How’s all that hope and change working out for you?

The job market is in the toilet.  More and more of our domestic jobs are being outsourced to third world countries.  The national unemployment rate it over 9% and much higher than that among Hispanic and African Americans.  Our national debt is now putting the next several generations of Americans in hock to China and other people who are not necessarily our friends. 

That warm fuzzy feeling that all is well or at least okay in the world is being replaced by a sense of general apprehension.  

Have you noticed the price of food going up by leaps and bounds?   It has risen almost 30% across the board in 2011 alone.  As I write this it takes almost $1900.00 U.S. dollars to buy an ounce of gold.   How safe and secure is your job?  How’s that 401K doing since the market started tanking?  Does it bother you that we are giving billions of dollars in aid to people that hate us in places like North Korea while we have families here that are hungry?  

Apparently enough people are feeling the need to make at least some preparation for some kind of future event that even Madison Avenue and the big box stores are getting into the act.

Could it be that people are figuring out just how fragile the food distribution system is?  I can't say for sure.  The freeze dried food manufacturers around the world can't keep up with the orders.  Costco™ now has long term family survival food packages that are actually sold by the pallet.  Military surplus stores are doing a very brisk business these days.  Gun and ammunition sales are at an all time high.  Another interesting symptom of all this that many of the people who were the donors and contributors to food banks and soup kitchens are now some of the people being served by those organizations!  Food bank contributions around the holidays are shrinking every year as more people fall out of the middle class.

I’m not sure what the outcome of all this will be, but things are certainly not heading in a positive direction.  Here are some things that you can consider and may be a small part of the solution anyway:

·        

• Be as self sufficient as you can.
• Be as self reliant as possible.
• Be the change you would like to see.  Live as an example to others.  
• Plant a garden and grow as much of your own food as you can.
• Learn from each other.  The skills like gardening, canning and drying food are basic and should be learned and shared and learned by all.
• Learn to cook and bake.  Microwaving frozen foods is not cooking.
• Learn to defend yourself. (State, local, and federal laws taken into account)
• Avoid debt. (With the possible exception of a home loan).
• If something bad happens, deal with it the best way you can with the resources you already have.  Relying on politicians and government agencies to help you is what got us into this mess in the first place.
• Keeping at least some of your assets in physical silver or gold is not a bad idea.
• Learn first aid.
• Get to know your neighbors.  Form a mutual support network.

 Throughout history societies have blossomed, prospered and collapsed for various reasons.  We are no different today.  The veneer of polite civilization is and always will be fragile.  (Think “lord of the flies” etc). 

I’m just a regular guy that has taken a hard look at what’s going on around me. I’ve made the decision to try to be prepared for the future whatever it holds.  A disaster could be simply the loss of a job or as bad as a nuclear war, there’s no way to know.  Would planning for the future now and taking positive action now to cover  your back side in the future be a bad thing?   Even if nothing bad ever happened, wouldn’t you sleep better knowing have the skills and resources in reserve?

Rest in peace Mom...

Jean MacGregor Breeden August 27, 1925 to September 2, 2011....

As with everything else, life its self eventually comes to an end.  For those of us who were close to that person, there is a profound feeling of loss and an empty place left by their passing from our sight.  The absence of their usual activities that have become a part of our daily lives serves as a consent reminder of them.

Yesterday Virginia and I lost someone that was close to our hearts. She was a friend, a companion and a loving mother.  Thank you mom for the time we had with you and the children you brought into the world. 

There is a difference between owning guns and knowing how to safely and effectively use them.

Preference : I am not an attorney or a law enforcement officer.  I'm not giving out legal advice.  I'm just a regular guy that's tired of all the macho posturing I see and hear by people that think simply owning a firearm automatically makes them able, qualified and justified to use them.

Let me begin by stating that I am a pro gun second amendment supporter.  I legally carry a gun most days and I fully understand the legal moral and ethical ramifications of any action or inaction involving a firearm. There is an old saying that "Every bullet you fire has a lawyer attached to it."  In other words, You are responsible for the outcome of your actions involving a firearm.

