The Pioneering Parent

Simple, Effective Method of Digging A Well By Hand

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 06:44:00 +0000

A few years ago, my well had run dry and the cost of drilling a new one was well above the $1,000 mark. Considering that the house had some significant sinkhole activity, I wasn't keen on the idea of putting any money into it at all until I knew what was going to happen with the insurance company and any repairs they would propose.

At the time, I searched YouTube high and low for videos on "DIY Well Drilling," and what little I did find, required huge equipment that I didn't have.

Jump forward years later to 'today' and while looking for something completely different, I stumbled across this simple, effective, no-machinery process...

Check it out

Now that's 11 minutes of my life that will pay for itself even if I only ever use the information one time. Here are a few other videos with slightly different variations of the tools and techniques used to dig your own well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOhwebOEF2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rYPRMm8Arw&t=3s
And here's a comprehensive 20 minute course featuring everything you need to know about well drilling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-KLWEnwiaY

Prep of the Week - Water Preparedness

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Mon, 25 May 2020 14:19:00 +0000

Water... the elixir of life. Without water, there are no living things. Including us. In fact, water is so important, that we can go weeks without food, but without water, we would perish and die of dehydration within a mere few days. That's why we're dedicating this week's 'Prep of the week,' to 'water.'

Water Prep Week 1 - 1 gallon, per person, per day for at least 3 days.

Anyone who's ever lived in 'hurricane country,' can tell you that the standard amount of water you should have on hand is:

1 gallon of water, per person, per day, for at least 3 days.

So, if there are 5 people in your family, you'll need 15 gallons of water stashed.

You can buy 1 gallon bottles of water at just about any grocery store or Wal Mart for around $0.99 each.

If you have the room for storing, you could simply purchase the standby hard plastic water jugs. Of course, there are all kinds of ways to find or get these hard plastic 5 gallon jugs for free, but you'll most likely need caps for them if you do. These JVIGUE Non Spill Cap Anti Splash Bottle Caps are only 13.99 for a pack of 20,

If you don't need that many you can get a pack of 10 for just $10.99.

You can also purchase these 20 liter Vanie 20L Water Container, Portable Collapsible Water Storage Container from Amazon. At a price of only $10.99, with free shipping, if you don't have a lot of space to 'store' gallons upon gallons of water, if this fits your budget, it's a smart solution, because the containers are 'collapsible' so you only need to fill them when you are facing a possible threat.

The Prep of the Week Challenge - Prepare Minimum Water Storage.

Tube Roundup Tuesday "DIY Pools"

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Sat, 23 May 2020 05:05:00 +0000

Welcome to the very first "Tube Round Up Tuesday" post here on The Pioneering Parent blog. Every Tuesday, we're going to round up our favorite YouTube posts of the week, and share them in a new blog post.

*Please show our YouTube creators some live and don't forget to like and share their videos.

For our first "Tube Roundup Tuesday" we really wanted to make a 'splash!' Which is why we've dedicate this post to...

DIY Pools Projects Your Kids Will Love

Summer is here and with it comes the blistering heat. For those of you who don't have pools, check out some of these seriously simple "Build Your Own Pool" projects that are simple enough for most kids, or for parents to do for the younger ones.

DIY Pallet Pool

In this video, Danielle shows us how she built a video from pallets in just 5 days. We're huge fans of anything made from pallets around here, so we loved this video.

Next up...

DIY Stock Tank Pool

In this video 'Bat City Designs' shows you how to make a swimming pool out of a stock tank. According to the video they purchased the stock tank at Tractor Supply, but you can also get them at Rural King. And of course, you can always search sites like "Craigslist," "OfferUp," and "LetGo" for stock tanks as well.

Next up...

DIY Stock Tank Swimming Pool In A Sloped Yard - And Made Pretty.

This is another DIY pool using a stock tank, but in this video, Julia Konya shows you how she set hers up in her 'sloped' yard, and how she decorated it to hide the fact that it's a stock tank.

Fun Solar Power Projects for Kids

If you've never had a pool before, you may have heard that a pool is a lot of work and requires a lot of upkeep. Even kiddie pools can easily turn green in just a matter of days. Most pools that aren't kiddie pools use a pump, a filtration system of some kind, and a treatment solution, to keep the water from turning into something resembling primordial ooze.

To keep pool water clean you will need: a pump, filtration system, and a treatment solution.

The pump is how you move the water from the pool, into the filtration systems. The filtration system filters the water and passes it back into the pool. Most pool pumps are expensive to buy and run on electricity so they're also expensive to run as well.

That's why we chose this next video...

How To Make A Solar Energy Water Pump

This project uses a DC Motor, Solar Panel and few Other Elements. It is 12 volt and DIY Solar Water Pump.

This is a great solar project for kids. What we love about it is that it's going to teach the kids some very useful skills and because they'll be doing it for their own 'diy pool build' it, it will feel like a fun project and not a 'school lesson.'

DIY POOL Filter and Filtration Systems

Once you have the pump to pump the water from the pool, you need a filtration system to pump the water into for filtering, and then back out, and back into the pool as clean, filtered water.

The pump pumps the water to the filtration system. The water enters the filtration system, passes through the filter, and then the filter passes the water back into the pool.

Kiddie Pool Pool Filters...

If you or your kids opt out of of the DIY pool builds but do decide on any kind of inflatable or hard plastic kids pool, you should check out this "Poor Man's Kiddie Pool Filter"from BeamDigger.

Word to the wise on this one, submersible pumps can be found for affordable prices, but the cheapest I've seen a decent one is the one I bought from Amazon in the spring of 2019. and it was right around $50.00.

Of course, thanks to the previous video on how to make a solar water pump, you can of course just make your own pump... and it doesn't even need to be a submersible pump. You just need a filter...

DIY Sand Filter For Your Pool

In this 2 minute,' video, Jesse shows you how he made a DIY homemade sand filter for his pool.

Sand pool filters are most commonly found in above ground pools, though some older in-ground pools may still be using the sand filter system.

The other common filter type is the 'cartridge filter.' I didn't find any videos on how to DIY these, and while they can be washed, you can still only wash them so much before you have to replace them, and some of them can get pretty expensive.

Plus, when you add in the cost of chemicals, or 'treatments,' it can easily make you wonder if the money saved on electric from the solar water pump is enough to make having a pool affordable.

The most commonly known 'treatment' solution is chlorine. However, 'saltwater' pools have become more and more commonplace and have been touted as being less costly, and also, not quite as 'harsh' as chlorine. Finally the newest 'trend' in pools, 'natural pools' requires no chemicals or salt.

Fortunately... one of the newest innovations in 'pools' is the "Natural pool."

Natural Pools and DIY Natural Pools

Natural pools work in a similar fashion to the way lakes and ponds work. You have a 'swim area,' and then, surrounding the swim area, is what's called 'The Regeneration Zone." The regeneration zone is filled with plants and the microorganisms in the plant life filter the water. The water is then circulated through additional filtering such as rocks or gravel.

How Natural Pools Work

Natural pools are free from chemicals like chlorine and salt. You swim in 'fresh' water that's just as clean as any chlorine or salt treated pool.

But before you go running off to find your shovel and start digging a giant hole in your back yard, take a look at this 'compact regeneration zone.'

Natural Pool Biofilter Filter

The biggest problem with a natural pool is that you need a lot of land for the regeneration zone.

However, there are a few ways to work around that...

OLIVE- The Floating Natural Pool Organic BioFilter

The OLIVE is a simple filtration system that 'floats' right in a 'natural pool,' with a small regeneration area for the plants, and then two other filters for filtering out other debris.

And for the DIYr's out there, take a look at this...

DIY Floating Bio-Filter Garden

Another way to filter the water, without a regeneration zone taking up all your swimming space is to use 'tanks.'

Organic Pool with separate planted zone - featuring floating plant islands

In this next video, David Pagan Butler, creator of the OLIVE, demonstrates a contained regeneration and filtration system that's separate from the swimming area. This is an excellent workaround for people who don't have enough land to create the attached regeneration zone.

Are you a brave parent willing to let your kids try one of these 'DIY Pools'?

If so, we'd like to hear about it.

This last video got me wondering if I could integrate either a hydroponics or aquaponics system with a natural pool.

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like something I should definitely do some more research on.

Tell us about any ideas you got from this "Tube Roundup Tuesday" post in the comments below.

Social Distancing Boredom -109 Universities Offering Free Courses

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Fri, 15 May 2020 12:13:00 +0000

For parents, if we've heard it once, we've heard it a thousand times.

"I'm bored."

Stay at home, shelter in place, lockdown, curfew... and that other thing we dare not mention....we might just die of a boredom, long before the Covid-19 can infect us.

Free Education

Lots of companies have stepped up and chipped in to do their part to help people get through this pandemic. Electric companies have pledged to not disconnect service for non-payment. Restaurants and convenience stores have offered free coffees and other beverages to first responders and other front line workers. Even the Federal government of the United States has not only put forth stimulus packages to help people out with extra cash, they've also put a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures so that people who found themselves out of work wouldn't also find themselves homeless.

And now... these 109 Universities are offering free courses.

Of course, you're not going to get a diploma or a degree, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to be gained by expanding your mind and learning new things.

And it also doesn't mean that learning a new skill won't help you increase your income, even without that degree.

Computer programming, for example, is a skill that you could put to use part-time as a freelance programmer.

Business courses are another way to boost your income. Some jobs may be willing to hire or promote staff based on an ability to demonstrate needed skills if without the degree plus, these skills are useful if you ever decide to start your own business.

Maybe money isn't your primary motivation to learn new things though. Perhaps you're interested in other things like art or personal development.

Take a look at the various courses offered by these universities. Not only can it help you to expand your horizons, but kids tend to 'do what we do,' (just not what we 'say') and if your children see you bettering yourself through education, they'll be that much more likely to do the same themselves.

