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 along if things go wrong. It’s ludicrous to think the government will step up and take care of us, your best bet is to be your own best advocate, take care of yourself and your family. With the knowledge gained from this book, even someone on the tightest of budgets should be able to implement many of the ideas in this book with little or no financial output.
>>Keep reading “Shoestring Survivalism – book review”

Some time back, I did a review of LaMar’s Simple Solar Homestead, a great (and inexpensive) ebook created by LaMar, the great thing about LaMar, is he is actually LIVING this lifestyle, not just spouting theory.

>>Keep reading “LaMar’s Simple Solar Homesteading videos”

A top fashion photographer who has grown sick and tired of the consumer society?  It sounds like a chef who has had enough of food.  But this is the story of David LaChapelle, darling of celebrity snappers, who moved from New York to an 18 acre off-grid retreat in Maui, where his bedroom is surrounded by kava, a tranquilizing plant that can inspire vivid dreams.
Several years ago, at the top of his profession and in constant demand, he realized, “I didn’t want to keep photographing fashion and celebrities….I really just walked away at the top of that editorial photography world… it was not a place that I wanted to continue to be in. Although it was great when I was in my 20s and early 30s, I wanted something different.”
>>Keep reading “David LaChapelle in Maui”

Make a house a green home The American Clean Energy and Security Act is best known for its controversial “cap-and-trade” carbon emissions program, but the bill also contains an entire subsection devoted to creating incentives for consumers and federal agencies to build and finance more energy-efficient dwellings.

Under the Bill, State governments would be required to ensure that homeowners whose energy technologies allowed them to become  independent of utility companies for their power are not denied property hazard coverage by insurance companies.
>>Keep reading “Insurance boost for off-grid homes”

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 the cooking process is completed.
>>Keep reading “The new-old way to cook / book review / video”

Alive and wellHere is an update on what has been going on in our off grid life. I know I haven’t written in a while, I took a mini-break from blogging and writing, it was something I needed to do, but now I’m back. :)
>>Keep reading “Alive and well-updates”

I’ve been going back over the first pictures we took of our cabin, before it was renamed the sky castle, it’s hard to believe we have done so much with so little. Here are some of the original pix followed by more current pix. Enjoy!

>>Keep reading “We’ve come a long way baby”

Creekmore: neat and tidy Survivalist MD Creekmore used to be a a freelance handyman and part time gunsmith.  Now he’s a full time blogger, so he never has to leave home ‘cept to buy groceries and some more bullets .

>>Keep reading “Stay small to survive”

We have started to build on our 10 acres in northwest michigan. So here is a story about the weekend and how everything went.

We decided our plan was to get to the property early Friday, and get as much built as quickly as possible. Char took the day off on Thursday to help ready us for the trip. She went …
>>Keep reading “Our 4th of July Weekend”