 
Do you know:

• When it's reasonable to use deadly force?

• When it's legal to use deadly force?

• The local, county,  state and federal laws regarding the use of deadly force?

• How to use your weapon in a safe and effective manner?

• Where will the bullet go should you miss your intended target or if the bullet passes through your target?

•  Is there a way to defuse the situation and egress?

How many times have you heard someone say "If you shoot someone, make sure that they're in your house or be sure to drag them inside"?  Just the fact that someone is in your home without your permission doesn't give you just cause to use deadly force.  As far as "dragging a body into the house", that's called tampering with evidence.

Are you familiar enough with your firearm(s) that you will be able to use it/them safely and effectively under the mental and emotional stress of a potentially violent confrontation?  The only way to be reasonably sure is to practice.  I don't mean once every year or two, but at least once every month or two.  Learn about the capabilities of your weapon of choice.  Learn about your strong and weak points.  If possible take a defense class. Take some lessons from a firearms trainer. Maybe instead of buying another gun, use the money to attend one of the many reputable schools for a weekend or even a week.

In summation:

• Read a book and take a handgun safety class.
• Go to a shooting range.  
• Join the NRA.  They offer firearms training and safety information and classes. The NRA-ILA are  also avid defenders of the second amendment.
• Become familiar with the safe handling and operation  of your gun(s).
• Learn the laws and know when to and when not to invoke deadly force.
• Practice as often as you can.
• The best potentially lethal confrontation is the one that never happens!

Not the government's to give!

Were did we go wrong? There was a time when we knew our neighbors and we would freely help each other. There was a time when the doors on our homes were left unlocked There was a time when a hand shake was a contract and we all took pride in our products and productivity. There was a time that the government did not feel compelled to protect us from our selves and we we were at liberty to succeed or fail according to our own abilities.

I'm not sure that we can find our way back to that aforementioned place. For too long we have been coddled by a government that has become like an overbearing over protective parent. Over time, we have sacrificed our liberty for the illusion of comfort and security by a government of our own making. The detrimental ramifications of our actions have become deeply woven into the fabric of our society.

Lets start with a few basic premises:

Government is a necessary institution. Like a lion it must be caged by inescapable set of boundaries. In the case of America, that cage is our constitution.

The constitution is as current and relevant today as it was the day it was written. It must be taken as a whole. The preamble sets the tone and the context for the articles and amendments. It also helps us to see the intent of its authors.

It is not the job of the American government to create a level playing field. We are all created equal, but we are not all the same. There are winners and losers. There are those who are more gifted intellectually than others. There are those who are more industrious than others. Some excel at sports, others at math. If a person works hard and wisely invests or saves their money, then it is their money. The government does dot have the right to confiscate a person's money and redistribute it to those with less. If a charitable person should choose to help others with their personal resources, then that is their personal choice. I am not saying that we should not pay taxes. Government infrastructure needs to be funded by reasonable taxation. This funding is to pay for the defense of the country and the protection of its citizens.

We have a right to defend ourselves. The second amendment is in the constitution for a reason. Okay at this point some of you are thinking "guns are dangerous" or "that is why we have police", well hear me out... We all have to struggle through security a the airports right? they take your fingernail clippers, they make you take your shoes off and x-ray your carry on luggage and make you walk through a metal detector. Here's an idea. Just imagine that there are a couple of gentlemen with box cutters and a plan to commandeer the plane and fly it into a building. Are you following me so far? Okay now lets suppose that everyone getting on the plain was given a weapon. Not a gun. That would be kind of silly in a pressurized airliner. Let say just for the sake of this discussion, a baseball bat. Were talking about a airplane with a few hundred people on it. Do you really think anyone on that airplane is going to misbehave? I don't think so. I know that sounds a bit extreme, but I'm trying to make a point here. There is strength in the hands of the people. If evil doers know that a large segment of the population is armed, they will be more hesitant to act out.

