saw an ad in mother earth news for wood hot tubs at snorkel.com. They look good. Seem small but I guess that’s good. Pricey at 3k to 5k But really cool u don’t need any power other than wood. Need to find out if it can heat chlorine or salt water or if u have to refill it every time.

just get a wood hot tub to solve hot bath dilemma if system goes down. What I know so far. Made of wood. Heated by a wood stove. Supposedly heats water fast according to ad.

this show dual survival on discovery is awesome.

This is just awesome

Mother earth news outdoor cooking contraption

I have to build it. If system goes down cooking will be way harder. This looks really efficient, can do everything, and I just need wood. Man coals will keep this really hot. I can get a 55 gal drum, fill with sticks, put hole in it and stick it under a burn pile. Supposedly 55 gal drum will be filled with charcoal after cooling off. Need to try and see if really that easy.

So to make maple syrup u just drill a hole in a maple tree, hang a bucket, boil the sap and you have maple syrup?!? Don’t have maple trees in yard. Maybe I should grow some. But have these big pecan trees. Pecan syrup? May as well try it

Had breakfast out with fam yesterday. Was really thirsty… Waitress brought some orange juice. I was like man this is so good… But, had it been warm or luke warm, not near the same. A drink that is cold is a luxury. But if I could appreciate it that much when I walked out of my air conditioned house into an air conditioned car into an an conditioned restaurant, then how much more if every day life is much more physically demanding and less comfortable? Ice is special. Would be cool if I could use Suns energy to make ice? or another way…

back in the day they would make it out of potatoes when fruit wasn’t in season. Potatoe wine. Crazy. But life was hard. Bet it took the edge off. Currently drive to store to get wine or order online. Oil is needed. If can’t get oil… Yea. Learn to make wine. Potatoe, tomato, blackberry, loquat, autumn olive, muscadine

Man hot bath feel awesome. If system goes down – no more hot baths…. Solar Showers like they sell at bass pro? no… well maybe for a backup. I mean right now we just have to get in a tub and turn on the faucet. Can I accomplish that kind of convienance with some form of renewable energy? doubt it… but should look into it because Hot Baths are freaking awesome.

I need a list of things we need. Perhaps two categories – crucial and comforts. Obviously start with crucial first. Storing food/items is good I think but producing them much, much better. Whatever I think we need the first thing to ask is can I produce it? if no – then can I (should i)  buy/store it?

My mindset has shifted. This project started out as sort of a fun “get in touch with the earth” thing.  But over the past few months I have been dabbling into economic research. Well,  if you even just dabble into researching the current U.S. economy you end up with alot of OH CRAP moments. So…  I’m totally reliant on these systems here that provide food and comfort for our family. I’m ripping out of that.  For one thing I’m a Dad. That’s a game changer.

10 years ago or so before I had my own family I lived for a while in this little shack in Costa Rica. It was awesome… Very cheap and place was filled with life. Fruit everywhere… This hostel down the road would use wheel barrels to dump all the extra mangos into the pacific. But now I have all these financial responsibilities, toddlers, etc. I live just outside the city and I definitely can’t convince my wife that we should all move to central america. So, I’m on a crash course man…  to self sufficiency. My reality is I have these dependents I would drink poison for and we all rely on a system that is unfortunately very fragile. I am using this blog for notes. Things I learn, personal reminders, etc…  This is a public site so it could end up with some visitors but prob won’t find much of any entertainment value.