employees. The American Kennel Club (AKC) offer scholarships the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) offer scholarships. Whatever your child or even you are interested in their may be a scholarship out there. Lots of civic organizations have scholarships. They are going to have to do some major digging, but it can be done.

Mini Scholarships

At first I thought about including this in non traditional, but that wouldn't be fair, when most people think about scholarships they are thinking about big money. There are tons, yes tons, of small scholarships out there. While studying for my associates degree I heard about a scholarship opportunity from a horseman's club. The scholarship was for $500.00. I know you may be thinking, "That isn't anything when it comes to an education" You cannot think that way. You have to think that every little bit helps. 

I won that scholarship. How did I do it? I had to write a paper on something to do with horsemanship or raising horses. I wrote my paper on pasture grasses. Yes, I said pasture grasses. I can still tell you all about endophyte infected fescue and how it can cause still births in horses. Hey, I learned something and I got some money that I could use for school. Remember I paid for my associates degree myself and $500 was awesome.

Grants

Grants are a little bit of a sticky subject with a lot of people. The government really doesn't have the money that they are giving away. They are just printing a lot of it and borrowing the rest, but here is the deal. If you or someone who is thinking about going to college refuses to take grant money that they could have gotten, it is not going to reduce the governments spending. They are just going to give that money to someone else, someone who may not use it as wisely as you or your child. Again remember the story of my oldest son. He used the money so unwisely that he now has to pay it back. 

Grants require the student to go to school at least half time. That means at least 6 credit hours per semester, normally two classes. Grants will also pay up to a certain dollar amount per semester. I many circumstances if a person qualifies for a grant their tuition and books will be completely covered by good ole Uncle Sam. I still suggest at the minimum a part time job for living expenses, but if someone qualifies, I would jump at it. The college counselor can assist with filling out the paperwork to see if a student qualifies.

Student Loans

Student loans are a subject that I would like everyone to approach with caution. Please know that a person cannot file bankruptcy  on student loan debt, in fact they can actually garnish your social security payments for student loans. The only way you can get rid of student loans is to pay them and a lot of student loans start accruing interest the moment you sign the paperwork. 

Student loan debt in the US is currently at 1.2 trillion dollars. There are situations were student loans are a must. Remember the story of my wife? She could not have made it without the aide of student loans. I will never begrudge her for taking them. She was doing all she could. Having said that, unless you are in a similar situation, avoid student loans as much as possible. I believe she would tell you the same thing. They feel like a blessing when you are in school, but it doesn't take long for that blessing to turn into a curse.

Research Majors and Minors

Okay, this one is another biggie. When I first went to college, I was studying electronics. It took me two semesters to realize that wasn't for me. I did well in the classes, but I just didn't fit. I know one man who has more college credits at the local community college than some of the instructors. He probably has a doctorate's degree worth of college credit from an associates degree level school. He completed I think 4 different associate's degrees. He is not using any of them. He is an extreme case, but he illustrates my point perfectly. 

It is very easy to get so far into a program that a person feels like they have to finish even if they hate what they are learning. Read, a lot. Encourage your child to find people that are in the field that they are thinking about going into. Have them ask questions about their job, maybe even have them interview people in the fields they think they would enjoy. The more information they have about any given field, the more likely they will make the right decision.

Don't Be a School Snob

It doesn't matter what school has your or your child's favorite sports team. The quality of education should come before that consideration. Look at every size school. Small and medium sized schools can do just as good a job and sometimes a better job than the large schools. Keep an open mind while looking at the facts.

Look at Accreditation. 

The course of study your child chooses will determine how important this point is. I could get my master's degree through several online universities, but if I want to work in any of the community colleges around here, where I get my degree from needs to be accredited by certain organizations. Every school has to list any and all accreditations. Look them up.

Be Supportive but Honest

A child going to school is a big deal. Not just for them, but for the parents as well. My wife does not want our son to go too far away for school. She is not just being the over protective mom either. That is part of it, but not all. He really is not ready for the full responsibility of making his own way. I have no doubt that he would learn it quickly, but if we can ease the transition we will. If he decided to go to a school across country and he was able to obtain funding, there is really nothing we could do to stop him. He is an adult, but he really wants and needs our assistance. 

