Permies Wiki

Permies Wiki - - Permaculture Reference Section: Permaculture is a design system for efficient use of resources. It is most often used in creating sustainable agriculture and gardens, but its principles are applicable everywhere. This wiki concentrates its efforts on efficient gardening and self sufficiency systems.

Another wonderful resource brought to you by Paul Wheaton, the permaculture guy.

FEMA Library - Building Your Safe Room

FEMA Library - Building Your Safe Room: This poster provides information on safe room design. A safe room is a shelter that can be used in the event of severe winds that can cause damage to property and people. Three different cross-section layouts of safe rooms are shown, and the reader is directed to FEMA publications that explain safe room design in further detail. This poster is available in 2 versions - "original" and "economy". The "economy" version was created to minimize ink usage during in-house printing. The poster is also available as a 8.5x11 handout.

Peace on Earth, now buy a gun

Peace on Earth, now buy a gun: FBI background checks for that day smashed all previous one-day sales by 32 percent. Background checks totaled 129,166 on this year's Black Friday, compared to the next closest record of 97,848 on Black Friday of 2008. And the actual number of firearms sold, let it be known, was even higher for two reasons: one, background checks are not performed during transactions between individuals (i.e. someone buying a surplus gun from a friend); and two, a buyer can purchase multiple firearms under the clearance of a single background check. So altogether as many as a quarter to a half million MORE guns may now be in the hands of private citizens.

Forest & Stream Magazine

Forest & Stream Magazine | Forest and Stream | Free Online Magazine and Forums: In an emergency, you cannot dictate the conditions of your environment. You will never be able to stage yourself in a manner to reproduce your training. While you may prefer warm dry socks, your emergency may leave you cold and wet or worse, barefoot. While you may have incredible stamina in running, your emergency may leave you lame with a broken bone. When you go to the range, you have a perfect stationary target, your finest custom firearm in a beautiful belt rig and all the time in the world to make tiny little groups on paper. In a real altercation, your target might be charging, your firearm may be left at home and now you have seconds to respond to a threat. How have you prepared for these scenarios? Better yet, did you ever consider training these scenarios?

Great articles from Forest & Stream, a free online magazine. Check out the forums, too.

Rocket stove mass heater workshop how to tutorial - YouTube

rocket stove mass heater workshop how to tutorial - YouTube:

Altoids Survival Kit - Quick View - YouTube

Altoids Survival Kit - Quick View - YouTube:

Five Dollar Preps

Five Dollar Preps - Survivalist Forum: After reading scores of threads of people asking how to get started prepping, having to "sneak" prepping from their spouse or "don't have the money" to prep, I thought I would put together a thread that would cover each. The goal of this thread is to demonstrate that prepping can be done on the cheap for about $ 5.00 per week. I do not think that I know anyone who could not spare five bucks per week to invest in the ability to feed yourself and your family in the event of being affected by some form of disaster.

A Survivalist Forum thread on $5 preps. Pretty good stuff here.

Pinal Sheriff's Office stockpiles, prepares to sell military equipment

Pinal Sheriff's Office stockpiles, prepares to sell military equipment: The Pinal County Sheriff's Office has collected millions of dollars' worth of surplus military equipment that is intended for law-enforcement use and distributed some of the gear to non-police agencies while preparing to sell other property as a budget booster. Both practices are banned by the Pentagon. According to records obtained by The Arizona Republic, in the past two years, Sheriff Paul Babeu's office has received more than $7 million worth of Humvees, fire trucks, guns, defibrillators, barber chairs, underwear, thermal-imaging scopes, computers, motor scooters and other items through the Defense Logistics Agency, which provides the excess military property free to crime-fighting agencies.

Hmmm ... this and the Homeland Defense buying all that ammo? Something going on?

How to Create an Every Day Carry - EDC system - YouTube

How to Create an Every Day Carry - EDC system - YouTube:

Congress May Reverse Ban On Domestic Distribution Of Propaganda Material

Congress May Reverse Ban On Domestic Distribution Of Propaganda Material | Mediaite: Remember the good ol’ days, when you went to the movie theaters and got to see a short propaganda reel before the main feature? Well, now our propaganda may no longer be relegated to films like Battleship, because an amendment added to a new defense bill will reverse a long-standing ban on disseminating propaganda materials in the United States. Supporters of the amendment argue that such propaganda is needed to combat propaganda being spread online by al-Qaeda.

Review - PowerPax Battery Caddies

Review - PowerPax Battery Caddies | Flashlight Blog: If you use flashlights a lot, then you know as I do that you can never have enough batteries. However, when your flashlight batteries run out in the middle of a task, you probably won't have spares with you. If you do have spares, then I bet you don't have a convenient way to carry them.

I carried my batts around in a baggie until I saw the gems reviewed on the Flashlight Blog.