I live in a small town, a really small town with a population of under three thousand people. If you have a clean record you can apply to the county sheriff for a state wide permit to carry a concealed handgun. Over the last thirty five years a lot of the local folks have applied and obtained their permits. It is common knowledge that many people in the area are "packing heat". There is very little violent crime here. Gun related crime is pretty much the realm of the meth makers and the Mexican Mafia in the southern part of the county.

Foreign aid is specifically discussed in the writings of the framers of the constitution. They repeatedly warn us to not meddle in the affairs of other nations. They also warn us about the pitfalls of forming political alliances with other nations.

• Charity is NOT the job of our government!

• Foreign aid is not authorized by the constitution.

• The bailout of private enterprise is not authorized by the constitution.

• Free market means a free market. Not an artificially propped up or regulated market where a government or its regulatory agencies have their fingers in it.

Revisited - Are you prepared?

Okay so it may not be a nuclear explosion, but we all need to be prepared for calamity.  Earthquakes and tidal waves on the west coast, hurricanes on the east and south coasts forest fires, pandemics, E.M.P. or even war are all possible. Among other things, these events that can take our electrical grid down for extended periods. If the grid goes down, so does water and sewer service.  Even if you survive the initial event, what will you do next?  What if you were not able to go to the grocery store to get food or anything else for an extended period of time? Would you be able to feed yourself and your family?  Would you be able to comfortably survive? With out power many things that you take for granted would not be possible. What about your refrigerator, your freezer, washing machine and dryer. How about: ATM machines, cash registers, credit card processors, computers, the internet? Without power you couldn't even buy fuel for your vehicles.

Even FEMA recommends that you keep a 72 hour emergency kit. It should contain everything you need to eat, drink, sleep, keep warm or cool, take care of sanitation, medications and basic first aid for three days and nights.  After watching the news and seeing the government's response to disasters, I think three days is extremely optimistic.  In my opinion the starting point should be a months reserves of all essentials. There are other reasons to plan ahead and I'll go into some of them in future posts.

Here are a few things to think about and discuss with your family: 

• Make sure you have an ample safe supply of clean water.
• Learn first aid and CPR.
• Assemble a basic first aid kit for your home, car and office.
• Make an emergency contingency plan and rehears it with your family.
• Keep your fuel tank at least 1/2 full at all times.
• Assemble a "blackout kit" with flashlights, candles, lanterns, etc. Put it in a central location accessible to the whole family.

The list could go on, but you get the general idea.

Flood, riot, bomb, weather event, or war, if you survive the initial event, surviving the aftermath will be basically the same for all of them.  You are going to need food, water, shelter and sanitation.  A little planning now could save the lives of you and your loved ones.






Written, copyrighted and published by Steven Fritch. All rights reserved. 

Are we now the United Nations States of America?

So now the president is taking his marching orders from the UN?  It seems that the Obama administration feels that he needed to ask the state of Texas not to execute a murdering sack of meadow muffins because the UN has a problem with it. The dirtbag in question tortured, mutilated and murdered. WTF?

Sometimes we forget what's important..........

Just a few thoughts:

• The journey we make from cradle to grave is what we refer to as our lives. They have a beginning and they have an end. Our end can come at any time and in many ways. 

• The emotional preparation for the passing of a loved one is, to some extent, wasted effort. No matter how much you think are prepared, dealing with the event is unique to each person experiencing death and each survivor. The the sense of loss, the survivor's guilt and the loneliness are things that you can only experience at the proper place in time. This I have come to know from personal experience and the life experiences of those friends and family who surround me.

• The medical, personal, spiritual, philosophical and psychological needs of a terminally ill person out weigh most needs of those who care for them.  

•  The physical and mental comfort and well being of the dying are of utmost importance. 