He also values our opinion. The last school that tried to do a telephone interview didn't make it far. He told me that so and so school was going to call at 4:30 (our time). So I just hopped on the computer and looked up reviews for the school. They were not good. 5% career readiness. Ouch! I showed him everything I found and explained all of the different metrics. 4:30 came and went. No call. 5:30 the phone rings. After about a 3 minute conversation the lady asked to put us on hold while getting an admissions person. We agreed. We were put on hold 3 times only to be told that admissions interviews were running over and requesting another appointment to call back. I was not kind. That one is off the list.

I hope this helps you or someone you know in dealing with a child going to college. College can be a valuable asset for many people, but is not needed by all. I wish you all

Rural Dreams and Homestead Wishes

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The Homestead and Gardening Expo

I am just going to be covering my thoughts and observations on the recent Homestead and Gardening Expo that was held in Oxford, AL and hosted by The Southern Preppers. I only attended on Saturday, so keep that in mind.

I would consider this a fairly small event. The Oxford Civic Center is not a very large venue, but it was almost filled to capacity. The gymnasium portion was covered quite well with vendors. Two classrooms were running continuously. There were classes on several homestead and preparedness topics. I was only able to attend two classes, but I would have really liked to attend almost all of the classes that were offered.

The Classes

The two classes I attended were Go for Green Living and the suturing class by Armageddon medicine. I really wanted to be in the herbal medicine class, but I was talking to someone and lost track of time. There were lots of classes and had I had more time I would have attended as many as I could.

Both of the instructors knew their topic, the only thing I would suggest for the Go for Green Living guy is please have an outline in the future. I still learned things from him, but I was told that the class was going to be about greenhouses. He did mention greenhouses, but that is all. The best tip I got from this guy was for blossom end rot. Whenever you see blossom end rot ,crush some Tums into your watering can and water the plants. Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium. Great tip.

Armageddon Medicine hosted the suturing class. This was cool. I loved this class. I have taken a suturing class in the past, but this one was ran a lot better than the first. I really enjoyed adding this skill and am going to teach my entire family this skill as well. Will I ever use this skill? Don't know. Don't really care. I just like knowing that I know how to do this.

The Vendors

There were a good number of vendors. I am going to talk about the ones that I noticed most. Also I am giving my opinion only. Just because I do not think something is cost effective for me does not mean that it might not be good for you.

The Biggest Winners

Without any doubt there were a couple of big winners for me. 

White Harvest Seed Company. I love talking about seeds, gardens, and growing things. The folks with White Harvest were good down to earth people that I really enjoyed talking to. I found myself going to their booth just to hang out and talk. I am hoping to work with them in the future. Heirloom seeds are where the future of sustainability lives. Guys, if you read this I am very happy to have met you.

The Aquaponics guy. I really enjoyed looking at the aquaponics set up that they had at the event. Very informative presentation. This is something that I have thought about doing, but I am not real sure how I would add this to my homestead. You may be able to add this system more easily to your home.

The Southern Herbalist.  I had actually heard of Mr. Patton from several people. If you have followed my blog for any period of time you will know that foraging and herbal remedies are very high on my want to learn more about list. I consider myself an advanced beginner at a minimum. This guy though is a master. He had a tincture of American Pokeweed. I loved talking to him about all of the different tinctures and extracts that he had for sale. I am hoping to learn a lot from this man. Below is my video on American Pokeweed.

The Vendor That I had the Most Questions For

Without any doubt the vendor that I had the most questions for was the company that was selling the home freeze dry system. There is no doubt that freeze dried food tastes better than dehydrated food. The company is Harvest Right. The equipment is very impressive. I really like the idea, but with an entry price of $3900.00 the big question is, would it be cost effective for a family?  The answer is; it depends.

If you have lots of fruit or even a lot of leftovers, maybe. I would have dearly loved to have been the lucky person who won a freeze dryer. I can easily see an extended family or a close nit community taking advantage of this technology. 

There are lots of benefits of freeze drying, a 25+ year shelf life of your food is a big plus. The nutritional benefits are also a big plus. 