Gardening Map Of Warming U.S. Has Plant Zones Moving North

Gardening Map Of Warming U.S. Has Plant Zones Moving North : The Salt : NPR: It's official: Gardeners and farmers can count on warmer weather. If that's you, it might be a good time to rethink those flower and vegetable beds for this year's growing season. That's the word from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which released a new version of its "Plant Hardiness Zone Map" this week, the first update since 1990. The color-coded zones on this map of the United States are widely used as a guide for what perennial flowers will survive in a particular area, or when to plant your vegetables.

SurvivalBlog.com

SurvivalBlog.com: There are thousands of archived SurvivalBlog posts. here it is too much to read through sequentially. To research particular topics, I recommend that you take full advantage of the article categories and blog database search window available at the SurvivalBlog site. Say, for example, you want to learn more about how to secure your home. In the right hand bar, down below the scrolling advertisements there is a list of topic categories. By clicking on the "Retreat Security" category, only the articles and letters tagged with that topic will be displayed. Or, you can do a more detailed search, using the Search box at the top of the right hand bar. For example, if you enter "Security AND Infrared AND Starlight" only those posts that include all three of those words will be displayed.

I'd say this is the big daddy of survival blogs, maintained by author Jim Rawles. Read about him on his Wikipedia page.

Apple Cider Vinegar with Honey Knock Out Any Cold! - YouTube

Apple Cider Vinegar with Honey Knock Out Any Cold! - YouTube:

How to Make a Pot in Pot Cooler - YouTube

How to Make a Pot in Pot Cooler - YouTube:

Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe Room

FEMA: FEMA 320 - Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe Room For Your Home or Small Business: Having a safe room in your home or small business can help provide "near-absolute protection" for you and your family or your employees from injury or death caused by the dangerous forces of extreme winds. Near-absolute protection means that, based on our current knowledge of tornadoes and hurricanes, there is a very high probability that the occupants of a safe room built according to this guidance will avoid injury or death. A safe room can also relieve some of the anxiety created by the threat of an incoming tornado or hurricane. Our knowledge of tornadoes and hurricanes and their effects is based on substantial meteorological records as well as extensive investigation of damage to buildings from extreme winds. All information contained in this publication is applicable to safe rooms for use in homes as well as in small businesses.

‘Most Dangerous Bill In History Of U.S.’ – Vote Imminent

‘Most Dangerous Bill In History Of U.S.’ – Vote Imminent | Disinformation: Senate Bill 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act, has been called “the most dangerous bill in the history of the United States of America.” It would grant the U.S. government new authority over the public’s right to grow, trade and transport any foods. This would give Big brother the power to regulate the tomato plants in your backyard. It would grant them the power to arrest and imprison people selling cucumbers at farmer’s markets.

Happy Mother's Day!

"The Grab Bag" - Free e-book download

"The Grab Bag" - Free e-book download: Packed with loads of useful information, a great place to start in preparing for an uncertain future. If you don't have a bug-out-bag at the ready then this is something worth a look. You never know when the tide might turn and our situation turn upside down without a moments notice. A bug-out bag is traditionally compared to a 72 hour bag, but with careful planning a bug-out-bag can last you much longer than this, download this free eBook to find out how.

100 Best Permaculture & Homesteading Books

100 Best Permaculture & Homesteading Books: The Ultimate Reading List for Sustainable Living: If you've ever considered getting into Permaculture, or if you're a veteran Permaculturist who's looking for a new skill to master, the following resources are the absolute best places for you to get started. Each of these books has the potential to introduce you to a whole new skill that you can enjoy for literally the rest of your life! You will find here links to over 60 Free eBook previews and full eBooks!

Who doesn't like free stuff?

Be Prepared Forum

Be Prepared Forum: Contingency Planning & Preparation, Evacuation Plans, Family Preparedness, Health/Medicine/Fitness, Ladies Section, Personal Safety & Home Security, Pet Preparedness, Preparedness at Work, Prepping for One, Prepping for Teens and College Students, Travel Preparedness, Budgeting & Finances, DIY, Food Preservation, Gardening, Growing Food Indoors, How-To, Livestock/Hunting/Fishing, Recipes, Recycling, Self-Sufficient Living, Communications, Emergency Kits, Energy & Electricity, First Aid, Sanitation & Hygiene, Transportation, Storage Containers, Filters, Sources, Methods, Civil Unrest, Earthquakes, Floods, Hurricanes, Strikes, Tornadoes, Wildfires, Winter Weather, Articles, Books, Emergency Checklists, Movies & Videos ... and a whole bunch more.

Another place I get lost in for hours. File a hunting itinerary with loved ones before you visit, just in case you don't come home on time.

