tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83874286663898932922024-02-29T21:41:38.075-08:00Guerilla SurvivalismSurvivalism, Woodland Crafts, Prepping, Growing Food, Edel ProjectUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-49768103172586081492023-09-08T07:04:00.000-07:002023-09-08T07:04:59.868-07:00Edel Project - Sussex Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ-OG7Dy0ItjmRF1z0vJ4IqOjnbhJZp5kCgnLjxISgVtf5xmjIteVSYajp0SlGnw3re4GYPVDdQ0v7yg3PKtv2VZOLMMa1Eibp7-VU1992C947cBNxb3d5WArTb5qzvS3LNLJq5nGhGFTQAGIhPQ4UMJp8Pb5h8OvTQYCt1vZLYB5PBt4isus7MrhP6GL/s1034/Edel%20Project.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1034" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ-OG7Dy0ItjmRF1z0vJ4IqOjnbhJZp5kCgnLjxISgVtf5xmjIteVSYajp0SlGnw3re4GYPVDdQ0v7yg3PKtv2VZOLMMa1Eibp7-VU1992C947cBNxb3d5WArTb5qzvS3LNLJq5nGhGFTQAGIhPQ4UMJp8Pb5h8OvTQYCt1vZLYB5PBt4isus7MrhP6GL/s320/Edel%20Project.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A quick update on what I have been doing this year for the Edel-Project; where crops have been bad or failed I will say so, since the idea here is to try to help each other by pointing out our own problems, and maybe errors. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">POTATOES </i>- might as well start with this since it was not a good year at all; last year was excellent, this year not so. One bed suffered blight so I cut the tops off, the harvest underneath still being alright but small. This was my own fault since I put the spuds in a bed that had tomatoes last year and these suffered blight - completely forgot that. I have two small raised-bed allotments at the bottom of our road, and next year one will be used solely for potatoes. This should minimise the chance of blight, and these type of crops are best on allotments because they take little looking after. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had enough to make into mashed potatoes and freeze for use in the winter months, and I do not eat so much spuds now having cut down on carbs and increased fat. So do not need that many anyway. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">TOMATOES </i>- a disaster! Started off badly because the seedlings grew badly, using 'brown-bin' compost, which will now be a thing of the past! The germination was bad and the growth was terrible. They did grow eventually, but very late in the season; luckily I had a next-door neighbour who swaps stuff with me (we run the allotments) and he gave me some plants. However, at the critical point of harvesting when they were turning red the whole lot got blight and I had to throw them out! They were really tasty tomatoes too, but no good crying over spilt milk. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The alternative here is toms and spuds in containers, which is alright for some but since I regularly camp away during the summer months they will go dryer this way. The answer would be some form of automatic watering, which I now need to look into. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">CUCUMBERS - </i>Might as well turn to this one now, since I had the best harvest for many years. Small, tasty cucumbers which produced plenty of seeds for next year too. These were in the poly-tunnel and one outside.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">COURGETTES - </i>Brilliant crop, especially since I am not that all keen on them, except to fill up a stew or soup. So gave many away to others. Always seem to grow too many too, since they seem to grow so well from seed and good germinators. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">SWEETCORN </i>- Last year was bad, this year quite good, though not as well as two years ago when I had a really bumper crop. These are easy to grow.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">CARROTS - </i>For the second year running these have been poor, and I lifted the first lot because they were all top-growth and no roots. Put in a second batch but it is too early to say how these will do. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">LETTUCE </i>- I have never had a poor harvest of lettuce, and this year was no exception. Did not plant as many this time, since I usually end up throwing many away. Planted a second crop in August and these are doing great too. I had an old wheel-cover fo the Land-Rover which I put on a raised bed and filled with seeds, which have come up well. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">PEAS </i>-Brilliant as usual, even though I use commercially-produced dried peas, and these can be saved for the next year's crop too. The variety I used (Amazon Special) have coloured flowers, and people think they are sweet-peas in the front garden. Have sown a second crop which are now flowering and should give peas soon. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">KALE - </i>Put these in instead of cabbage etc. and they have done reasonably well, though some were eaten by caterpillars. Always get problems with brassicas even when I net them, the butterflies always seem to get in somehow. This is why I left these out this year, whilst I find a solution to this problem. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">ONIONS </i>- These did very well too, or at least the White Onions, since the Red Onions failed altogether for some reason. Have stored most for the winter months.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">GARLIC - </i>Great crop of those supplier-bought, but tried store-bought which were rubbish. Have some set aside for next year's crop. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">STAWBERRIES </i>- Poor, but to be fair they were replanted last year, with many new ones, so I took the flowers off some to let them grow good roots etc.this year. We shall see next year how these fare, though I am going to move them again to a permanent site and cover with the mini poly-tunnel to keep the birds off them. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">APPLES - </i>Massive crop from two trees, more and more of these each year, and have them stored all over the place, as well as giving some away to Freya and the lads.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">RASPBERRIES </i>- Very good crop of these too; I use them to make milk-shakes or 'smoothies', adding yoghurt and blending them. Mix with the blackberries that I grow too.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">BLACKBERRIES </i>- Another good crop of these too, better than previous years. I have a 'thornless' variety which I got from a runner from a garden I tend, but as they too produce runners they revert to being thorny. That is how Nature works.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>THE ALLOTMENT PLOTS.</i></b></span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About 5 years ago I rented an allotment plot, and filled this with potatoes the first year; these did very well. I then rented two new plots next to each other, letting the original one go; doing a new chap a favour by letting him have these, since we were going to build new beds, he took them on last year, planted a bit of stuff, and never used them again! So this year I took the two back for myself but since it was late in the season I could do little but clear them up a bit, since he let them overgrow. One plot I shall use for potatoes next year, the other already has four rhubarb plants, a blackcurrant bush and redcurrant bush, so I'll fill this one with fruit and hopefully get it caged. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With my next-door neighbour we run the allotment plots which are rented from the local council; they fund this and we have already put in two new beds, and replaced the sides of others which were damaged. Two compost bins are on their way and should arrive next week. An apple tree and pear tree were planted about 3 years ago, and we shall likely plant some more this winter - the council pays for these which is handy. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My youngest son, Lee, has a plot and he has started to grow food for his family; he has done some landscape gardening so has some experience though not with food-growing, except where he helped me when younger. He has little time though since he works as a Security Guard, and on Close Protection Guard. But he has started to get into growing which is a good thing. My four children have all done some form of Martial Arts since they were young, Lee's getting him the work of Close Protection Security. Encouraging them to do this, and doing lots of survival work when they were younger, gives them a really good start in life, especially in these violent days. Growing their own food helps them to become more self-reliant. <b><i>(*)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">(*) </i>In regard to this during the Kali Yuga (Warg-Age) it will be very difficult to get children to follow the ways of their parents, no matter how hard we try. This is why I tried to encourage my own children to do Martial Arts, Survivalism, and Prepping, since they are <u>practical</u> ways that will always come in handy in these times. They go their own way, as mine have done, all now having 'flown the next', but some of this sticks with them, and as they get older they look back to their childhood. I have tried at awaken them to what is going on, but in some cases this goes in one ear and out of the other, but...when they hear the same being said by <u>someone else</u> on Facebook. Tik-Tok etc. they are the first to point it out. Sometimes even the means by which The System enslaves us can be counter-productive for them. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>PREPPING FOR NEXT YEAR</i>.</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of the beds used this year have been dug over ready for next year; I always do this to tidy the area and get rid of the weeds at the same time. Garlic Cloves will be planted as soon as I get chance, these are from this year's harvest. Supplier-grown ones did great, but I tried store-bought which were rubbish. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lastly, the Edel-Project is just one of the projects we have in the WF-C, and we firmly encourage Folk-Comrades to continue 'Prepping' and training themselves in the basic survival techniques. Since we are threatened with the chance of a 'Standing Army' being built up for the reason of making a final thrust to enslave the English Folk, and the threat of 'Islamic Militancy' as well (if they are not one and the same), then there is a growing need to prepare ourselves for this - NOW! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-12995193413953411312023-07-04T09:41:00.000-07:002023-07-04T09:41:05.814-07:00Edel Project - Sussex Mark<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUe4oqctHLbAUZXw3XDndub720NNnxuqFKKYXULe8jgn69WaST0Ymxium_sERbxE0OA4Q_hfFuWHoDewIncFEc-84_sAyKwQd_GbOLGPy5f-jAcnSh9Ia7wp-nWbNeNEYb0amegaQHktoZh11olp-7PIWoWmjK3xsxVhoo8PZTCT5Puw9YcE1nfOcrC0O/s1034/Edel%20Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1034" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUe4oqctHLbAUZXw3XDndub720NNnxuqFKKYXULe8jgn69WaST0Ymxium_sERbxE0OA4Q_hfFuWHoDewIncFEc-84_sAyKwQd_GbOLGPy5f-jAcnSh9Ia7wp-nWbNeNEYb0amegaQHktoZh11olp-7PIWoWmjK3xsxVhoo8PZTCT5Puw9YcE1nfOcrC0O/s320/Edel%20Project.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are areas of the country that are reporting chem-trails which we know now to be the spraying of sodium iodide into the clouds, or at least that is one method being used to manipulate the weather. The sky was filled with these at the Midsummer Camp on the Saturday, and it rained heavily with a thunder-storm on the Sunday morning before we packed in. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My point in bringing this up is that it is no longer feasible to think in terms of 'traditional' ways of growing in harmony with the seasons of Nature - these are being disrupted by the Forces of Chaos. For decades now the seasons have been disrupted, but now we face an even greater challenge. And we have to face this and try to find methods of growing that are suited to the swift weather-changes we face now. I am all for trying to grow in the methods used for centuries, which are tried and trusted methods, but this may not be feasible soon. This is a challenge that the Edel-Project can rise to if we work together to get around the growing problems we face (sorry about the pun!). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have just eaten a stew made from the vegetables from the garden - peas, broad beans, carrots, onion, potatoes, and kale. The main crop of peas has been frozen, as have the broad beans, the onions are not ready to fall over and dry as yet but I pick a few as they are to use now. Carrots have done much better this year, and the potatoes, even with blight in this bed, are fine; not a great crop but enough for me. The potatoes I lift and freeze by either blanching (chips) or cooking (mash/new potatoes). I am still finishing off mash frozen last year, so the new crop will replace this for another year - mash is the easiest to freeze. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkkyeSOb-N0npl6RPnUjyyiWWzOsOrfX0JQSJSko0CrNQJshxHPjlKHjiSEmmrvnZIBGrd7UJ2G3XhytOVtadh9gQ7r_WVnoY-wMgWhPaCRV2y3CmRslVmE96HME4THzIMEisd5AN_rKSjOxXuPca3SYUx3bFF91lpCPgmY7TlYz98OiwKclwlEVd8YWH/s2720/SAM_3250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkkyeSOb-N0npl6RPnUjyyiWWzOsOrfX0JQSJSko0CrNQJshxHPjlKHjiSEmmrvnZIBGrd7UJ2G3XhytOVtadh9gQ7r_WVnoY-wMgWhPaCRV2y3CmRslVmE96HME4THzIMEisd5AN_rKSjOxXuPca3SYUx3bFF91lpCPgmY7TlYz98OiwKclwlEVd8YWH/s320/SAM_3250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The above shows the garlic planted last autumn which is now beginning to die off at the tops; they will soon be ready to harvest the bulbs. These are best planted in autumn to over-winter because they get much more hardy that way.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9Ou_2909zuZsDYuN2BNN3Uw3aK2tLlH68wohesTadnkObGnA3uC9wKgxh3pAqK8oPOHkzxLLJ0bq03oTVz3k3rxzLn2mFL6vrOSq1yixRIjY1ARXyJgvtsTyLv1VWm8kRTnWLMZe_XTWq3771wbQhfbLEmi1Gd7oeLNpjuwdMWe-B_gzzUFSncUXNXr1/s2720/SAM_3291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9Ou_2909zuZsDYuN2BNN3Uw3aK2tLlH68wohesTadnkObGnA3uC9wKgxh3pAqK8oPOHkzxLLJ0bq03oTVz3k3rxzLn2mFL6vrOSq1yixRIjY1ARXyJgvtsTyLv1VWm8kRTnWLMZe_XTWq3771wbQhfbLEmi1Gd7oeLNpjuwdMWe-B_gzzUFSncUXNXr1/s320/SAM_3291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have just weeded the area between the raised beds; an onion plot can be seen to the left, and the potato-bed that had blight to the right, which I have cleared of the tops. The old cool-box is used to grow in, planted early it is well insulated.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8v4rF2TauAeNJ-FT5ETmY37rFuJIaaowpLSLS4CxhaQ08bDxBVqTqK7m_NyBC9wAZJN8d3AK3rX70vhysNosuTQrBMsJ2iIQ4TgP9c7-ganF_gFy-QiiBBLvjgC2clVtlPwGpwVrlxOlo6IJveOrYg5_j9mS5li_tvLeJ6_2SePcGjsc52QtpvR5w75MV/s2720/SAM_3256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8v4rF2TauAeNJ-FT5ETmY37rFuJIaaowpLSLS4CxhaQ08bDxBVqTqK7m_NyBC9wAZJN8d3AK3rX70vhysNosuTQrBMsJ2iIQ4TgP9c7-ganF_gFy-QiiBBLvjgC2clVtlPwGpwVrlxOlo6IJveOrYg5_j9mS5li_tvLeJ6_2SePcGjsc52QtpvR5w75MV/s320/SAM_3256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A row of raspberry bushes which are doing really well this year; have not done so for two years but there is plenty of fruit coming on for the birds. These are really nest grown in an area that is netted, which I may well do one day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53GGeKYkFRig-oL7pbMWQnNouHq7h025dL3CFvglEcCIBa7BnkNZtQwnTrIuClfG76O6h8FAwEH-cVPRhE334n-9spAnzqDKpqpLjCIpufq1XlGmsRQ36WJYyIr8ZPQN8vLW_dvrUYFL4EAorvUjA_oa4npv4yWACaDwtSijZm8xssgqEusNuspLuu3Fk/s2720/SAM_3319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53GGeKYkFRig-oL7pbMWQnNouHq7h025dL3CFvglEcCIBa7BnkNZtQwnTrIuClfG76O6h8FAwEH-cVPRhE334n-9spAnzqDKpqpLjCIpufq1XlGmsRQ36WJYyIr8ZPQN8vLW_dvrUYFL4EAorvUjA_oa4npv4yWACaDwtSijZm8xssgqEusNuspLuu3Fk/s320/SAM_3319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I grew broad beans in three different areas of the garden, and this crop at the bottom of the garden was the only one that was affected by black-fly. Now, there is probably a good reason for this, since any gardener who uses a garden and an allotment knows that growing on an allotment always has more pest-problems than growing in the garden. Since the bottom of the garden is overgrown this seems to be the reason why this problem cropped up. But the beans are alright and these went into the stew today. (Spraying with soapy water can help to get rid of black-fly, but this must be caught early; the tops are usually affected first so cut these off.) </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8PSbiTXJfAEwyoFrZpqdPCoT3SMkojFn-k4FWC1RA5ljg5Dmh8zE3H6Es7JYNAgVzlWujWXgjxV3KJepAntxpshy1pMOjEUwpREICjtwbMl-iD0z3xT-JA8L3ChiRPVm22-316rGYa4wekH4P20n6MawlzKHD2JlmP8_8Et9sjB-yPReBM3XYxNSfO9-/s2720/SAM_3315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8PSbiTXJfAEwyoFrZpqdPCoT3SMkojFn-k4FWC1RA5ljg5Dmh8zE3H6Es7JYNAgVzlWujWXgjxV3KJepAntxpshy1pMOjEUwpREICjtwbMl-iD0z3xT-JA8L3ChiRPVm22-316rGYa4wekH4P20n6MawlzKHD2JlmP8_8Et9sjB-yPReBM3XYxNSfO9-/s320/SAM_3315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are the apples growing on one of the trees at the bottom of the garden; they are actually only about 1 1/2 inches but look larger. They are already ripening in the Sun. I have had the apple trees for about 8 years, and for the last 4 years the large one has produced tons of apples - I have to cook and freeze a lot of them because they will not keep long. One day I may get some form of fruit-dryer as an alternative, but this is yet to come. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6NqhdQhS7vpZzdeVgco_HbAX7PbinZhr8ZxZmgo6ciqxGloWJb6iZYeUYGa_LOr3KLEA6MCNrn4vXIObP0A8AtWbjsKH8NdI4XWYLPoyKKac98DTOoIgrSaD5GPqWD-ROJbIrUCy9_biyTp2WcXwy8B9uC4pZW0x81JiSq88GJRxDyNPOGmvvYfQsooZ/s2720/SAM_3316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6NqhdQhS7vpZzdeVgco_HbAX7PbinZhr8ZxZmgo6ciqxGloWJb6iZYeUYGa_LOr3KLEA6MCNrn4vXIObP0A8AtWbjsKH8NdI4XWYLPoyKKac98DTOoIgrSaD5GPqWD-ROJbIrUCy9_biyTp2WcXwy8B9uC4pZW0x81JiSq88GJRxDyNPOGmvvYfQsooZ/s320/SAM_3316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tomatoes I grew from seed in seed-trays did not do well at all, but my neighbours gave me some plants and these are doing well. After they did so, of course, I found the garden covered in 'renegades' from last year's crops, and these now are doing just as well. These are grown inside the poly-tunnel, and I have others growing in a mini-greenhouse. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWVerDjJ6wwcpufqjL04fd98JyeKczaUoKWx90kZjDslvXT9890wrSn88fr5-03xM8VLEcv2SBSCf2ukdesgJzf7c14I3XRiIjJRlOzrbbB6wZpCPVNExm4Qdeggzvv6lNz2LL4t3UjkDgBBeQrfs1WObVaqiEH00dRxqbB7ficOvJySMVF4sgJRNDQLJ/s2720/SAM_3307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWVerDjJ6wwcpufqjL04fd98JyeKczaUoKWx90kZjDslvXT9890wrSn88fr5-03xM8VLEcv2SBSCf2ukdesgJzf7c14I3XRiIjJRlOzrbbB6wZpCPVNExm4Qdeggzvv6lNz2LL4t3UjkDgBBeQrfs1WObVaqiEH00dRxqbB7ficOvJySMVF4sgJRNDQLJ/s320/SAM_3307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a crop of 'renegade' tomatoes plants which I put in a large cold-frame which produces a great crop of peas which have been lifted and frozen. These are small tomato-plants that are scattered around, and would only go to waste. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnkIDLnzBR6nOmBaWn93SKeH-Qk8GsVRsYkVexkaRJU4Z8eCgkb8qviX5ljRNT595EgRG3oBdqXlenf2nvKZjEC4kBcKsQhPvDzJAym0alMpuuKmlr_KfwO4ZGbJApfHAME_Jw0LVcLVUKXlJuCZ3ifZ1e3SpG_iEkUR60RMEaABjtU3fYq2QVuzT7GkH/s2720/SAM_3317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnkIDLnzBR6nOmBaWn93SKeH-Qk8GsVRsYkVexkaRJU4Z8eCgkb8qviX5ljRNT595EgRG3oBdqXlenf2nvKZjEC4kBcKsQhPvDzJAym0alMpuuKmlr_KfwO4ZGbJApfHAME_Jw0LVcLVUKXlJuCZ3ifZ1e3SpG_iEkUR60RMEaABjtU3fYq2QVuzT7GkH/s320/SAM_3317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the other side of the poly-tunnel are cucumbers, some of my own and some given by the neighbours (I do a swap with them on such things). </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI3CYh4eN2ZAqKJdJ4ueFnOzRDE9zFV-Kg0keW4v2OsE37pocuouNTWPPVQu9Cpq56Q0WNvvLMz3o0wPyCmexM1-kHEsRRUySrY4OMjL4txTQ4whoZDoQzz5kR9j10wOU77u_U1VbP44dGbDncv8ogEMfvWsxZO1F7Ug8511dhx0s2A5RPNttDIQ1qnDO/s2720/SAM_3326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI3CYh4eN2ZAqKJdJ4ueFnOzRDE9zFV-Kg0keW4v2OsE37pocuouNTWPPVQu9Cpq56Q0WNvvLMz3o0wPyCmexM1-kHEsRRUySrY4OMjL4txTQ4whoZDoQzz5kR9j10wOU77u_U1VbP44dGbDncv8ogEMfvWsxZO1F7Ug8511dhx0s2A5RPNttDIQ1qnDO/s320/SAM_3326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are three tubs/pots of mint - Garden Mint, Spear-Mint and Peppermint, all growing together in one area. I lift the roots in the late winter/early spring and repot them, at the same time using what is over to create new plants. This regenerates them every years and gets a much better and healthy growth. I make the usual tea and put a sprig of mint in the tea, usually peppermint. Mint is also great in cooking new potatoes. It can also be seeped in hot water and inhaled to help colds and flu. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYktVAzMsWyDtYAYCgcwkE2q6UNaK_3EHnGyi1rGJ8M0WUwHW_AjwTWkerIl7PGivuf4JsSmrZk7ZNvEn-WwZeTTGQU_Ze8Umj5cDpvqy8wv1Pr2Ol9BtkeoouN6LAywJXIfpSDiRcvw0fffC5mfpFWWwSPL081j6LewE3erUqVgYuIIOf3eQMRs2ePE_6/s2720/SAM_3313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYktVAzMsWyDtYAYCgcwkE2q6UNaK_3EHnGyi1rGJ8M0WUwHW_AjwTWkerIl7PGivuf4JsSmrZk7ZNvEn-WwZeTTGQU_Ze8Umj5cDpvqy8wv1Pr2Ol9BtkeoouN6LAywJXIfpSDiRcvw0fffC5mfpFWWwSPL081j6LewE3erUqVgYuIIOf3eQMRs2ePE_6/s320/SAM_3313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Runner beans which are now flowering, bright red and white flowers which is different. I am not so keen on runner beans, unless picked very small otherwise they are 'stringy' - even the 'stringless' ones! But usually end up picking them when they are larger and either suffering eating them or throwing them away! </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW9HsSmLqm-N1r4Woo3W-edCtLEwglLovtkUb0VEilN8-mVxtMYl0eAswp6S0beJiIzstqIGmroZmJtC-zIFRuMJ3QrQpn_npebeypYjAgJHBtwoFVxZsTOWQB_Lqu-F-JP2JNhfIzNSiELK2sVwAq9sTwpQ_7f_C7brwKqT8frGbsdSVNtDyGAuuoG3f/s2720/SAM_3251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW9HsSmLqm-N1r4Woo3W-edCtLEwglLovtkUb0VEilN8-mVxtMYl0eAswp6S0beJiIzstqIGmroZmJtC-zIFRuMJ3QrQpn_npebeypYjAgJHBtwoFVxZsTOWQB_Lqu-F-JP2JNhfIzNSiELK2sVwAq9sTwpQ_7f_C7brwKqT8frGbsdSVNtDyGAuuoG3f/s320/SAM_3251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the second-growth of a pot of comfrey, the original plants given to me by Scyld. I keep them in a tub since they tend to spread easily and overcome the area where they are planted - like mint. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6sRDrc6OA0gohm8VqU1V3lAm5fziRPHjQi6AJsGolqfJgGxt7MB9Gsx07T-K2KTorDt_kTpCeRJllSMrFXtNk2Nm_WALNLWucxuHifEMpERJtGihBVE11rSsrKgIBsYEWxYuNJVHw0IiPQ0bfq6HW5EfXvk6lpX31gpv9nUffgOpomNRJ4DdyDQfPtaS/s2720/SAM_3276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6sRDrc6OA0gohm8VqU1V3lAm5fziRPHjQi6AJsGolqfJgGxt7MB9Gsx07T-K2KTorDt_kTpCeRJllSMrFXtNk2Nm_WALNLWucxuHifEMpERJtGihBVE11rSsrKgIBsYEWxYuNJVHw0IiPQ0bfq6HW5EfXvk6lpX31gpv9nUffgOpomNRJ4DdyDQfPtaS/s320/SAM_3276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a courgette grown in a tub; the leaves have gone yellow and are withering, most likely a sign of nitrogen deficiency, since this nutrient is needed for green growth mainly. This is likely due to growing in the tub without using a fertiliser (which I have not done this year), since the other plants I have are fine. I threw this one away since I have many other plants. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFe0O9q-PtkAlmg4DhvHagkoin2Vqc9CGn-BPFveZz3NqoZOmJVoY3DsPf0zKIzO0vT57Wct_Puj3rz3Qc_pxwJ9-bJCX0NYM8moUavhmlpI2ggi5lWMk61bwTP3q7r2D6SHPQzAKvUNpSGooNEPr7RtYgJHi7-NvRx10_mFe80ddDTZg4Zf_Yias471X/s2720/SAM_3306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFe0O9q-PtkAlmg4DhvHagkoin2Vqc9CGn-BPFveZz3NqoZOmJVoY3DsPf0zKIzO0vT57Wct_Puj3rz3Qc_pxwJ9-bJCX0NYM8moUavhmlpI2ggi5lWMk61bwTP3q7r2D6SHPQzAKvUNpSGooNEPr7RtYgJHi7-NvRx10_mFe80ddDTZg4Zf_Yias471X/s320/SAM_3306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is another courgette plant which has small fruits which can just be seen; I have around 8 plants which is too much really, but they did so well from seed that I grew more on. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAuzkfAePR6z_B2K-I6HT9g1NMn36XQceOAAAaCRSi-Ph2v603HInYqidNZHz1ZO0lHkB8aIYj825RV4xiqc7fKo_pPEMtAUq6zTYOV70R4mPxOnLQxXerRo_kHAGGS0vpA_4OeWFqFRECAhc0NcUZ9d_7prASEKQQR1hUpMQHAydEGsdVrd7menFyUhD/s2720/SAM_3329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAuzkfAePR6z_B2K-I6HT9g1NMn36XQceOAAAaCRSi-Ph2v603HInYqidNZHz1ZO0lHkB8aIYj825RV4xiqc7fKo_pPEMtAUq6zTYOV70R4mPxOnLQxXerRo_kHAGGS0vpA_4OeWFqFRECAhc0NcUZ9d_7prASEKQQR1hUpMQHAydEGsdVrd7menFyUhD/s320/SAM_3329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some years ago I bought a McCulloch Shredder from a chap next door to one of the gardens I maintain in Eastbourne. I have only used it a couple of times to shred up waste from cutting back a plum-tree in the garden. I dug it out of the shed where it has lain waste for about 2 years and I'm going to use it to shred the garden waste after harvesting certain crops. This should shred sweetcorn easily, and hopefully other plants too, as well as when I have to prune the fruit trees in the winter. The waste can then be either -</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Composted.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">By digging away the top 6 inches of soil in a raised bed, the shredding can be laid down and the soil returned to the top of the bed. <b><i>(*)</i></b></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="font-style: italic;">(*) </b><i>This is actually a good way to start a raised bed, since putting waste down first saves in buying lots of soil. Start with larger logs of wood and work down to smaller, and then shredding, then grass-cuttings etc. These will all rot down in the bed and produce nutrients for years. (It is called something like 'Hugelkultur' now, but that is a new fancy name for something that has been done for a long time.)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note: I do a lot of grass cutting, and always bring the cuttings back home with me because they are most useful for many things. When they are bagged up you can feel the intense heat given off as they start to rot down, and this can be useful when planting in early spring. Take the top 4 inches of soil from the bed, and place new grass-cuttings in the bed; then replace the soil which heats up from underneath and warms the cold soil. For trays of seedlings take 2-3 inches of soil off the top of the bed and then replace the soil; put the seed-trays on the soil which acts as an 'underfloor' heating - one of the best ways to heat since the hot air rises, which the Romans did 2000 years ago. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lastly, this year I tried the idea of using sticks with copper coiled around them, and I have to admit that the crops this year were better. Now, it could never be proven that this was what caused this increase, since there are many other factors involved. What makes me feel there may be something in it is that I usually use chicken-pellets or blood, fish and bone when I plant the seedlings into the ground, but this year I have used nothing at all. During the coming winter I am going to try to go one stage further by cutting lengths of sticks and carving the ends with an Eohls-Rune at the top (Antennae), and the Calc-Rune at the bottom (Roots). An Ing-Rune could be carved/burnt in the centre of these two, since Ingwe is the 'rising of the sap' in the Spring. This sequence of runes is such that the sticks would be the same whichever way up they are used. The copper coil should thus be made to go from one end to the other, linking both of the outer runes together. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-68560122140438204222023-05-03T08:39:00.006-07:002023-05-03T08:39:57.173-07:00Edel Project - Update<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-4EgsjCPVJrsLdUkJc-Qub_u4W6igDSevWTSaHk7AQtKbzuhk4cYjRRn9S2i6hhg6xcdoRAtbmpbzO6y4H65L-axbS6bkoteMOXanHU5MPlm7S4HQ6lsYdGN86mbpaImkHMU5iDXn_GjNIqxkKHEqQt1oloDZyeT7scv2G9ZayAaGgr4pjUca4IwUw/s355/wodens%20folk%20ethel%20project%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="355" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-4EgsjCPVJrsLdUkJc-Qub_u4W6igDSevWTSaHk7AQtKbzuhk4cYjRRn9S2i6hhg6xcdoRAtbmpbzO6y4H65L-axbS6bkoteMOXanHU5MPlm7S4HQ6lsYdGN86mbpaImkHMU5iDXn_GjNIqxkKHEqQt1oloDZyeT7scv2G9ZayAaGgr4pjUca4IwUw/s320/wodens%20folk%20ethel%20project%5B1%5D.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I did some more work on the growing today since the Sun was shining and it was a great day to get into the garden and get on with the project. Got an early start by doing a friend's garden first which was a good deal of hard work because he wanted a shrub removed with its roots, not always an easy job, especially since he said nothing of this so I had not the right tools to make it easy.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTC0mao_pvs3hQLH9hCllyBAJUaTlvZZHsKtpCCZQI1teHLR8GvZfyi47irkzUitF86uXj0SqnwLpTa1Jhh6GTYcedLw6ZtDxpAriFvfIUB_WIdwVFpSwNY6ilJUvEpVhzf5CA9fxKFFFV_CifFDVJShD8kU3c8C5z-3v40aKvddZ4aOaHI6naXSNpA/s2720/SAM_3044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTC0mao_pvs3hQLH9hCllyBAJUaTlvZZHsKtpCCZQI1teHLR8GvZfyi47irkzUitF86uXj0SqnwLpTa1Jhh6GTYcedLw6ZtDxpAriFvfIUB_WIdwVFpSwNY6ilJUvEpVhzf5CA9fxKFFFV_CifFDVJShD8kU3c8C5z-3v40aKvddZ4aOaHI6naXSNpA/s320/SAM_3044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Moved the small meshed poly-tunnel onto the grass as planned, and dug another small area for planting up. also earthed up the potatoes whilst I was working this piece. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs4N0pzsiR3aGkoq_RyQEEbocJOJTP_VnjJNUir8hcmze5cZUpHqAQFBZS2lbiapKhRiBwzQxDauC3LC2EBHOzluQv8ElzvKmdlom3jQ2ZCGDRYbHhKW_ojUB6Is_iuDjSv4i6UWElAjSegsdS0mDLWos9IX-CeFCmROvCRZe0f2PJjs0lF5C9KPTsA/s2720/SAM_3048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs4N0pzsiR3aGkoq_RyQEEbocJOJTP_VnjJNUir8hcmze5cZUpHqAQFBZS2lbiapKhRiBwzQxDauC3LC2EBHOzluQv8ElzvKmdlom3jQ2ZCGDRYbHhKW_ojUB6Is_iuDjSv4i6UWElAjSegsdS0mDLWos9IX-CeFCmROvCRZe0f2PJjs0lF5C9KPTsA/s320/SAM_3048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The peas in the tub which was in the poly-tunnel was moved outside now, since the weather is now getting a bit warmer. These are already flowering so will soon be cropping. Time to set new seeds soon.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigef4GRCpJtR8sLOFz3ZcdXp4aqyyYA6vfa6qqhmislxBdy57Y2vAkm42ht-yADrja8WSYZYcAd7ypz6LWyjMO-0OfXpSxmB5QZizPg1JlwHgX0UOs_1rBiQsh7Hclbs35ZoDrXjLokXM-ABhrXSoj1y_pGKLvI32BzF8iUHF4sGgBaXP5v06A3C2Wvw/s2720/SAM_3046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigef4GRCpJtR8sLOFz3ZcdXp4aqyyYA6vfa6qqhmislxBdy57Y2vAkm42ht-yADrja8WSYZYcAd7ypz6LWyjMO-0OfXpSxmB5QZizPg1JlwHgX0UOs_1rBiQsh7Hclbs35ZoDrXjLokXM-ABhrXSoj1y_pGKLvI32BzF8iUHF4sGgBaXP5v06A3C2Wvw/s320/SAM_3046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the poly-tunnel freed up I dug over the two beds on the sides, extending the one on the left by about 18 inches. Cut back the Swiss Chard and Leaf Beat which were about to go to seed, since these might produce new shoots. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoqKlH5RMtGHcvWYyyD9ZkQfWsEFW76g8H-Z7YLA8DO_HrMm-v_j6Vcp0ycDZij74JRlWlCR4K-n7D67UgSNGeWLBK79lr4SIvzT7Gt0oV6vMZmy33-0bgdpTNvb3dDks8tTDvM_wmDYc7k8kdLGI7YAYbIDigvfNxTHxNZf2a4a1dsGuo2PzwxFB5g/s2720/SAM_3039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoqKlH5RMtGHcvWYyyD9ZkQfWsEFW76g8H-Z7YLA8DO_HrMm-v_j6Vcp0ycDZij74JRlWlCR4K-n7D67UgSNGeWLBK79lr4SIvzT7Gt0oV6vMZmy33-0bgdpTNvb3dDks8tTDvM_wmDYc7k8kdLGI7YAYbIDigvfNxTHxNZf2a4a1dsGuo2PzwxFB5g/s320/SAM_3039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dug inside the small plastic greenhouse, and tidied the area around this, ready for planting some tomatoes, cucumbers and/or peppers. Not sure which as yet and may need to buy tomato plants this year, though some of the seedlings are now growing a bit more. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguryeujun2WpzW1hYqNlcTSnLwCJFYOMRUQ4xD-iU_F_X0zP6lARjblNMKtz_kIlF5kZIdaxrACRt5kBFazrG24aMrTMRNrB2vgFJJiJd-XXxiPCrd83IqGqOK3NTHdhYIAl3iINHs4OgOEVytt5PS-FX8CR1gIKAY0e1Uf6rJQuUD9mnhHQMfGpJWpQ/s2720/SAM_3043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguryeujun2WpzW1hYqNlcTSnLwCJFYOMRUQ4xD-iU_F_X0zP6lARjblNMKtz_kIlF5kZIdaxrACRt5kBFazrG24aMrTMRNrB2vgFJJiJd-XXxiPCrd83IqGqOK3NTHdhYIAl3iINHs4OgOEVytt5PS-FX8CR1gIKAY0e1Uf6rJQuUD9mnhHQMfGpJWpQ/s320/SAM_3043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Moved the small plastic mini-greenhouse out of the poly-tunnel; there are still some leeks growing, mixed lettuce and little gem lettuce, which will be ready in a couple of weeks by the looks of it. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb_FLzmkigH7I2djJj9171HJqjkYyuuDf_cB3rRahEOZyAqf68eyIhGI6crL5YvqgwRJjbaH-oZNgnlMk95FhAiiwUGtNrCCZMlbWoN70ujZNc9l9jCixwvitYJvjzN9Klf16n7srzP9Y-hThfCle18ZoYpbUS7oaSwT7VTd3zLL8o6Ls8OkLBwH8_Q/s2720/SAM_3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb_FLzmkigH7I2djJj9171HJqjkYyuuDf_cB3rRahEOZyAqf68eyIhGI6crL5YvqgwRJjbaH-oZNgnlMk95FhAiiwUGtNrCCZMlbWoN70ujZNc9l9jCixwvitYJvjzN9Klf16n7srzP9Y-hThfCle18ZoYpbUS7oaSwT7VTd3zLL8o6Ls8OkLBwH8_Q/s320/SAM_3040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dug over the new beds in front of the mini-greenhouse ready to plant the leeks and maybe some lettuce here. The Sun does not get on this area all day because this is north facing. But this area beside the shed is a sun-trap and gets very warm later. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKEIoWhu6z-O09gJqnL-4tC2crGkcfC8-5N_1l_Xs0nVpT2zQKmJvcD5quUQXnou2fFHebu3fOoHatHDa-OJOqdQ5QbFGU4Dt9lYIA9g4sjZK_-W0naq0e3wN7SucyF48L1GfnzXEJsmrhC2AGABz5iob744LGOigERTBAE0ljZFJf8u7GwZCAhh5AA/s2720/SAM_3050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKEIoWhu6z-O09gJqnL-4tC2crGkcfC8-5N_1l_Xs0nVpT2zQKmJvcD5quUQXnou2fFHebu3fOoHatHDa-OJOqdQ5QbFGU4Dt9lYIA9g4sjZK_-W0naq0e3wN7SucyF48L1GfnzXEJsmrhC2AGABz5iob744LGOigERTBAE0ljZFJf8u7GwZCAhh5AA/s320/SAM_3050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Both back and front gardens have many bluebells this time of year; in front is the plum tree that I cut back drastically, which is showing new growth though. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iLf0lkxXCXZkWGARwEZY1-CoMZkWFBsa-vwGRPUdcmxiMO6jsPH5-LjQGsxHxX6-9RC8TjosOQx9UIEHwS8O-iWtPoZzpSF6Nw2h8hgf3x472YuugWpT_vfEU2Z2IzHPvDuF0xveUvmYMSA4tSYYxvawQE1dp9QbT4l6BykHoczVvonx2mR5I83bgw/s2720/SAM_3049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iLf0lkxXCXZkWGARwEZY1-CoMZkWFBsa-vwGRPUdcmxiMO6jsPH5-LjQGsxHxX6-9RC8TjosOQx9UIEHwS8O-iWtPoZzpSF6Nw2h8hgf3x472YuugWpT_vfEU2Z2IzHPvDuF0xveUvmYMSA4tSYYxvawQE1dp9QbT4l6BykHoczVvonx2mR5I83bgw/s320/SAM_3049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Renegade Lemon Balm from the area at the bottom of the garden; I have potted these up for use in teas during the summer. </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-20189072987140532462023-05-02T12:44:00.000-07:002023-05-02T12:44:03.818-07:00Edel Project - South Saxon Mark.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X3XRc7zQp5gkhJ_UUPpgzXCe4YwmY0BGkhXmKc4T_lgLiJ18n4g1nqWWoAqG-ZHrVhCE2pT6FQh4T1UAhX-CrKjaiD366mukKngEC5Jo-PDTy3LGIUgdTJ6dG0l8EwcugQ9AxuIO9QNN53dxkn32MTcfb_SuAL-Q2rrtjbxSdKvv6nvWiffu1skraA/s355/wodens%20folk%20ethel%20project%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="355" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X3XRc7zQp5gkhJ_UUPpgzXCe4YwmY0BGkhXmKc4T_lgLiJ18n4g1nqWWoAqG-ZHrVhCE2pT6FQh4T1UAhX-CrKjaiD366mukKngEC5Jo-PDTy3LGIUgdTJ6dG0l8EwcugQ9AxuIO9QNN53dxkn32MTcfb_SuAL-Q2rrtjbxSdKvv6nvWiffu1skraA/s320/wodens%20folk%20ethel%20project%5B1%5D.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So far this year we have had very little dry and warm weather, though things have just begun to change over the past week. This has, to some extent, set back the growing period, and some of the seedlings I planted just after Yuletide are still only small. I may have to resort to buying tomato plants to get an earlier crop this year, since it is mainly these that are behind. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKStqls07-5X7sOSjk6gUrFUKSpLwy8Xu6NUhmYq7F63w6IB2TNfknqNS4X0jDDcJ0Pf99PUbAnWJ8nWDWXB-xKKtM9-kTVBhNiiwXFObwc5sLMbmOsMgbPkeDPjFogHFlGKpSF2IM_i5iob0bdegNyJHE49NuNWVWh_yFAC9irm4H66nz0A06opE01w/s2720/SAM_3020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKStqls07-5X7sOSjk6gUrFUKSpLwy8Xu6NUhmYq7F63w6IB2TNfknqNS4X0jDDcJ0Pf99PUbAnWJ8nWDWXB-xKKtM9-kTVBhNiiwXFObwc5sLMbmOsMgbPkeDPjFogHFlGKpSF2IM_i5iob0bdegNyJHE49NuNWVWh_yFAC9irm4H66nz0A06opE01w/s320/SAM_3020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This crop of peas in a large pot inside the poly-tunnel is already flowering, so we are ahead with this rather than behind. The peas were planted in plastic containers and then transplanted in different areas of the garden. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h6VA-eU3xH_Sqyd7aWE2-v3wuo7BFirkh2_1-PSaVVP0vYE6GL6SCeEjXFO9Xg6nffnLRU3T3QpHRtFlGfO1PepWsFIvTMn2Vx8KwK_sFkGIq9thdod8hA3BsnHAk_qAFUsJ7c-x5xm6t5iNp3N2GfD4oFW8EVW5HHB6KFQeav2EQ2gze8z5GZmcjg/s2720/SAM_3014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h6VA-eU3xH_Sqyd7aWE2-v3wuo7BFirkh2_1-PSaVVP0vYE6GL6SCeEjXFO9Xg6nffnLRU3T3QpHRtFlGfO1PepWsFIvTMn2Vx8KwK_sFkGIq9thdod8hA3BsnHAk_qAFUsJ7c-x5xm6t5iNp3N2GfD4oFW8EVW5HHB6KFQeav2EQ2gze8z5GZmcjg/s320/SAM_3014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here you can see the white flowers on the peas inside the poly-tunnel; they will crop early. I have already used some of the tops of sown peas in a soup that I made weeks ago; these are regrowing nicely afterwards. This 'cut-and-come-again' method I am trying with various different crops this year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xhZ2rJ8CD_HuS5qkVWHwRKu1cSCdLZO3Dr_Ad5oZ8f8h6kq-frLv06--HLEnbQ1Cm9VwjwT4MtQm4j9Y6BtvzE51UbVMYPfrcSrqB9_lgF246Zj6kdCcT5-f23c4cyLFdQdGN7baeeR2mc0yRFqiYZFtmHm_tNaCQ2Nl5dyyAcRdm_vQY-AR8yTq6A/s2720/SAM_3031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xhZ2rJ8CD_HuS5qkVWHwRKu1cSCdLZO3Dr_Ad5oZ8f8h6kq-frLv06--HLEnbQ1Cm9VwjwT4MtQm4j9Y6BtvzE51UbVMYPfrcSrqB9_lgF246Zj6kdCcT5-f23c4cyLFdQdGN7baeeR2mc0yRFqiYZFtmHm_tNaCQ2Nl5dyyAcRdm_vQY-AR8yTq6A/s320/SAM_3031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This row of peas is in the front garden (south-facing) and is also growing well; you can see the fennel growing in the foreground. These were sown about the same time as those in the poly-tunnel, but being outside they are a little behind. A glut of peas will be no problem since they freeze easily and without losing any of their nutrients. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvV2YOI7FM1szaSWlQXidfowsfiBezkxvDG1G90fu-I6fUIRYdehLZbeV77-ytJ3VqEBS8u9l2VIgDdRQnrUam7dWrieVyXBbtUbdJPhGao73AD0rYxAd7t6q6iXQdqK5HoWtNv38oRQA-UaxF8M-DeFK4YYYRkjLSK28vVOVy8XjubayUBqJ5kAAPQ/s2720/SAM_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvV2YOI7FM1szaSWlQXidfowsfiBezkxvDG1G90fu-I6fUIRYdehLZbeV77-ytJ3VqEBS8u9l2VIgDdRQnrUam7dWrieVyXBbtUbdJPhGao73AD0rYxAd7t6q6iXQdqK5HoWtNv38oRQA-UaxF8M-DeFK4YYYRkjLSK28vVOVy8XjubayUBqJ5kAAPQ/s320/SAM_3006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This bed has garlic bulbs which were planted last autumn to overwinter, which makes them more hardy. Alongside, and by a small fence, are more peas just sown today. I have tried to fill as much as possible around the garden. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyEdfqHzTxwLSFAmKa1WMERkDDAMNzFym0av29ok9SKgR8sEIj1RBbUL9PRuiW0zj99N6IwGdekmi5Jq5KLyjZ-z1AYqlOBTbUJ0cZhZOa3Yuzss8r5cmRXy2eW5Jt2UaVYupGJup2RdYUqJt6qSfR32Pz0UT18sNVyARJDtVM7YhRoqf4G7RU3nWKA/s2720/SAM_3005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyEdfqHzTxwLSFAmKa1WMERkDDAMNzFym0av29ok9SKgR8sEIj1RBbUL9PRuiW0zj99N6IwGdekmi5Jq5KLyjZ-z1AYqlOBTbUJ0cZhZOa3Yuzss8r5cmRXy2eW5Jt2UaVYupGJup2RdYUqJt6qSfR32Pz0UT18sNVyARJDtVM7YhRoqf4G7RU3nWKA/s320/SAM_3005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here the peas sown beside the bed of garlic can be seen more easily; they are backed by bluebells and other flowers in this part of the garden. I like to mix the garden as best I can.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDl2gdhyP1Ztck0tqNK0r955wZc_fwPKKcHFSpvZloFB6QvO__KYItylq1Zb-BewQLvr-JKTpi30b9kq2RizUM-O6UR-izItBa3t6sgp3GdxSNc0jU4SLwhKiLrxc42LjXFP7Qzc9qKtfCtjGS8hE6_IlDn6UNv_9u7LToISeQJ_K8wV6Dmi3m9eUng/s2720/SAM_3007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDl2gdhyP1Ztck0tqNK0r955wZc_fwPKKcHFSpvZloFB6QvO__KYItylq1Zb-BewQLvr-JKTpi30b9kq2RizUM-O6UR-izItBa3t6sgp3GdxSNc0jU4SLwhKiLrxc42LjXFP7Qzc9qKtfCtjGS8hE6_IlDn6UNv_9u7LToISeQJ_K8wV6Dmi3m9eUng/s320/SAM_3007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next to the garlic bulbs I have just planted some sweetcorn which are seedlings taken from seeds from last year's crop. They are very small as yet but putting them in now should hurry them on a bit - if we don't have a frost. But they could be covered if needed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkJMR_DjWLfl7D8M5-rIDjlWtT1l84-8sdVfIfaFoT6ORhQQrhv1YsKPUIbb8BRa64mS7pxTKNFAFdMYM4JCdc8sqoTyuA8LxfF5c4o7ckcufi2jzPVZcyOlb0Ocj5PA1pOtGfp0Psw-4Nd33Wi3oj9EfarrIfErzgfoSNeoFgqrTndGM2vg_Spp-1A/s2720/SAM_3021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkJMR_DjWLfl7D8M5-rIDjlWtT1l84-8sdVfIfaFoT6ORhQQrhv1YsKPUIbb8BRa64mS7pxTKNFAFdMYM4JCdc8sqoTyuA8LxfF5c4o7ckcufi2jzPVZcyOlb0Ocj5PA1pOtGfp0Psw-4Nd33Wi3oj9EfarrIfErzgfoSNeoFgqrTndGM2vg_Spp-1A/s320/SAM_3021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a crop of Broad Beans sown in a moveable raised bed; they can be planted in the autumn which is a better bet since it helps to harden them and not be so vulnerable to blackfly - but if they are hit it just means cutting off the tops which are the soft bits they like. But autumn planting is better. I have various pots with these in which are in the front garden.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileE5rEghsRBFZn48AqAKE9aSm4dixJXsU_XrW5h5QE0_sIEObZ-DmFfpa0J9s2t1EeLKcrOE2Tlzd865jKI14CxM2A7NSmmlJYuBgdK2obONqRDZe0vdFv6SITkH96TompjxHEW4iVWhQJdUG8TWaeDp5zo0Cacudq1xED_5-HqUPo95otI27dQRkjQ/s2720/SAM_3023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileE5rEghsRBFZn48AqAKE9aSm4dixJXsU_XrW5h5QE0_sIEObZ-DmFfpa0J9s2t1EeLKcrOE2Tlzd865jKI14CxM2A7NSmmlJYuBgdK2obONqRDZe0vdFv6SITkH96TompjxHEW4iVWhQJdUG8TWaeDp5zo0Cacudq1xED_5-HqUPo95otI27dQRkjQ/s320/SAM_3023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a bed of First Early Potatoes planted in mid-March and coming through well. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZVd9lhHYkUmT_lklPUnef2eBruwtsG9z9ZWjA1ECs7OQUL8UfhczPrg14dc036QTfrk9YUC4iBmQX4RSkEaN9BZmR_pKpdz3qT60-SHMdFPE4XfPnP8vZRtdgtxMCp7wq8_aLH9SC6mw1u9mU53Z06im0dzJlGzNtuQWgFEVHGlxMluGxeD-K8ufNQ/s2720/SAM_3011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZVd9lhHYkUmT_lklPUnef2eBruwtsG9z9ZWjA1ECs7OQUL8UfhczPrg14dc036QTfrk9YUC4iBmQX4RSkEaN9BZmR_pKpdz3qT60-SHMdFPE4XfPnP8vZRtdgtxMCp7wq8_aLH9SC6mw1u9mU53Z06im0dzJlGzNtuQWgFEVHGlxMluGxeD-K8ufNQ/s320/SAM_3011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The barrel is here filled with First Early Potatoes, next to the bed going the same. It was used as a Strawberry Barrel, but after some years of trying this I have never had a good crop, so change of plan. We shall see how this works this year. At the back, along the fence, is a Grape Vine.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeDuffoIl8kEOofUftHfdte7IBJAZQ2SEtDrzSpgf1KSoqQwQZAX1EKnvm_Geu0Kxac7VqKB_6KVSiZuNXee5SS8_d0cQ3oOSYXwXt9nISSSzXfGI3OSw87pFQHb8Te1hhUVZ2XmCEMThMC_sKmSKADiidvI7fhpUGgT7VcXF2Jz_wHDsom7MhRW3eQ/s2720/SAM_2995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeDuffoIl8kEOofUftHfdte7IBJAZQ2SEtDrzSpgf1KSoqQwQZAX1EKnvm_Geu0Kxac7VqKB_6KVSiZuNXee5SS8_d0cQ3oOSYXwXt9nISSSzXfGI3OSw87pFQHb8Te1hhUVZ2XmCEMThMC_sKmSKADiidvI7fhpUGgT7VcXF2Jz_wHDsom7MhRW3eQ/s320/SAM_2995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is another bed, but this time of Second Early Potatoes which have just been planted over the past few days. Growing in the bed is a Comfrey Plant which is a renegade, but which, when cut, will provide some of the potash needed for the spuds. Along the small fence are Raspberry Bushes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dFcGRwmPVtznR6rsxryZY9_e89zN0OHkE96m0wzKizsDm5JpQUIsmkOSdaU8szhPx68Pipq3ip4chsCNnsp9YIt_tHTTPWmvxha6-HZ-Y-v0VdrDGjmHM_v44tfB-mjmYw2yuKMy23a2yGnMXKBH4EViJFAhfnNa5q1derv6caUfpZi5txpHQupi4w/s2720/SAM_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dFcGRwmPVtznR6rsxryZY9_e89zN0OHkE96m0wzKizsDm5JpQUIsmkOSdaU8szhPx68Pipq3ip4chsCNnsp9YIt_tHTTPWmvxha6-HZ-Y-v0VdrDGjmHM_v44tfB-mjmYw2yuKMy23a2yGnMXKBH4EViJFAhfnNa5q1derv6caUfpZi5txpHQupi4w/s320/SAM_2997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the small bed are onions, and to the right is another bed of Second Early Potatoes. I think I overdid the buying of spuds this year, but they are one of the easiest to freeze for the winter months. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUavZChx63LpcBE1BafBOaEKtj2ee83yD5m0WbBdqcvkjBRd0VUKV6JK9TlGBap1E01r2wyl_Hm4jVhG5VD6nqJMdc-RE81GNXDlDrt1sWK0QnN5wse92mqJFmU4LDWEurr2E4F6aimv5m-8TesJzyB8zs78PaEPC_1IUJHwMS67Ho1PfmkWxNAXe6pQ/s2720/SAM_2999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUavZChx63LpcBE1BafBOaEKtj2ee83yD5m0WbBdqcvkjBRd0VUKV6JK9TlGBap1E01r2wyl_Hm4jVhG5VD6nqJMdc-RE81GNXDlDrt1sWK0QnN5wse92mqJFmU4LDWEurr2E4F6aimv5m-8TesJzyB8zs78PaEPC_1IUJHwMS67Ho1PfmkWxNAXe6pQ/s320/SAM_2999.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is yet another crop of peas, this time fitted in beside a shed; I have used split-canes and small twigs from pruning over the years, stashed at the bottom of the garden as a 'hedge' before the stream.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_fUtOQWSRXPJfaZ40ruOPjEw7CLYHBxCdOS8d1sGdt66-zUdMhqJsr6mNx-q8TZEKmfZv6DzowwFJ4-5iLrESTSKJXxisnMG8wyucIP-EClEwDsrOvGQSJtOW9o46jz8HoH42tDULPFdsNXJ0KGWHyjsh8OgGOoF_T9sq_9M2k4sATsPM4DlN2zTQQ/s2720/SAM_3004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_fUtOQWSRXPJfaZ40ruOPjEw7CLYHBxCdOS8d1sGdt66-zUdMhqJsr6mNx-q8TZEKmfZv6DzowwFJ4-5iLrESTSKJXxisnMG8wyucIP-EClEwDsrOvGQSJtOW9o46jz8HoH42tDULPFdsNXJ0KGWHyjsh8OgGOoF_T9sq_9M2k4sATsPM4DlN2zTQQ/s320/SAM_3004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are 'suckers' that ran from a Plum Tree which I have cut back drastically since it is a small garden and cuts the Sun off somewhat, but it is growing again and will be kept in check. The 'suckers' - if they grow - will be used in the woodland.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb31gkD33BB3-zaLPse3XAcY84_JZ_mafIAwe11E0MXXd6gQ3ThvQrdSoinyfgqiweZr8O0h5p4LOFFpJP0k1KZc5WLZN1CwO4tCCBqipRjHrLlLB56CGdS_N3QvkPZUFUVEscA5_vEhsoUrD4hCC2SEAQwmiPecj6xN6RBam0JWgrzfWURMu-X8_2w/s2720/SAM_3008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb31gkD33BB3-zaLPse3XAcY84_JZ_mafIAwe11E0MXXd6gQ3ThvQrdSoinyfgqiweZr8O0h5p4LOFFpJP0k1KZc5WLZN1CwO4tCCBqipRjHrLlLB56CGdS_N3QvkPZUFUVEscA5_vEhsoUrD4hCC2SEAQwmiPecj6xN6RBam0JWgrzfWURMu-X8_2w/s320/SAM_3008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a cold-frame in which peas were sown earlier in the year, to help to keep the frost off whilst they were started. These are doing well, as is the Rhubarb that grows there too. These early crops can be harvested and the areas used again for later stuff. This bed was filled with successive grass-cuttings, leaf-mould, and over winter with the waste from the cabbages etc. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzPa7t1uvRUlv6VZph8jssFdtLJeo8EyzlM8pgfvFq5M9Qt5NRijWuSFIEGhT_BjViOvGsniYFelyJAHwHQgOcfmFslO0ixkqtX4lYdx-kqCnEjzHlG0lf1Oi_7PU-DmFzxotsyAHGFHH4UcreX_WwYvCctg80rYRJRkzKV6STa1W01qv0GSLYoFCDQ/s2720/SAM_3013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzPa7t1uvRUlv6VZph8jssFdtLJeo8EyzlM8pgfvFq5M9Qt5NRijWuSFIEGhT_BjViOvGsniYFelyJAHwHQgOcfmFslO0ixkqtX4lYdx-kqCnEjzHlG0lf1Oi_7PU-DmFzxotsyAHGFHH4UcreX_WwYvCctg80rYRJRkzKV6STa1W01qv0GSLYoFCDQ/s320/SAM_3013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Runner Beans have been planted by the canes, and in front of these more onions from sets (the seeds have not germinated this year at all). The Runner Beans are as yet not showing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymfjnfNvd0lKN9BEHpdoqLJToYCHGDmVx4jJ-azRbwNkx2fo4hz53Oq3BPmDUZ3xNpRZM_MR6lWMH3gnHzVkWAOz_cXoRYLbii2UWUyHxDSbDsMQcN3nQ2x_87VACbsHrMdcFrRjKzgRgyDU5IaCiTL_ylJpu4KOUBWNcMKr_K35vFsdpM1AI-WBuqA/s2720/SAM_3015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymfjnfNvd0lKN9BEHpdoqLJToYCHGDmVx4jJ-azRbwNkx2fo4hz53Oq3BPmDUZ3xNpRZM_MR6lWMH3gnHzVkWAOz_cXoRYLbii2UWUyHxDSbDsMQcN3nQ2x_87VACbsHrMdcFrRjKzgRgyDU5IaCiTL_ylJpu4KOUBWNcMKr_K35vFsdpM1AI-WBuqA/s320/SAM_3015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Leaf Beat and Swiss Chard, from last years work, are just trying to go to seed, but still being used in soups - one of which I had today. I have new seedlings growing that will replace these, but will be planted outside, since I need the poly-tunnel for tomatoes and cucumbers. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdqyfbyvvbar9Gbddc-5j1sKYzK4ilkLy7GEa6sSmvn-8q5ySMXBcYAKURwfErmqzSLWBtFZdJoSqtGGWAJnCN2ng5Wm3pxKTQriBhdlkwmkfxFrptUCb1HO6HB5NE4RsyLMGqH0MkUeXriNpGsOq_7ilWEq0TyZA-CRzx2_2V4ESz50X1RgAP821vA/s2720/SAM_3018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdqyfbyvvbar9Gbddc-5j1sKYzK4ilkLy7GEa6sSmvn-8q5ySMXBcYAKURwfErmqzSLWBtFZdJoSqtGGWAJnCN2ng5Wm3pxKTQriBhdlkwmkfxFrptUCb1HO6HB5NE4RsyLMGqH0MkUeXriNpGsOq_7ilWEq0TyZA-CRzx2_2V4ESz50X1RgAP821vA/s320/SAM_3018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have grown cress (shown here) this year which seems to be a success; next to the cress are Strawberries which are runners from someone else's garden which I was given. A crop is already in the garden but these I'll find somewhere else to grow, and my youngest son can have some too for his allotment. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k4BAw9ktYqbKf9iCGgrFonRnmgpkbmBVXjtwBmtBZisPd5Pakg_JIQOSdZxF794Azu9NyK-5vCs_dL_cNLeKdOdmm7dqU6p43Qxs9MbmooaL8KqdK0CU5fIoUcgVjAMskoABiWdgcem-X8ZuQeA24XAcG0uW7JLbVQwoJVLHhfZ4F1IK1b5Ckj9mTA/s2720/SAM_3017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k4BAw9ktYqbKf9iCGgrFonRnmgpkbmBVXjtwBmtBZisPd5Pakg_JIQOSdZxF794Azu9NyK-5vCs_dL_cNLeKdOdmm7dqU6p43Qxs9MbmooaL8KqdK0CU5fIoUcgVjAMskoABiWdgcem-X8ZuQeA24XAcG0uW7JLbVQwoJVLHhfZ4F1IK1b5Ckj9mTA/s320/SAM_3017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are the Strawberries which are just put into a container for now, but which will need moving soon into a place where they can grow. This whole area in the poly-tunnel will need clearing and digging over for the tomatoes and cucumbers, and maybe peppers if they grow - which was not the case last year since I think I have just two peppers to eat. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WBAGbpyObTSv93pT5l37fr-LCqZzYHGEq91s3mn1hmIYRuIRjwsm6GvDe8Z6Y9P0q_KpkTBtxdAtMwHMcEs4N7O3Bc_a-R19gpbdlqcHVM2NA6jL5KkHoa17kM1JnL3mUO93LpafkMw_CZKquOt2CAu2fyeDlRyn0t5flG9y6om35oKw39leR5QYlw/s2720/SAM_3001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WBAGbpyObTSv93pT5l37fr-LCqZzYHGEq91s3mn1hmIYRuIRjwsm6GvDe8Z6Y9P0q_KpkTBtxdAtMwHMcEs4N7O3Bc_a-R19gpbdlqcHVM2NA6jL5KkHoa17kM1JnL3mUO93LpafkMw_CZKquOt2CAu2fyeDlRyn0t5flG9y6om35oKw39leR5QYlw/s320/SAM_3001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8rssTUEVrvSkZ0-_pxeJZ-YQ0XF5vuERSEfr88FXcDoah8Aosl96ISPAXj1_XTwWcFaZTuGXk2ye1sMu_sL7cjQsd5ArBmOdtmez4Re4ENqrtiz7yXlHkxCSYjR5LJSsGjbM7mHFPv96jEjFud5QOSB9bmnN5u5cyCwqKrbbhDkIVzz1dRwRb1C8fw/s2720/SAM_3009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8rssTUEVrvSkZ0-_pxeJZ-YQ0XF5vuERSEfr88FXcDoah8Aosl96ISPAXj1_XTwWcFaZTuGXk2ye1sMu_sL7cjQsd5ArBmOdtmez4Re4ENqrtiz7yXlHkxCSYjR5LJSsGjbM7mHFPv96jEjFud5QOSB9bmnN5u5cyCwqKrbbhDkIVzz1dRwRb1C8fw/s320/SAM_3009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The top photo is of the 'renegade' Comfrey plant, and the bottom is a set of Comfrey Plants grown in a tub, given to me by Scyld who is also working with the Eden-Project. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbcu7ipqFntgj3f3nae3dSRVWJe4etziUUkD0flP_r6aznrEv7jEu5HLWrddp3VptzXrPNUounRZ6Qk-972O2YHe9RuESrPuD4FS4-yll15IZLj9Ve2PXKjJalpegDFUfkFqzze8POXyVUsEw5uhKk2RBx0D6IvyRV0F_OECnHTjMjBM32sY2vVvMIw/s2720/SAM_3003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbcu7ipqFntgj3f3nae3dSRVWJe4etziUUkD0flP_r6aznrEv7jEu5HLWrddp3VptzXrPNUounRZ6Qk-972O2YHe9RuESrPuD4FS4-yll15IZLj9Ve2PXKjJalpegDFUfkFqzze8POXyVUsEw5uhKk2RBx0D6IvyRV0F_OECnHTjMjBM32sY2vVvMIw/s320/SAM_3003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are Rhubarb Plants grown from seed two years ago and which are this year growing bigger. I had to replace those I have had for years and doing so with seeded crops has been a success. Saves a lot of money too, and I'll certainly do so again.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszQkzZiMwtha92g4k0i9s7IQDgc53EXj1W0alNHoXpRu7X7ycfMb3Sx9TxNqZAuzOlZQWkdOCL1epEAMDW-QTUj_V3ABBMCR205Yhc4W1VU7OgvjzfSIrYOzZ-UFo2W4G2RUc0BTaVo8dfni_9nJW1TnEJwIQB9lBLs26uLMcK9nCgREj2CyurtA9JQ/s2720/SAM_3002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszQkzZiMwtha92g4k0i9s7IQDgc53EXj1W0alNHoXpRu7X7ycfMb3Sx9TxNqZAuzOlZQWkdOCL1epEAMDW-QTUj_V3ABBMCR205Yhc4W1VU7OgvjzfSIrYOzZ-UFo2W4G2RUc0BTaVo8dfni_9nJW1TnEJwIQB9lBLs26uLMcK9nCgREj2CyurtA9JQ/s320/SAM_3002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two tubs of Mint here, one of Spearmint and one of Peppermint; I take out the old plants each spring and divide them into new pots, so this year I have around 6 pots of mint of these two varieties. They are used in cooking and for herbal teas, as well as being useful for steeping in boiling water and inhaling. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU4ZEbD1ux3B-18xLskNWxT7X92VKpIVNL0RJUR-i1WaR06gdKP_3bl0DP0ZGT8O1RwJ9Be2rJOVyG3AdLLPJrqnulaHi5dtpTTGwkmmFPdAPKvVeC3dWmkZeTuc8c5GifrGnaNxbCOpiCw7L1O3G8nDOS9cLdCYA_WBhoYVoFaSpJ6opJI262lDzFg/s2720/SAM_3025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU4ZEbD1ux3B-18xLskNWxT7X92VKpIVNL0RJUR-i1WaR06gdKP_3bl0DP0ZGT8O1RwJ9Be2rJOVyG3AdLLPJrqnulaHi5dtpTTGwkmmFPdAPKvVeC3dWmkZeTuc8c5GifrGnaNxbCOpiCw7L1O3G8nDOS9cLdCYA_WBhoYVoFaSpJ6opJI262lDzFg/s320/SAM_3025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A tub growing potatoes; again these are scattered around the garden to fill up spaces; they serve to produce the early crops of small salad potatoes. I have also grown one in a sack this year, and they can be grown in black bags.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk8TZXb6boZl1pAFhsySjY5AnQZMIciSCZffiv7jdt-zFfBNm8Mxdsu-Jash7nflg428w_REhGl8ohrUWebHMHMoYJ0AB3tm-TKBwrwqoKqj7sHe_7QL2M1rsyIVIYnV3zg0SS_WMFACNzfH5hpciU20agYJB5PefEp5xpLeF5xtMdG_eX-_LznWA7Q/s2720/SAM_3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk8TZXb6boZl1pAFhsySjY5AnQZMIciSCZffiv7jdt-zFfBNm8Mxdsu-Jash7nflg428w_REhGl8ohrUWebHMHMoYJ0AB3tm-TKBwrwqoKqj7sHe_7QL2M1rsyIVIYnV3zg0SS_WMFACNzfH5hpciU20agYJB5PefEp5xpLeF5xtMdG_eX-_LznWA7Q/s320/SAM_3027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />These are peas grown in the south-facing front garden of the house: they were first put into a cold-frame which was then taken off and used over the first lettuce plants, which themselves have now grown big enough, so the frame has been moved to smaller lettuce plants. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5ZIEGk73VEnFcVyG-atCKDzouVtHyziEzSz5o_7nsgI7Wwpo5MuKsEsHPdmgO1_epPsETsJNC7PIrhFnbrcgZFNUZFDqpStDX2K9D3EFQS_zv6WQIpEqpk53tg6jnlnN6cpz8lNZz6JIk8RO5z5x9QdL-883ErTYRqlVKz3EaLASZzd_NZL4RhvDmg/s2720/SAM_3026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5ZIEGk73VEnFcVyG-atCKDzouVtHyziEzSz5o_7nsgI7Wwpo5MuKsEsHPdmgO1_epPsETsJNC7PIrhFnbrcgZFNUZFDqpStDX2K9D3EFQS_zv6WQIpEqpk53tg6jnlnN6cpz8lNZz6JIk8RO5z5x9QdL-883ErTYRqlVKz3EaLASZzd_NZL4RhvDmg/s320/SAM_3026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />A large pot of Peppermint is in the front garden, seen here with a smaller pot of the same, taken from the roots of the larger pot in the spring. These go from years to year, and I get more and more new plants as the process goes on.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJO3CNDXXDi-eGWOMJ2Q9-D3VQGrllwUIsyvRDNu3oNM55Yajlw0-K2MVbYvK1yYvVEMA_WnpYagZumkYeDKbNb4aLOgy8DKKHgR2se0L7LE-0p0ooJVTRqGZGo6EhLp6WhTvfDqPnzlMkIZwL0lQ7WUix13ZYurjxgrr9G4t9BCMFUV6_PFWBaQB5yA/s2720/SAM_3035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJO3CNDXXDi-eGWOMJ2Q9-D3VQGrllwUIsyvRDNu3oNM55Yajlw0-K2MVbYvK1yYvVEMA_WnpYagZumkYeDKbNb4aLOgy8DKKHgR2se0L7LE-0p0ooJVTRqGZGo6EhLp6WhTvfDqPnzlMkIZwL0lQ7WUix13ZYurjxgrr9G4t9BCMFUV6_PFWBaQB5yA/s320/SAM_3035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is another experiment this year: in the pot are beetroot seedlings which are being used as a 'salad-crop' or for in soups and stews, using a 'cut-and-come-again' method. Not sure, but one of the pots had seeds especially grown for this, but the other has normal beetroot - but seems to make no difference whatever in this use. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJALrViTWq5J5ufykTJPBARoIxxOGN8B-62KU6cM_s66nGnOmQB3vV4lBMUvycTm5wUQPBiwL2ciwqYjzINGdq_wsVbiVqTeh9QuEcA7_0uF07ThKU58crXeOrohyLbfgm6A_pXdbbx4QDJ2Gz65vL3LpkMQw3WRLFwCigcWbk3GGV1fldVMTUqUFPDw/s2720/SAM_3034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJALrViTWq5J5ufykTJPBARoIxxOGN8B-62KU6cM_s66nGnOmQB3vV4lBMUvycTm5wUQPBiwL2ciwqYjzINGdq_wsVbiVqTeh9QuEcA7_0uF07ThKU58crXeOrohyLbfgm6A_pXdbbx4QDJ2Gz65vL3LpkMQw3WRLFwCigcWbk3GGV1fldVMTUqUFPDw/s320/SAM_3034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These various pots and tubs have beetroot (as above) and at the back are some Broad Beans in a tub. Back left, the pot is filled with Spring Onions, planted in a clump; this method is used to cut-and-come-again once more, since in my experience Spring Onions seem to take a long time to get the bulbs - this cuts this out altogether - cut like Chives.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcn5oe0_HB12pv-I5MKm8OW_2b-fmgcuotovl1YNKqWrSHJwxm3leT5WukGcR0cdqM1Vil36LHYAPQSiYGFEwv-EmRm9u3VtKvTQS4Wu7DX2kjhKeXWjkIKsRK-JVyOdY3ksJj8uTHmMJRTfecIo86Cf33KOFvByPv2_kbnZqlguTDuvhJu5NsJqk47A/s2720/SAM_3033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcn5oe0_HB12pv-I5MKm8OW_2b-fmgcuotovl1YNKqWrSHJwxm3leT5WukGcR0cdqM1Vil36LHYAPQSiYGFEwv-EmRm9u3VtKvTQS4Wu7DX2kjhKeXWjkIKsRK-JVyOdY3ksJj8uTHmMJRTfecIo86Cf33KOFvByPv2_kbnZqlguTDuvhJu5NsJqk47A/s320/SAM_3033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are the very small lettuce seedlings that I planted out a few gays ago: I have placed the cold-frame over them to help them grow quicker. The egg-shells are to help stop slugs, and dug in afterwards, over time, they also get into the soil which helps to stop the slugs, whose 'eggs' are laid under the soil. It does work after a few years.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T-1l1WDD9EB-MM71OeI0ywhrhKGveCxSqJjPUVDu7mFPOV12Yf4_JIlLYtNdYGCF0o-4CjLWf04MyGXThP4TeGWgCBRsA3nMBNNpiWDtuBIE5QlpKS6bvMHP-tCKnNPMbANv-yEc_BwL1PziDYtArnxzfh8tIffQR_s8TUsTxGE5ediEqBn80oopyA/s2720/SAM_3032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T-1l1WDD9EB-MM71OeI0ywhrhKGveCxSqJjPUVDu7mFPOV12Yf4_JIlLYtNdYGCF0o-4CjLWf04MyGXThP4TeGWgCBRsA3nMBNNpiWDtuBIE5QlpKS6bvMHP-tCKnNPMbANv-yEc_BwL1PziDYtArnxzfh8tIffQR_s8TUsTxGE5ediEqBn80oopyA/s320/SAM_3032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the bed with the larger lettuce, ready to start cutting now; planted with them today are more clumps of Spring Onions. This raised bed had to be revived this year after parts were rotting away after last season. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2DY7MH_bRdM3R94jERbM3zYco999OyYAYmOX637tTxVnuyZo1upjYKSVPxwDWe5x0swtsH-NeqPZ1q21z5nGOPj4DQdtzRkAccqlASyLlRonbcim4LN-25cabEHQpeYjdCdteF0yx_vEKntYpm0K5Jd_AgEk5yrk4YkhNae6y0yrGlrRt7NMgZcd3Q/s2720/SAM_3030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2DY7MH_bRdM3R94jERbM3zYco999OyYAYmOX637tTxVnuyZo1upjYKSVPxwDWe5x0swtsH-NeqPZ1q21z5nGOPj4DQdtzRkAccqlASyLlRonbcim4LN-25cabEHQpeYjdCdteF0yx_vEKntYpm0K5Jd_AgEk5yrk4YkhNae6y0yrGlrRt7NMgZcd3Q/s320/SAM_3030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next to the growing Fennel I have just planted out some Kale in small clumps, again hoping to cut-and-come-again with these plants. This I have not tried before so it is an experiment. As you can see, every bit of space is being used up for planting.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I still have one small allotment plot but having given one over to my youngest son it is not as yet quite ready for planting. I have a crop of Main-Crop Potatoes to go into this which helps to clear the bed at the start - not quite since the work is done ourselves in this respect. I will also have another plot when we have got them ready. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year more has been planted already, and I have put in a new small raised bed, and am considering using another bit of the grassed area to make another one. I still have courgettes and squash to go in, so will need more space for these.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuT3WEqyj_nL89TMRQxwFVtFVr5egTqIPsJjjauF404jDqAlJ0bW6Q0dBca5dNXjBT8nyCOleT691B_MMbitrEKUqyLb74KsauywRYdUucdJcBwMSoFiQXDhWMo67cE8Khp3uhuZgOVksNulhwGLIK1I4Z2nSel0kN0Y6gUybDSJkXSanoReShs3Fhw/s2720/SAM_3010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuT3WEqyj_nL89TMRQxwFVtFVr5egTqIPsJjjauF404jDqAlJ0bW6Q0dBca5dNXjBT8nyCOleT691B_MMbitrEKUqyLb74KsauywRYdUucdJcBwMSoFiQXDhWMo67cE8Khp3uhuZgOVksNulhwGLIK1I4Z2nSel0kN0Y6gUybDSJkXSanoReShs3Fhw/s320/SAM_3010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The small, netted poly-tunnel will be used for brassicas again this year: I have moved it to get ready for this. My crops of brassicas has never been great, and even with this very thin netting, and checking for holes, the cabbage-white butterflies still seem to somehow creep in and lay their eggs. This is why I don't grow much of these, though I am thinking of growing some in tubs which may be easy to cover and harvest - we shall see how this pans out. A thought crossed my mind here, and that is, rather than putting in a new bed in the grassed area, I may move this poly-tunnel to a place on the grass, and grow the stuff in pots under it. I leave some grass to sit out on in the summer months, and it is full of daisies and dandelions which make a nice show - and are edible. I have also dug a small area of the front grass last year, and this year planted First Early Potatoes in that. It is rather sheltered under an Ash-Tree, but they should grow into small early spuds for salads etc. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-13707561126995849322022-09-08T03:23:00.000-07:002022-09-08T03:23:19.532-07:00Home Preparation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BARpiuebho76aIRL7b7uqTBkvr96Kcdvpoe2fzhz1x8hddDSQmkn2pTJXE2r-xmzBFuILBHMWHCJg2OVYbuvza7HrRo-ILqtn8S7Ss0tkJnss1qKqNSXKm0DK7-q4eL01mtVx8RpoxvEtAaY3EViW1xYzCkNDAJvxA7ch5aGWiuKW82fUTUp3Eh4TQ/s2720/SAM_1725.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BARpiuebho76aIRL7b7uqTBkvr96Kcdvpoe2fzhz1x8hddDSQmkn2pTJXE2r-xmzBFuILBHMWHCJg2OVYbuvza7HrRo-ILqtn8S7Ss0tkJnss1qKqNSXKm0DK7-q4eL01mtVx8RpoxvEtAaY3EViW1xYzCkNDAJvxA7ch5aGWiuKW82fUTUp3Eh4TQ/s320/SAM_1725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The object of my posts is not to show off what I am doing, but to try to help others who may have just started on this Way of Life. We all make mistakes, and we should all learn through these mistakes, by not making them again. But it is also right to say that we are all learning, and in doing so we can learn from someone else's experience, and thus learn quicker this way. If we know where the problems lie we can do things in a way that stops the problems from happening. These posts, I hope, will help in this process.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In early spring I decided to put my full effort into preparations for this coming winter, in the knowledge that the Global Powers were increasing energy prices way beyond the common people's means. This we know is a deliberate attempt to drive people into further reliance upon the State, to further destroy small businesses and the local pubs, and to prepare the way for the coming creation of a Universal Basic Income. It is clearly thus a move that will not be temporary but just part of further moves to make everyone worse off in order to achieve what Klaus Schwab stated - 'You will own nothing, and you will be happy'. Rather than sit back and wait for a time when as an individual I would suffer the consequences of their actions, I decided to take things into my own hands and <u>do something to prepare for what is coming</u> - a 'Winter of Discontent'. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will not go into everything that I have done, since I have put these ideas into a forthcoming book that we shall publish on this subject, but merely comment on certain points of relevance. Here in the South of England we have had around two full months of hot, sunny weather, with the rest of the summer being very good as well, so this has not been a typical year. As such it could not be taken as a 'norm' in regard to the moves that have been made. It has been exceptionally sunny for England, and thus the use of Solar-Power has been very efficient in replacing the State Electricity to some degree. In this instance Solar-Power can be very useful and very efficient in the use of charging portable gadgets, and in lighting to a smaller extent. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, this suddenly comes to an end as the weather changes and we start to get the wet weather that balances up the extensive heat-wave, so the whole picture changes. Although the Solar Panels do charge when the Sun is not out, this is nowhere near what comes in with the bright sunshine, so this changes things. I have a plan for a wind-turbine, but I have grave doubts as to the efficiency of this in a built-up area, and even though it is raining outside now there is no wind at all. We do get some higher winds but the garden is sheltered a lot by high trees at the back and fences around the sides. Add to this that some busy-body neighbour will grass when it is put up, and I doubt that this can be used here - but I can move it elsewhere for use, so it is not wasted. But this drastically lessens the alternative power that I have here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A second problem is that I have set up a small shelter outside where I have been doing my water-boiling for cups of tea, coffee, washing, washing up, etc. But it is rather useless when it comes to heavy rain, since going out there regularly would only makes things harder. Cutting down on the use of hot-water through the gas-boiler cuts out the airing-cupboard which can be used to dry clothes, so getting wet is not an option here. I am looking at ways to get around this, since the use of tarps can create a dry way to the shelter, but this I had not considered when building it. Its use was fine during the better months, but as the winter draws in things get harder. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, the object of this was not just to switch from the Grid-System but to use far less electricity and gas so as to have a bit in the 'kitty' ready for when these bills go rocketing up again. At the same time I was trying to prepare for the event of power-cuts, which have been promised during this autumn-winter; they would know, they control the Grid-System! Whether we get them or not does not matter, since at any time there is a risk, and with the push for EVs the National Grid will certainly come under strain. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I had my old L200 Truck I had a problem with the starting at one time, and the battery running down, so I decided to splash out on a 'Noco Boost Starter' which is very powerful and did the job. But after the starting problem was sorted out, and then I was forced to swap to a Land Rover Freelander I have had no use for this. If these type of rechargeable gadgets are not charged-discarded-charged the batteries will fail in the end, so I put it to use in a much better way. This was capable of powering a small 12-volt light system, so I bought a bank of LED lights and mounted them on a wooden board, powered by the 12-volt Boost Starter. This works really well and lasts for a long time before the booster needs charging. This has been done by a 100-Watt Solar Panel, which has worked so far.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These LED Lights are cheap and cheerful, and I have extended this to small rechargeable ones that can be placed in different areas, and which work by motion-censor. These go on only when it is dark or dull light, and work well in some areas of the house not used that regularly - I have used them in the storeroom and stairs. Cannot tell how this will pan out as I've just started this, but so far they are sufficient, and can be turned off completely as the light darkens, as it has today. These are mounted on magnetic strips stuck by double-sided sticky strips (that's the technical term). Beware though, some makes are better than others with this, though all 'Made in China' and some of the sticky strips are almost useless - I replaced mine on one set. Being magnetic these can be taken off and charged by solar-power where possible.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, as I have said, the problem will lie in that as the weather gets duller and darker the solar panels will not be efficient enough to work as well as in the lighter months. However, even if these gadgets have to be recharged from the mains they will be just as useful in the event of a power-cut, and ready and tried out so that less problems will be faced. In any case, charging such things is not really expensive on electricity. Of course, the EU is now making 'quotas' - only allowing so much energy to be used in peak times. No doubt this will be used by those outside the EU too, so this is another plus when having an alternative supply of energy. These type of things can be charged through the mains in off-peak times and used in the peak times. This is really just another 'two-fingers' to The System.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is another means of charging rechargeable 12-volt gadgets, and that is when using the car, SUV or truck. Through the cigarette-lighter these can be recharged, as can mobile phones etc. This means on a longer journey, but in some cases such things will charge better than directly through the mains. The Noco Boost Starter I mentioned earlier does not always charge fully on the mains, but does so through a 12-volt source. Some of the other stuff that I have used seems to charge quicker when not directly through the mains - so this is a bonus.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The problem of water-supplies came up during the hot, dry sunny months, but this has now come to an end. However, best not to forget this and put it to one side, since we may have the same problem next year or in years to come. If you are lucky to have enough land to make rainwater-storage possible (and if the 'law' allows it) then this would go some way to solving this problem. Some kind of water-purification would help things here, and the <i>Lifesaver Gerry Can </i>I bought has done this job for me so far - in a small way, of course. Drinking-water is the first priority, of course, but we also need water for the garden when growing ourselves. The latter needs a great deal more water too.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the regard to watering growing crops the one thing that our forefathers did was to ensure that the greatest amount of water was directed onto the growing areas in the times of the year when it rained more. The idea of using 'State-Water' was never thought of, and they made their own water-reservoirs from which water-channels directed the water onto the growing areas during the rainy season. This is still done by individuals living in some areas that only have around two months of rain a year. However, most of us do not have the land, nor the money to undertake such vast earth-moving schemes if we did. But there are no doubt ways that we can doing this on a miniature level by scaling-down this type of method to suit a small garden. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The one thing that can be done is to redirect the water that comes from the roof and goes straight down the drain, and is then 'recycled' and <u>sold back to us to make profit for the Global Corporations</u>. I have re-channeled my bathwater into a barrel for use on the garden, but as the rains are coming I will divert this onto the garden directly, since otherwise the barrel will overflow. Also the down-pipe from the gutter serves 3 barrels at the back, which I will extend, and when these are full the excess can be directed onto the growing areas through old hose-pipes that I have collected over the years. (I am now finding that 'hoarding' this old stuff rather than throwing away is paying dividends.) For this, rather than the 'splitter' on the down-pipe this will be put back to just the pipe and directed onto the growing areas. In regard to this, here in England, I believe that if you do not direct the waste water back into their system you can get a rebate - worth a look into, but this needs redirecting <u>all waste water</u>, except the sewage of course. But there are ways to clean dirty water in the garden, which I am starting to look into now.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have just seen a piece from <i>Mail Online </i>about Switzerland considering a prison sentence of up to 3 years for anyone who turns their heating above 19 degrees C (66 degrees Fahrenheit).What sort of callous, unfeeling, indeed EVIL scum would consider such a move, knowing full well that the older we get the colder we feel, and thus have these old people risk hyperthermia and even death? This brings up another point here and that is, although here I am putting down ideas for our own personal survival, we should give a thought for the old-folk in the coming months. There is no doubt this may be aimed at driving these old-folk to the 'Heat Banks' (presumably the Swiss also have these in line), but this disregards the fact that many of the independent ones will never do this. But this little snippet does show what we are up against - a truly Evil Force. I am aware that some pagans/heathens do not recognise evil as being part of our <i>weltanshauung </i>but Folkish Wodenism sees this for what it is - EVIL. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Throughout the growing season I have harvested certain crops and frozen them for use during the autumn/winter, since living alone I have a lot left over, even after giving some to my children and neighbours. Some preserving has been done but this is quite new to me and just starting out in doing this; this is perhaps better in a way since no power is needed to keep the food fresh. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-27287614511067421812022-09-05T09:04:00.002-07:002022-09-05T09:04:38.907-07:00Soup Recipe<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ3zq-fBJpk-QK0Pdphfpi9cIk8PAhcj3y-dV1pxRaTI6gLXw1mwsSLomL-rpC6ZVesepIs1gpJbNuFxqK5TOiYIvZZR6JsLIdXTLdO-pftBFVF4zfB6qQyooZ-T3Cvwuv6OXLEQE9jRl-i9hmt58TFOzlnhaLeImMcHEk9BwxQVCLxcXG_wOKf5u5g/s2720/SAM_1656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ3zq-fBJpk-QK0Pdphfpi9cIk8PAhcj3y-dV1pxRaTI6gLXw1mwsSLomL-rpC6ZVesepIs1gpJbNuFxqK5TOiYIvZZR6JsLIdXTLdO-pftBFVF4zfB6qQyooZ-T3Cvwuv6OXLEQE9jRl-i9hmt58TFOzlnhaLeImMcHEk9BwxQVCLxcXG_wOKf5u5g/s320/SAM_1656.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is just a quick post that may help anyone who needs a good and tried recipe for soup; it is based upon Tomato Soup, but the advantage of this recipe is that it can be adapted to almost anything you wish to use. In the cold and wet there is nothing better than a bowl of hot soup and a crusty bread-roll. The recipe and measurements are from the US and are thus plain, clear and without the need for vast amounts of 'accessories' nor any kind of measuring scales or jug - just a cup, a teaspoon and a tablespoon. Why can't we here in England take a leaf from their book and simplify our measurements to things readily available and easily carried on a camping trip too?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>INGREDIENTS - 1</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>About 6 fresh tomatoes (homegrown is best, of course).</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>1 Onion (I use red onions but whatever is preferred)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Salt & Pepper to taste.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>A spoonful of Olive Oil to help the cooking process (another type of cooking oil could be used I guess).</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Put these ingredients into a small saucepan and heat until the onions are soft, take off the heat. Now, the recipe that I used said to drain off the liquid and set this aside for use, which works alright and tastes alright. However, so as not to waste the tomatoes and onions, on the second attempt, I put the whole thing into a blender and blended it until it was fine. This works as well, and tastes slightly stronger. (It has another advantage which I will talk of at the end.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>INGREDIENTS - 2</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>A tablespoon of butter or margarine.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>2 tablespoons of plain flour.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>2 cups of milk.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Melt the butter/marge in a saucepan, add the flour and stir into a paste. Slowly whisk in the milk, and heat slowly until this thickens. Now the tomato-mix can be added to this (slowly), the whole thing stirred and mixed, keeping on a low heat until it is hot enough. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This recipe has ingredients most people have, and is thus very easy to put together. It also has a distinct advantage in that the first part can be made up with the ingredients doubled, thus leaving some over which can be put into the fridge and should last a few days ready to make another soup by making up the second part. I found that blending the tomato-onions made much more, and used only half to make the soup. The rest is ready to use for another soup.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another advantage to this is that this need not be restricted to tomato soup, because almost anything can be substituted - chicken, rabbit, carrots, vegetables etc. The second part being milk thickened by flour means that a thick soup can be made and the milk makes it very tasty; of course, to make it even more tasty cream can be used. Adding red wine is another idea. There is room for experiment, and herbs could be used for flavour.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although I have not tried this, but I guess it would be possible to put the soup into small paper cups and freeze them; this way they could be defrosted as a Cold Soup for warm summer days. I very often leave meat frozen when I go camping, since this keeps for a longer period whilst defrosting; I've never had problems doing this. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-77470568768663254262022-08-27T10:40:00.002-07:002022-08-27T10:40:43.732-07:00Winter of Discontent.<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have already been told by energy companies that there will be yet another massive rise in prices in September, and maybe more after that. This was known some time ago when they announced it to us. What then do we do? Do we follow the state-reliant 'collective' and wait until it happens, start moaning and groaning about it, and blame everyone else for our plight, or do we get on and get ourselves prepared for the coming 'Winter of Discontent'? I know what I am doing, and I would like to share some thoughts on this with you. Please don't take this as 'self-promotion' since the aim here is not to boost the individual ego but to try to help others of our Folk where possible. These are my own ideas and my own stance on this.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Throughout the spring and summer months I have spent more and more time in woodland camping in preparation for harsher times to come; yes, this was throughout the warmer and dryer time of the year but I do this through the harsher, colder and wetter months too. However, due to the ever-moving Global Agenda it was necessary to stay for longer periods of time to get used to this, and this will continue into the colder times this year. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the major changes that seems now necessary is to swap from using state-energy to using one's own sources of energy - as far as that can be done. Living in a council house this is not as easy, and if a complete switch was made the standard charges still need to be paid. But the aim is not a <u>complete change</u> but to switch where possible so as to save money, and be able to heat the house, light the house, and cook food. In other words to try to be less affected by these massive charges, and in the process to give less money to the state-system, as well as to become more self-reliant.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over the past few months I have cut down drastically on the use of gas, which is the major 'hike' coming; also, to some lesser extent, on electricity which will probably not be quite so affected since they wish people to switch to EVs. Gas is used for heating water and central heating in the winter; obviously the latter is not used in this period. I have a cold shower every day, and so do not need hot water for this, and for making tea, coffee etc. and washing up I have switched over the past few weeks to using a Coleman Stove or Kelly-Kettle to boil water. To do so I have built a small shelter on a paved area which keeps the rain out, and allows the stuff to be left where it is used. So far this has worked out fine, but we have had warm, dry weather so things will not be so easy soon. Also built is a very small wooden box to put the petrol generator in; this will power small electrical appliances (if necessary) or as a back-up in case we have power-cuts this winter (which are on the cards). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9wd0BeXu8fo_1ISa-mwITuydP5bQxhdWadoSaJfrsDuQS4iBGbVvQJHVZ2ChKCkjIOuqIe1-A0Tz41IOYTnvz1QhHSqK6dhbIphmZjHkzXgmlh8tJiEAZKPn0XoXBeyVZZD5ADsKkft1XntyRQkBPMh2XoF61MUI0CSqCrssun0NtQUjd3eygzuiPQ/s4032/2021_0826_163044_001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9wd0BeXu8fo_1ISa-mwITuydP5bQxhdWadoSaJfrsDuQS4iBGbVvQJHVZ2ChKCkjIOuqIe1-A0Tz41IOYTnvz1QhHSqK6dhbIphmZjHkzXgmlh8tJiEAZKPn0XoXBeyVZZD5ADsKkft1XntyRQkBPMh2XoF61MUI0CSqCrssun0NtQUjd3eygzuiPQ/s320/2021_0826_163044_001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Near to the back door (not <u>too</u> near) are two fire-bowls, the larger one here used for cooking. Sausages have been placed in an old pan and cooked; these are for Sam (my dog) who, in his old age, has become rather fussy about eating some dog-foods so I give him such things as sausages or chicken etc. Here some sausages are being cooked up, which saves using the cooker-oven and using electricity in the house. Of course, it has been a dry day, but as when woodland camping a tarp-cover can be put up to shelter under whilst doing this, and it will be warm by the fire. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7HJ3MdozV-th1mVNY5v0VWvST_rvQ2UAOo6gOsmfJQRqT-LxaZsG7XzqqEEWf3al7T-QScU-tXz3aYfKPW5i_Il63MUF7HbGB9SKYbafle8_ZSt3D_9pzbZ4Wz3-Hj3zLL60SYyZ30wWHCwTlPgqu16F5i3fL5wpqjKxoZUA26UlZkD_rO3yjrPLEQ/s4032/2021_0826_165342_001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7HJ3MdozV-th1mVNY5v0VWvST_rvQ2UAOo6gOsmfJQRqT-LxaZsG7XzqqEEWf3al7T-QScU-tXz3aYfKPW5i_Il63MUF7HbGB9SKYbafle8_ZSt3D_9pzbZ4Wz3-Hj3zLL60SYyZ30wWHCwTlPgqu16F5i3fL5wpqjKxoZUA26UlZkD_rO3yjrPLEQ/s320/2021_0826_165342_001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After cooking the sausages a Dutch-Oven was used to cook some pieces of chicken for Sam (I stock these up so that he can have them cold). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayo-vLQ2zCAPsRd8PS9xcTRfghfGTH44rp6IRPs7y4UcvolV9__EqLS2aMTvjZkxYLUzbHsvDyAQRg6KgQ6Mf5UC4FAyiOHTz6yhotuSXypKhMl_HT4Wu6BjJZTXJPTYTSDIoEubsz-f9ZJJhF_T20JbrHARbxUh7LrYFBg77N_E_n65V1ZjJpBz2tg/s4032/2021_0826_171457_002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayo-vLQ2zCAPsRd8PS9xcTRfghfGTH44rp6IRPs7y4UcvolV9__EqLS2aMTvjZkxYLUzbHsvDyAQRg6KgQ6Mf5UC4FAyiOHTz6yhotuSXypKhMl_HT4Wu6BjJZTXJPTYTSDIoEubsz-f9ZJJhF_T20JbrHARbxUh7LrYFBg77N_E_n65V1ZjJpBz2tg/s320/2021_0826_171457_002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you can see here the chicken pieces are well-cooked; indeed, in accordance with our 'Wodenic Enrichment Program' they are a true example of 'diversity' - black, brown and white in the middle. In the future, when we hold our own 'Equality and Diversity' seminars this will be used as a fine example. On a serious note, this could probably have been avoided using a wire-mesh stand on which the meat is kept from the base. Next time. But here is the point, since doing these things now means that lessons are learned before having to do so in the future by necessity. This brings me to another point.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Obviously, I don't know how experienced you are with camping and cooking without the usual household gadgets. For those starting out in this it seems wise to do so in these rather warmer and dryer times, so as to get used to cooking like this, and to learn by the mistakes that always happen. Starting in the cold and wet weather will be much harder, unless you have a large shed or shelter which can be used to do this under a roof. And this, again, is another idea for those who have a shed, or can afford to buy one suited to do this, for it would make things so much easier. I'll not go into this, but safety issues would be the concern in doing it this way, but they would be easy to get around with some careful thought.