The unit plugs into a 110 outlet and it takes about a day to a day and a half to freeze dry the food (depending on what you have in there). This is an item that I am looking at in the long term. Is it right for me right now, no, but it could be in the future. I have included lots of pictures below.

The Biggest "You Have Got To Be Kidding Me"

Okay. This one is my opinion only. The item I am going to cover next is without a doubt the coolest product that was at the event, but it was in my opinion also the biggest overkill. The item I am talking about is the Bug-Out Survival Trailer.

I love the basic idea behind this trailer, what I do not like is the $19,000 price tag. This is a bug out camper on acid and is designed for the people who are worried about everything. Now first I am going to tell you everything I like about this trailer and there is a lot.

I love the energy system. This trailer was designed with self -sufficiency in mind. It includes propane, solar, and wind power generating capabilities. Not only that, but also has the traditional ability to charge the batteries from you vehicle or being plugged in. This was very well thought out, my hat is off to you on this.

The kitchen was very intelligently designed. I could cook almost anything with this kitchen. The trailer comes with built in water storage and even a water still. The shower and bathing facilities are more than adequate. 

The trailer will easily sleep, say three, without having to add the outside tent. If the outside tent is added and turned to sleeping quarters, I would say it would sleep 5 maybe 6. The salesman said 8, but in order for it to sleep 8 several would have to be small children. The upper sleeping quarters looked comfortable, but here is one major issue. No air conditioning or heat. Air Conditioning is not a necessity, but sure is nice especially here in the South where we can see near 100 degree days with very high humidity, heat on the other hand is a necessity. I know you can bundle up and cuddle, but adding heat would be a really good idea.

The storage of the trailer was well thought out. It even includes a gun safe. According to their website this trailer fully supplied will provide 30 days of self reliance for 2 people. I can believe it. If it had heat, I wouldn't mind having one for a hunting cabin.

The Overkill

Alright, here is where I am going to deviate from many. The entire electrical system is enclosed in a Faraday cage. I just do not think an EMP is very high on my worries list. Also the side door has what they call a grab and go area. This area is where the first aid kit is kept, great idea. It is also where the gas masks are kept. If you need gas masks you have not gotten far enough out of the big cities. In our situation, if we were to want gas masks we would basically have to fill the door up with nothing but masks, because if our whole family were together we would need 7 masks. I could not put myself in a situation where I had to decide which member of my family would have to do without a mask. 

Conclusion on the Trailer

Great idea, still needs some adjustment and cost is out there for most people. I would rather have a nice travel trailer. I can do most of the same things with it.

Ending Thoughts

I loved the Expo and plan on going again next year. I may try to attend all three days. It was well worth my time and effort. I strongly encourage you to find a homestead or preparedness show near you. Go and learn all you can. 

Preparedness Expos

Preper Shows

Or maybe come join me next September at the Homestead and Garden Expo hosted by www.thesouthernpreppers.com 

Learning will help you achieve your

Rural Dreams and Homestead Wishes

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Affiliate Link Disclosure: The post may contain affiliate links. I may receive compensation for links, endorsements, testimonials, or recommendations for any products mentioned on this blog. Any time you use one of our links for Amazon, if you purchase something The Rural Economist receives a small commission and it doesn't cost you any more. Even if you do not purchase the items I list. In this way you will help support us trying to teach people about self reliance and homesteading. Thanks for your consideration.

Opportunity Knocks

Have you ever been presented with an opportunity that you knew was a good idea? Even though you knew it was a good idea, did you still experience fear? Fear is a powerful and persistent thing for many people. For some fear can be paralyzing. For the most part I consider fear to be an enemy of progress and growth.

Are there times that fear is necessary?  Fear throws all of your senses into overdrive. If you see a car heading straight for you, fear can quicken your reaction time. In acute unexpected situations fear can be beneficial, but in my opinion that is about it. We are going to talk about a couple of opportunities that my family have and cover one of the ways I help make a decision when it seems tough.

I am not saying you should take every opportunity, even if it is a good one, it might not be good for you. I am saying that you should never make a decision based on fear unless an immediate action is required i.e. getting out of the way of a speeding car.

Opportunities do not have to be business or money related. I have had the opportunity to get 2 bushels of apples for free. Big opportunity.

Opportunities are all around us. Some are in your face and some you have to search for.