And you don't have to limit yourself to "University" course work either.

If increasing your skill set, and your value to employers, is something you need or want to do, Coursera is offering free certificates for 115 courses.

And of course... if you're aspirations aren't quite that high, but there are a few things you've always thought you might like to learn, there's always YouTube.

You can find tutorials on just about anything on YouTube. I've found videos on "How to Paint Beginner's Acrylics Course," and this "Italian Course for Beginners."

Keep your mind active... and your body will follow.

They taught me how to survive

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Sun, 10 May 2020 14:18:00 +0000

The Six Words That I'm Still Learning From 20 years Later... and why I'm a prepper.

Even the 'About Us' page for this site just didn't seem the appropriate place to regaled the tale of how I became a survivalist, prepper, and mom blogger who is determined to raise her kids with the self-sufficiency skills to survive anything life should throw at them. It's not a short story, and it's not a 'neatly organized story,' It is, however, a powerful story, at least to me, though I did try to tone it down just a little bit to keep it from getting too dark.

It definitely needed a 'home of it's own,'

I found that home on "Medium.com" in the wee hours of the morning. Quite by accident too. I was looking into Medium for it's curation and for other 'survival' and 'prepper,' bloggers to follow and connect with. I found myself reading articles from other 'survivalist,' bloggers and I started to think that it was just the right place to share this story. ff you want to know what drove my interest and eventual determination to acquire survival skills and pass them on to my boys, go ahead and read the Medium article "They Taught Me How To Survive," he said. The link is a 'friend link,' so you don't need to worry about the paywall here. Just enjoy the story, and feel free to leave a comment here, or there.

And...

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there.

How Greenhouses and Climate Control Increase Production In Your Food Garden

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Thu, 07 May 2020 03:16:00 +0000

Climate Control For Your Food Gardens

You can grow just about anything, if you can control the climate.

A greenhouse is one of the most basic things you can use in your efforts to maintain the perfect climate for growing your food crops year round.

If you can get delivery from Amazon and your budget allows for it, this pop pvc greenhouse is an affordable first step towards securing your food supply in any emergency.

These two styles, both of which are priced below $150 on Amazon, are not only affordable for modest budgets, they're also quite popular and very well liked by Amazon customers, who have granted each of them a minimum of 4 stars in the reviews.

The Eagle Peak 8'x6' Portable, Walk-in Greenhouse.

The Eagle Peak 8'x6' Portable Walk-in Greenhouse is an Instant Pop-up greenhouse. With it's fast setup, you'll be ready to start planting in no time. The front and rear roll-up zipper entry doors and 2 large roll-up side windows, this greenhouse can easily double as your own personal 'zen' space.

If you want to go bigger than that, consider...

The Best Choice 15x7xft Walk-in Greenhouse Tunnel.

Like almost all things in the 'Survival' community as well as the "Home and Garden" communities, there is no shortage of DIY ideas for any project, and greenhouses are certainly no exception. DIY projects are great if you have the time to source the materials and complete the project.

This 15x7x7ft Best Choice Walk-in Greenhouse Tunnel Tent w/Roll-Up Windows, and a Zippered Door, is the 'garden accessory' for serious gardeners. The green color will make a fine match for your 'green thumb.'

Creative, Cheap and Easy DIY Greenhouse Ideas.

And you may even have to if you can't find one in your local Home Depot, Lowe's, or Wal Mart store, or if you can get one from Amazon.

If it's simply not within your budget to purchase a greenhouse right now, check out this YouTube video on "100 Cheap & Easy DIYGreenhouse Ideas"

Growing Your Own Food In An Apartment

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Wed, 06 May 2020 23:56:00 +0000

Apartment Gardening - Growing Food In An Apartment

While apartments may not seem like the ideal location for growing food, balcony gardens and patio gardens can go a long way towards providing sustenance for you and your family.

Here are a few videos we really like from YouTube:

You can even grow food inside your apartment, by setting up a basic indoor grow room.

One way to maximize yield on your garden is by making use of the inside of your apartment and using a grow light system o provide your plants that need light, with light.

There is plenty of information on both Google and YouTube about gardening without land...

Hydroponics For Your Food Survival Garden

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Wed, 06 May 2020 23:35:00 +0000

Hydroponics & Aquaponics For Bigger, Faster Food Crops

Hydroponics Gardening

Many gardeners are beginning to switch to Hydroponics gardening for many different reasons. These types of gardens are small and can easily be grown inside and are perfect for most vegetables, especially the red tomato. Also the equipment required for Hydroponics gardening is not expensive and they are relatively easy to manage.

Hydroponics gardening is the growing of plants without soil, in other words, “dirtless
gardening”.

There are many methods of Hydroponics gardening, most of which work better than regular soil gardening because it is easier to give the plant exactly what it needs when it needs it.

Plants will only receive what you give them; therefore you will be able to regulate the pH, nutrients, nutrient strength, water amount, and light amount.

This makes it imperative that you research the kind of plants you will be growing so you know what they need to survive.

Hydroponics gardening is as simple as ordinary gardening. Both of them necessitate sufficient light, water, temperature, and humidity. And both offer incredible benefits to gardeners and preppers.

The growing medium used in Hydroponics gardening can be any number of things, such as Rockwool, perlite, coconut fiber, gravel, sand, vermiculite, or even air. You can get instructions from a gardening store or online or buy separate parts and build your own. There are also kits already assembled for sale in gardening supply stores.

There are certain micro-nutrients that are necessary for healthy plant growth including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, cobalt, boron, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc. These nutrients are absolutely essential to plants and if missing could cause the food to not be as healthy and in some cases even cause health problems for those who eat it. It is very important that you use a quality fertilizer when Hydroponics gardening.

Another important aspect of Hydroponics gardening that must be closely regulated is the pH balance. When the pH balance varies the plants will lose the ability to absorb nutrients that it needs. The ease with which the pH in Hydroponics gardening is tested and controlled give it a huge advantage over regular dirt gardening.

Even though there are hundreds of different variations, Wick, Water Culture, Ebb and Flow, Drip, N.F.T., and Aeroponic are the six most basic types of Hydroponics gardening systems. Hydroponics gardening is easy, affordable, and you can have fresh produce, flowers, herbs & spices all year long!

Boost Yield By Adding Co2 To Your Hydroponic Garden

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Wed, 06 May 2020 23:33:00 +0000

How to increase your hydroponic garden’s carbon dioxide levels

Low carbon dioxide (CO2) measures will limit your plant’s capacity to create energy through photosynthesis. Crops can process a great deal more CO2 than is normally found in the surroundings.

One of the best ways to boost growth is to enhance the quantity of CO2 available to your crops with a CO2 system in your hydroponic garden.

Choosing a CO2 injector is the least pricy way to add CO2 to your hydroponic system’s climate. These commonly consist of a release, Regulator, and a gauge to determine the amount of CO2 being inserted into the air. Some of the more involved carbon dioxide injectors also include a timer to run the scheduling of the CO2 discharge. CO2 refills are usually distributed independently and can be found at medical or eatery supply shops.

If you want to use your hydroponic garden for a lengthy time or for a number of crops, it may be cheaper to invest in a long-term CO2 production solution. Carbon dioxide generators manufacture carbon dioxide through the heating of propane, natural gas, or any other carbon-based fuel base.

They are appreciably more costly than the basic CO2 injector system, but you will eliminate the expense and effort of obtaining CO2 refills. Over a lengthy enough period of time, the investment in CO2 production ends up to be more economical than purchasing an injector and many refills.

For large-scale nurserymen (or those with extra funds to tinker around with), a CO2 gauge with regulator can mechanically maintain your hydroponic setup’s carbon dioxide levels at a selected point. These arrangements can be very pricey, 100's to thousands of dollars, but are a fine extra if you can find the money for it.

There is normally an automatic CO2 dial connected to a regulator that is then associated to a CO2 producer to guarantee that the system continually is set at the user’s fixed CO2 amount. Some dials are marketed separately and are compatible with many varieties of regulators, allowing greater versatility when planning your system.

Whichever system is best for you, it is important to always consider your carbon dioxide system when initially designing your hydroponic garden.

Many gardeners will overlook this one part of their system and reduce their crop’s production before a single seed is even sprouted.

Remember, a lack of any key facet required for photosynthesis will limit the plant’s development to the point of that deficit. If any one needed aspect is omitted, the full growing process will be impacted.

Community Gardens - Grow Food Without Your Own Land- Pandemic Survival Covid-19 Series

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Wed, 06 May 2020 23:25:00 +0000

Another Way To Grow Your Own Food Even If You Don't Have Your Own Land

There are several types of community gardens, from neighborhood gardens, to communal gardens, kids gardens and votech gardens, all of which have one fundamental thing in common:

"Community."

And community is something we definitely could use a lot more of right about now.

If you've never thought about organizing or becoming a part of a community garden, but you didn't know what to do or where to start, this YouTube video will provide you with a informative overview of the various types of community gardens.

This video shows you the typical costs associated with starting a community garden:

Here are 3 videos on....

"How To Start A Community Garden."

As the name implies, 'community gardens,' are all about the community you serve.

So you'll definitely want to find out if you'll have enough people interested in volunteering to help with the garden, first and foremost.

To gauge interest, you can post on sites like Craigslist in the "Community Section," or "NextDoor."

You can also post in all your 'local' Facebook groups, and on sites like "LetGo" and "OfferUp."

To make it easier to keep track of responses, set up a dedicated email address and 'Text Group' in your phone, so you can easily store the contact information of the people who respond to you so you can communicate with the whole group easily.

