From the category archives:

FOOD

possum-livingI wish I could say that I had read this book way back when, and that was what inspired me to live my off grid life… but sadly I can’t say that. My earliest inspiration was the Grizzly Adams series. But if I had come across this book before now, I know it would have also been a great inspiration for me as well. This book was written in the 70s by a very smart young lady, Dolly Freed. She and her father lived in a regular house, on a large lot (by today’s standard), though small compared to homesteading standards. Neither one worked a regular job, yet they lived a full and enjoyable life.

Dolly wrote this book to document their lives and teach other people how to live a more simple life, unfettered by a 9-5 work week. I was re-inspired and excited to find this video about their life on YouTube. It’s a 3 part video, the second and third should play right after the first.

The book and video are dated, it was written and filmed in the late 70s, but I’m here to tell you that this type of life CAN still be achieved, I’m living proof of that. I was thrilled to find out that a revised version of her book is coming out, it apparently has updated info about Dolly, she is still alive and well. I will say that if you look hard enough, you can find a digital version of her original book to download (it’s out of print) , I have read this, but I look forward to getting the new and improved version coming out this January.

Even if you don’t want to go all the way and live like she did (and like I do now), it’s still good information to have, with today’s uncertainty,  unemployment and underemployment, these are good skills to have to help get you through lean times.

Here is her original book, it’s a bit pricey Possum living: How to live well without a job and with almost no money

Here is a pre-order link for the new revised book, at a much better price Possum Living: How to Live Well Without a Job and with (Almost) No Money



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Getting canned

November 12, 2009
Getting canned

No, I’m not talking about your last job… I’m talking about canning. It’s all but becoming a lost art. But it doesn’t have to be a mystery. I read a great article all about canning, this is about the basics, what you will need to get started, how to determine how many canning jars, rings and lids you will need. [...]

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Shoestring Survivalism – book review

October 20, 2009
Shoestring Survivalism – book review

This is the third book I received from Paladin Press to review. I appreciate the chance to read and review these books, I have enjoyed them immensely. This book is about survivalism on a budget. Being on a budget is a full time occupation for most of us.  With these uncertain times, it’s good to have backups, ways to get [...]

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Tough Times Survival Guide vol 1 – book review

October 8, 2009
Tough Times Survival Guide vol 1 – book review

Reading, learning, it’s what I enjoy doing. Before the internet, I would go to the three local libraries in my hometown, I would check out as many books as each on would allow, take them all home, read-read-read until I had gotten through all of them, then I return the books to their respective homes and start all over again. [...]

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Dishwashers make eco-sense

September 29, 2009
Dishwashers make eco-sense

Precise details of how much you save from having a dishwasher, and why.

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Chia pets or survival food

September 15, 2009
Chia pets or survival food

Remember those silly little Chia Pets? Little did we know then that those strange little seeds painted on those cheesy terracotta pots shaped like animals were actually GOOD for us… It turns out that they are, they are high in vitamins, minerals, loads of fiber and it’s a better source of omega’s than flax seeds are. This is a very [...]

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DIY drink mix

July 27, 2009
DIY drink mix

I notice all of the ready made, easy to use, premixed, God only knows what is in it foods and drinks. There probably isn’t anything wrong with it, until you begin to read the fine print on the ingredient lists. One thing I have noticed lately is all the “healthier” juice drinks and teas that are hitting the shelf at [...]

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The new-old way to cook / book review / video

July 24, 2009
The new-old way to cook / book review / video

Retained Heat CookingHave you heard about hot box, hay box or cook box cooking? It’s the new-old way to cook that saves energy, improves flavor and increases the nutrition in your food, and frees up your time. All you do is heat up your food to boiling then retain that heat by insulating the hot pot of food until [...]

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Women of the dirt

July 19, 2009
Women of the dirt

Group of women farmers spur each other on via the web, and success follows

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