The caregivers need the support of their family and friends almost unconditionally. They are most likely trying to care for their charge day and night on top of all the other things that are going on in their lives.  Things like trying to perform their day jobs, playing host and hostess, chef and room service to those who come to visit the person under their care.  How about: tying to maintain a safe and sanitary environment while dealing with and coordinating doctors, nurses, durable medical equipment providers, pharmacists, insurance companies, government agencies and Hospice. What about caring for and cleaning up after pets, doing the never ending stream of laundry generated by the person being cared for or even the caregiver's own laundry.

The family member caregiver does what they do out of personal commitment, duty to family or friends and most importantly out of love. 

Written, copyrighted and published by Steven Fritch. All rights reserved.

Ecozoom™ Versa model “Rocket Stove” Review

As a prepper and a self reliance buff, the Ecozoom™ Versa model stove turned out to be an excellent choice for our needs.  It emits very little light or smoke while producing a tremendous amount of heat.  It’s small, portable and sturdy as well.

Full disclosure:  We bought this stove unsolicited off of the Ecozoom web site after reading about is on another blog.  No one offered us or gave us anything to review this stove.

Shipping: We ordered the stove on Saturday and it was delivered on Tuesday. 

Price:  As of the date of this review: $128.00 including shipping.

Construction:  The stove is very well thought out in being designed primarily for use in third world countries.  Its outer shell is enameled metal with a heavy cast cooking surface.   The core of the stove is a single piece of ceramic made from lightweight extruded clay.  The stove feels solid and all parts are well fitted.   Above the fire box area there is a secondary combustion chamber to burn any volatile gasses not consumed in the fire box.  In the Ecozoom™ Versa model there is also a small door under the fire box that is used to control the air flow. 

Cooking:  I’ve been using this stove for about a month now to prepare many meals for my family and friends. I’ve also been using it for canning and blanching fruit and vegetables.  It is a pleasure to use.   Because of the excellent use of “rocket stove” technology, it burns very little fuel; it’s almost smoke free and leaves very little ash.  The heavy cast cooking surface is built for flat (like a frying pan  or dutch oven) or round bottomed cooking vessels (like a wok).  After cooking professionally for several years, I have discovered that most domestic kitchen stoves are not capable of reaching temperatures truly needed for things like stir frying and searing meat or even caramelizing onions properly.  I’m happy to say that this is not an issue with the Ecozoom™ Versa model stove.   

Fuel:  It takes a little practice to learn to control the heat level, but I was able to master it about half way through my first cooking session.  The biggest mistakes I made were; using too much fuel at one time and using a small hunk of pitch to start the fire. Too much wood qt once will cause smoke.  Pitch on the other hand burns with a lot of soot.  Hard woods (Oak & Madrone) seem to burn the most evenly.  Soft woods like (Pine & Fir) burn faster and cooler.  Three dry sticks up to about one inch in diameter and a foot long are about all I need to cook a meal for four people.   The Ecozoom™ Versa model is also designed to burn charcoal.  I’ve found that five to eight briquettes were enough to boil three gallons of water to cook corn and hold that boil for an hour!  You can use just about anything from corn cobs to cow pies for fuel in this stove.  We heat our home primarily with wood and as a byproduct of that there are a lot of splinters and small scraps of wood that build up around the chopping block.  This is now my main source for fuel for our rocket stove.  Branches from pruning and brush clearing are another excellent source of rocket stove fuel. 

All in all we are very satisfied with this stove.  It met or exceeded our expectations for a rocket stove.  As far as suggested changes or improvements, I really don’t have any!  I would recommend and have recommended this stove to friends family as well as other preppers in our community.

BTW: When you buy a stove, they send one to someone who needs one and can't afford it for free.

Written, copyrighted and published by Steven Fritch. All rights reserved. 

Gardens and dirtbags

Summer began yesterday.  Those of us who grow gardens in the northern latitudes can finally stop worrying about frost. All our vegetable gardens are coming along nicely and our strawberry patches are on their second crop. 

Since we've has such a wet winter and spring, the ground. Squirrels have really been multiplying.   I think we've reduced their numbers substantially with a combination of bait and bullets though.  