Guerilla Gardens- Growing Food Without Your Own Land - Pandemic Survival Covid-19 Series

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Wed, 06 May 2020 23:24:00 +0000

"Guerilla Gardening"

"Guerrilla gardening is the act of gardening on land that the gardeners do not have the legal rights to cultivate, such as abandoned sites, areas that are not being cared for, or private property." (Wikipedia)

And if nothing else, 'guerilla gardening' is always an option to consider.

These types of gardens can also be started in city, county and state parks, and they lend themselves exceptionally well to large 'national forest' parks with densely wooded areas.

Here are some of the best YouTube videos I've found about guerilla gardens.

Hydroponics Growing Without Soil

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Wed, 06 May 2020 23:24:00 +0000

The growing of plants without soil is called Hydroponics. It is widely used to grow lush, healthy indoor plants and good quality vegetables, fruits and herbs. Plants absorb nutrients as simple ions in water. The nutrients in the soil dissolve in water and the plant roots absorb them. When the plants get adequate nutrients, the soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive.

With the use of proper nutrients and the right artificial light source, an indoor gardener can achieve amazing results. A complete controlled environmental agriculture system should have controlled light, temperature, water, CO2, oxygen, pH and nutrients.

Hydroponics is simple and efficient. On alternate days a pH check is done and the water level is topped up. The nutrient is changed every 7 – 12 days. To turn the light and garden on and off automatically, a timer is often used. Amongst the different forms of Hydroponics, deep water is the purest form since the roots are directly exposed to the nutrient solution. “Deep Water” systems use a small air pump to keep the solution well oxygenated.

Another method of Hydroponics is the Ebb & Flow or Flooding & Draining systems.

The root system and growing mediums like Rockwool are soaked at specific intervals. The Ebb & Flow method makes it easier to cultivate plants in minimal space. In Deep Water Culture (DWC), the roots are allowed to drop down into an aerated nutrient solution.

This solution is aerated with the help of standard aquarium pumps and sir stones. The solution must be topped up from time to time. Drip feeding is similar to Ebb & Flow, except that the pump delivers a continuous tickle of nutrients and water. The emitters run 5 to 10 minutes every hour.

Another method of Hydroponics is Wick feeding, where the plant draws water with the help of a wick which runs from the base of the plant container to a bottle of nutrient feed solution.

Through capillary action, the solution travels up to the plant through the wick. In Raft cultivation, plants are inserted inside sheets of expanded polystyrene with the roots hanging down through the holes. The sheet is then floated in a shallow tank of nutrient solution. In Nutrient film technique (NFT), the plants grow through light-proof plastic films placed over shallow, gently sloping channels.

The roots grow into dense mats with a thin film of nutrients passing over them. Aeroponics is a class of Hydroponics where the roots of a plant are suspended in a midst or fog of nutrient rich solution.

Different media are used for Hydroponics. Expanded clay, Rockwool, Coco coir, Perlite, Vermiculite and Oasis root cubes are some of them. Due to constant problems of chemicals and other contaminants in the food supply, people are looking for a safer alternative. Hydroponics fits the requirement appropriately.

Your First Food Garden- Things To Consider; Pandemic Survival Covid-19 Series

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Wed, 06 May 2020 23:11:00 +0000

Food Gardening Decisions

Creating your very own food garden isn't as difficult as many people think it is. In fact, it can actually be pretty simple. It really just comes down to what resources you have available and what kind of a lifestyle you live.

Some of things you'll want to consider are what food crops you want to grow, the climate you live in, plus, alternative gardening systems for growing more food, faster and better, and for gardening without land.

Choose what foods you want to grow

While climate and gardening space may seem like the two most important decisions anyone should make before starting any garden, in reality, the reality is that the first thing you should think about is what you want to grow.

With the many, various solutions to common gardening problems such as climate restrictions and lack of land to grow food on, choosing what you which foods you want to grow will go a long way in helping you make the rest of your gardening decisions.

You may have ample land on which to grow your fruits and vegetables, but perhaps your climate is harsh and offers only a short growing season. In this case, you'll want to consider climate control choices, and quite possibly even alternative gardening systems.

While certain choices may make 'year round growth,' possible for a harsh climate, you also want to consider how much time you have to get from planting to harvesting and eating. If you're dealing with 'food shortages' in your local grocery stores, and you need foods you can grow and eat fast, you may want to consider not only a 'climate control' option for your crops, but also other gardening systems that allow for faster growing.

Available Garden Space

If you own a home with quite a bit of land, and you have enough time to tend to it, you could choose a traditional garden.

If you don't own your home, there are ways to increase the amount of food you can grow with less space.

Even people who live in apartments can often create balcony gardens or patio gardens, and incorporate greenhouses into them for climate control as well as bug and pest control.

Some apartment complexes may even allow residents to garden on some of the apartment complex's unused land, or even replace some of the 'landscaping' with gardens.

"There's a complex not far from me where one tenant doesn't have a car, so she dedicated her designated parking spot to her very own garden."

City, county, and even state parks, especially 'wilderness type' public recreation locations like national forests can be a guerilla gardener's dream come true, offering remote locations, that while not exactly 'designated' as public garden spaces, also aren't exactly 'private property,' that you could be charged with trespassing on.

Where there's a will, there's a way, and if you're not growing food, gardening is still therapy, even if you kill everything.

Climate Control

Once you've decided which food crops you want to grow, you should consider whether or not your climate will be suitable to your crops.

I happen to live in Florida, in the United States, so I've practically got a year round growing season. Yet, my warm weather can be 'too hot' for many of the fruit and vegetable crops so even I need to adjust to my climate to protect my plants from Florida's scorching sun.

In a different climate, with a shorter growing season, what you grow and how much of it you can grow will be in direct proportion to the climate as much as it is to the space you have available for growing your fruits and vegetables.

Is your climate suited to all of the crops you want to grow?

Is it suitable to some, or all of the foods you want your garden to produce?

Is your growing season long enough for you to plant and harvest enough food for your household until the next season?

If the answer to any of these questions is, 'no,' one of the first things you might want to consider is a greenhouse.

Greenhouses are one of the basic building blocks for a thriving food survival garden. In addition to regulating the climate your plants will be living in, a greenhouse can extend your growing season, thereby increasing your food production.

Also, greenhouses offer the added benefits of easy pest control and easy weeding.

Whether you own a home or not, if you have a yard, but need more climate control than you currently have to grow the foods you want, or enough of them for that matter, there are several ways to control the climate in your garden and increase the yield you get in return for your efforts.

Two Secrets To Bigger, Better Gardens...

Whether you live in a house with land, or a tiny apartment, or anything in between, with or without a greenhouse, two 'alternative gardening systems,' you should consider are hydroponics gardens and aquaponics gardens.

Hydroponics Gardening

Hydroponics gardening is as simple as ordinary gardening. Both of them necessitate sufficient light, water, temperature, and humidity. And both offer incredible benefits to gardeners and preppers.

But with hydroponics, no soil is used. Instead a soil substitute holds the roots while nutrients are carried by the water.

Indoor hydroponic gardening is not that hard and plants respond well to this method of growing.

Aquaponics Farming

The definition of aquaponics is in its name - it is a combination of AQUAculture (the growing of fish) and hydroPONICS (the growing of vegetables and herbs).

Aquaponics is a perfect example of sustainable food production, and many people are turning to this system of home food growing.

Aquaponics is almost like getting a 2 for the price of 1 deal. After all, you're getting both fish and fruits and vegetables.

Plus, as a bonus the food and the crops work together for production, of each other. So you don't have to.

Both hydroponic gardens and aquaponics farms incorporate well with apartments and other small spaces, including greenhouses. The kiddos will love watching the fish swim and learning how the fish feed he plants and the plants feed the fish.

Alternative gardening systems.

While balcony and patio gardens will provide some space for you to grow your own delicious fruits and vegetables, if you find that you still don't have enough space to grow as much food as you want or need, there are several alternative gardening systems.

Community gardens

One such alternative option option for growing food without land is to start a community garden. A community garden, according to Wikipedia, "utilizes either individual or shared plots on private or public land while producing fruit, vegetables, and/or plants grown for their attractive appearance."

Setting up a community garden is going to require some additional work on your part, as you will need to locate land and negotiate some kind of permission, whether through 'donated land,' or by way of renting or buying the land.

Also, any costs associated with the community garden may make creating a community and/or raising funds necessary too.

Guerilla Gardens

If a community garden isn't right for you, another alternative gardening system you could consider is guerilla gardening. A guerilla garden, according to Wikipedia, is a garden "on land that the gardeners do not have the legal rights to cultivate, such as abandoned sites, areas that are not being cared for, or private property."

While guerilla gardens are most well known as an act of activism. and carried out in 'urban' areas, they can also be an act of survivalism, carried out in more remote locations.

Guerilla gardeing can be fun for the whole family. Just make sure to take all the proper precautions before venturing out into the world of guerilla gardens.

DIY Solar Water Heater

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 06:05:00 +0000

Solar Project Number 1

My First DIY Solar Water Heater

As it turns out, for the 'novice solar engineer,' the 'diy hot water heater,' is probably the most simple solar project anyone can undertake.

What makes the 'solar water heater project' one of the easiest projects you can do, is that while there are some more 'sophisticated' set ups for heating water, even the simplest, most rudimentary system can do the trick.

For one thing, there are only about 3 things you actually 'need' hot water for in your house. Bathing (or showering), washing dishes, and doing laundry.

Laundry rarely 'requires' hot water however. The only time you absolutely 'must have' hot water is if you're dealing with infectious material, or bodily fluids on whatever fabrics you're washing. In those cases, most 'modern' washing machines use less than 40 gallons of water per 1 large load of wash. These circumstances are rare for me, so this was not my first concern, though I certainly did account for it.

