Self-Reliant Info

Waiting for the next post?

2012-07-29T21:46:00.000-04:00

If so, all I can say is... don't hold your breath, unless you look good in blue. ツ

As I mentioned last Monday, we're going on hiatus for a while.

It will be at least two weeks before we post again, and maybe longer.

With any luck, we'll be able to do some sporadic posting later in August, and perhaps we'll be back with a new posting schedule in time for National Preparedness Month in September.

Until the next time, stay safe, and God bless you!

Friday funnies: the lighter side of endings

2012-07-27T00:01:00.009-04:00

Well, as we round out my wind-down week to our pending hiatus, I realized that this will be the last Friday Funnies for at least a while. It's kind of a bummer, since doing these posts were fun, and everyone seemed to enjoy them quite a bit. Nonetheless, we still have one more round of comics for you, and appropriately enough, they all revolve around "the end." ツ

Our "final" infographic at the bottom of the page is a brief history of doomsday (you know, the end of the world!).
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The Vocabulary of Self-Reliance: SIP, GOOD, & BOV

2012-07-26T00:01:00.013-04:00

With the pending changes to our posting schedule here on SRI, we're discussing Bugging Out, GOOD, BOV, Bugging In, and SIP: ツ
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Read "Change is inevitable — for life and this blog" on Farm Dreams

2012-07-25T00:07:00.010-04:00

As you may recall, I've got another weekly blog on Farm Dreams titled The Practical Prepper. You can read my newest post there every Wednesday.

Today's post is titled Change is inevitable — for life and this blog (bear in mind that it might not be available until after noon, Eastern time.)

The linked article concludes my initial run of posts on the The Practical Prepper blog, and provides a retrospective of my articles there... kind of an index, of sorts.

As always, don't forget to check back here again tomorrow for more of our regularly scheduled Self-Reliant Info!

Quote for today on finding our way

2012-07-24T00:01:00.003-04:00

If we don’t change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going.

– Chinese Proverb
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More changes at Self-Reliant Info

2012-07-23T00:01:00.007-04:00

Hi everyone... there have recently been some major changes at my day job, which will require more of my time. As such, I'm taking some time off from my scheduled blogging.

We'll be finishing out this week as usual, but next week things will change because I am unable to maintain a regular blogging schedule as I have been doing. With luck, I hope to return to regular posting later in the year after my schedule settles down.

In the interim, I hope to be able to post something at least once a week, though I can't guarantee that. Depending on how things go, you may see a few posts from my wife Anita every now and again too.

In conclusion, thanks again to all of my readers, especially those who read our material regularly. May God bless you all, and stay prepared! ツ

Friday funnies: the 2012 apocalypse — revisited

2012-07-20T00:01:00.004-04:00

There's just about 5 months until the supposed end of the Mayan calendar on 21 December 2012. So, let's follow-up our first round of 2012-end-of-the-world cartoons with a second helping. ツ

As usual, the infographic at the bottom of the page is related, and has some (perhaps questionable) information about the presumed apocalypse.
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The Vocabulary of Self-Reliance: SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, and WROL

2012-07-19T00:07:00.002-04:00

If you read much about preparedness or survival, you'll encounter these three acronyms that represent the "event" for which one prepares. While they're often used interchangeably, they are subtly different. Regardless, each of these situations are why developing your self-reliance is a must:
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Read "16 basics for your car's emergency kit" on my Farm Dreams blog

2012-07-18T00:07:00.001-04:00

As you may recall, I've got another weekly blog on Farm Dreams titled The Practical Prepper. You can read my newest post there every Wednesday.

Today's post is titled 16 basics for your car's emergency kit (bear in mind that it might not be available until after noon, Eastern time.)

Today's post discusses 16 items that you should consider carrying in your automobile at all times, and describes why.

As always, don't forget to check back here again tomorrow for more of our regularly scheduled Self-Reliant Info!

Quote for today on staying in the moment

2012-07-17T00:07:00.007-04:00

It is not fear that grips him... only a heightened sense of things.

– Dilios
(from the movie 300)

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Recipe box: Cast-iron skillet cornbread

2012-07-16T00:07:00.006-04:00

Here's a good skillet cornbread recipe from Natural Foods Epicure: No Salt, No Sugar, No Artificial Ingredients, All Natural Foods Cookbook by Nancy Albright. This book is from 1977 (though another edition was published in 1984), and it can be a bit hard to find. Fortunately, Amazon.com offers used copies for very inexpensive prices — some as low as $0.38!
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Friday funnies: Mosquitoes suck. ツ

2012-07-13T00:01:00.023-04:00

We started the week with 10 Natural methods to help control mosquitoes, so we decide to end things this week with cartoons about mosquitoes. ツ

The infographic at the bottom of the page talks about what attracts mosquitoes and how long various mosquito control products last. Of course, the infographic was produced by the company that makes Mosquito Magnet, so it may not be entirely neutral....
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The Vocabulary of Self-Reliance: BOB, INCH, & EDC — what's your bag?