My family has two opportunities that have recently started to materialize. First, my wife has registered to become a CPR instructor. Second, my dad has been presented with the opportunity to grow pork for a regional restaurant chain.

Both of these opportunities have initial up front costs. Both have the ability to choose their own paycheck. Both have major responsibility and benefits.

CPR Instructor

My wife has talked about becoming a CPR Instructor since she was in the respiratory program in college. There is a little fear involved. In order to become an instructor you have to take an online course and find somewhere that has an instructor course. You cannot take the instructor course until after you have completed the online portion.

Once you have completed both the online training and the instructor class an instructor must watch you teach a course. This is the part that my wife is most concerned about. Sometimes she gets stage fright. I know she will do well. 

We will be buying a set of CPR mannequins and printing my wife some business cards. Once everything is complete my wife can start scheduling classes. She will be reaching out to people who have not been properly served.

I am so excited for her. I know she will be 

great. Look for more details coming soon.

The Pork Business

My dad has been working toward self reliance for a couple of years. He has been doing the truck farm thing and has done well, but it is a lot of work and not a big return. He never complained, but with the changing regulations he has found it more difficult.

How he landed the opportunity to produce pork for a growing restaurant chain, I don't know. What I do know is he is only going to use a portion of his land and the restaurant wants 10 hogs a month.

This will provide my dad with a much needed income stream while still allowing him flexibility to work toward a more self sustainable life. It is a big deal.

Evaluating an Opportunity

How have you evaluated an opportunity? Do you write out checklists, pros and cons, or just go with your gut feelings? Unless you just go with your gut feeling, in some way you think about the advantages and disadvantages of an opportunity. Some advantages as well as some disadvantages are more important than others. You cannot just make a list of pros and cons, count the number of items in each list and come up with an answer. A simple list doesn't take into consideration the gravity of each individual pro and con.

If you are looking into buying a new piece of property, there may be one or two things that if a property does not have them, even if the property is perfect in every other way you will pass on the purchase. Things that are that important are called deal breakers. They "weigh" more to you than all of the other things combined. This concept is called a weighted average.

Here is an example. We are going to look at the possibility of me starting wilderness survival classes. Something I have seriously thought about doing for some time. For this example I am going to rate each pro on a 10 point scale. 10 being critically important and 1 being a consideration, but not very important. Ready?

Pros: 

• Being my own boss again (8)
• Being able to work outside (7)
• Teaching something I love (10)
• The ability to set my own schedule (9)
• My children could participate if they chose (6)
• I could decide how much I wanted to earn and work toward that goal (4)
• Build local respect (4)
• Networking with people interested in the same type things as I (5)
• I will need an apprentice (5)

I could go on, but you get the point.

Cons:

• Liability insurance (9)
• Having to deal with difficult students (8)
• Working with a state run park (6)
• Communication challenges due to weather (4)
• Cost of equipment (6)
• Cost of operation (6)
• Dealing with state and local regulations (8)
• Being away from my family if they choose not to participate (7)
• I will need an apprentice (4)
• Dealing with attorneys for solid waiver. (7)
• Dealing with allergies of others (3)

Okay just looking at these two lists, to me it looks like it is almost dead even. But is it really? I have not done the math a head of time so we will find out together. There are 9 pros and 11 cons. If we simply count the pros versus cons, I will not look into teaching any farther. But is that wise?

Now to the math. If I add the ratings of the pros together the sum is 58 and the sum of the ratings of the cons is 68. Only 10 apart. If I stop there it looks like the math tells me not to teach these classes. However, if we take into consideration their weight it looks a little different. 58 divided by 9 gives us 6.44 and 69 divided by 11 gives us 6.18. Wow, that is pretty close, but by the math I should consider offering these classes. The difference of 0.33 or one third of a basis point is statistically significant. 

The numbers above may change as I do more research, but the fact that the pros have the upper hand in intensity has encouraged me to do just that. If the cons would have had the majority after the math that idea would have had to set for a while. 

Do I do this for every decision? Heck no! Somethings I just look and decide, others I consider more intently. I want you to have additional tools to help you decide when opportunities come your way. There are lots of different ways to weigh a decision.