As far as dishes go... a dishwashwer uses approximately 6 gallons of water to run one cycle. I wash dishes by hand, filling up one sink with approximately 1.5 gallons of hot water for washing, and then, I use a second sink for rinsing. And while some people find it acceptable to rinse all their dishes in one 'tub' (or sink) of water, my personal feeling, is that there still needs to be a way to 'rinse' the dishes with running water even after the 'second sink rinse,' because once you put the first soapy dish in that water, the water is now soapy and will therefore make every other dish you attempt to rinse it soapy as well.

Luckily... however, when it comes the one thing that hot water is most important for... showering, there are several options to choose from.

Option 1: The "Camping" Solar Shower.

I bought two of these at Wal Mart few years ago for an 'outdoor bathroom' project that never got done.

They're exceptionally cheap at less than $15 each,

They're also easy as pie to use.

All you need to do is fill it with water, set it in the sun to warm up..
... and possibly move it if your 'sun' happens to be in a different spot than you plan to 'use' the shower in.

The ones I bought hold 5 gallons (or 20 liters) of water, and in direct sun, on a hot day, should heat the water inside up to a 'shower comfortable temperature' in j,ust 3 hours thanks to their 'black' heat holding color.

And it comes with a detachable hose and shower head.

At this price... if I had none, I would probably buy at least 3, if not 4 of them. One for each inside bathroom, one for rinsing the dishes, and one for the 'outdoor bathroom' project... if that ever does get done.

Get 10 Gallons instead of 5...

You can get the Lemcool Camping Solar Shower Bag 5 gallon solar shower on Amazon for $12.99, and with Prime.

One thing to note is that the 'average' shower uses approximately 8.5 gallons of water, so you may want two of these per bathroom... or you could also opt for the SWISH 10 gallon (40 liter) Solar Power Camping Shower Bag.

While the SWISH Solar Shower holds twice the amount of water that the Lemcool Solar Shower bag holds, it won't cost you anywhere near twice as much money.

You can get the SWISH 10 gallon (40 liter) Solar Power Camping Shower Bag on Amazon for just $19.99 and it too comes with the removable hose and shower head.

Wal Mart sells them for $22.69 and they're not available in the stores, leaving you with the possible added cost of shipping, plus waiting for delivery.

WAIT... What about a bath?

No one loves to relax in a luxuriating bubble bath more than... ,! I may be a prepper who likes to dig in the dirt, and use power tools to build stuff, and even design and build machines... but even I have an 'inner girly girl,' and she has her 'personal pampering needs.'

Would you care to guess how many gallons of water it takes to fill a standard bathtub?

Here, let me save you the Googling time... it's 80 gallons.

Well... 8 of the 10 gallon 'shower bags,' would come to $160.00 and then I'd have to manage to transfer all 8 bags into the tub, which would obviously require 'some' amount of 'distance,' since my bath tub isn't out in either the front or back yard in the full sun.

Unless... it could be. Those outdoor bathroom plans weren't 'scratched,' they were just 'back-burnered.'

I even have a trough I could use, and...

Check out these videos I found on YouTube for 'DIY Solar Powered Hot Tubs.'

Solar Powered Hot Tub

Here's Another "DIY Off Grid Solar Heated Hot Tub" With No Bells or Whistles....

I live in Florida, so I don't have to worry quite as much about winter as this guy does, but we do still have some cold days here in the winter months, so I'll definitely have to keep that in mind while looking through videos on YouTube.

This one is DIY 'Pool' Solar Heat, though the exact same thing could be done for a hot tub...

And so far... this has been the best video yet... and not just because of the video, but also, because you can get even more information from the comments on this one!

DIY Solarr Heater

In our next post on "DIY Solar Water Heating," I'll show you the 'solar water system' I settled on, and why.

Until then... check out this video on how you can have your very own

DIY Hot Tub

DIY Wood Fired Hot Tub

Coming Up... How To Get An Endless Supply of Free Firewood, Delivered Right To Your Front Door. - Without ever cutting a single branch or even a twig.

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 22:22:00 +0000

Water Prepping for Pandemic Covid -19 Series

Quick and Easy Water Collection Systems To Stay Hydrated During the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

This post is the second article in our "Prepping For Pandemic Covid-19 "Coronavirus" Series.
Click Here For Article 1- Family Reunification Planning

If there's one thing we've all heard about any illness, it's this: "Stay hydrated."

Disclaimer: This post is intended for people who are healthy and able-bodied. It is NOT medical advice nor is it intended to be taken as such. If you are sick, please seek professional medical attention immediately.

In this article, we're going to go over:

Why you need water preps
Ways to collect water
Ways to desalinate water
Ways to distill water

...Even if you don't have or can't afford fancy equipment...

Plus, we'll also go over what to do if you live in an apartment or any other place where you may not be allowed to collect rain water.

Why Do You Need Water Preps?

So here we are... March 25, 2020 and there are places in the US where local city and county governments are still discussing whether or not to issue 'stay at home,' or 'shelter in place' orders.

A friend of mine who lives on a boat in Ireland commented on Facebook the other day about people getting their yachts ready, even though there is no safe place to go.

PSA- The phrase 'Global Pandemic,' is redundant. Pandemic means 'global.'

And while it's true that there is no safe place to go when the virus is 'global,' the trouble with this 'novel' virus is twofold- one it's a 'novel' virus, meaning humans have never been exposed to it before and therefore have no natural immunity to it, and two, and probably even more devastating, is that it's one of the most highly contagious viruses that the world has ever seen.

Now while 'communicability' is one reason to brave the open seas, it's also the reason that if people won't stay the Hell home without being forced to, they're going to cause martial law to happen... and if that happens, your needs for water and food are going to be entirely dependent on the National Guard providing these things for you.

Let me repeat that for those of you in the back of the room:

"If you won't stay the Hell home of your own free will, you will force the powers that be to force martial law on us all. Because that is the reality of the Covid-19 Virus Pandemic, Coronavirus."

And just in case you haven't seen the hundreds of movies that have depict any kind of 'apocalypse,' be it from war, pandemic, or even aliens, getting food and water could very well be the least of your problems if martial law is declared and the Constitution is suspended. I'm not saying that the United States government will nuke an entire town to stop the spread of the disease or that the National Guard will simply go door to door and test and shoot anyone who's infected, (or just happens to be in a town with infection) but I consider prepping for it to be much like carrying some condoms and a gun - 'it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.'

Just as none of these things may happen, just as the grid may not go down... if they do, with this info, you'll be as prepared as I can make you based on the knowledge I've gained in my 9 years of prepping.

So, that said, if you don't have or can't get a boat to gain access to the last vestige of freedom, the open sea, then it's time to consider how you can harvest and store water and how to distill it so it's safe for drinking.

In any event, whether we find ourselves under martial law, or if the grid should go down (yes, most places will require some form of 'power' to a pump that brings water up from a well to your home,) not having to venture out to get water will keep you safe from soldiers telling you that you can't leave your home when you need water. Likewise, if any 'door to door' anything should happen, hiding is easier if you know you can come out once they're gone and still have water. (We'll cover food in another post.)

Alright now, let's get started on water collection, storage and systems for making water safe to drink:

Assessment- How Easily Can You Get Water?

First thing I want to talk about is climate I happen to live in a sub-tropical climate. That means it rains here. A lot. I'm in Florida and it rains here almost every day in the summer time. I'm also surrounded by water on 3 sides (salt water), and I have lakes and rivers - many of which are spring fed,- and pools all around me. So collecting rain water is easy enough for me.

Now, I don't know much about the desert, so if you live in one of those, the best I can do for you in this post is to give you 'collection' ideas, tell you to fill them up now, and then refer you to some other survival sites where you might get more information on how to get water in the desert.

Just being able to 'collect' or 'harvest' rain water or water from lakes or ponds or rivers, etc is only the first step. Even in my sub-tropical climate, where it rains every day in the summer time, I still need 'containers' to collect that water, as even here, we have 'droughts.'

Make Any Water Drinkable, Instantly, with, The Life Straw

Water, water everywhere... and none is safe to drink...

If you happen to live near any body of water, whether it's a spring or a nasty slimy swamp, or even if you do have to harvest water but need it before any kind of purification process can be completed, the 'Life Straw' is one device that every prepper should have in their supply kit and bug out bag.

Now I've seen these in the camping section at Wal Mart, however, if your WalMart doesn't carry them, they are available on Amazon.

Award-winning LifeStraw water filter is a must-carry tool for hiking, camping, travel, and emergencies; no disaster kit is complete without it
Filters up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 liters) of contaminated water without iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals; does not require batteries and has no moving parts
Removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites, and filters to 0.2 microns; surpasses EPA filter standards
An alternative to iodine tablets and bulky purifiers, it weighs 2oz for ultralight portability, and has a high flow rate for drinking from the source
Comes in a sealed bag, perfect for storing in a bugout bag or other prepper gear supply kit; measures 9 x 1 x 1 inches.BPA Free materials

Click Here To Buy the Life Straw on Amazon.

Collecting Rain Water

Retention Pond

If you live on any kind of 'large' piece of land, obviously a retention pond is one possible way to

collect rain water. However, stagnant water will bring mosquitoes and not only are they a 'nuisance,' they also bring their own set of diseases. Not to mention that in some areas, this could even be a violation of local code enforcement ordinances. My best guess is that if you have land and have had it for a while, you've already considered this option and for whatever reason haven't done it. Or you have but don't know how to purify it for drinking. Maybe you did it for irrigation, or maybe you didn't do it for one reason or another, such as code enforcement regulations in your area. If you do have one, then the Life Straw can purify that water for you

Cisterns

Cisterns are another option, and I've actually even seen one in a back yard in suburbia on a 7,000 square foot lot. This is one project I would definitely love to do one day, and if you don't have a water collection and purification system set up yet, I'd suggest starting with something that you can get set up quickly... as in, before the SHTF. If you're curious however, or if you've got water covered and the 'stay at home,' advice has you bored and you want to try a new project, here's a cool YouTube video depicting the construction of a back yard cistern.