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All that is needed with this fire-bowl is a piece of wire-mesh on which to place the cooking pot or pan; ideally, this would have been better on bricks or something that does not burn, but I had to use wood having none at hand. It is necessary to make sure the fire-bowl is not near to anything that can catch fire, of course. It may be wise to have an old wet blanket ready, or a bucket of water, just in case of an accident. (It is not advisable to get cold water on a hot Dutch Oven since cast iron will crack when this is done.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another experiment has been the use of solar-panels that charge 12-volt batteries, one in the SUV, one in the house, and one in the new shelter. From these anything from a mobile phone or a pad, and then to a laptop, rechargeable power-tools etc. through a Power-Convertor can easily be charged, remembering that these are the sunny months of the year, when solar-power is possible. Work is being done to use a wind-turbine for the winter, but this may create unsurmountable problems (with neighbours), in which case the generator will have its part to play. Of course, using wood-burning means we are using fossil-fuels, meaning that rather than the 'end of the world' being a week on Tuesday as predicted this has been brought forward by a week! Can't do much about that!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As an experiment I have been using rechargeable LED Lights in some places in the house, rather than using the 240 volt lighting-system. Modern technology, in this respect, has come on leaps and bounds and these are not dear and easily and quickly charged by a 12-volt battery system through a port on the light to a USB on the battery-system. LED lighting can be too bright in some ways, but they can be positioned to light against a wall or the like so as not to get blinded by the lights - which is no doubt very unhealthy for the eyes. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Really, the main problem ahead is in the heating of the house in the cold months of autumn-winter. It gets colder in the late afternoon, evening and night, and then again in the early morning, so the plan is to use a smaller room - one of the bedrooms - as a 'living-room' in these times, heated by either a small propane heater, or small electric fire (which should be cheaper than the gas central heating), with the central heating on only in a really cold spell, and for a short time so as to heat the whole house. We shall see how this plan works out this year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-54279941054909771502022-06-25T10:00:00.001-07:002022-06-25T10:00:05.468-07:00Edel Project June 2022.<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsa3HI_hFBsrlFWS0hOg5LCWAuh7NDh04Aifknzw87eRx8JY0lEJoI4faAV5bBJmlNnjlmKLUz3LIFtcPoZZnEhxxg6OxzgiK2i47480EAKJRkTilcwwLkY6NYJmGbJHfg9KnKfk3PldmptTZ6KSitA0b2kuI1IGAi6K7aBkiwfg3re0z3EeRaH7AsOg/s484/Wulf-Odal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsa3HI_hFBsrlFWS0hOg5LCWAuh7NDh04Aifknzw87eRx8JY0lEJoI4faAV5bBJmlNnjlmKLUz3LIFtcPoZZnEhxxg6OxzgiK2i47480EAKJRkTilcwwLkY6NYJmGbJHfg9KnKfk3PldmptTZ6KSitA0b2kuI1IGAi6K7aBkiwfg3re0z3EeRaH7AsOg/w291-h320/Wulf-Odal.png" width="291" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here I would like to let people know exactly what the <i>Eden-Project</i> is; this is a project within the WF-C but without any form of 'official' status. It is a group of individuals within the WF-C (or outside if anyone wishes to join us) that grow their own fruit and veg in their garden or using an allotment or piece of land available. This could also be done under the guise of <i>Guerrilla Growing</i> using a piece of land neither rented nor owned, but which lies waste and is crying out to be used for something positive. Of course, this would have to be a piece of land where the mass of people cannot see it for what it is - we will not go into this here in detail.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Individuals in this project, at this time anyway, live far from each other, and thus have to work alone or with the family. At this time this is how it has to be, even if we would wish this were not so; it is hoped that those involved will try to get others in their area involved - there would be no need to mention this as something to do with Wodenism since it can also be out of the bounds of religion. I have already encouraged my neighbours both sides to grow food, and both have had allotments now. In fact, the lease on the allotments was due for renewal and in order to do so the local Community Association - which had lapsed - needed to be revived, so I volunteered as Chairman ("Chair" was the phrase the local council used but I don't go with that bull....) This means that I have some control over what is done and hopefully this (infiltration into The System) will pay dividends in the future. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What do I grow? I will list here the things that I grow and a short note on how they are doing this year, and have done in the past. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Potatoes - this is perhaps the easiest to grow and invariably has a fair crop, sometimes a very good crop. I have started to grow in containers this year as an experiment, and so far this seems to be a good move. The one thing with this approach is that you can leave them in the containers and they will store themselves. People say this is a good crop to plant because they break down the soil - in fact it is the gardener that breaks down the soil through 'earthing up'. They can be planted in 'channels' and then mounded over, or they can even be planted under a mulch of grass or hay and not even in the ground - they will grow. I have even had potatoes-peelings grow, and this is a point to remember since this is an cheap way around buying 'seed-potatoes'. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tomatoes - Same family, and also quite easy to grow, though I have had tomato blight in my garden before and this can be a problem for many years. This year mine are early and fruited, with some beginning to ripen already (in a small poly-tunnel). What is interesting is that for the past two years I have had 'renegade' plants coming up, and when left they do better this way than those transplanted. These can be grown from the shop-tomatoes - just cut the tomatoes and put in compost in pots - they will grow. Again, a money-saving idea.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lettuce - I always plant way too many of these, and this is done early; they all seem to come up at the same time and then start to bolt to seed. Another mistake I have made is to plant them too close together, hoping to get more into a small space. Did it this year and we have a lot of rain at the wrong time, so some of these rotted at the point where the stem meets the root. Like anything else they need <u>space</u> - this was something that I remember was said by the famous English Radical, William Cobbettt. Should have taken notice! Anyway, they can be cut and will come again very often - not always though.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Brassicas - These have always been rather a problem for me, especially cauliflower, but this year's crop of cabbage and broccoli seem to be doing well - so far. They need to be grown under nets to keep the Cabbage White Butterflies out. I use a mini poly-tunnel with a net over. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Onions - up to two years ago I have always had a brilliant crop of onions - white and red - but for the past two years this is not the case. This year I made the mistake of putting them close to broad beans which over-shadowed them and these and of little use now. I have a small bed with others, and have also grown some from seed - which I usually lift and store as 'sets' for next year. Saved the seeds last year but they did not come out. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spring Onions - these always seem to take a great deal of time setting bulbs, so what I do now is to grow in clumps, then cutting the shoots as I need them. Like chives, they grow again and again this way. Much better way to do this.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Garlic - First time I've grown this and the shop-grown ones I have lifted some out of and they are small but seem alright. The rest have been left to grow longer; the supplier-bought ones are not ready as yet. These need planting in the autumn when it is cold, to overwinter in order to mature.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Carrots - had some in a raised container over the winter but this did not do well, so I lifted them and planted other stuff. Carrots have done well in the past years, and i just sow the seeds and let them grow, pulling the small ones to allow room as the others grow. Best grown in raised containers since carrot-fly can ravage a crop on the ground. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Turnips & Parsnips - these usually do well, with the turnips being the quickest to grow and mature.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Beetroot - this has always done well, and the leaves can be eaten too. Full of goodness as well. Cooking is a long process though.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kale - This year this is doing fine.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Broad Beans - This years crop is far better than the last ones, and no blackfly, but I did cut the tips off to help. Don't forget though - Black Flies Matter!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Runner Beans - Doing very well this year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peas - Grown from dried peas from Turkey but the crop is the best that I have ever had and I have already had two dinners form these and saved four bags of peas in the freezer (as well as nipping off the pods and eating them every day). Left some to dry out for next year. Why pay around £3.00 per packet from a supplier? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Courgettes - Picked the first one today, although it is the size of a marrow - did not even notice it had matured. These usually do very well.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Winter Squash - The Butternut Squash taste great and have grown these for the past five years from seed from a supermarket squash, keeping the seeds each year to use again. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spinach - Leaf Beet - Chard - the are easy to grow and good for salads or cooking. The Swiss Chard is tastier. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Celery - have grown this successfully once, but not so easy to grow for me.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sweet-Corn - Grew this for the first time for year, and it was a great crop; left about half of it until it was a bit late, so I had to take the cobs off and scrape off and dry the seeds. These are growing well this year and I still have an excess of seeds - enough for Bill Gates to plant on his 60% of land bought up in the US!!! (no good though, they are not GM). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peppers - Planted these as seeds for the first time last year but too late to do much; this year they are growing but slowly. We shall see.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apples - the two apple trees I have at the bottom of the garden do well each year now - good crops.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Raspberry - have not really had great crops for years now, used to get better.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Strawberry - same with these, since I shifted to growing in a barrel - which has not worked I am afraid. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Redcurrants/Blackcurrants/gooseberries - these I shifted over to WW, but the birds usually feast on these before I can get them. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Herbs - Peppermint/Spearmint/Garden Mint - always does well.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Comfrey - does well in a container I use now, and make salves from t for various ailments.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lemon Balm - malke teas from this, as with the peppermint. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fennel - this has grown from last year and I use the seeds.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also, out of the garden I have used nettles to make tea and dandelions to use in salads. I have a Rowan Tree and the berries can be used (cooked) as a sauce on some meats. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the on-going experiments I am doing is to use seeds from shop-bought vegetables since this is a way of saving buying. Of course, the seed-merchants will tell us this should not be done, since they would be out of business if everyone did so. This goes for potatoes too. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I start my seeds off in January-February indoors and transfer the seedlings to a mini-greenhouse at the front of the house. To avoid frost-damage I use home-made candles (*) which last around 12 hours. Even when forgetting to light the candles I have - so far - had no frost damage. (Note here - the mini-greenhouse has plastic and not glass, and I have double-glazed it for the winter with more sheets - this does seem to help.) </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(*) These I put in glass containers but beware to keep the wick in the very centre since the glass can shatter when the flame gets near the sides. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Individualism is fine, but we need some form of co-operation if we are to weather the storms ahead. "Many had make light work" is a saying that comes to mind. We need to have some form of co-operation between us in these times if we are to be ready for when the SHTF! The strength of the wolf is the pack! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-10959676066013136222022-05-09T12:58:00.001-07:002022-05-09T12:58:17.338-07:00Edel Update - May 2022<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6n56dIuXf1aReHbB_Mwg1Dz6YsA6IjZP4nMV96_gdR0Jld7K766umVgaAs1iP0ToCMocbtUhvooGZ9U9c5BF_Lq2Gn2Wa6LKJ3GwUOwN0BxWZ-yF1PqSUpfS7nlbS6nzdUJWYZuvBgOciZBqgPWsBCUiUxE83D7E0WyNUqbYvpL3H4Cq2k_LfaUrTw/s2720/SAM_2305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6n56dIuXf1aReHbB_Mwg1Dz6YsA6IjZP4nMV96_gdR0Jld7K766umVgaAs1iP0ToCMocbtUhvooGZ9U9c5BF_Lq2Gn2Wa6LKJ3GwUOwN0BxWZ-yF1PqSUpfS7nlbS6nzdUJWYZuvBgOciZBqgPWsBCUiUxE83D7E0WyNUqbYvpL3H4Cq2k_LfaUrTw/s320/SAM_2305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A gooseberry bush grows in a small pot; this was a 'renegade' which seeded in my allotment and which I potted up for the garden. It produced quite a good crop of fruit last year which I ate straight from the plant.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup1KsDGHim2x5B3Qxt_fwVlNEurnUgG02Jf8ZDSYtn_ddbPqj8LHaU02eLAFdG2Q6F6csPS9zb6SbqfMdhqaGB2S7i1TX7IfCTHds5xw-np9SOKYkmoUPi5Ooxna3pQtmWpj-GvwbrdZXt2N-Fi0WR4XwI2tK-Brl_zeMhkb6yfUnNXk32VZpsJzcuA/s2720/SAM_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup1KsDGHim2x5B3Qxt_fwVlNEurnUgG02Jf8ZDSYtn_ddbPqj8LHaU02eLAFdG2Q6F6csPS9zb6SbqfMdhqaGB2S7i1TX7IfCTHds5xw-np9SOKYkmoUPi5Ooxna3pQtmWpj-GvwbrdZXt2N-Fi0WR4XwI2tK-Brl_zeMhkb6yfUnNXk32VZpsJzcuA/s320/SAM_2349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are garlic bulbs (rear) in front of which are Perpetual Spinach (Leaf Beet); flowers grow in the border next to the raised bed. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHp-uaTamf32MXd3vlnJ87OfI2NxO2ODuZ10E_HSB0GKYOcrM_bkwV5G8Xo8NenuqrPRKc46UZtN5ERT1hb3JgiB4AiX1wPkoYyK9fLbCsjpF9PCVlC4DcXzuaQSajybtChQ99LTDo8FCM62-qiFouwPFhCBz-EDO7soT3YeaXvplbCmED3zm1BXjdA/s2720/SAM_2279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHp-uaTamf32MXd3vlnJ87OfI2NxO2ODuZ10E_HSB0GKYOcrM_bkwV5G8Xo8NenuqrPRKc46UZtN5ERT1hb3JgiB4AiX1wPkoYyK9fLbCsjpF9PCVlC4DcXzuaQSajybtChQ99LTDo8FCM62-qiFouwPFhCBz-EDO7soT3YeaXvplbCmED3zm1BXjdA/s320/SAM_2279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This Raised Planter was seeded with carrots last autumn, and which are now growing well, and will be ready to pick in a short time. Picked small they are far more tasty. They were covered for the winter months which helps protect them from frost.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgP3JLhcnnmwGDttpaQ6_xop69tFFLM7UGjf_covXS-xkhpo_AOm4Y152kPqwETWfruf5BclRcAy-jsqoxQd7_JLUe_6YpCWHIk6HB7d6-4ivWDTr3Lh7I96zpKz88J4_nnc-FFppa3jKCOmdwDuYHbE2O12QSSvx6G52ns3My_Ll243PYlS98pmjpFw/s2720/SAM_2313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgP3JLhcnnmwGDttpaQ6_xop69tFFLM7UGjf_covXS-xkhpo_AOm4Y152kPqwETWfruf5BclRcAy-jsqoxQd7_JLUe_6YpCWHIk6HB7d6-4ivWDTr3Lh7I96zpKz88J4_nnc-FFppa3jKCOmdwDuYHbE2O12QSSvx6G52ns3My_Ll243PYlS98pmjpFw/s320/SAM_2313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are the tomato plants in the poly tunnel which are now around 2 ft high already; a couple of plants are actually flowering - in early May. The plants are healthy and thriving. I have this year used Blood, Fish and Bone as plant food, which has certainly helped to make the plants grow quickly. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-i6_DuY6DuiAv74fIPOLRqiEckfi0Eb_rtWIWqokm_MzOu7XH-kNdrmJIh2rPHtz_g69bt0lS01SuIeGPQ0CcIPDvgOSCcVbFRIFj_PNVaQhO8mitp_VBNII3dv6h8fWAHJXK_KpciTN3vFGoDwGNUFVOZSXxXxB9nPquiWmD8EQqEwxeI5xayoeKg/s2720/SAM_2287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-i6_DuY6DuiAv74fIPOLRqiEckfi0Eb_rtWIWqokm_MzOu7XH-kNdrmJIh2rPHtz_g69bt0lS01SuIeGPQ0CcIPDvgOSCcVbFRIFj_PNVaQhO8mitp_VBNII3dv6h8fWAHJXK_KpciTN3vFGoDwGNUFVOZSXxXxB9nPquiWmD8EQqEwxeI5xayoeKg/s320/SAM_2287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This photo was taken in April, it is of a potato plot; today the plants have doubled in size (will post photo later). The one thing to note here is the extra growth on the left part of the plot, since this was where I tipped some half-rotted compost and dug in before planting - which is why I have not dug trenches to put the spuds in. Even though this was not composted it has made the plants thrive where it was dug in. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVTpjfD1V2ZTxbc5NOLQrx79R-1vVUKLaBog7EH6JeU0dAJLc8f5op541KWCXH9NdcZM-nwmY-GS2qzKco1K0vVinWWWoCSlin4yN6I3RltKz3DSqoRVlJo02xZ4WRnNWbWCdUPg31zvldLNr_dwcHA54mT7EX6CiR-sGtlSyfFHjEnOgFsBCp4nD9w/s2720/SAM_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVTpjfD1V2ZTxbc5NOLQrx79R-1vVUKLaBog7EH6JeU0dAJLc8f5op541KWCXH9NdcZM-nwmY-GS2qzKco1K0vVinWWWoCSlin4yN6I3RltKz3DSqoRVlJo02xZ4WRnNWbWCdUPg31zvldLNr_dwcHA54mT7EX6CiR-sGtlSyfFHjEnOgFsBCp4nD9w/s320/SAM_2356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are garlic bulbs (shop bought) to try them out; there are 'renegade' spuds shooting up in between, which have been left to grow amongst them.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz_Qas-R8BBkonNvpYAlSi0dYRBfzrYdyHvjakvttilSqAj3L7ngYMb4JchDgNOEHJoGKTDHbPqBG_19ZN3H34_PHkGl9c7KI22tJ78Dq_-Ljfo_1g-PCi9K3IMp77sWzL4L1dzjYoRRJMZ0F74QNIKaxL_plHUiFn-z0LES2LvSMPAlK3iS7-Sqoww/s2720/SAM_2361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz_Qas-R8BBkonNvpYAlSi0dYRBfzrYdyHvjakvttilSqAj3L7ngYMb4JchDgNOEHJoGKTDHbPqBG_19ZN3H34_PHkGl9c7KI22tJ78Dq_-Ljfo_1g-PCi9K3IMp77sWzL4L1dzjYoRRJMZ0F74QNIKaxL_plHUiFn-z0LES2LvSMPAlK3iS7-Sqoww/s320/SAM_2361.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Grown in a raised bed in the front garden are spring onions; these have not been planted in rows nor a few planted together. This year I have seen a whole bunch of them in one place and they have grown even bigger now. They will be cut and used again this way. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGyi-v5sfhPGmrJVKMmOHpxLMQAyX6xEaQi6gpC0x954FfbtzIsLMDGm9HON2imxJcfJe4nUpux-qStVHUkPQG-jhcbO8O3XrhrsxzY33LUYVt1xXRtlmxN8m-y39cL1zvxde4y0SB7FPhlkkqb7hvD5ylXbhfSU_td8w0_f_y3Xcl00gnoLtu15M3Q/s2720/SAM_2347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGyi-v5sfhPGmrJVKMmOHpxLMQAyX6xEaQi6gpC0x954FfbtzIsLMDGm9HON2imxJcfJe4nUpux-qStVHUkPQG-jhcbO8O3XrhrsxzY33LUYVt1xXRtlmxN8m-y39cL1zvxde4y0SB7FPhlkkqb7hvD5ylXbhfSU_td8w0_f_y3Xcl00gnoLtu15M3Q/s320/SAM_2347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Garlic Bulbs bought from a supplier, and some fennel which grew last year and is coming again this year. These are in a raised bed in the front garden.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIGDUmD0vdNd8cvkM-1m8zmlLMHyQHHtZk1OdRqiFEmho6qeVpykjPNxKam41Rhc78KndO5oZPoV_JMs1b5OPyyzooPJal4GV43b7ekP_Xf-AdMhHK8EfZ1PDtoDYpGnhwFNoIVm4bVNZuSxqqUk5ceDFrqdAyBE3u1i4p-Imyyq4yWPSUEHxSO9fSg/s2720/SAM_2283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIGDUmD0vdNd8cvkM-1m8zmlLMHyQHHtZk1OdRqiFEmho6qeVpykjPNxKam41Rhc78KndO5oZPoV_JMs1b5OPyyzooPJal4GV43b7ekP_Xf-AdMhHK8EfZ1PDtoDYpGnhwFNoIVm4bVNZuSxqqUk5ceDFrqdAyBE3u1i4p-Imyyq4yWPSUEHxSO9fSg/s320/SAM_2283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Raised bed in rear garden, growing Broad Beans and Onions from set; I have also grown onions from seed again this year. Even if they do not mature fully they can be used next years as sets. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gcQfMJcb-X3zxbWXIfw4WCDkvIbA_C0M9GPsHUCHkGeB-UUhCOCgplfKCHpvUgpbqO8mxZ-ILTkDGuKVc-TSNI8RbqKU8qs7H5YWM47mGsRY0OMgXDScfVhxES7KxjcwztMuINHfOoMbDBVZtlY1n0yqczpeR3SzRz1YZi7Mau_wXhNC5hi0oORG1g/s2720/SAM_2288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gcQfMJcb-X3zxbWXIfw4WCDkvIbA_C0M9GPsHUCHkGeB-UUhCOCgplfKCHpvUgpbqO8mxZ-ILTkDGuKVc-TSNI8RbqKU8qs7H5YWM47mGsRY0OMgXDScfVhxES7KxjcwztMuINHfOoMbDBVZtlY1n0yqczpeR3SzRz1YZi7Mau_wXhNC5hi0oORG1g/s320/SAM_2288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peppermint Chard left over from last year; this has sine been cut down and is growing again well. This bed has now been seeded with parsnips, beetroot, pak chou, and kale. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-RetKlZUDSFXzj9fNC8KdMjlh5EjY577E5ee0hkXBYc7M3L3KmEbIW3WplulWsTYlkbhTIK7fANgVK2PUL0oqFjOKhapP0jSfgEynxjn3XOFndlggmXYj_2jGCOaqIrltq__-bH9haSPxWyrlae4Bups0pDRV9Sp8rTW1rDULe5uFLkrBjf7eOBEYA/s2720/SAM_2298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-RetKlZUDSFXzj9fNC8KdMjlh5EjY577E5ee0hkXBYc7M3L3KmEbIW3WplulWsTYlkbhTIK7fANgVK2PUL0oqFjOKhapP0jSfgEynxjn3XOFndlggmXYj_2jGCOaqIrltq__-bH9haSPxWyrlae4Bups0pDRV9Sp8rTW1rDULe5uFLkrBjf7eOBEYA/s320/SAM_2298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Raspberries growing along a small fence; these have been moved from the bottom of the garden where they did not do well. I have more raspberries which have come as runners from next door. They are growing under a plum tree and doing very well there.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are a few examples, done quickly to make this post and an update on the Edel Project as I am doing it. Have some more photos to take after coming back from the Wild Camping and will create a more thorough post sometime this week.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-55491215239717402552022-05-09T11:22:00.001-07:002022-05-09T11:22:22.429-07:00Solo Wild Camp - May 2022<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I spent three days over at Woden's Wald doing some log-cutting ready for use over the coming months. Also some other small jobs needed doing so did these whilst I was there. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRYXyWymKTU4AhGBq9miIQw1cD876zqNoqspGUzLP9d8NXNnbBLvUyIoBzWynklOf5i98Ixdh31Dv_wRuG_T9WE_wymiwuhW4LUDUNK_V29e5-0xFNJs2UdoQIjpwnh6RySEJZ02mrV_DzZpMW9Yj8jkO_J1urKALFl32nXHV2yku-6UvUmYKPlAvSg/s2720/SAM_2412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRYXyWymKTU4AhGBq9miIQw1cD876zqNoqspGUzLP9d8NXNnbBLvUyIoBzWynklOf5i98Ixdh31Dv_wRuG_T9WE_wymiwuhW4LUDUNK_V29e5-0xFNJs2UdoQIjpwnh6RySEJZ02mrV_DzZpMW9Yj8jkO_J1urKALFl32nXHV2yku-6UvUmYKPlAvSg/s320/SAM_2412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The area of the Mound was covered in bluebells which have been out for a couple of weeks or so I would think. As the bluebells die off the area is covered with bracken which needs cutting right down to allow other plants to grow, such as the Foxgloves which are abundant since this has been done.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYo_ZrOCggZlvVo_LLE4MleVDhcfPfc9b3hWiZ8nMIE-huwDnkVQr2v7VCSAWl-SzvDwS8IhXNEOU4d1xvoRVMHI_e-RwQRML0MW6sdrqRO_i-FVWb8VhZIMdXAIJj8W4mx5wjQrlV-75Vi4C6R4H1BNmFA95j3FZ9pRUiB9Q9Nlu0fPULbLDtpsWEQ/s2720/SAM_2420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYo_ZrOCggZlvVo_LLE4MleVDhcfPfc9b3hWiZ8nMIE-huwDnkVQr2v7VCSAWl-SzvDwS8IhXNEOU4d1xvoRVMHI_e-RwQRML0MW6sdrqRO_i-FVWb8VhZIMdXAIJj8W4mx5wjQrlV-75Vi4C6R4H1BNmFA95j3FZ9pRUiB9Q9Nlu0fPULbLDtpsWEQ/s320/SAM_2420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is another angle on the Mound, this area being dedicated to Ingwe; whilst there I did rites to Ingwe as well as Woden-Herne, Thunor, Idunn and to Nerthus at the Pool. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx_aBhhGYkaI4wOFI9HXKl9NfPj-cNYIjTc7Ccv7CWiBz_MD1DXXZVFtztxPVdJp3bbcZ7orPkMtlmvzDAE3S4d4alm47aUTQkBw94r3KRYUy1QUVZw8chNkdsgQhU23JOCBnyCremnccGYub_1QryB2JSG4iBQ0qxTm0l5_scLEePcOsmooiKaUK6A/s2720/SAM_2424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx_aBhhGYkaI4wOFI9HXKl9NfPj-cNYIjTc7Ccv7CWiBz_MD1DXXZVFtztxPVdJp3bbcZ7orPkMtlmvzDAE3S4d4alm47aUTQkBw94r3KRYUy1QUVZw8chNkdsgQhU23JOCBnyCremnccGYub_1QryB2JSG4iBQ0qxTm0l5_scLEePcOsmooiKaUK6A/s320/SAM_2424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the Camping Area which is below some electric cables, hence the reason why the area is cleared and gets the best sunlight. It is also the flattest area of the woodland.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z1LqH3QZeeI--gx63waGRCK0rIhaG2fBr4QNbWumYFpPVxkYc4e2kvXIeD4O7UqsQX8EYczqtBT7RJTisaforz4EAEZ-j03Fy1e5rJnDrJMukXpCgysW6VusQfCDlmQ3fINn-TG9X71iNSqZbQcKbj2QmINQcrtBfMqDfkqS3L5NlzfLY6hHuJEIGg/s2720/SAM_2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z1LqH3QZeeI--gx63waGRCK0rIhaG2fBr4QNbWumYFpPVxkYc4e2kvXIeD4O7UqsQX8EYczqtBT7RJTisaforz4EAEZ-j03Fy1e5rJnDrJMukXpCgysW6VusQfCDlmQ3fINn-TG9X71iNSqZbQcKbj2QmINQcrtBfMqDfkqS3L5NlzfLY6hHuJEIGg/s320/SAM_2436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rather than sleeping in the open shelter this time I took a new 'Pop-Up' Tent to try out. This one is so easy to put up, only takes a couple of minutes. I put it up on a milar-backed tarp to give more insulation from the ground. Sam (the dog) can be seen having a nap in the entrance. This is in fact warmer than the open-fronted shelter, it still being a bit chilly at night even though it is May now. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK92cekZHB3N-Qr-J8V2YmEwDMW_kUqCNW5e7H3uPBN_g7ywTW2kR0zNQt3RurDUASC9BvqadG3JFkM5MD-O9S-yVLJHnhQNZqzmwKksS_54jZqlMSFIWiOxKAfXJW3hj52xfYR7TO57w_XLPH3Dnj1pyNHnmTALnC-zYoD6iY9UXzA-9uSVBqDorbbg/s2720/SAM_2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK92cekZHB3N-Qr-J8V2YmEwDMW_kUqCNW5e7H3uPBN_g7ywTW2kR0zNQt3RurDUASC9BvqadG3JFkM5MD-O9S-yVLJHnhQNZqzmwKksS_54jZqlMSFIWiOxKAfXJW3hj52xfYR7TO57w_XLPH3Dnj1pyNHnmTALnC-zYoD6iY9UXzA-9uSVBqDorbbg/s320/SAM_2471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is an old gas barbecue-burner from which I took away the gas connections and have used it to burn wood for cooking. Did not use it this time since I had propane gas stoves with me, saves so much cleaning. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_QcOmyKyJAKmQschcmtNCILnQaQBVXUr9IjROhZm_OleG3SJhUgkBcKs3xaYzwSiFph683cDkFMw51l5v-21_Id17H-o8ngXSKjpXFCMXf38nQkxCkc5Gt_UOdeGAq5usTiSTZh-ZkMAGJeWB3gBnQSzVUB10tFHnYxXX5g1hKlk-JjPXgZDR6tnIA/s2720/SAM_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_QcOmyKyJAKmQschcmtNCILnQaQBVXUr9IjROhZm_OleG3SJhUgkBcKs3xaYzwSiFph683cDkFMw51l5v-21_Id17H-o8ngXSKjpXFCMXf38nQkxCkc5Gt_UOdeGAq5usTiSTZh-ZkMAGJeWB3gBnQSzVUB10tFHnYxXX5g1hKlk-JjPXgZDR6tnIA/s320/SAM_2401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since the last trip I have installed a 100 Watt Solar-Panel on top of the Land Rover; this is connected to a 12-volt Battery inside a Battery-Carrier.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0zc9UyR_jchec-vtaqayEEHydFsBiwwlpVqdq3UTLnAF68C7UzAowxQVuZkXk7hKWjNozcF9ytiVUQ86NRTmAqwazTk2yWck5G5WrJBzurVSANMwMB1vOeXsyHJ7Wxn51h80-hqltTdBPalQyscD5IubNAKKGHKMPn_RL9XVG8jPoO-1unRy5fLYBg/s2720/SAM_2402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0zc9UyR_jchec-vtaqayEEHydFsBiwwlpVqdq3UTLnAF68C7UzAowxQVuZkXk7hKWjNozcF9ytiVUQ86NRTmAqwazTk2yWck5G5WrJBzurVSANMwMB1vOeXsyHJ7Wxn51h80-hqltTdBPalQyscD5IubNAKKGHKMPn_RL9XVG8jPoO-1unRy5fLYBg/s320/SAM_2402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the Battery-Carrier and 12-volt Battery; it has two cigarette-sockets and two USB Ports which can charge small electronic gadgets such as mobiles, cameras, etc. I have put a light on the side to light up the back of the car in the dark. This could also power a small car-fridge no doubt, though as yet I have not tried this. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2zYMO75x79PwBq0x77b-ZBRaaZiZTp9JErp8_gj-ecLfAykInu7on37v_TS0xX15yXhCFbPqPf9SmROrPi82a6LVauE39MDBuaUk2eQdJodmu-QrQuTHFY-52FTTR1Kv1likQ3o6BMCHeiOllXNLGHzCdRO0hEzWoL-bsLjPgF---im5AK3lbOYTQQ/s2720/SAM_2405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2zYMO75x79PwBq0x77b-ZBRaaZiZTp9JErp8_gj-ecLfAykInu7on37v_TS0xX15yXhCFbPqPf9SmROrPi82a6LVauE39MDBuaUk2eQdJodmu-QrQuTHFY-52FTTR1Kv1likQ3o6BMCHeiOllXNLGHzCdRO0hEzWoL-bsLjPgF---im5AK3lbOYTQQ/s320/SAM_2405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Solar Power Controller is fitted onto the side of the rear section of the motor; here it is set at 13.7 Volts and, as can be seen, is charging the battery, even though at this point the Sun was not out.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChp3gmXdkMLctyaJiMoELkUijHk_OjIl_3Qq4KrhizZhKo_FnygSljQ-Uym452uC0mxnnaaJsPJt8WrsaeNvJXUJO-T7UlmutWgywkuID2eH-cKPOZzFsc6-4Myh3iri-2d-pFTOmSgm7xWoqwfsLKRO8Esd_8Poxi4gWe88lsgVuERw31CaeWMbyKA/s2720/SAM_2543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChp3gmXdkMLctyaJiMoELkUijHk_OjIl_3Qq4KrhizZhKo_FnygSljQ-Uym452uC0mxnnaaJsPJt8WrsaeNvJXUJO-T7UlmutWgywkuID2eH-cKPOZzFsc6-4Myh3iri-2d-pFTOmSgm7xWoqwfsLKRO8Esd_8Poxi4gWe88lsgVuERw31CaeWMbyKA/s320/SAM_2543.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the Sacred Heart in front of what we call 'Herne's Oak'; Wulfgar kindly built this and used lime-mix to hold the rocks together. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGljJ2sZK3zj6qE_qlaaYDEHhZU_sSo3cf0MpP2hYIV3mz_MReeu_yXpEkSSzcXafFOZzdu7SYJxCEmNzOW3TXmf2TNa-Cf351gIs2Lz8tjTNW9JCAkCBG_KvqEjgQn6hrs7ICCZWcJPDDVqXSyE7jR_3b8XVBFXPahCumpRAU3oefIY039v6tlXGzg/s2720/SAM_2548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGljJ2sZK3zj6qE_qlaaYDEHhZU_sSo3cf0MpP2hYIV3mz_MReeu_yXpEkSSzcXafFOZzdu7SYJxCEmNzOW3TXmf2TNa-Cf351gIs2Lz8tjTNW9JCAkCBG_KvqEjgQn6hrs7ICCZWcJPDDVqXSyE7jR_3b8XVBFXPahCumpRAU3oefIY039v6tlXGzg/s320/SAM_2548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Herne's Oak</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8dBfmfVSBZhZYT-O1VbSc63CbUqVzC1FCMdgOekPCbARVkWHS2EyrFQyIki6Z1YUPgn8Inj-si8dTh80HW3JvApmjb-I8gkpYhMcWi9-KGZnCbmOc-RSGamKRTQ640LZ5yqMBIrJuXoBrH6N0nQbZcqjdsmkMKMh1zqt-3moV9bHeUFg45YW2SFuig/s2720/SAM_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8dBfmfVSBZhZYT-O1VbSc63CbUqVzC1FCMdgOekPCbARVkWHS2EyrFQyIki6Z1YUPgn8Inj-si8dTh80HW3JvApmjb-I8gkpYhMcWi9-KGZnCbmOc-RSGamKRTQ640LZ5yqMBIrJuXoBrH6N0nQbZcqjdsmkMKMh1zqt-3moV9bHeUFg45YW2SFuig/s320/SAM_2571.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cooked a piece of steak for myself and a couple of sausages for Sam, since he is being awkward about eating dog-food as he gets older. We shared these though which seems only fair; he has done some hunting for me in the past so deserves his 'retirement'. This is cooked on a Coleman Duel-Fuel Stove which is a very fast cooker, and since I use unleaded petrol the fuel is easy to get hold off - though growing more expensive. The stove is over 20 years old now and works well; it is also large enough around the burning-area to be safe.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0IhoK1gG33oVtAY0pIhYSdjmhs0NJ4LkrmCVBxlW3C1f2PcGSytWcwt-VdA_xkX8XcJdqs9jNF2eDaIMxR5nPJJ7MN12IvByPLv_3m_mbcuL4GvQk8YaJdcaVOwKGomdn2S1yEEtgXEY9yxelIcSZqkbJt7Xb8k4pnxmACIaJQd9KGqYMdQYVy4Pww/s2720/SAM_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0IhoK1gG33oVtAY0pIhYSdjmhs0NJ4LkrmCVBxlW3C1f2PcGSytWcwt-VdA_xkX8XcJdqs9jNF2eDaIMxR5nPJJ7MN12IvByPLv_3m_mbcuL4GvQk8YaJdcaVOwKGomdn2S1yEEtgXEY9yxelIcSZqkbJt7Xb8k4pnxmACIaJQd9KGqYMdQYVy4Pww/s320/SAM_2576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Potatoes being fried in a shallow pan on a propane-gas stove; the canisters I bought cheap were not much good but we live and learn. Did the job though but not lasting long.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzNRqKVUaMAX4UZSU8s-FMnYalFTmTE6N4wyn53wGtgwsHlCOFnvQT0LpetzUn-9F_Y5vI2Tz1T0GK8MlvkEUxqCKYMvCGDnksKfiBGKpjCxCqDwhenfTYGif0tLY9kTXupxQWBR1TqOKbM9PPKv2egAeTDIH15072dnq5TNACstjoPvcGFGamV5S5g/s2720/SAM_2581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzNRqKVUaMAX4UZSU8s-FMnYalFTmTE6N4wyn53wGtgwsHlCOFnvQT0LpetzUn-9F_Y5vI2Tz1T0GK8MlvkEUxqCKYMvCGDnksKfiBGKpjCxCqDwhenfTYGif0tLY9kTXupxQWBR1TqOKbM9PPKv2egAeTDIH15072dnq5TNACstjoPvcGFGamV5S5g/s320/SAM_2581.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Used an mKettle to boil water for a cup of coffee; this boils water very quickly too, being designed in such a way that the water is held in a narrow area with the fire inside this. This one is smaller than the Kelly Kettle and can be used for back packing. The water can be carried in the kettle since the rubber bung fits very tightly in the hole. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLlTkb58uFSSrWiWu5wC5MH5TwknQh6pOXKeRY1Oi0RL0vX13AdXBgWkLMFyKmVoEAo8hJ5sKkBJyXov-eAL2WOzcxuvf4b_tTa-7GvmEzRGHnt0BQovgIHleWl8ZgfgVbnGFDvTCqcjwLKjmY4tjsyuH1dbgblPkq_TFWfzV72X7qXwtrK3_QRNWhg/s2720/SAM_2586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLlTkb58uFSSrWiWu5wC5MH5TwknQh6pOXKeRY1Oi0RL0vX13AdXBgWkLMFyKmVoEAo8hJ5sKkBJyXov-eAL2WOzcxuvf4b_tTa-7GvmEzRGHnt0BQovgIHleWl8ZgfgVbnGFDvTCqcjwLKjmY4tjsyuH1dbgblPkq_TFWfzV72X7qXwtrK3_QRNWhg/s320/SAM_2586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fire-Pit outside the wood-tarp shelter built to keep us warm and dry during the winter months. This is fed from the log-store. Had to use the fire in the mornings and evenings which were rather cold, and this can, if necessary, be used to cook on.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1YvPtsswLC7ANPC5KWRylRqE3EvlCbOQTzxeYwBWHgJ9kroV11_zuj8TsM623A0WhfBETNl-e1mj5Ecq5uVoQ03fw6T1etgM6GWoSLLjgDwAtnhBg4wqWEWcK-IExmeEaFV28bL8BWBa6eMDbokwVdn3zeACt-4TuaVFljR_3gr56zfgWrJQZ2C-Sw/s2720/SAM_2591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1YvPtsswLC7ANPC5KWRylRqE3EvlCbOQTzxeYwBWHgJ9kroV11_zuj8TsM623A0WhfBETNl-e1mj5Ecq5uVoQ03fw6T1etgM6GWoSLLjgDwAtnhBg4wqWEWcK-IExmeEaFV28bL8BWBa6eMDbokwVdn3zeACt-4TuaVFljR_3gr56zfgWrJQZ2C-Sw/s320/SAM_2591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the Coleman Duel-Fuel Stove; it is made in the USA, and is the older version which has a smaller filler-cap than the latest ones. After 20 years it is still in good condition, though has not been used excessively since I left it and forgot it for some years. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPVeTN6KNHi3Bz0eJxZDCiDE7WbdScacQJcDVX_wVaipr5TGnHAuQDze-c-T9WQZ1gyI726kweTt8u9qs58IfmpKvpgGi0mg8hybp9DdjjC1Lft8p93FKnoC_Ez_s5UWUHXUCpNFsZNQY8IwmnEDxXNtZfGan2X8CfL2rz9r8Rj3Ea96h2BejAQjigA/s2720/SAM_2599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPVeTN6KNHi3Bz0eJxZDCiDE7WbdScacQJcDVX_wVaipr5TGnHAuQDze-c-T9WQZ1gyI726kweTt8u9qs58IfmpKvpgGi0mg8hybp9DdjjC1Lft8p93FKnoC_Ez_s5UWUHXUCpNFsZNQY8IwmnEDxXNtZfGan2X8CfL2rz9r8Rj3Ea96h2BejAQjigA/s320/SAM_2599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I keep the old L200 Truck on the land because I intend looking to see if it can be restored; if not it can be used around the woodland anyway. There are plenty of things it can come in useful for.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweKRd92EHdodSvp9uUeCOsFu8KSEylTj79yfqZ_mCtbMHyXqfOItFrxVaiFB8wRNa1czqsr4jeV2Hge2sFzJuKq3J6cmrspv8McuCSAJ2dxa5gsdycvRUHjlEMEjzgeSUCFu20UTIUfXcQdGyfHgR6zrG8VveQBLJOqd4BqtZNKmTbFCYqYVQ6U3WVA/s2720/SAM_2429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweKRd92EHdodSvp9uUeCOsFu8KSEylTj79yfqZ_mCtbMHyXqfOItFrxVaiFB8wRNa1czqsr4jeV2Hge2sFzJuKq3J6cmrspv8McuCSAJ2dxa5gsdycvRUHjlEMEjzgeSUCFu20UTIUfXcQdGyfHgR6zrG8VveQBLJOqd4BqtZNKmTbFCYqYVQ6U3WVA/s320/SAM_2429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I carry the <i>Lifesaver </i>Jerry Can full of water (from the tap) which is cleaned and purified for use; it will clean and purify any dirty water, and after looking around the area I found a stream that could come in useful one day. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtr08i0i0YFBfkcZDuZS1R9whOI0WPrx220cCs0qZFwyVSX9vDXB6GNaFgO_jyNUJo7Z9PD_ZKA7P9L5FUuM3FgAIs3A8MqQ4mQ3YTKg7fT2D8MSJr0ZQ8NOn1j7iBeixYAukJUOFzGcI_4PrK0x_4YmOLUxM3Gg0EZSbbk0L8lpOO0HS39yugCV7S7g/s2720/SAM_2399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtr08i0i0YFBfkcZDuZS1R9whOI0WPrx220cCs0qZFwyVSX9vDXB6GNaFgO_jyNUJo7Z9PD_ZKA7P9L5FUuM3FgAIs3A8MqQ4mQ3YTKg7fT2D8MSJr0ZQ8NOn1j7iBeixYAukJUOFzGcI_4PrK0x_4YmOLUxM3Gg0EZSbbk0L8lpOO0HS39yugCV7S7g/s320/SAM_2399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Land-Rover has certain survival aids left in it in case they are needed at some future time; small survival gear is kept in a Tactical Vest, and the car has a number of tarps ready for use, as well as a Divvy-Bag left there for an emergency. This seems the best way to keep prepared for a forthcoming emergency or when the SHTF. It has extra alarms fitted because of the stuff that is carried, again something to think about.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQeY2Pb5fUYMEpjzBr6tKQc6f_uW6tq935XBj21IyjiTiuO_HOKuJSedkf6FKNpNdkhHGL8AGM6PsDgESFOWcwdXIBNgsl9ECWUIgN6C-ChqJcIeEdVD5_fHTabkq8MkEKoORVEmnjbm-bEarPbyZb-jyMepOml3dUfbszOmbcW5GdnCY8CoGPVYesQ/s2720/SAM_2602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQeY2Pb5fUYMEpjzBr6tKQc6f_uW6tq935XBj21IyjiTiuO_HOKuJSedkf6FKNpNdkhHGL8AGM6PsDgESFOWcwdXIBNgsl9ECWUIgN6C-ChqJcIeEdVD5_fHTabkq8MkEKoORVEmnjbm-bEarPbyZb-jyMepOml3dUfbszOmbcW5GdnCY8CoGPVYesQ/s320/SAM_2602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Log Store, filled with logs I cut with a chainsaw ready for use; it is surprising how much one gets through in three days, though this time of year not as much as during the winter months. I would have no qualms in saying that if the SHTF and I had time I would take a chainsaw with me since they are an invaluable aid in cutting wood, not only for fuel but also for building work. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXekOr-twGclJnXp4PzDxvVB4HF6kFYRtmuYk7tgKyPM9daxfMMBWW6vJ7z1d2F5YZqi6qjv1gFCS3ORQpwWdwIc957Xq7_TT3QVtZWrpSJzq5ePRQDRFb90hwFcPLDKQohEvXBlS_m7vQWQnbI1ZLywGuXeej2G7cl5Sv3cBwgruRQub21uUS4vFqA/s2720/SAM_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXekOr-twGclJnXp4PzDxvVB4HF6kFYRtmuYk7tgKyPM9daxfMMBWW6vJ7z1d2F5YZqi6qjv1gFCS3ORQpwWdwIc957Xq7_TT3QVtZWrpSJzq5ePRQDRFb90hwFcPLDKQohEvXBlS_m7vQWQnbI1ZLywGuXeej2G7cl5Sv3cBwgruRQub21uUS4vFqA/s320/SAM_2506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I have said before, I see different scenarios that we may need to look at in order to prepare ourselves for the worst. We may have the chance to take a car-truck in which case things would be far easier. This may not be possible, in which case the Bug-Out Bag would be the next option; I also keep a Tactical Bag ready which could be carried too. The speed with which we are 'locked down' and a police step put into place overnight shows us what can happen in an instance. The stupidity of the majority who now seem to be like the animals in Orwell's <i>Animal Farm </i>and know full well how bad their rulers are, but seem to have given up caring at all. (This shows in local elections here in England and the complete apathy over them - this is not [I would think] some form of protest by not voting, but just not being bothered.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have done overnight wild-camps over the winter too, but during the spring-summer months step this up because the weather is better, and more things can be done. Woden's Folk has always been an active group, and our work has always been done through outdoor activity. Even at 75 years old I still keep this up, since it is my own belief that one should lead bye example. Besides which it keep me fit and active and is far better than sitting behind a computer - though this is necessary to show what we are doing. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-15303382254745185642022-03-11T09:04:00.000-08:002022-03-11T09:04:06.978-08:00Edel Project - Sussex<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoZ5zAIkw8gNRSKBB3fJE1RC2NSbd7QreT6Fqp7VrrseN85Hp2hzusMiWr3C9Dg9KpYLPHXfzAY-o1sqwtm4I_hnHe0ObeRP3Gwmyufp6XrlSgMXxKzY05UOTlBHBprjmTP61GCxb15zsScknZRHyt1HUSnw6TlYRi3rOgf6pHU-BdA4YR62oOmIuOyw=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoZ5zAIkw8gNRSKBB3fJE1RC2NSbd7QreT6Fqp7VrrseN85Hp2hzusMiWr3C9Dg9KpYLPHXfzAY-o1sqwtm4I_hnHe0ObeRP3Gwmyufp6XrlSgMXxKzY05UOTlBHBprjmTP61GCxb15zsScknZRHyt1HUSnw6TlYRi3rOgf6pHU-BdA4YR62oOmIuOyw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Early last year I sowed some rhubarb seeds and most of them seem to have taken quite well; never done that before with these. They are here in a 5-part container, four of which are doing alright. I have others either outside with what is left of my old rhubarb plants (lost a few last year) and in another pot. I overwintered the container in the small poly-tunnel. When cooking rhubarb I find that the bitter taste can be softened by adding a peeled orange as well as sugar. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGEukbcELOxVvCc5oZaw_2zQIaajt72mvVR20OCeWztltI6rZvORbD4a8wzRKyZNy9xNht-tksIgkkJM-pbZo4l7ycx9zoFKt6kYIp22TTVfjF0YZhO-BkZoVe2Gvs4OnwUENoT_t1GMhT4WNURpCx6KmC9ikbj5yu_0Fy9T-HzhaFp-MH3R7mhdEicA=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGEukbcELOxVvCc5oZaw_2zQIaajt72mvVR20OCeWztltI6rZvORbD4a8wzRKyZNy9xNht-tksIgkkJM-pbZo4l7ycx9zoFKt6kYIp22TTVfjF0YZhO-BkZoVe2Gvs4OnwUENoT_t1GMhT4WNURpCx6KmC9ikbj5yu_0Fy9T-HzhaFp-MH3R7mhdEicA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is a raised bed with a 'roof' on top to keep the frost off as much as possible; it was planted with carrots last autumn and they have survived the winter. We did have a number of frosts but nothing drastic, which is why they survived, no doubt. All I do with carrots is throw the seeds around anyhow and as they grow pull up the larger ones to space the rest out. This has worked before and I get a good crop in a very small space.