Opportunities are all around you. Get out there and find one or more that will help you achieve your...

Rural Dreams and Homestead Wishes.

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Getting Prepared for Beginners #15 Skill Development (Home)

Special thanks to Brenda Barnes, Kathi Rodgers, and
Quinton Wojciechowski for providing photos for this post.

You may be thinking "Why is skill development important for a short term emergency?"  I actually hope you are not thinking that. If you are, just remember you will be asking help from people who are in the middle of the same emergency. I have been a member of a volunteer fire department. When the call comes out you really want to answer. But if something is going on at your house that needs your attention, you are not going to go. This is not being a poor first responder, this is being a responsible father or husband or mother or wife. You cannot expect someone to come to your aid if doing so will endanger themselves, their families, or their property.

Skill development is something you want to do in advance. You do not want to have to learn to run a chainsaw when the tree is already on your house. I know this seems like an extreme example, but it's not and you get the point.

So what skills should you learn? Oh I am so glad you asked.

First Aid and CPR

There is a valid argument to be made for every parent to know CPR. I am not going to cover this in depth. My wife is much more qualified than I and will be writing a full post in the near future. I am just going to share a story.

My grandfather was the fire chief at the local volunteer fire department. As a result every member of my family had a role in the department. My aunt and uncle were rapid responders. A rapid responder is kinda like a medic or advanced first aid person.

I don't remember how old I was but I do remember it was Father's Day. A call went out about a heart attack. We were all at my grandparents' and the address was only a couple miles away. We took off. When we arrived at the home a man was laying in the front yard. My aunt and uncle started CPR.  His adult children were standing around as my family tried to save their dad's life. He didn't make it. At the time I thought it awesome that these people needed my family to try to save theirs. Now I realize that if they had started CPR sooner they might have been able to save his life. Yes CPR IS VERY important.

If you would like to find out where you can become CPR certified you can search for classes HERE.

Building 

These skills are not as glamorous as first aid skills but are just as important and to be honest more likely to be needed.

Skills that at least one if not two people in your family should have include:

• Being able to shut off the utilities
• Being able to tarp a roof to prevent leaking and further damage to your home.
• Being able to board up windows.

We will cover each of these topics.

Electricity. You should at least know how to shut off the power. Depending on your service box you could have two different ways to shut off your power. The most common way to shut off the power is at the breaker box.

Inside the box you will see a large breaker. It will be by itself. Just switch it to off. That is it. Now doing this shuts off the power to the entire house. You can also shut off the power to certain sections of your house. Hopefully your breaker box is labeled. If it is you can just choose which circuits to shut off. If it is not labeled, no problem you can label it yourself.

If you have an older home you may have a fuse box instead of a breaker box. That is not really a problem. The concept is still the same. There will be a large double fuse by itself, either above or below it will be rows of small round fuses. The large fuse will have a handle on it. You will need to pull this fuse out in order to shut off the power to your entire home. To shut off power to individual circuits you will need to unscrew one of the smaller (normally glass) fuses. Just like in a breaker box each circuit should be labeled.

Reasons you might need to turn off the power include: Doing any work that involves an electric circuit. Damage to your home that might cause a short (one room damaged). Flooding of your home or a really bad leak (roof damage).

Water. Shutting off the water is pretty simple. You will have a water meter between your home and the main line. This will not apply if you are on well water or live in an apartment. If you are on well water I hope you are familiar with your system. If you are in an apartment there should be a maintenance person who is charged with this duty.

Your meter will be in a concrete or rubber box. Inside that box you will see the meter. The shutoff will be on the street side of that meter. It normally only takes a quarter turn clockwise to shut off the water. This cuts the water to the entire house. It is a good idea to have shutoff valves in every bathroom and each sink.

Here is the meter tool I mentioned in the video.

Natural Gas or Propane. If your home uses natural gas or propane every member of your family that is old enough to do so, should know how to shut off the gas. If your home is damaged this knowledge could keep a bad situation from turning into a true catastrophe. If something has happened which has caused a gas leak, the slightest spark could be devastating.

Shutting off the gas to your home is just as simple as shutting off the other utilities. Just a turn of a knob. If you do not think about it ahead of time you probably won't think about it when you need to. Being able to shut off gas lines is very important.