Rain Barrel

Prepping for preps- things to know before you start collecting rain water...

While the Life Straw, as well as the purification/distillation systems we're going to talk about in this article can offset a good amount of the problems that you may run into if you just tried to set out a bucket to collect rain water and then drink it, the goal of any 'survival' preparation or system should be 'sustainability first.' As Life Straws have a 'shelf life,' and purification and distillation processes, just like desalination processes, take time, taking these few extra steps prior to starting to collect your rain water can provide you with a more sustainable solution than some other solutions offer.

Here's an excellent article from the "Homesteadsurvivalsite.com' on "Mistakes To Avoid When Harvesting Rain Water."

When I first started collecting rain water it was for irrigating my garden, so while I made several of these mistakes myself, it wasn't as big of a deal as it is now that I'm prepping for 'drinkable' water.

Make sure to read the article before setting up your system.

Choosing your rain barrel(s) and your rain water rain barrel collection system

Rain water collection systems are, for the most part, fairly simple systems. You set up a 'container' to collect water when it rains, and you get water. I've set up 5 gallon pails that were just out in the yard, and I've set them up under my gutters too. I've also set up the blue, 55 gallon barrels directly under the gutters. And so far, I've got one under a gutter in my front yard, and one under a gutter in my back yard. Mine aren't raised off the ground and I don't have any 'bank of barrels' that have piping from one barrel to another to collect large amounts. I don't have any hoses or pumps attached to either of them either, though aquarium pumps are cheap at Wal Mart and the plumbing supplies needed to create a 'bank' are fairly inexpensive at Wal Mart, Home Depot, or on Amazon.

Personally, I like shopping on Amazon, because I can make a list, get everything I need and get it delivered. No walking through Wal Mart getting side tracked by all the other bright shiny objects, and no 'mansplaining' from the chauvinistic Y Chromosome holding employees at Home Depot...

So my set up will evolve. Eventually. As will yours. Especially if things like time, money, skills and knowledge are barriers for you.

Which brings me to my first piece of advice when it comes to setting up a rain water collection system.

"Work with what you've got, evolve as you can."

If all you've got to work with right now is a 5 gallon jug, then set it up under a gutter. If you can afford a round plastic kiddie pool from Wal Mart, buy it. Caveat: Use black garbage bags to make a cover to a.) keep it from turning green b.) keep it from becoming a mosquito egg laying haven and c.) to have it double as a source of 'solar heated hot water, for bathing, washing clothes and washing dishes,' to keep your electric bills down.

Now, if your funds allow you to buy one or more rain barrels, here are a few styles you can choose from.

Starting with the least expensive option...

The Good Ideas RW40-KHA 40 gallon Rain Wizard Rain Barrel

Now this one is definitely one that I like a lot. The Good Ideas RW40-KHA 40 gallon Rain Wizard Rain Barrel in Khaki offers a versatile style that easily blends in with just about any garden decor. Another plus is that it comes with a built-in spigot and at only $74.89, the Good Ideas 40 gallon Rain Wizard Rain Barrel is one of the least costly units available on Amazon.

It can also be easily integrated into a 'bank' of barrels with simple hoses. Although, with hoses, you will most likely need to manually open the spigots as one barrel fills and you need to fill the next one.

The Good Ideas RW-ASPEN50-OAK Wizard Aspen, Large 50 Gallon Saver-Oak Rain Barrel

If you're willing to forego the aesthetics for more 'storage' the Good Ideas RW-ASPEN50-OAK Wizard Aspen, Large 50 Gallon Saver-Oak Rain Barrel is a very comparable option to the more decorative ' RW 40-KHA Rain Wizard above.' Like the previous barrel, it comes fitted with a spigot, saving you both the expense of purchasing not only the spigot but also the plumbers cement needed to seal the hole the spigot is placed in, but also the time of having to drill the hole and install the spigot as well. For barely $1.00 more, the Good Ideas RW-ASPEN50-OAK Wizard Aspen, Large 50 Gallon Saver-Oak Rain Barrel offers an extra 10 gallons of water storage and can also be purchased on Amazon.

The Good Ideas IMP-N50-DBR Impressions Nantucket Rain Saver Rain Barrel, 50 Gallon, in Dark Brown

If your budget allows another $50.00 per water containment unit, the IMP- N50-DBR Nantucket Rain Saver Barrel offers a lot more than than the previously mentioned Good Ideas Rain Barrels. Featuring two spigots, this rain barrel offers the options of not only even easier 'rain barrel bank systems,' it also allows you more options for which you can assign various water tasks, as each can feed into another barrel, while also allow you to attach hoses to the second spigot for various water needs. These dual spigots allow you to assign each barrel to different 'tasks,' such as irrigation for your garden, a solar heated hot water source for your home, or even, an outdoor shower if that's on your list of 'back yard fantasies.'

And while the second spigot is a very convenient feature, the Nantucket Rain Saver Barrel also has a top that serves as a 'planter,' allowing your rain barrel to do double duty, saving rain water and growing crops of food, or flowers.

The Good Ideas IMP-N50-DBR Impresssions 50 gallon Nantucket Rain Saver Rain Barrel in Dark Brown, is available on Amazon.

The Good Ideas Rain Barrels are only a small fraction of the rain barrels available on Amazon. You can always search Amazon yourself and see what you find that strikes your fancy.

For now we still have a lot more territory to cover in this post, so I'm going to briefly touch on a couple of simple collection systems you can set up, and then we're going to move on to how to desalinate and distill water.

Water Collection Systems Using Multiple Water Collection Containers....

I'm just going to post a couple of YouTube videos so you can get an idea of some of the ways people have chosen to set up their own water collection systems. The plumbing is pretty much the same for all of them, so really, making a decision is going to come down to your own personal resources in terms of time, money, and space.

Rainwater Harvesting | Collect & Store The Cleanest Rain Water From Your Roof!

Rain Harvesting the Right Way - Prepper's Must See

Building a Rain Barrel - Easy as 1, 2, 3

Now that you've seen a few rain water collection system set ups, let's talk about 'purification.'

Water Purification Processes

Aside from the Life Straw mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are two other ways that are useful for turning water into drinking water.

We're going to examine one simple process that will turn either salt water, or any other kind of water, into drinkable H20, and best of all, this process can be done using no energy by using the power of the sun and 'evaporation.'

How To Desalinate and/or Distill Water

How to Desalinate Water on a Desert Island

Don't let the title to this video fool you. You don't have to be stranded on some deserted isle to make this work and the process uses supplies you can get for free, usually from your own home.

If you want to speed up the process, check out this video...

How To Turn Salt Water Into Fresh Water (Simple Improvised Distillation)

And if you want speed, without fire, check out this video...

DIY Solar Desalinator/Distiller (Turn Salt Water Into FRESH WATER!)

And that just about covers everything I can think of for 'water' preps.

Here are a few other sites I recommend for more information:

http://survivalistboards.com/
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/
http://www.survivalblog.com/
http://offgridsurvival.com/
http://www.survivallife.com/
http://www.secretsofsurvival.com/
http://www.preparedsociety.com/
http://www.equipped.com/
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/

DIY Greenhouse- Ongoing Fun For The Whole Family

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 21:11:00 +0000

Do It Yourself Greenhouse Project

If the gardening bug hit hard this year, I want you to know, I'm right there with you. By March, I'm usually twitching with impatience for getting my hands into some dirt.

This year, that twitching was more intense as my 'prepper' instincts reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and the 'dress rehearsal' of what martial law is going to look like in the beginning, and.... it came with an intense burning 'need' to get at least one greenhouse up.

"If you can control the climate, you can grow almost anything."

Even though I live in Florida, and have a pretty much 'year round growing season,' there are other compelling reasons to have a greenhouse.

Why You Should Consider A Greenhouse

Here is a list of just a few of the benefits you'll get from providing your crops with their very own special home.

Protection from the sun in the summer and the cold in the winter
Protection from over-watering.
Easier to irrigate plants
Requires less water
Wastes less water
Fewer weeds, and a lot less weed pulling.

Plus... If your kids haven't taken an interest in gardening yet, a family 'DIY Greenhouse Build' project may be just what you need to 'disguise,' sustainability and survival lessons as a fun building project the whole family can wok on together.

What my kids think I mean when I say
'greenhouse'

Whether you have girls or boys, there is no shortage of fun to be had throughout the process...

From designing the greenhouse, to gathering the materials and supplies, to building it and seeing the finished product come to life, you're kids will never forget the experience of building your own greenhouse.

Build Your Own Greenhouse

What I think I mean when I say
'greenhouse'

If you've always wanted to try your hand at building a 'do it yourself greenhouse,' but were overwhelmed and confused about what to do and where to start, you're definitely not alone.

When it comes to greenhouses, there are so many shapes, and styles, and various greenhouse materials you can use, (*and often find for free,) that it can be hard to decide exactly what you want.

How to decide what type of greenhouse is right for you

When it comes to choosing the right kind of greenhouse for you have an over-abundance of options for the size, design. From small greenhouses with metal stands and plastic covers, to large walk-through tunnel greenhouses, you can buy on Amazon, all the way to DIY glass greenhouses made from windows, you might even find yourself buying or building multiple greenhouses for various reasons, like different crops, or even to plant barrier plants to help control pests and other crop destroyers. Greenhouses huge Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help narrow down the choices of just what size and type of greenhouse you're going to build.

1.) What Crops Do You Want To Grow?
First, you should make a list of all the plants you know for sure that you want to grow.

2.) Climate
Next, you'll want to consider your climate. As some plants could be grown outside of your greenhouse depending on the weather in any of your seasons, which would free up greenhouse space during those seasons for you to grow other plants.