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJD4Ckpw4QJEJNy8UZ7xHGUO2xZJkYey_rbraQ4LO8KTBPK00VJWnMEFpYCLBb_DLO2zywlMZE6Ei6WU8ysylOunZmiAQ99nLLzjemi5y88DGsCghffc8t-_kViljFTwWQzNIX3eO8auEzflzI3ZvDlr7-9p9cTy7UIyBgNUONqRs2GwTEzYCeLdKvfA=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJD4Ckpw4QJEJNy8UZ7xHGUO2xZJkYey_rbraQ4LO8KTBPK00VJWnMEFpYCLBb_DLO2zywlMZE6Ei6WU8ysylOunZmiAQ99nLLzjemi5y88DGsCghffc8t-_kViljFTwWQzNIX3eO8auEzflzI3ZvDlr7-9p9cTy7UIyBgNUONqRs2GwTEzYCeLdKvfA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are onions growing from seed; many people prefer to use onion sets, which I do myself, but I also like to sow seeds too since these will grow but may be smaller and useful for pickling. Last year was not a good growing year by any means, as the seed-suppliers pointed out, so my onion crop was not as good as previous years. But they did last until around February this year, though I usually have them until April or so - which gives a continuous crop.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMh7qni_PZW9llwxzspA2PdnYUbg0bQ4h-7GTRDbxBV1xlBdWbOGsu0zMdCdyOluhrZF--LxiwW8YX_EhQiN2Oqw1-6elZDyQpNAkUnzVMttnROcbR_XA8L7qedqOjwCgeRSul_-g7sJJHqhhRmg3xkQbQPmMnsCk6VeTJGvyw6cWZ2B3jlWQXPLOWkQ=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMh7qni_PZW9llwxzspA2PdnYUbg0bQ4h-7GTRDbxBV1xlBdWbOGsu0zMdCdyOluhrZF--LxiwW8YX_EhQiN2Oqw1-6elZDyQpNAkUnzVMttnROcbR_XA8L7qedqOjwCgeRSul_-g7sJJHqhhRmg3xkQbQPmMnsCk6VeTJGvyw6cWZ2B3jlWQXPLOWkQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are onion sets; usually I put them straight into the ground but this year tried an experiment in using trays to start them off. I have some more on order soon and will get these straight into the ground. Onions, I have found, get little problems and are easy to grow. They can also be grown amongst other stuff, like lettuce, to ward off predators who don't like the smell of onions.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJUGpuUNv6oLXaVwMcelWEdJz6eTXkVPhyOOTomV6_8DMAxzRHz4t2-7XIXemJcELKWNYjMiy0qN0QzaLMssv7bnBbl0YNWvKFG68AQ09H-xq-HiMABzSSOqZ_oBVQS01TQWGTI6yppVlkp7RWd3TvNBOYITmsYOcGMzQ4wRhvyaZEA9rRQxi2y6tYJA=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJUGpuUNv6oLXaVwMcelWEdJz6eTXkVPhyOOTomV6_8DMAxzRHz4t2-7XIXemJcELKWNYjMiy0qN0QzaLMssv7bnBbl0YNWvKFG68AQ09H-xq-HiMABzSSOqZ_oBVQS01TQWGTI6yppVlkp7RWd3TvNBOYITmsYOcGMzQ4wRhvyaZEA9rRQxi2y6tYJA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are tomatoes, a bit early being sown in January, but nevertheless they have grown well. I put them outside into the Mini-Greenhouse which can be warmed by a candle when frost is predicted. They were 'free' seeds and again an experiment, which has been the object of the Eden-Project really. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXO9fO3X6NBprw162k8zYaAS4qh4-JAW7ld6andOFAs3x7ewSfApxpyGWdumddGn4qiwiNRr3sjzr4STzRS1Vl7WdqYJ0WxQXDVMu-zmZQALXFOZcOpHWmhpkmhLzEjK8L3KbEYKhWE4megZjGAQBs1xhJsj7MXDMpQxgbD52ou7TTYJh_rBGvjrEuoQ=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXO9fO3X6NBprw162k8zYaAS4qh4-JAW7ld6andOFAs3x7ewSfApxpyGWdumddGn4qiwiNRr3sjzr4STzRS1Vl7WdqYJ0WxQXDVMu-zmZQALXFOZcOpHWmhpkmhLzEjK8L3KbEYKhWE4megZjGAQBs1xhJsj7MXDMpQxgbD52ou7TTYJh_rBGvjrEuoQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This larger container has been sown with dried peas; the sticks don't really hold peas and are there just to start things off. When they grow I'll use twigs cut from a tree at the bottom of the garden (nothing is wasted). I have a lot of trays sown with dried peas (dirt cheap and they do grow) and these will soon be ready to put straight into a raised bed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj01MGI8yw-QEzMvmlOHEIHnNyG1e0dF1Ylh--OFxHsq7N7KaKZ4QfLguSpnx_XwOofPiAfb_Bh_Wvej0LmH_R8tqjvY3CPDRGzp37pSJxq4tXtrztoIAZXb2AqwQZQo19dR2Ib5zWTteE1WjY-nO7nH2id1NJ6XUV33pqY2hyR3qYKAsV39eYYAfOmxw=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj01MGI8yw-QEzMvmlOHEIHnNyG1e0dF1Ylh--OFxHsq7N7KaKZ4QfLguSpnx_XwOofPiAfb_Bh_Wvej0LmH_R8tqjvY3CPDRGzp37pSJxq4tXtrztoIAZXb2AqwQZQo19dR2Ib5zWTteE1WjY-nO7nH2id1NJ6XUV33pqY2hyR3qYKAsV39eYYAfOmxw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are seed-supplier bought garlic bulbs; they were planted in January since garlic needs a cold spell to kick-start them. I have also planted supermarket garlic in containers - we'll see which does better. Another experiment, since one day we may need different outlets for our growing stuff. The fennel was from last year and is growing again.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzaiYkoU833hGkoJPPybWVXDL9fkd-7ZlXko_4cOpkD4BrI8FkH9IsdYr67fb3qIJn9M3GP65vnUXRhijDTX3EqznN5nOejgpz7iYvKHDGx_TYHRda1bHVniQrIJWMgdOE2LARn0bY3NORedoUGI7LU4EvN3tDxZ7dliLITUdYuETS0d-CS9jbJpFW8A=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzaiYkoU833hGkoJPPybWVXDL9fkd-7ZlXko_4cOpkD4BrI8FkH9IsdYr67fb3qIJn9M3GP65vnUXRhijDTX3EqznN5nOejgpz7iYvKHDGx_TYHRda1bHVniQrIJWMgdOE2LARn0bY3NORedoUGI7LU4EvN3tDxZ7dliLITUdYuETS0d-CS9jbJpFW8A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are peas which were sown in early winter and a planted into a cold-frame in the front garden. In front of them (in the shade so not easily seen) are a few lettuce as a catch-crop. The cold-frame will be removed at the end of March and used for more seed-sowings. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxFSQoz3T0JihZc37qbcf0YYANrJ-LyW80cLgkbQIw-jwhW8Juu4IGQx_5clOkf4Wa--_5X6BkDj0T3iZXm0OF00WpdHTFYqRdyRb8VnA4t96mG3xY4b2w1lh_oRak8L-2UDsM83Ncj5HwNGjmcvuGS4nVePBZxHro8YLmNFCYTp90ZhpehcAaYTIPRQ=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxFSQoz3T0JihZc37qbcf0YYANrJ-LyW80cLgkbQIw-jwhW8Juu4IGQx_5clOkf4Wa--_5X6BkDj0T3iZXm0OF00WpdHTFYqRdyRb8VnA4t96mG3xY4b2w1lh_oRak8L-2UDsM83Ncj5HwNGjmcvuGS4nVePBZxHro8YLmNFCYTp90ZhpehcAaYTIPRQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This pot contains another two rhubarb plants; rhubarb is a perennial and thus an easy crop of dessert to grow. Last year was a bit odd since I lost quite a few which had been there years, but this year should see these progress and take their place - I hope. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRgFLDrc6w3b5BkYJ2Lj2BIQ1ZDV5mEylRTdJC7FcQw3OoV8zzsbwW3-5mTbDsyeHcgaSg3-0Ysvk43nNBtxgTgZAhpH4VbKL47ftffFg8P31owahp9w3cTHI4eRpPpEgdby7iKRL_VISO_oc58XkbeOxTUzkNVtPmklNSHfRd_zyBcSEyJo90XdoHDA=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRgFLDrc6w3b5BkYJ2Lj2BIQ1ZDV5mEylRTdJC7FcQw3OoV8zzsbwW3-5mTbDsyeHcgaSg3-0Ysvk43nNBtxgTgZAhpH4VbKL47ftffFg8P31owahp9w3cTHI4eRpPpEgdby7iKRL_VISO_oc58XkbeOxTUzkNVtPmklNSHfRd_zyBcSEyJo90XdoHDA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a stray lemon-balm plant which grew from seed last year; I saved it because I lost a couple of these last year but will try to keep this in a larger 'Herb-Tub' this year (on the ground the dog pees on them, which does nothing to enhance the flavour!). The pot was kept in the Poly-Tunnel over winter which is why this is growing so well and green.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcYVRrqk2VnuJzwfRhGVe9dLZvimJtNqsOYx_5wdy-9O9ArPCUCnBQWJ6XtOX3Pp-GxLjwJzscV0GafBMcvBgwxfkE9tou2lx4-Uu9p5LNu1Mw72aI-gIiN_aDvb6JgEivUido_Vomx0Yhau_ZSt_QzkvsDX8mGsJ8Ho8N2vHukCcx3nVwciCMZ6g-tg=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcYVRrqk2VnuJzwfRhGVe9dLZvimJtNqsOYx_5wdy-9O9ArPCUCnBQWJ6XtOX3Pp-GxLjwJzscV0GafBMcvBgwxfkE9tou2lx4-Uu9p5LNu1Mw72aI-gIiN_aDvb6JgEivUido_Vomx0Yhau_ZSt_QzkvsDX8mGsJ8Ho8N2vHukCcx3nVwciCMZ6g-tg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are supermarket garlic bulbs which are doing about as well (so far) as the seed-supplier bought ones. We shall see how different these are in growth and quality. Any seed-supplier will tell us that their stuff is better, but they are there to sell them. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx4ZouTS6bY4h3byJmFuaV6EDGgq8VfMMDIcM6heYkVYOKayGBtTXSwE0W4f7f2DkdnzLb8rzDXEvQjeQe8bjxfKH13ikiZhNHGvyDXliSh3J-rhKhZzAGo9zuYW63Exo5vcjdyiCRElFU-I2j0RmO2-MKWUyoEW5__l6J-yMSnx9_UZ1QbOSvur-qwA=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx4ZouTS6bY4h3byJmFuaV6EDGgq8VfMMDIcM6heYkVYOKayGBtTXSwE0W4f7f2DkdnzLb8rzDXEvQjeQe8bjxfKH13ikiZhNHGvyDXliSh3J-rhKhZzAGo9zuYW63Exo5vcjdyiCRElFU-I2j0RmO2-MKWUyoEW5__l6J-yMSnx9_UZ1QbOSvur-qwA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a pot of comfrey; this one I dug from the bottom of the garden, where I managed to lose a couple last year. The larger tub that it stands on is also full of comfrey - or at least it was last year, there are signs of growth now. Comfrey or 'Knit-Bone' is good for sprains and broken bones - I have used this years ago on a cracked bone in my toe and it certainly does the job.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have dug all of my raised beds already so as to be ready to plant out as soon as it is possible; spuds are 'chitting' ready to go. I prefer to dig my garden, as my father and grandfather did, but some people prefer a 'no-dig' approach; since I get the results I want I see no need to change, but this is entirely down to the individual. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back in January I performed my own 'Blessing of the Spade' since small gardens have no need of a plough; but this is something we have in our rituals if we wish to use them, so thought I'd do so. Also, in the same month, I did a 'Wassailing' on the two apple trees at the bottom of the garden, again to try to revive something that is still done but not much in the home-garden. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I still have my allotments but the lease on these has run out and it is not certain whether the council will continue it - land is 'needed' for government house-building 'requirements'. The allotments are on a small patch of land on the road that I live on, and are tied to the local 'Community', so I have had to volunteer to 'chair' this to try to stop them getting rid of the allotments altogether. We shall see how this pans out. </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-53537769141823884812022-02-14T09:18:00.002-08:002022-02-14T09:18:11.096-08:00Seeds & Stuff<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGo3P5VWw2bZ7iENhCvg7JSVUxzdyi4lQLuYR3Yg1Hx4yqrTd_KLGUhSavHyd1O1rdvPB0YBlK9xiSrUaxyF957kAUL8ccJG_CnvCnX7ALnOwKUHUWo6h6PUJnV8hD92H4DqQhpK-AQlkw5WpYnccz7g9y_WRXBJwU1sH0gbVRtqIH-wiynheYFT6-Zg=s355" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="355" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGo3P5VWw2bZ7iENhCvg7JSVUxzdyi4lQLuYR3Yg1Hx4yqrTd_KLGUhSavHyd1O1rdvPB0YBlK9xiSrUaxyF957kAUL8ccJG_CnvCnX7ALnOwKUHUWo6h6PUJnV8hD92H4DqQhpK-AQlkw5WpYnccz7g9y_WRXBJwU1sH0gbVRtqIH-wiynheYFT6-Zg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I start to grow seeds in early January; this year started with tomatoes, onions, leeks, lettuce and peas. This is done by keeping the seeds-trays inside the house, in a store-room I have ready to go after Yuletide. We are now in the middle of February, and I have started to put some of the trays outside in a mini-greenhouse in the daytime - to start to harden them off. They are taken back inside the house overnight, just in case of frost. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTbHfJmepqDSl4tJPJ6t1o61bvOYnVUEceJWxdj0bn5lx1f6cwRJ1PVebOb-2lWzlur8rPaKm2GaEgojfsUl82XdIZ69eCCuhFV3xQ8rZvP_0fupISaV6Fll0kHkjOUThm4aKuazqyAJNm6_lcypLL3C7m0lqpShEbcfz7t6oFaeh7ZjE91Zsfu80WNw=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTbHfJmepqDSl4tJPJ6t1o61bvOYnVUEceJWxdj0bn5lx1f6cwRJ1PVebOb-2lWzlur8rPaKm2GaEgojfsUl82XdIZ69eCCuhFV3xQ8rZvP_0fupISaV6Fll0kHkjOUThm4aKuazqyAJNm6_lcypLL3C7m0lqpShEbcfz7t6oFaeh7ZjE91Zsfu80WNw=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I use this size of seed-tray, and have had these for years now, even though they are not exactly strong - but they work. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw6zhB7fowNzWrk2JT0tqP4NDdEp1RjhET-QIRvpByKDU-ru2IPaODEP_7tEpO1-Fvv9zRtiC-VEnSY0OsfL5334gJeeDxpQR21oWwrx2GS6XG-iRmNyk2E8Ujn-iYHeiOaHxnwgTGPK6cacz70qalH7quKY7K_G63nSXxnn2WqRLS3W0ab1CICf35ow=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw6zhB7fowNzWrk2JT0tqP4NDdEp1RjhET-QIRvpByKDU-ru2IPaODEP_7tEpO1-Fvv9zRtiC-VEnSY0OsfL5334gJeeDxpQR21oWwrx2GS6XG-iRmNyk2E8Ujn-iYHeiOaHxnwgTGPK6cacz70qalH7quKY7K_G63nSXxnn2WqRLS3W0ab1CICf35ow=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These two trays have tomatoes in them; they have been put outside in the mini-greenhouse to start to harden them off. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifQ3sGNJIuTmWfpBayneWXtpFoabBTJ-eJo9kUPSwN35rafgMNkMRq6_jrR1OqinpLZmKcMu_xTXxMOVwz6dUhDRJiU-jZ8M5bRN0FIybYEFyBsWyJjwjU6IBXmR6a0N46H9D6NnJGRxcZTwDmPGUJuzXzEZeUHQlLBEtynV5nYsfaexIHe7jF73__Fg=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifQ3sGNJIuTmWfpBayneWXtpFoabBTJ-eJo9kUPSwN35rafgMNkMRq6_jrR1OqinpLZmKcMu_xTXxMOVwz6dUhDRJiU-jZ8M5bRN0FIybYEFyBsWyJjwjU6IBXmR6a0N46H9D6NnJGRxcZTwDmPGUJuzXzEZeUHQlLBEtynV5nYsfaexIHe7jF73__Fg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now is the time to chit potatoes; I use egg-boxes since this is something that I eat a lot. Save them up throughout the year for use in the early winter. These are First Early, Second Early and Maincrop - though the main crop do not really need to be chatted. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju3VGq5BepngPhKKvOyQc_F-A8NhsIV04R2YYa1BxcjcaAm3GAkJGVUk_-Q9Q1BJX29ZAV9VtdcRi8lSottiWo-GzZ6Va7UQBW-nknBROitS6IbOe7R7U0uWqnb3fdkKC8trhgmtjIhdVdB8JNRijsX6Iwptum8oIE1QijTVTY_O-3xMd35GVy9XCWlA=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju3VGq5BepngPhKKvOyQc_F-A8NhsIV04R2YYa1BxcjcaAm3GAkJGVUk_-Q9Q1BJX29ZAV9VtdcRi8lSottiWo-GzZ6Va7UQBW-nknBROitS6IbOe7R7U0uWqnb3fdkKC8trhgmtjIhdVdB8JNRijsX6Iwptum8oIE1QijTVTY_O-3xMd35GVy9XCWlA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a bed of garlic, planted last December; garlic thrive on a cold start and this is the best time of year to plant the bulbs. At the back of the bed is a fennel plant growing again this year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy4HfzndHi67vNk9SfnCRtez0Fis5yWwEX0xL5etHQ_kpTlaodYG7Cf32kSYygjZdeYBznbYJpd5PLpuZjRB93nNmCXJXha2cYtaFRd9MoAjv36ekaJeu3KkbPPvqKob1k5Fmy55H-S3LoLicDJYuZ0aYrDHx1voNcHP6D36xtC70PG4PQms3wsWRuaQ=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy4HfzndHi67vNk9SfnCRtez0Fis5yWwEX0xL5etHQ_kpTlaodYG7Cf32kSYygjZdeYBznbYJpd5PLpuZjRB93nNmCXJXha2cYtaFRd9MoAjv36ekaJeu3KkbPPvqKob1k5Fmy55H-S3LoLicDJYuZ0aYrDHx1voNcHP6D36xtC70PG4PQms3wsWRuaQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The above tray of leeks was planted in early January; you can see here that I use plastic supermarket trays which I collect from various people to use for the seed-sowing. This has saved a great deal of money having to buy the cheap plastic trays which usually break quickly. These are mushroom and tomato trays mainly, and most supermarkets use them so there is an endless supply. (This is why I do not moan about the use of these since they can be 'home-recycled' to make good use of them.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixse1hOcOzivt7HoXkDPbDbOq6M29ea5tk6Wm9NMXb8yEq4StrUyxZfyJ659ECK1ent5dUGuCrufHF0xTehWfOl8VWZZTlMyDeigJ8Ei598pNBTIDsf-ROspoiFQSDInt6sOa1H9c4FqpXvHa9jlacx0iAAVtIwuDyFDpJ6YaS3VP4iviNobWp3n-eTQ=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixse1hOcOzivt7HoXkDPbDbOq6M29ea5tk6Wm9NMXb8yEq4StrUyxZfyJ659ECK1ent5dUGuCrufHF0xTehWfOl8VWZZTlMyDeigJ8Ei598pNBTIDsf-ROspoiFQSDInt6sOa1H9c4FqpXvHa9jlacx0iAAVtIwuDyFDpJ6YaS3VP4iviNobWp3n-eTQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I do a friend's garden and he has a large Rosemary Bush which needed trimming last year; I planted up a host of trimmings - merely scraping the base of the stems - and around 90% of them rooted and are now growing well. Rosemary is one of the easiest to take and plant cuttings of - no point in buying them.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The raised beds in the garden have been dug over ready for planting, the small poly-tunnel cleaned out, and a small plastic-covered mini-greenhouse put in place ready for planting later. Good-to-Go!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-41977513266584302412022-02-06T08:43:00.001-08:002022-02-06T08:43:39.676-08:00Solo Overnight in a Woodland<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2o-OlfAUJJHzLNF1vy7v5q6NH1Byr3r3O18tRxCAO2sC4k6atJuUJF3VSxLGIC0ucIH-CMh2t6ZztqrI2tFpZtDqX7jdTNeA2Yt2VINvlc17FroxWREYhwhPLJkjcOBjYdBLUyqbLr5P4r4wfaNRArx12qW-0O52UHtBfYBJRm_NHh8VzWpKYlMSepg=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2o-OlfAUJJHzLNF1vy7v5q6NH1Byr3r3O18tRxCAO2sC4k6atJuUJF3VSxLGIC0ucIH-CMh2t6ZztqrI2tFpZtDqX7jdTNeA2Yt2VINvlc17FroxWREYhwhPLJkjcOBjYdBLUyqbLr5P4r4wfaNRArx12qW-0O52UHtBfYBJRm_NHh8VzWpKYlMSepg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have just come back from an overnight wild-camping trip to a woodland in West Sussex. Yesterday was fine and sunny which meant that I was able to get on with the stuff that I needed to do uninterrupted, though the forecast for today was very bad and wet weather. The first thing that I did was to get a fire ready to start so as to air the shelter out, since it has not been used for a while now. To do this needs preparation, getting together the amount of kindling needed to start the fire off; I had brought with me some fire-lighters just in case because the weather had been wet last week.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDXep38ec---YxK8ctr1gCp61Rt9y66okGVV4UBSTHfiDLuueFDuvQEIBCOUm4UKVDf2mTH39-ka1tjYroJDFvhVbT3xKvhVsLlKKkKTU0pJfGmrMHgmiKFrOFd7XsNkdolFoysMUhBMPAR7jInmy79OxHBc_f3QQeZ_EHK-hLPwcYQYYewcYoxVvNZQ=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDXep38ec---YxK8ctr1gCp61Rt9y66okGVV4UBSTHfiDLuueFDuvQEIBCOUm4UKVDf2mTH39-ka1tjYroJDFvhVbT3xKvhVsLlKKkKTU0pJfGmrMHgmiKFrOFd7XsNkdolFoysMUhBMPAR7jInmy79OxHBc_f3QQeZ_EHK-hLPwcYQYYewcYoxVvNZQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was enough wood in the wood-store to start off with, which I had cut and stored the last time I went over to the woods. This saved a lot of time for a start, but more would be needed for the night. The fire was kept going through the day, even though it was not that cold, but it helped to air out the shelter and overnight kit left there.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiV7FTcKiGB87ScUXNCIr1yMLv-gBDu93XbMJHjyTuiC7coVLpdU7Tlk9DPWKwIuDFw6SlTS5t3qIRhPkmTT_SDBBtY1jkib_2MzqXj7dj1pOhBQfGCM5XJD7my33vgwM-lx_vNZib0xTc-ytYONPlX3za1INFJYZ-o-wzY0_yD2x7iXfnH6Oz7WKnDNg=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiV7FTcKiGB87ScUXNCIr1yMLv-gBDu93XbMJHjyTuiC7coVLpdU7Tlk9DPWKwIuDFw6SlTS5t3qIRhPkmTT_SDBBtY1jkib_2MzqXj7dj1pOhBQfGCM5XJD7my33vgwM-lx_vNZib0xTc-ytYONPlX3za1INFJYZ-o-wzY0_yD2x7iXfnH6Oz7WKnDNg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the first things I had to do was to start up the old truck that stands there, which had not been started up for some time now. Although the first kick of the starter was a bit sluggish it started up straight away. The truck is used to move stuff around the woodland.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtmBgu9nPwtEYcMOl-QtWuTbLSlim-2mqjV6wYFnabbnU7DI8lqLu3H0eMB7NBV7U_fy0bSZ9Et16JaIt7srsVrXpGmfVddBr0mLtZN9N4DE-s2Kwwb0mC9KzcmJx6Lbp_gpdzMjtdI7IFE31GCcwPHfjRNcmUjbd5uAS6Eqeq3OeCkUoNBGc58fPxFA=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtmBgu9nPwtEYcMOl-QtWuTbLSlim-2mqjV6wYFnabbnU7DI8lqLu3H0eMB7NBV7U_fy0bSZ9Et16JaIt7srsVrXpGmfVddBr0mLtZN9N4DE-s2Kwwb0mC9KzcmJx6Lbp_gpdzMjtdI7IFE31GCcwPHfjRNcmUjbd5uAS6Eqeq3OeCkUoNBGc58fPxFA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The truck battery was a little down on charge but not too much considering that it is not a new battery. The sun shone during the day so I used a 100 Watt Solar-Charger to try to bring the charge up a bit. This one is a foldable, very light charger with everything connected on it, and just needs clipping onto the battery terminals. I carry this in the car all of the time, but it is also used (with another) at home too since I do use 12volt to charge phones etc. The point here is that such things double as everyday useful items and emergency kit. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt0201WNtmun-i5vTFqH5AiAS7tJOpjIXenboeTdM8JJdnKNjG1uS5oYbdN-j_K0nO305dmsInaITBk2czZeX4GsfDI0ScdPisFqRhtrUngSIyOu9Xt6JC2pJPMOMDA-d8fYw-pHFM3RGblfCFH7X4AQEyyPRaiQxgJs33PL2JysMknGMHppIKl-Lthw=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt0201WNtmun-i5vTFqH5AiAS7tJOpjIXenboeTdM8JJdnKNjG1uS5oYbdN-j_K0nO305dmsInaITBk2czZeX4GsfDI0ScdPisFqRhtrUngSIyOu9Xt6JC2pJPMOMDA-d8fYw-pHFM3RGblfCFH7X4AQEyyPRaiQxgJs33PL2JysMknGMHppIKl-Lthw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you can see here, the battery was only one bar down; in the summer months with full sunshine I have charged this right up in about an hour, but in winter time it takes longer due to less sun strength. When the alternator went on the truck a couple of years ago I kept it going locally by taking the solar-charger and putting it on for an hour whilst I was stopped and doing a job. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0f47FB1TSO-h7weieLTdUjW8RgS4H4etOS_VqLVswFamhXWs9n84PNF0qdkwy_gxrtS4rVTqu1QGUD0vv5zJJadGTiXwYP_H_Qu0ZCZ5DFWd1wKqm3KxcUQE8SGQnccxE5q9BYvhfAXl3p_f_uDRhfZREwWXfOSY5gSi2D25YXTHY4JX4Z_LACwMMBg=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0f47FB1TSO-h7weieLTdUjW8RgS4H4etOS_VqLVswFamhXWs9n84PNF0qdkwy_gxrtS4rVTqu1QGUD0vv5zJJadGTiXwYP_H_Qu0ZCZ5DFWd1wKqm3KxcUQE8SGQnccxE5q9BYvhfAXl3p_f_uDRhfZREwWXfOSY5gSi2D25YXTHY4JX4Z_LACwMMBg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When doing an overnight camp it is essential that a good stock of logs is cut so as to get through the night. This small fire borns down very quickly, especially since it was a windy evening. I had a very rough night with the rain, and the fact the shelter needs some work now, letting the wind and some wet in too. Although I stocked the fire with logs and turned in about 10.00 (I was very tired after doing a lot of work on the site) the fire was out by 1.00. I don't stock it during the night because we had a tarp over the front of the shelter to help to keep the wind out. The shelter was letting in some wet where Sam (my dog) was sleeping, so I got up at 5.30am to build the fire up - it had gone completely out by then, just a faint ember. Sam had my sleeping-bag around him to get warm and the fire was soon going...but....