The Military's Seven Point Formula for Survival Situations

The Military's Seven Point Formula for Survival Situations: There is no doubt our troops have to deal with a stress level higher than that of the normal civilian. For this reason developing psychological hardiness in troops remains a vital component of our militaries training programs. The following 7 point formula for psychological survival have stress survival lessons for civilians as well. Are you in psychological shape for handling life’s sometimes stressful situations?

This is an excellent article. I'm accumulating "stuff" to be better prepared, but what about preparing my head?

Bushclass USAlist of videos for bcsa free cert. - YouTube

Bushclass USAlist of videos for bcsa free cert. - YouTube

This is a nice collection of bushcraft videos. Thanks, school of living lite!

5 Lifesaving Items to Fight Swine Flu

5 Lifesaving Items to Fight Swine Flu: With an expected second major outbreak of the swine flu slowly approaching, many people have no idea what they can do to help prevent it. Here are 5 things you can do that could save your life!

Bug Out Bag [1/3] - YouTube

Bug Out Bag [1/3] - YouTube:

How Big a Backyard Would You Need to Live Off the Land?

One Block Off the Grid: The Smart New Way to Go Solar | Infographic: How Big a Backyard Would You Need to Live Off the Land?: One Block Off the Grid makes it easier and more affordable for homeowners to go solar by negotiating great solar deals on their behalf. Since 2008, One Block Off the Grid has hosted hundreds of deals on solar in over 40 U.S. states and helped thousands of homeowners go solar.

Scientists Reveal Real Reason We Walk in Circles

Scientists Reveal Real Reason We Walk in Circles | Survival Common Sense: "Experiments in a German forest and the Sahara desert in Tunisia have shown that lost people double back on themselves without meaning to unless they have a marker, such as the Sun or Moon, to guide their way. 'The stories about people who end up walking in circles when lost are true,' said Jan Souman, of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany, who led the research. 'People cannot walk in a straight line if they do not have absolute references, such as a tower or a mountain in the distance, or the Sun or Moon, and often end up walking in circles.' The scientists, whose work is published in the journal Current Biology, also debunked a popular explanation that has been advanced to explain walking in circles. It has been suggested that people might veer in one direction because one leg is slightly longer or stronger than the other. Over time such small differences could cause somebody to walk in a circle."

I've heard that people tend to circle toward their dominant hand. I think I do it because I'm naturally dizzy ... ha ha. Interesting stuff. I hope all this research is shared with and goes toward training wilderness SAR teams.

Demotech, design for self reliance

Demotech, design for self reliance: Re-design is our job. Re-designing concepts, tools, methods, ideas to make them accessible and affordable to everybody in the world. By re-designing the way we live, Demotech works to improve our lives with techniques and tricks aimed at a single over arching goal: "More Joy Per person"

Help a Common Man ( Silent Auction) - Please pass along

Help a Common Man ( Silent Auction) - YouTube:

More on companion planting

Two Men and a Little Farm: COMPANION PLANTING

Wildflower, North America - Selector

Wildflower, North America - Selector | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Here is how you use this chart. Go to Flicker.com, search for the characteristics listed here, in the Wildflowers Group North American (wfgna) selector chart. For example, I found a pink daisy-ish looking weed in my yard yesterday, so I did a search for "wfgna,manypetals,pink." You can also hover your mouse over a block and click the tags. After a minute or so of browsing the photos returned in the Flickr search, I had a match: Daisy Fleabane (photo credit Earth to Humans).

So what is Daisy Fleabane? I hopped over to Botanical.com to look it up:


"This plant has medicinal properties, and though in England it has never had much reputation as a curative agent it has ranked high in the estimation of herbalists abroad. It was formerly used in dysentery, and on this account received its specific name from Linnaeus, who in his Flora Suecia says that he had been informed by General Keit, of the Russian Army, that his soldiers, in one of their expeditions against Persia, were cured of dysentery by means of this plant. Our old authors call it 'Middle Fleabane' - Ploughman's Spikenard being the Great Fleabane; both names being derived from the fact that, if burnt, the smoke from them drives away fleas and other insects. The generic name, Pulicaria, refers to this property, the Latin name for the flea being Pulex."

It's nice. It can stay.

Bacon Heaven–Detailed Bacon Canning Tips and Tricks

Bacon Heaven–Detailed Bacon Canning Tips and Tricks |: If you just want bacon in order to flavor beans, quiches, scrambled eggs, or something in which you don’t need full-crispy strips, then all you have to do is can bacon the way you do any other meat. Stuff it in the jar raw up to the screw rings, wipe off the rim, place a clean flat lid on top, then the jar ring on top, and then process it for 75 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure for pint jars (which are my preferred sizes for such recipes) and 90 minutes for quart jars at the same pressure—though high elevation may require 15 pounds of pressure.