3.) Design
Third, You also needs to make sure that your greenhouse will be designed with proper air circulation spaces, ventilation, pest control soil, heaters for winter season, and humidity control devices. You should create an environment that is appropriate for the types of plants that will grow in your greenhouse.

4.) Location
Fourth, you'll need to locate the area of your property that will provide the right exposure to sunlight that the plants you want to grow will need. Then you'll want to measure that area to give you an idea of just what size greenhouse you can build there.

5.) Construction
Most greenhouse are made from either metal or pvc framing, though you can also use wood, and are covered with either plastic or glass. While you can buy greenhouse plastic in various thicknesses (called 'mils') on Amazon, you can also simply watch sites like Craigslist, LetGo, OfferUp, and even NextDoor, for people who are either giving away (happens a lot more often than you might think) or selling very cheap, old windows.

As far as the foundation goes, you could pour a cement slab if you wanted to. Likewise, you could also use railroad ties, or even old pallets to create a 'floor.' And the main reason for a floor is to keep pests out of your crops.

Just like your own home, as my dad used to tell me, "there is an unlimited amount of time and money you can spend on your house."

Extras for your greenhouse...

Adding benches for extra plants, and even seating areas so that you can simply sit and relax and enjoy the peace and serenity of your 'controlled garden space,' is one thing you might consider.

A most useful thing to add to a greenhouse is a rain barrel for collecting rain water so that you can always have rain water available for irrigation for your crops.

Another thing you might consider is adding storage space for things like your potting soil, fertilizer, and other conveniences like auotomatic watering equipment. A rubbermaid storage bench is an excellent choice for an addition as it does double duty, serving both your storage and seating needs. Even better, it's an aesthetically pleasing feature not just for you to enjoy, but also for guests to enjoy when they come to visit and you want to show off your beautiful greenhouse, and your amazing food preps from your liberty garden.

Your greenhouse, whether you purchase it, DIY it, or build it, is one of the most enjoyable, as well as relaxing activities you can engage in when it comes to prepping. And a Build your own DIY greenhouse is a fun project that's even more fun with the help of family and friends, so get them involved too. With all the different designs and shapes to choose from, your kiddos are sure to get excited about this project.

Pro-Tip; Tell the kiddos to consider it practice for building their own fort, and they'll be guaranteed to get excited and jump in to help.

"Pandemic Survival Covid 19 Series" - Coping Skills: Overcoming, Anxiety and Depression

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 23:24:00 +0000

Pandemic Survival Stress - Panic, Anxiety, Stress, Fear....

After seeing so many friends suffering the effects of either social distancing, or social isolation, not to mention the fear, anxiety and outright panic about the future... the economy, jobs, bills...

Plus, worrying about either getting the virus, or their kids (especially those who are immuno-compromised or have immuno-compromised kids,)...

And having been through my own 'trauma,' fraught with anxiety and panic attacks, and a lot of therapy over the course of my life, plus my 'only child syndrome natural inclination to like spending time enjoying my own company, and working at home for 15 years, . I wanted to help others who were struggling with this 'emotional turmoil,' of dealing with this Covid-19 pandemic.

Managing And Coping With The Emotional Turmoil Of The Corona Virus Pandemic

Start your day off right- with Positive Affirmations To Start Your Day

I've compiled a short list of 'Great Day Starting Positive Affirmations" videos I found on YouTube. I've listed them in order of 'length,' because I realize that we all have different amounts of free time available, so I listed these resources based on the time commitment each one requires, starting with 5 minutes, and ending with 30 minutes.

Choose the one that's best suited to the time you have available or are willing to invest... and put your fears, panic, and anxiety to rest.

[5 Minutes] Affirmations To Overcome Worry And Anxiety – Morning Motivation (DARE app)

[7 Minutes] POWERFUL 7 Minute Affirmations - for Anxiety, Panic and Fear

[10 Minutes] POWERFUL Life Changing Positive Affirmations Let Go Overthinking Analyzing Negativity Worry Anxiety

[15 Minutes] Daily Affirmations For Anxiety Fatigue & Emotional Healing

[15 Minutes] Positive affirmations SOFT SPOKEN for stress, anxiety, depression (with rain sounds)

[20 Minutes] ASMR - for Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness (positive affirmations, breathing, meditation)

[30 Minutes] Spoken Affirmations For Panic Attack, Anxiety and to calm down. (Using the law of attraction)

[15 Minutes] Daily Affirmations For Anxiety Fatigue & Emotional Healing

Bonus Resource:

"Helping your kids process their emotions"

Morning Affirmations For Kids
3 Min Before School POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS For Anxious Children

Overcoming The Overwhelm Of Anxiety & Depression From Pandemic Survival Overload

As someone who has not only suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, and who's been avoiding places that are just too 'peopley,' for years, I figured that 'social distancing' wouldn't be a problem for me at all. I certainly did not even consider that I would feel anxiety from being alone.

The anxiety and panic attacks I'd experienced some 10-15 years ago were triggered by being 'out' in public, around people. Around too many people. Or sitting in traffic with too many cars on the road.

Yet, after nearly a month of extremely limited 'human connections,' every now and again I've felt the all too 'human,' need for human contact... for 'connection.'

Fortunately, with 45 years as a 'lonely only,' under my belt, a dash of Stockholm Syndrome, a handful of PTSD, then bake at '15 years of working from home,' I'm not just 'immune' to the effects of the social distancing (which many people are confusing with 'social isolation,') I've also got some pretty good coping skills for dealing with the mountain of negative emotional impact this 'pandemic' is unleashing on the world.

Extra coping skills anyone cane use to fight fear and avoid stress, depression, and anxiety...

Eat right, get plenty of exercise and and make sure that you are taking care of you.

Start keeping fresh fruits and vegetables stocked in your fridge, and try to eat 5 small meals each day. instead the large meals.

Exercise isn't just good for your body. It's also good for your mind... for your mental, psychological, and emotional health. Get out and go for a walk. Take a bide ride. If you can find a place to swim, go swimming.

There's never been a better time to start a garden, and the best time to start any exercise regiment is always 'right now.'

And with the kiddos home from school, you're going to be scrambling to keep them fed due to 'boredom eating.'

Getting them involved in gardening with you will make them eager to taste the food they grew, and there are many a lesson to be learned from a 'back yard garden' experience.

And since you won't completely 'cure' the 'boredom eating,' getting them up, and out and moving is a requirement, not an option, to satiate their boredom.

Start plan m out some things you'd like to do with your time, and then, start doing it.

This post is part of the " Prepping for Pandemic, The Covid-19 "Coronavirus" Series."

Previous Posts

Grow Food Fast Prepping For Pandemic Food Shortages

Water Prepping For Pandemic

Family Unification Planning - Prepping For Pandemic

Next Post

Power Prepper, When The Grid Goes Down *Coming Soon.

Grow Food Fast Prepping For Pandemic Food Shortages - Covid 19 Series

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:10:00 +0000

Foods You Can Grow And Eat Quickly

If you're worried that you're 'too late,' or that you didn't start early enough, don't fret, because in this post, we'll also cover 20 foods that you can grow that will provide you with food in as little as 2 weeks.

If the Covid-19 "Coronavirus" Pandemic has showed all of us, it's that the shelves in the stores can remain empty for long periods of time.

It's not too late to start planning and planting your 'survival food garden.'

And with 'virtual schooling,' and the 'Stay at Home' guidelines that have been issued in 34 states as of the date of this post, starting a home food gardening project can help to alleviate boredom for parents and children alike, and in some cases, can also be applied to 'school work,' assignments in subjects ranging from math to physical science.

How To Start Your Very Own Food Garden

Start With Foods That You Can Grow, Harvest, and Eat Quickly...

You may be thinking that it's too late to start growing your own food now, but luckily, it's not.

Below is a list of vegetables that you can grow in anywhere, in 3 months or less.

Including 4 foods that grow in less than one month, two of them in 14 days or less, and two more in just 2 weeks time.

There are many foods you can grow quickly and easily. And there are also quite a few foods that you can grow inside as well as outside. Below is a list of 18 foods you can grow and eat quickly, and easily.

Vegetables You Can Grow and Eat, Quickly...

21 Days or Less

Sunflower Shoots 12 Days - HowTo Grow Sunflower Shoots - video

Garden Cress 14 Days - EasyWay To Grow Cress - video

Radishes 21 Days - The Complete Guide To Growing Radishse - video

Green Onions 21 Days - HowTo Grow Green Onions - video

30 days

Lettuce 30 Days - HowTo Grow Lettuce From Seed, Indoors, In Just 1 Month - video

Spinach 30 Days - HowTo Grow Spinach In Pot Or Container - video

Kale 30 Days - How To Grow Kale All Year Round In Containers- video

60 days or less

Zucchini 40-50 Days - How To Grow Zucchini Vertically - video

Bush Beans 40-50 Days - How To Grow Bush Beans - video

Broccoli 40-50 Days - Easiest Method To Grow Broccoli At Home - video

Carrots 50 Days - How To Grow Carrots In Containers - video

Cucumbers 50 Days - Growing Cucumbers in Containers - video

Peas 6o Days - Growing Peas In A Pot - video

90 days or less

Potatoes 60-70 Days - How To Grow Potatoes In A 5 Gallon Bucket - video

Sweet Potatoes 70-90 Days - How To Grow Sweet Potatoes In Containers - video

These 15 vegetable crops should be enough to get you through until you can grow and harvest other foods.

What about fast growing fruits?

While there are some fruit trees that will produce fruit in their first year, such as the peach tree and the papaya tree, a year is still quite a long time to wait for fruit.

Three fruits that you can also grow quickly are cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew.