Most gas companies and even modern gas appliances have safety features that make gas leaks less likely, but this knowledge could be the difference between a bad situation and a total loss.

Boarding up Windows

By now you know me. I am not talking about protecting your home from zombies. I believe it is much more likely for a tree to knock a window out of your house. Once you remove the tree you will need to do something about that window. If you are rural and it is not during the blazing hot summer or hard cold winter you may be able to get away with just using plastic to prevent critters and weather from getting in your home. If you live in an area where looting is a possibility you will need to do something more substantial. Enter boarding up your windows.

There are several ways to board your windows.

The most common way is take boards or plywood and nail it up. Easy right? Also fairly easy to tear down if you have a pry bar.

There is another more secure way to board up a window, but it takes advanced planning and at least two people. Here are the steps and supplies needed. 

1. Cut treated plywood to at least 4 inches larger than window opening.
2. Cut a 2X4 at least 6 inches longer than the window is wide on the inside of the house.
3. Open window wide open and figure out where to drill a hole as close to the center of the plywood as possible. Hole will need to be about 3/8 of an inch.
4. Also drill a 3/8 hole in the center of the 2X4
5. You will need a 12 inch piece of all thread 2 nuts and 2 fender washers for each window.
6. One person holds the plywood in place and feeds the all thread through the hole with a fender washer and nut already started.
7. The person on the inside makes sure the all thread goes through the hole on the 2X4 places the washer on the all thread and then tightens the nut. 

I pulled this picture from Amazon, but you should be able to find this locally.

This will hold the plywood in place and will protect against most of the elements, but it is still not "zombie proof". It could be made so, but that would require tack welding, a cotter key and a drill press. If someone really wanted to get in all they would need would be a wrench, but if you had a tree come through a window, this would be the best way to keep the elements out of your home.

Tarping a Roof

Like so many things there is a couple of right ways and a ton of wrong ways to tarp a roof. The reason you would need to tarp a roof could be as simple as a few shingles have blown off and you are trying to prevent leaking that might occur or a whole section of shingles are missing and leaking will occur. Of course there is always the scenario where not only are shingles missing, but some of the decking of your roof is also gone. In the last two situations tarping your roof is a necessity. 

I know you could always call a carpenter or repair person, but remember when you need them in situations like this several others are calling them as well. You could be way down on the list. The longer you wait to put into place preventative measures the greater the likely damage to your home.

If done incorrectly tarping your roof can actually increase the damage caused. When you put a tarp on your roof you are trying to keep moisture from getting to your decking. If the tarp allows moisture to get to the decking it also interferes with your decking's ability to dry out. 

If at all possible the tarp should go across the ridge line of your roof. This helps prevent water from just running under the tarp. If you cannot have the tarp cross the ridge line of your roof you should use either a 1x2 or furring strip the hold the tarp as tight as possible then caulk the upper edge and the edge that is the direction where most of your weather comes from. Around here our strongest storms tend to come from the southwest. Ensure the tarp is as tight as possible and use either 1x2 or furring strips around the whole perimeter. The pictures below are of a tarp job done well.

Special thanks to Brenda Barnes for these photos.

Storm damage can happen to anyone at any time. Knowing these basic skills will help you protect your family and property.

I wish you all Rural Dreams and Homestead Wishes

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More Posts in this series:

#1 Why Prepare

#2 The Preparedness Mindset

#3 Priorities List

#4 Getting to My Family

#5 The Backpack

#6 Food Storage

#7 Basic Energy

#8 Water
#9 Security
#10 Medical
#11 Travel and Communications
#12 Fuel Storage
#13 Keep It Quiet aka OPSEC
#14 Building Community and Helping Others
#15 Skill Development (Home)
#16 Don't Fear the Reaper

#17 A Case for Long-Term Preparedness

Affiliate Link Disclosure: The post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation for links, endorsements, testimonials, or recommendations for any products mentioned on this blog. Any time you use one of our links for Amazon, if you purchase something The Rural Economist receives a small commission and it doesn't cost you any more. Even if you do not purchase the items I list. In this way you will help support us trying to teach people about self reliance and homesteading. Thanks for your consideration.