2012-07-12T00:01:00.002-04:00

Today, we look at the different categories of portable emergency kits: BOB, INCH, and EDC:
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Read "What kind of food should you store? Here are 6 ideas" on my Farm Dreams blog

2012-07-11T00:07:00.001-04:00

As you may recall, I've got another weekly blog on Farm Dreams titled The Practical Prepper. You can read my newest post there every Wednesday.

Today's post is titled, What kind of food should you store? Here are 6 ideas. (Bear in mind that it might not be available until after noon, Eastern time.)

This post takes a look at 6 categories of foods you should consider for your food stores, and why. It also provides some tips on what to look for and/or avoid when picking specific foods within the categories.

As always, don't forget to check back here again tomorrow for more of our regularly scheduled Self-Reliant Info!

Quote for today on responsibility

2012-07-10T00:07:00.005-04:00

I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.

– Robert A. Heinlein

from The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress

10 Natural methods to help control mosquitoes

2012-07-09T00:07:00.005-04:00

It's summertime, and as usual, mosquitoes are a problem. Aside from being annoying, the can also carry diseases (e.g., West Nile Virus and/or parasites that kill pets like heartworm). While DEET has been demonstrated as very effective at controlling mosquitoes, many people prefer a more natural or sustainable approach for mosquito control.
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Friday funnies: the lighter side of independence

2012-07-06T00:07:00.015-04:00

Our unofficial theme this week has been "independence" in honor of our nation's birthday on the 4th. As we close out the week, we conclude with some cartoons on independence. ツ

The infographic at the bottom of the page presents some information about the 4th of July and our nation's independence.
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The Vocabulary of Self-Reliance: Independence, Self-Sufficiency & Self-Reliance

2012-07-05T00:01:00.017-04:00

On this blog, we talk about "self-reliance," "independence," and "self-sufficiency" a lot. Each is subtly different, and here's what we mean when using them:
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Read "6 areas for declaring your personal independence" on my Farm Dreams blog

2012-07-04T00:07:00.001-04:00

As you may recall, I've got another weekly blog on Farm Dreams titled The Practical Prepper. You can read my newest post there every Wednesday.

Today's post is titled, 6 areas for declaring your personal independence. (Bear in mind that it might not be available until after noon, Eastern time.)

As we celebrate our nation's independence this July 4th, it's worth pausing to reflect on our personal independence too. This post discusses approaches to declaring independence in six different life areas.

As always, don't forget to check back here again tomorrow for more of our regularly scheduled Self-Reliant Info!

Quote for today on independence

2012-07-03T00:07:00.006-04:00

Technically, we have two quotes on independence from Thomas Jefferson:
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Anita's Grab Bag: 5 foraging, cooking, and food storage posts

2012-07-02T00:07:00.012-04:00

My wife Anita regularly sends me self-reliance and preparedness tidbits that she encounters as she browses on the Internet. Some of these inspire full-blown articles, while others get folded into some of the posts I write. Sometimes, there are just too many good bits for me to use in a timely fashion. Here's another "grab bag" collection like the one we did a while back.
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Friday funnies: a dozen electrifying cartoons ツ

2012-06-29T00:07:00.020-04:00

The NOAA has been observing Lightning Safety Awareness Week from June 24-30, 2012 (read our post about it here). To wrap up the week, today's cartoons are about lightning and lightning strikes. I'm sure you'll find them electrifying! ツ

Our usual infographic is at the bottom of the page, which presents "stuff you didn't know about lightning."
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The Vocabulary of Self-Reliance: FIFO

2012-06-28T00:07:00.004-04:00

FIFO: First-In, First-Out. This term has slightly different meanings, depending on where it's used.
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Read "Avoiding a "bolt from the blue" (and other lightning strikes)" on my Farm Dreams blog

2012-06-27T00:07:00.001-04:00

As you may recall, I've got another weekly blog on Farm Dreams titled The Practical Prepper. You can read my newest post there every Wednesday.

Today's post is titled, Avoiding a "bolt from the blue" (and other lightning strikes) (Bear in mind that it might not be available until after noon, Eastern time).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is observing Lightning Safety Awareness Week from June 24-30, 2012, so today's post offers information on how to recognize dangerous thunderstorm situations and how to mitigate as much of the lightning threat as possible.

As always, don't forget to check back here again tomorrow for more of our regularly scheduled Self-Reliant Info!

Quote for today on self-reliance and freedom

2012-06-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

To be born free is an accident; to live free a responsibility; to die free is an obligation.

– Mrs. Hubbard Davis

I like this quote; it clearly points out that, no matter what the circumstances of your birth are, your life should be lived in pursuit of ever increasing self-reliance and freedom.

Incidentally, while this quote can be found all over the Internet, I have yet to determine who "Mrs. Hubbard Davis" is. If any of our readers can clarify this, please let us know in the comments below.