Cantaloupe normally take 90 days to grow from seed to ripen.
Watermelon grow from seed to a 10lb fruit in 65-90 days.
Honeydew take between 45 and 60 days to bear fruit.

Each of these three delicious fruits can be grown, harvested and eaten in no more than 120 days, or 4 months.

All three fruits are vines, and in a traditional garden, would require a 4 sq ft per plant to allow for the 'sprawl,' of the vines.

Thanks to 'trellis gardening,' you can reduce the amount of space needed for these (and other viny plants like summer squash, zucchini, pumpkin, and cucumbers) foods down to as little as 1 square foot per plant.

You can also grow blackberries that you can eat in the first year.

Now that you've got a comprehensive overview of what to do to get your own food garden started, start planting...

This post is part of the " Prepping for Pandemic, The Covid-19 "Coronavirus" Series."

Did you like this post? Do you have any questions, or helpful stuff to share? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

Water Prepping for Pandemic Covid -19 Series

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:58:00 +0000

Quick and Easy Water Collection Systems To Stay Hydrated During the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

This post is the second article in our "Prepping For Pandemic Covid-19 "Coronavirus" Series.

Click Here For Article 1- Family Reunification Planning

If there's one thing we've all heard about any illness, it's this: "Stay hydrated."

In this article, we're going to go over:

Why you need water preps

Ways to collect water

Ways to desalinate water

Ways to distill water

Plus, we'll also go over what to do if you live in an apartment or any other place where you may not be allowed to collect rain water.

...Even if you don't have or can't afford fancy equipment...

Why Do You Need Water Preps?

Let me repeat that for those of you in the back of the room:

And just in case you haven't seen the hundreds of movies that have depict any kind of 'apocalypse,' be it from war, pandemic, or even aliens, getting food and water could very well be the least of your problems if martial law is declared and the Constitution is suspended.

I'm not saying that the United States government will nuke an entire town to stop the spread of the disease or that the National Guard will simply go door to door and test and shoot anyone who's infected, (or just happens to be in a town with infection) but I consider prepping for it to be much like carrying some condoms and a gun - 'it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.'

Just as none of these things may happen, just as the grid may not go down... if they do, with this info, you'll be as prepared as I can make you based on the knowledge I've gained in my 9 years of prepping.

So, that said, if you don't have or can't get a boat to gain access to the last vestige of freedom, the open sea, then it's time to consider how you can harvest and store water and how to distill it so it's safe for drinking.

In any event, whether we find ourselves under martial law, or if the grid should go down (yes, most places will require some form of 'power' to a pump that brings water up from a well to your home,) not having to venture out to get water will keep you safe from soldiers telling you that you can't leave your home when you need water. Likewise, if any 'door to door' anything should happen, hiding is easier if you know you can come out once they're gone and still have water. (We'll cover food in another post.)

Alright now, let's get started on water collection, storage and systems for making water safe to drink:

Assessment- How Easily Can You Get Water

Make Any Water Drinkable, Instantly, with, The Life Straw

Water, water everywhere... and none is safe to drink...

If you happen to live near any body of water, whether it's a spring or a nasty slimy swamp, or even if you do have to harvest water but need it before any kind of purification process can be completed, the 'Life Straw' is one device that every prepper should have in their supply kit and bug out bag.

Now I've seen these in the camping section at Wal Mart, however, if your WalMart doesn't carry them, they are available on Amazon.

Award-winning LifeStraw water filter is a must-carry tool for hiking, camping, travel, and emergencies; no disaster kit is complete without it

Filters up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 liters) of contaminated water without iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals; does not require batteries and has no moving parts.

Removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites, and filters to 0.2 microns; surpasses EPA filter standards.

An alternative to iodine tablets and bulky purifiers, it weighs 2oz for ultralight portability, and has a high flow rate for drinking from the source.

Comes in a sealed bag, perfect for storing in a bugout bag or other prepper gear supply kit; measures 9 x 1 x 1 inches.BPA Free materials

Click Here To Buy the Life Straw on Amazon.

Collecting Rain Water

Retention Pond

If you live on any kind of 'large' piece of land, obviously a retention pond is one possible way to

collect rain water.

However, stagnant water will bring mosquitoes and not only are they a 'nuisance,' they also bring their own set of diseases. Not to mention that in some areas, this could even be a violation of local code enforcement ordinances.

My best guess is that if you have land and have had it for a while, you've already considered this option and for whatever reason haven't done it. Or you have but don't know how to purify it for drinking. Maybe you did it for irrigation, or maybe you didn't do it for one reason or another, such as code enforcement regulations in your area.

If you do have one, then the Life Straw can purify that water for you

Cisterns

Cisterns are another option, and I've actually even seen one in a back yard in suburbia on a 7,000 square foot lot. This is one project I would definitely love to do one day, and if you don't have a water collection and purification system set up yet, I'd suggest starting with something that you can get set up quickly... as in, before the SHTF.

If you're curious however, or if you've got water covered and the 'stay at home,' advice has you bored and you want to try a new project, here's a cool YouTube video depicting the construction of a back yard cistern.

Rain Barrel

I'm sure you've seen or you know what 'rain barrels' are. The most common ones are blue, 55 gallon plastic barrels that you can sit right under one or more of your rain gutters so you can collect the most water from your rainfall.

The image on the left is probably the most common and most recognizable rain barrel rain water collection systems.

The blue, 55 gallon, plastic drums can be found just about anywhere. No rain barrels are 'cheap' to buy, with the lowest price I've seen on Amazon being about $75.00. I've found several free on Craigslist, but I've also been collecting them (and other stuff from the CL 'Free' section) for years. When not available in the Free section, try the 'Farm and Garden' section.

But, if you don't have the time and you do have the funds, I'll show you some other options in this article as well.

Before we take a look at the various types of rain barrels and their respective set-ups, there are a fewethings you should probably know about collecting rain water via the gutters on your home.
Prepping for preps- things to know before you start collecting rain water...

Here's an excellent article from the "Homesteadsurvivalsite.com' on "Mistakes To Avoid When Harvesting Rain Water."

When I first started collecting rain water it was for irrigating my garden, so while I made several of these mistakes myself, it wasn't as big of a deal as it is now that I'm prepping for 'drinkable' water.
Make sure to read the article before setting up your system.

Rain water collection systems are, for the most part, fairly simple systems. You set up a 'container' to collect water when it rains, and you get water.

I've set up 5 gallon pails that were just out in the yard, and I've set them up under my gutters too. I've also set up the blue, 55 gallon barrels directly under the gutters. And so far, I've got one under a gutter in my front yard, and one under a gutter in my back yard.

Mine aren't raised off the ground and I don't have any 'bank of barrels' that have piping from one barrel to another to collect large amounts. I don't have any hoses or pumps attached to either of them either, though aquarium pumps are cheap at Wal Mart and the plumbing supplies needed to create a 'bank' are fairly inexpensive at Wal Mart, Home Depot, or on Amazon.

Personally, I like shopping on Amazon, because I can make a list, get everything I need and get it delivered. No walking through Wal Mart getting side tracked by all the other bright shiny objects, and no 'mansplaining' from the chauvinistic Y Chromosome holding employees at Home Depot...

"Work with what you've got, evolve as you can."

Now, if your funds allow you to buy one or more rain barrels, here are a few styles you can choose from.

Starting with the least expensive option...

The Good Ideas RW40-KHA 40 gallon Rain Wizard Rain Barrel
Now this one is definitely one that I like a lot.

The Good Ideas RW40-KHA 40 gallon Rain Wizard Rain Barrel in Khaki offers a versatile style that easily blends in with just about any garden decor. Another plus is that it comes with a built-in spigot and at only $74.89, the Good Ideas 40 gallon Rain Wizard Rain Barrel is one of the least costly units available on Amazon.

The Good Ideas RW-ASPEN50-OAK Wizard Aspen, Large 50 Gallon Saver-Oak Rain Barrel

If you're willing to forego the aesthetics for more 'storage' the Good Ideas RW-ASPEN50-OAK Wizard Aspen, Large 50 Gallon Saver-Oak Rain Barrel is a very comparable option to the more decorative ' RW 40-KHA Rain Wizard above.'

Like the previous barrel, it comes fitted with a spigot, saving you both the expense of purchasing not only the spigot but also the plumbers cement needed to seal the hole the spigot is placed in, but also the time of having to drill the hole and install the spigot as well.

For barely $1.00 more, the Good Ideas RW-ASPEN50-OAK Wizard Aspen, Large 50 Gallon Saver-Oak Rain Barrel offers an extra 10 gallons of water storage and can also be purchased on Amazon.

The Good Ideas IMP-N50-DBR Impressions Nantucket Rain Saver Rain Barrel, 50 Gallon, in Dark Brown

If your budget allows another $50.00 per water containment unit, the IMP- N50-DBR Nantucket Rain Saver Barrel offers a lot more than than the previously mentioned Good Ideas Rain Barrels.

Featuring two spigots, this rain barrel offers the options of not only even easier 'rain barrel bank systems,' it also allows you more options for which you can assign various water tasks, as each can feed into another barrel, while also allow you to attach hoses to the second spigot for various water needs.

These dual spigots allow you to assign each barrel to different 'tasks,' such as irrigation for your garden, a solar heated hot water source for your home, or even, an outdoor shower if that's on your list of 'back yard fantasies.'

And while the second spigot is a very convenient feature, the Nantucket Rain Saver Barrel also has a top that serves as a 'planter,' allowing your rain barrel to do double duty, saving rain water and growing crops of food, or flowers.

The Good Ideas IMP-N50-DBR Impresssions 50 gallon Nantucket Rain Saver Rain Barrel in Dark Brown, is available on Amazon.

The Good Ideas Rain Barrels are only a small fraction of the rain barrels available on Amazon. You can always search Amazon yourself and see what you find that strikes your fancy.