Summer is also the time of year when the nut jobs come out of the woods and the transients roll into town.  In the center of town there is a bridge that crosses a year round creek. It's known locally as "The Weaverville homeless shelter".   They gather under the bridge to: sleep, get high, relieve themselves, party, have sex, etc.  I really feel sorry for the buisiness near the bridge. They suffer greatly at the hands of these people. They steal from them, they panhandle their customers,  they litter everywhere and they do a great deal of property damage. The transients generally leach what they can until the frost of fall puts an end to their dirtbagery for the year. Then they leave for warmer climates. 


Written, copyrighted and published by Steven Fritch. All rights reserved.

Spring is here

It's been one of the wettest winters in memory.  The rivers, lakes and creeks are full and the mountains have a deep blanket of snow.  The grass is covering the hills and valleys and the deer are grazing everywhere.

We are getting our gardens in order for what we laughingly call the growing season.  The chickens are enjoying the warm afternoon sun and taking dust baths.  I've already turned on the irrigation system and started the spring watering cycle. 

Since we grew more cucumbers last year than we needed, this year we are concentrating on winter squash. The Pikes Peak is our favorite winter squash. It stores well for over a year if kept in a cool dark place.

We finally found a variety of fig that can take.the cold winters here in Weaverville.  We purchased two of them and are currently debating where to plant them. We also bought several cold tolerant kiwi plants


Written, copyrighted and published by Steven Fritch. All rights reserved.

Washington has lost their way - Just My Opinion...

Our government has strayed from the vision of our founders. We currently live in an entitlement oriented society.

It has become apparent that the government fears self sufficient self reliant citizens. They seem to want all citizens sucking from the governmental nipple. This is how their system of control functions. This is also why an independent person is beyond their control and they resent independence. Self sufficient self reliant citizens demand liberty and freedom from the shackles of excessive government regulation.

Personally, I neither want or expect much from my government. I'm perfectly capable of providing for my family and myself, if the government would get the hell out of my way.

We do not need to be, nor should we be, protected from ourselves. If we do something stupid that removes me from the gene pool, all the better for those remaining.

Stand up and fight! Not with violence, but within the system. Call, fax and email your representatives and let them know that they will be held accountable for their misdeeds. Remind them that we vote them in or out of office. Remind them that they are there as our representatives, not our leaders.

Butchering time again...

It's butchering time again. Time to put the "meat birds" in the freezer (and the barbecue.) We decided not to raise white Cornish Cross birds this time for several reasons. They won't live long enough reach sexual maturity. At around 10 weeks their legs give out under their massive weight. If that doesn't happen then their hearts usually give out shortly there after. They spend all day every day planted in front of the food trough gorging themselves. That being said, a Cornish Cross cockerel can dress out at 9 pounds by the time that they are 8 weeks old. The hens of the same age dress out to around 3 1/2 to 5 pounds.

Butchering day is not our favorite day. It takes a lot of prep work. Since we do it outside, everything has to be scrubbed down. The knives have to be sharpened and the cutting surfaces set up and disinfected. The method we use is the "home version" of the methods employed at a slaughterhouse:
First the birds are placed head first in a "holding cone" also known as a "killing cone". This relaxes the birds and holds them in position. Next I give them enough CO2 gas to knock them out. At that point their jugular is severed. This is the most humane method of killing we've found. The carcases are left to bleed out for about ten minutes before being scalded. They are placed in 150 degree F water for 1 minute. This loosens the feathers for the next step. They are then placed in the automated feather plucker for about 30 or 40 seconds. This removes all the feathers. Next they move to the evisceration station where the head, feet and entrails are removed. At this point it looks like a whole chicken that you would by at the supermarket. Now the bird is chilled to about 40 degrees for about 24 hours. The final steps are to vacuum seal and quick freeze them.

[Written, copyrighted and published by Steven Fritch. All rights reserved. ]