For now we still have a lot more territory to cover in this post, so I'm going to briefly touch on a couple of simple collection systems you can set up, and then we're going to move on to how to desalinate and distill water.

Water Collection Systems Using Multiple Water Collection Containers....

Rainwater Harvesting | Collect & Store The Cleanest Rain Water From Your Roof

Rain Harvesting the Right Way - Prepper's Must See

Building a Rain Barrel - Easy as 1, 2, 3

Now that you've seen a few rain water collection system set ups, let's talk about 'purification.'

Water Purification Processes

Aside from the Life Straw mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are two other ways that are useful for turning water into drinking water.

How to Desalinate Water on a Desert Island

Don't let the title to this video fool you. You don't have to be stranded on some deserted isle to make this work and the process uses supplies you can get for free, usually from your own home.

If you want to speed up the process, check out this video...

How To Turn Salt Water Into Fresh Water (Simple Improvised Distillation)

And if you want speed, without fire, check out this video...

DIY Solar Desalinator/Distiller (Turn Salt Water Into FRESH WATER!

And that just about covers everything I can think of for 'water' preps.
Here are a few other sites I recommend for more information:
http://survivalistboards.com/
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/
http://www.survivalblog.com/
http://offgridsurvival.com/
http://www.survivallife.com/
http://www.secretsofsurvival.com/
http://www.preparedsociety.com/
http://www.equipped.com/
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/

Prepping for Pandemic - The Covid 19 Coronavirus Series

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 03:35:00 +0000

So WHO has declared the Coronavirus a 'Pandemic.' I'm 45 years old and I have never seen anything like this. I've also never prepped for a 'pandemic.'

And while it's still a bit early to consider things like that and like martial law, it's never too early to prepare your first line of defense... your family.

Home & Family Travel Preparations For Surviving The Coronavirus Pandemic

If you're spouse or kids suddenly go missing, you wont' be any good to anyone, even yourself. So, even though right now it may not seem like getting separated from your loved ones is going to be a problem, I can't think of a better place to start when it comes to getting prepared.

My family is made up of two adults and two boys ages 14 and almost 11 (as of the time of this writing.) My kids go out to play with friends in the neighborhood and they ride their bikes up to the store. So they'll each have a travel plan, and supplies, of their own. If your kids are at younger ages where they don't go anywhere alone, you'll need a different plan and different supplies for them.

Preparing to travel during a pandemic

Our plan is to always go out with at least one other person and never alone unless there's no other choice.

As long as driving is an option, we'll drive when it's necessary, but since there could be supply line interruptions to things like 'gas,' I've also made sure that all 4 of us have good bikes, with good tires, well-oiled, non-rusty chains, and headlights and tail lights in the event that we should get caught out after dark. And I will be equipping each bike with an air pump as well.

*I also plan to put electric motors on each bike, and I'll cover that in another post.

For supplies, I've decided that each of us will carry a 'travel pouch,' with a compass, a map, and a list of important names, addresses, and phone numbers (landline and mobile) of all family members including ourselves and other family members who don't live with us but are in the same general area (in our case, the same county) any time any of us ventures out.

We will also carry with us a bottle of water, a lunchbox packed with as much food as can fit, including protein bars, and complex carbohydrates.

Finally, we'll each carry a pocket knife, most like a Swiss Army knife, and some kind of tarp with us in a backpack.

If you have young children, you may need to trade your back pack for some kind of a papoose that will allow you to carry your child like a backpack while you ride your bike, and possibly a bike with a 'luggage rack' on it to carry any other things you may need for your child. Depending on the age of your young child, you may need to carry things like formula, diapers and bottles.

If any of us need to go anywhere without the group, an itinerary conveying where we are going, the route we are planning to take to get there, the route we are planning to take home, and what time we expect to return home.

Communications Preps In the Coronavirus Pandemic Apocalypse

Provided that the grid is still up and running and the phones are still working, we will call another family member upon arrival at our destination to let them know we arrived, and then call again to let them know when we are leaving.

If the grid should go down and there is no cell phone communication, one thing to consider is long range 2 way radios.

Emergency Family Reunification Plans

Once we've mapped out the itinerary for the trip, we'll make contingency plans for alternate routes should anything go wrong along any of the routes we're planning to take with notes on reunification points, and with notes on where we will leave a 'marker' for others to see as the 'point' where we went 'off course,' so that we can find the nearest reunification point and meet there.

Now that you have an idea for your own family traveling and reunification plan, here are some resources for sourcing the various items mentioned in this post...

Sourcing The Things Mentioned In This Post....

Bicycles - I got all but one of our bikes off of Craigslist. The one I didn't get from CL was a gift to my son from one of his teachers. It's probably the cheapest place you'll get a bike, but if not, try OfferUp, LetGo, and even NextDoor before heading to Wal Mart or Amazon.

Here are two I've already bought from Craigslist...

The JC Penny 'antique' Beach Cruiser. It's kind of a mint green/teal color. And though it's a 26" bike, it seems to sit a bit lower to the ground than my other 26" bike does.

The seller advertised it at $15 and when I got there to pick it up, I found both tires to be flat and some rust on parts of the bike.

But since my back yard has become 'the place where bicycles go to die,' I have enough other bikes and their parts lying around to be able to make this a decent bike.

Next I bought this one....

Another beach cruiser, also 26" but seeming a bit higher off the ground than the previous one. It has a wider seat and wider tires and just looks like it's definitely going to be more comfortable for riding. The seller advertised for $55.00 and he had a separate ad for a black men's beach cruiser for the same
price, but when we got there, he had already sold the men's bike.

Upon returning home with it and walking it around to the back yard, I noticed a navy blue beach cruiser that I'd forgotten we had back there that only needs a seat, which we can have plenty of on other bikes in the yard.

There are two other bikes I'm also considering, although neither are necessary as both kids have their own bikes. One is another beach cruiser for $40 and one is a three wheel trike for $65.

The trike will come in handy when bringing home stuff that can't be carried on a regular bicycle.

Dollar Tree
Pouch, lunchbox, compass with a paracord bracelet, Swiss Army knives and flashlights that can be used to make headlights and tail lights for a bicycle, (and rubber bands), as well as items you can use as a tarp (plastic tablecloth is one) can all be purchased at a Dollar Tree store.

Bicycle Air Pump

I recommend the BV Mini Bike Portable Frame Pump, 120PSI

This is a slim line pump that can be mounted directly onto your bike's frame so that you always have it on you and can quickly and easily add air to a tire when needed.

The main problem noted by review is that the pump cuts very close to being a bit too bulky to fit the bike's frame, however, this is solved easily enough with a bungee cord.

Bungee Cords

You'll want a decent supply of bungee cords for various other reasons as well, and you can get a good deal on an assortment of bungee cords ranging from 10", 18", 24", 32" and 40" on Amazon for only $11.99. Plus, they come in a plastic jar that you can use to store them, or for other projects.

Bike luggage rack

I searched Amazon for a "Universal Bike luggage rack," and the closest thing I found to it at the best price is the Ventura Economical Bolt-On Bicycle Carrier Rack, Adjustable Fit for 26"/28" bikes.

At only $11.95 if you have either a 26 or 28 inch bike, you can't beat this price for a bicycle luggage rack.

Alternatively, you could also watch this YouTube on how to build your own 'No Welding Bike Cargo Rack."How to Make a Quick and Easy Bicycle Cargo Rack

Communications

Long Range 2 Way Radios

The Arcshell Rechargeable Long Range Two-Way Radios with Earpiece s a 4 Pack UHF 400-470Mhz Walkie Talkies with a Li-ion Battery and Charger Included. What I really like about these is that it comes with 4 devices. That's one for each member of my family of four. Even though my plan is for no one to ever go anywhere without at least one other person, even two people can get separated, so everyone having contact with each other is a big selling point, and it's only $45.00

In the next post,we'll go over 'water preparations.'

We moved here...

thepioneeringparent@gmail.com (Vanessa Blais) — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 06:39:00 +0000

The Parent's Blog For Teaching Survival Skills To Kids

Does our blog seem familiar?

Welcome to "The Pioneering Parent." We used to live at 'ThePioneeringParent.com" but... life happened, blog went down, and we kind of disappeared for a while. We didn't mean to, and the story is too long to tell... suffice to say, we all missed blogging about our crazy lives, so we decided we should start this blog.

What Survival Skills Can You Expect To Discover on our blog?

The Pioneering Parent is all about teaching kids survival skills they need to face any situation life may throw at them.

On this blog, you can expect to find informative articles, personal experiences, and ideas about all kinds of survival 'topics.'

From the basics like 'Hunting and Gathering' foraging for food, gardening and growing your own food, water collection and purification, and DIY Energy from solar and wind, to more advanced survival skills like bug out locations, to financial survival, we'll share it all with you.

We do a lot of 'self sustaining stuff,' and DIY stuff and we're love sharing our ideas as well as hearing the ideas of our readers.

Yes, this means we welcome not only your comments, but your guest posts as well!
*If you'd like to have us publish your work, simply find and click on the 'Submit Guest Post" link at the bottom of any page.

It all starts right here...

This is our first post and today's date is April 11, 2019.

Currently, we are working on our home and our projects include redoing our in-ground pool, building our own DIY air conditioners (we did the first one today), and more.

We've got a lot of both inside and outside projects going on right now, so to make site navigation easy for you, we'll be including a list of "Main Categories" in the sidebar on the right.

Getting up to speed with our survival skills and DIY projects...

In our next post, "52 weeks and how many projects?" we'll go over where we're at right now, and where we intend to go... over the rest of this year and beyond. We have a pretty big 'home repair/remodel' list of "Things to do" and we've got a ton of fun and interesting DIY projects on it, many of which can also serve to teach the kiddos those 'wise survival skills' this blog is dedicated to.