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although I had cut lots of wood on the Saturday, there was hardly anything left by the Sunday morning, and it was chucking it down with rain, and had been most of the night. Everything outside was soaking wet, so I used what I had to start the fire, and had to use some of the wooden slats for the base of the log-store which were dry. Had to get out in the rain to get some long branches to cut up using a Bahco Folding Saw. This was something that I should have done on the Saturday when it was dry but I tried to do other stuff instead - big mistake! This is one very important point, to stock up enough wood to go through the night and into the next morning too - it gets coldest near dawn. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirj1JiKwjm9B5FJNbS2jsSfCV72QYCgVyv_3J2yznM2mK_Am6DkRD__AJw9XoQlrHGi5kbKva8k4j4q-raJoIhi3K1yFOKqOlcMg3tgLvG4FHy7PXdWw0Lnr7bPoTDM4fErDsk82HKwTreYIWh3NTDPLbXUVjuN2gSsyKBloHUVhTzz4yROK8DFbku_A=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirj1JiKwjm9B5FJNbS2jsSfCV72QYCgVyv_3J2yznM2mK_Am6DkRD__AJw9XoQlrHGi5kbKva8k4j4q-raJoIhi3K1yFOKqOlcMg3tgLvG4FHy7PXdWw0Lnr7bPoTDM4fErDsk82HKwTreYIWh3NTDPLbXUVjuN2gSsyKBloHUVhTzz4yROK8DFbku_A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the shelter we used to sleep in, with a tarp-porch over the fire and covering the wood-store. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that the tarp was put up as a temporary measure last year and it is not quite big enough to stop the rain getting into the whole area around the front of the shelter. But it has reminded me of what I have to do next! The tarp was tied to the coppiced chestnut trees around the site, so I took it down before leaving this morning because the wind may do some damage in time, and the tarp is quite a good solid one which I can used again. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCcaJIssn43ai9P2C9kf9B-JMAVjv24uDM0AjlIr5Ecz4mXIQiZHQrN01WFslfWEDlktp7TwZRZLjpSUar6hnwY3tg-MtpEPK2-j-01wYPpawK5TykZL7KLBvePseAM8csbLYhiFPm6_Zx396KVt4IsKOhU2XWBU0vazXWjo9L9Jr3I46hAMs6PpwuFA=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCcaJIssn43ai9P2C9kf9B-JMAVjv24uDM0AjlIr5Ecz4mXIQiZHQrN01WFslfWEDlktp7TwZRZLjpSUar6hnwY3tg-MtpEPK2-j-01wYPpawK5TykZL7KLBvePseAM8csbLYhiFPm6_Zx396KVt4IsKOhU2XWBU0vazXWjo9L9Jr3I46hAMs6PpwuFA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I usually do is to make tea on a gas-stove, and cook food either on the stove or when cooking a full meal on an old barbecue that I was given and took to the site some years ago. We cook with wood and not charcoal, since the site is covered in wood - of course. What I did this time was to take an old Coleman Twin-Fuel Stove which I have had for many years and which ended up in the shed not being used, until I found it and decided to try to fix it. The stove had a fault and would not go, which was the reason I chucked it in the shed and forgot it; however, seeing them now costing around £120.00 (I paid about half that when I bought it) I retrieved it and found out that it could be fixed for about £20.00 - so I fixed it, and it works perfectly on unleaded petrol. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The advantage with a petrol stove is that it is very fast and not affected by the cold weather, as gas is in the main. It boils water very fast and gets very hot; it cooks food a treat. These Coleman Stoves are mad in the USA which is what they are so good I suppose. I don't think this has changed much from the time I got it, only having a different filler-cap I think. You can easily take spare fuel in a fuel-bottle, which I carry with my cooking kit.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1ptn23zOmCZhIHmMk8AC7Ro9Es9EpgaMDkPP8Mz4dcdPc9NuNM56JKfM38_HJim-QuT0e69yPi0v6LqSDw3xffYs9QpToaJDTrp8zmDpEhe5u-QsnQ7P_cwnuoiY4LqfBQ4MOzc4EPXt371ZIjlNzQIx9bBYwklbKX7c1cFfWY0Ue_JVYlGG7X8uiJg=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1ptn23zOmCZhIHmMk8AC7Ro9Es9EpgaMDkPP8Mz4dcdPc9NuNM56JKfM38_HJim-QuT0e69yPi0v6LqSDw3xffYs9QpToaJDTrp8zmDpEhe5u-QsnQ7P_cwnuoiY4LqfBQ4MOzc4EPXt371ZIjlNzQIx9bBYwklbKX7c1cFfWY0Ue_JVYlGG7X8uiJg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was a new experiment that I did, making an 'awning' for the back of the Land-Rover; not quite as good as I had thought! I fixed the tarp to two magnetic clips on each side of the car, but during the night, with the high winds, they moved and the whole thing collapsed at the back of the motor. I had hoped that it would be there and up for the morning when it was raining, but I had to put the whole thing back together in the rain - which somehow negates the object of the procedure. Anyway, another lesson learned - we have to learn by our mistakes, and that is why it is so important to get out and practice - train and educate oneself. There is no point whatever in getting into a situation where it is really vital to have something like this, and then finding the mistakes then. Better to train and practice, and to learn the lesson before it is needed in an emergency. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway, due to the problem with the magnets, it would have been far better to have tied the front of the tarp to the roof-rack on the top, and not using elastic but paracord. The elastic stretches and the poles come loose; these also needed guy-ropes to back and side. However, it was bloody windy that night so not really surprising something like that would happen. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA6TZLpCc1ljbgMpisNx1tboamJblW9MEAe2C3iEXxYELX_A7dogoO2-Yrfi1fqT4xOTxnOVu4fTyxI9SL4thE5Sskki0qgMw31U7uW9A3udVMNj4zIDCtSQyS-nxA6PW2II8_3ekPq2_m1qmzL6leMuUJrLd5XmieF9M-FHGJe-vF2FLLFJ_TjEQgxw=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA6TZLpCc1ljbgMpisNx1tboamJblW9MEAe2C3iEXxYELX_A7dogoO2-Yrfi1fqT4xOTxnOVu4fTyxI9SL4thE5Sskki0qgMw31U7uW9A3udVMNj4zIDCtSQyS-nxA6PW2II8_3ekPq2_m1qmzL6leMuUJrLd5XmieF9M-FHGJe-vF2FLLFJ_TjEQgxw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I now carry water in a LIFESAVER JERRY-CAN which not only carries the water but has a filter that purifies it almost 99%. I filled it with tap-water before I left and this cleans and filters out the chemicals too. Now, these cost new around £300.00 which is very expensive, but I got mine for half that price because it is 'shop-soiled' (it was just dusty and a scratch - no more). The thing is with this, although it seems very expensive it can double for everyday use. This one will clean and purify some 10,000 litres before needing a filter-change, which means that I would not use it enough as an 'emergency back-up', so I use it to clean and purify the tap-water which smells of chlorine when used straight from the tap. Rather than buying a household filter-system, here we have a transportable water-purification system that will do in the house, and for any emergency that crops up. They were designed for emergency use after the Far Eastern Tsunami, when water was contaminated. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note: I keep a fully-charged spare battery on the back, with a 12 volt light system which clips to the battery. The light is fixed to the top of the battery with 'sticky-strips' (that is the technical term for these). I have another 12-volt battery which is inside a power-box which I use at home for charging phones etc. This also goes with me on longer trips. These can be used for a spare battery for the car if the one on it discharges. But they double to power other things too - I feel that this is the best way to do things, then they are worth the money. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZSDzvx0jmkoI13xzm44EhwpNUfQPNOILMUAIeuMMvpww6LqSlzqgEzabvWFL_WYYoNZEZkSgoBE_X6ceQE9Dzp_M-rTyNJ8BS328x204iLNP7jYN8JXWEFKZcHec4PSoX-hC43O2kikwZ2sW19cwlZ3buUZstM6R1myvRQ45wP7_Vl9oYesKRyjWQLg=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZSDzvx0jmkoI13xzm44EhwpNUfQPNOILMUAIeuMMvpww6LqSlzqgEzabvWFL_WYYoNZEZkSgoBE_X6ceQE9Dzp_M-rTyNJ8BS328x204iLNP7jYN8JXWEFKZcHec4PSoX-hC43O2kikwZ2sW19cwlZ3buUZstM6R1myvRQ45wP7_Vl9oYesKRyjWQLg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cooking gear is stored in a blue council-container (discontinued before you say anything); here I carry the pots and pans needed, plates, knives, forks, spoons, small water-containers, gas-stove and petrol-stove and fuel bottle. This fits into one container that can simply be taken out of the car for use. It can be stored in the car overnight, which I did because of the heavy rain due. On this occasion I did not take a lot with me, only my overnight kit, cooking gear and a chain-saw to cut wood quickly. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_pxVid6yGa0yxOOEKJ91o_bygAUZHjC5LI5lAX3BFfb7JrEWeUBApbxtDQ67O3Rw3Gnvq-dEc2IzfE2wZbHvjN5KiTy3uM4WiTcaZIpInPn4c49gvSPuZ5L_HE9ZJj-ud0QyydDkl8hA5HmQF0MaPlsJXW47JqNpedNY2wkdaFtru6g8VnGF1HhJO-w=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_pxVid6yGa0yxOOEKJ91o_bygAUZHjC5LI5lAX3BFfb7JrEWeUBApbxtDQ67O3Rw3Gnvq-dEc2IzfE2wZbHvjN5KiTy3uM4WiTcaZIpInPn4c49gvSPuZ5L_HE9ZJj-ud0QyydDkl8hA5HmQF0MaPlsJXW47JqNpedNY2wkdaFtru6g8VnGF1HhJO-w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the fire in the evening, really hot and blazing quickly due to the winds which always make fires burn quickly. This is why plenty of wood is needed, stocked up to last through the night if necessary; since this was not strictly-speaking an open-fronted shelter (had a small tarp across the front, though the top foot was open) the fire was not needed all night. One tip for this type of shelter is that a few small candles or night-lights kept burning during the night will at least keep the temperature above freezing in cold weather - have tried this before and it does work. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKsYHfD_clxqAecPVrvgzVi3UIcEuYbSBxHZo6qNx4x_f4iXfRFxfhS8s5WOASAChq6hcFJbce-K3K3VmLheApJgdHD2qU3ZhUOcTGZEzYhVEpLwB2L6uqJ8FHWiLQ5cS-6RBoaKNH6buMspXrL-iiqzaPQXPk3hu6VjPXirOjvNxXeHvsXWeHqBJPlQ=s2720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKsYHfD_clxqAecPVrvgzVi3UIcEuYbSBxHZo6qNx4x_f4iXfRFxfhS8s5WOASAChq6hcFJbce-K3K3VmLheApJgdHD2qU3ZhUOcTGZEzYhVEpLwB2L6uqJ8FHWiLQ5cS-6RBoaKNH6buMspXrL-iiqzaPQXPk3hu6VjPXirOjvNxXeHvsXWeHqBJPlQ=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tripod just shown here is made for putting over the fire to hang a cooking-pot from; this has been very useful in the past to not only cook but to boil a large saucepan of water for washing up and washing oneself when doing a few days wild camping. A stew-pot can be hung on this for a group-camp, something I may well try this year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Doing this type of thing at this time of year shows up some of the flaws in what we do; the cold, wet, windy weather is a challenge that makes one think and have to put right things that can go wrong. I also open the eyes to what we would have to put up with were we to be forced into doing things like this; in fact it makes me think what I would really do if this were to have to be done, but not just an 'overnight' thing but for a longer time period - this would be a mighty problem no doubt for most of us! This is a problem we face here in England at this time, since much of the winter is cold, wet and windy, and to get through for a longer period of time does not really bear thinking about. But, and we should always keep this in mind, our forefathers had to do this all of the time!</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-52258593856417377792021-07-22T09:08:00.003-07:002021-07-22T09:09:01.381-07:00Self-Reliance - Part Two.<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_xGori6fHPQAxBcPgEc0_vAye1bF_XieZIg5h9QsTaro5-aopY3-CUVSR9TwnVaQe5tEieU4LMke9mczT2NEwM0QVvjFD-7VY8ClXDboLxwvo_-ZaVtScx2B4_j8Pmk9s60ej7eqXclR/s88/Odal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="88" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_xGori6fHPQAxBcPgEc0_vAye1bF_XieZIg5h9QsTaro5-aopY3-CUVSR9TwnVaQe5tEieU4LMke9mczT2NEwM0QVvjFD-7VY8ClXDboLxwvo_-ZaVtScx2B4_j8Pmk9s60ej7eqXclR/w200-h200/Odal.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the great problems we face today is living in a 'throw-away' society based upon the insanity of a mass-production and consumption structure which produces little more than piles of rubbish awaiting their turn to move to the local tip. But it is not just the produce-and-consume society that has the most negative affects upon us all, for it is the structure itself that causes problems at the level of the human mind. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Take for example a simple knife which is used most every day, and which goes blunt with use. How many people today see this as thus being useless and in need of replacement immediately - throw it away, in other words? This is merely one such example of thousands, and without the 'old school' idea of being thrifty ('look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves') money is 'thrown down the drain' every day of the week. This is where the use of bushcraft-survival comes into play, because in order to function this needs a very different mind-set, one in which the knife would be sharpened over and over again. We learn to 'make do' rather than go straight out and buy something new; this has two positive sides, for it means that we learn new skills in making new what would be 'rubbish', and we learn how to use money far more wisely. Our forefathers did just this, and they were certainly better off for it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'll give two more simple examples. Our forefathers would not throw away a pair of shoes simply because the sole or heel was worn, they would stick on a new sole or new heel. They darned socks with holes in them, and stitched up clothes that were torn, and there are untold examples of how they were far more self-reliant than most people are today. My maternal grandfather was a coach-builder who built the old wooden horse-boxes, and as a 'chippy' he could make all his own furniture, an example of which I have kept in my living room, a chair and small table that were both well over 60 years old now. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I must admit to having bought a great deal of stuff over the years, stuff which I then found I did not need; however, in time this proved different because what I have collected I am now making use of, and thus not needing to buy these things now. The children have grown up and do not use the old stuff I bought them, so I now put these to use in my training and work. These things are now becoming useful in so many different ways. Rarely do I buy survival gear now, except if is something that is really useful and helpful - so much has been hoarded over the decades. But that is not a bad thing, and I'm glad that the stuff was not thrown away long ago.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In my own opinion there is a need for caution in all that we do in regard to bushcraft-survival, since this has already become a part of the 'produce-and-consume' society with the YouTune reviews of what we 'must have' etc. This is not actually a bad thing since with mass-production the prices lower somewhat, but there is still need for us to buy the best equipment in regard to a knife, saw and an axe, as well as a good camping equipment. Steer clear of the 'gimmicks' which are out there because you can certainly do without much of this stuff. All we need is the basics to survive on if something did happen. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-88240523048655501542021-07-13T10:57:00.004-07:002021-07-22T08:41:27.256-07:00Self-Reliance - Part One<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHxxYvg5_YfHiXwmjVgX56sctmeRD8hdA_RhmHxKGb3KsbAJ7JsAK2uPl6JUKM0OXFB5BvxlPsGc3jbZUJHp69ICAr8oFt1mJuEKnknIgpHYVOe2iRd86-HQkujOU6QKrgKlX2bWJ4-7j/s355/wodens+folk+ethel+project%255B1%255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHxxYvg5_YfHiXwmjVgX56sctmeRD8hdA_RhmHxKGb3KsbAJ7JsAK2uPl6JUKM0OXFB5BvxlPsGc3jbZUJHp69ICAr8oFt1mJuEKnknIgpHYVOe2iRd86-HQkujOU6QKrgKlX2bWJ4-7j/s320/wodens+folk+ethel+project%255B1%255D.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is nothing better than going outside into the garden to collect what food is there to eat, not only <u>natural food</u> but also <u>seasonal food</u>. Since mid-April my vegetables, especially salads at first, have come from the garden, topped up by what is not ready from the local supermarket - I am nowhere near self-sufficient as yet. I have just been out to pick my dinner from the stuff that is ready, and bar for one potato I have used which came from a large bag which I get from a local supplier, everything that I have collected to make a stew came from the garden. This has been the same now for about six weeks; sometimes I use no meat at all, and what I do has come from the local butcher, locally sourced.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year has not been great, due to the wet weather we have had over May and into July, though there have been sunny days which break this up. Due to the wet I lost a lot of lettuce, but after eating this through April and May this really did not matter too much. The mistake I made here was due to modern ways of growing, as opposed to the 'old ways'. After a few years of planting these close together I came unstuck because the whole lot rotted due to the rain. I remember reading one of William Cobbett's books where he is critical of the 'modern' farming (of his time, of course) methods of growing closer together. Maybe I should have listened to this English Radical. Anyway, using the method of growing closer together did not affect a raised bed in the back garden, maybe because different crops were grown together in one small bed. They seem to be thriving anyway, so 'old' and 'modern' could be used together.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Much of the vegetable crops of the cabbage family have done well in regard to the leaves, and these are used freely in stews and casseroles. Cauliflowers have done badly, as usual, but I have used one of the tops which was ready to bolt to seed. The small, young leaves are fine anyway, even if later they are the food of caterpillars. I'll here share with you my success and failure -</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peas - brilliant, and I have never had such great crops of peas; these are about to come to an end but I planted some more seeds in trays (these did the best) and they will go into pots this week (the pots did the best). The best seeds were unfortunately <u>not</u> the 'heritage' type, which were pretty poor in cropping. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Broad Beans - crap! Only got a couple of plants worth of pods; these went rotten, maybe due to the wet weather.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lettuce - I planted an over-winter crop of around six lettuce which seeded themselves around last September; these were ready in April and used first. The Lollo Rosso lettuce did well as well as a mixed salad variety, but these then succumbed to the wet weather and rotted. I merely took them up, put them in the compost bin, and replaced with Summer Squash.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summer Squash - not ready as yet, and rather later than I have had before, maybe due to the wet again. Forecast is better for a while so things may well pick up.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sweet Corn (Corn-on-the-Cob) - Have not planted these for years now but they seem to be doing well at the moment. They are just beginning to show the tops now.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tomatoes - Those I have planted were all from seeds collected from some given by a Folk-Comrade, and also some supermarket seeds, which some say are not fertile, but which gave me 100% germination and are now flowering. We shall see what they do now. Some are in the poly-tunnel, and some outside; the ones outside are flowering first.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Swiss Chard/Spinach - Fair crop, but unlike last year when I had nice green leaves some this year have gone yellow, a problem I have had in the past. Obviously a lack of nutrients in the soil. But still usable and still growing for use. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cabbage - The leaves have been used for a while and I have another crop under a small poly-tunnel which has been netted. This crop have a couple going to seed already - I just let them go because the seeds will do for next year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Onions - Last January a very early crop of onions was planted as sets in the poly-tunnel, but they have done nothing much at all. Decided to lift and store the bulbs to try for next year. Those planted outside are a little better, but still not as good as the year before last, which was a bumper crop. Spring onions did very well, unusual for me.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Carrots - Nothing last year but a few very tiny ones, this year they were planted in a raised planter and have done well. They have been picked for about 4 weeks or more now and are small but very sweet and tender. Grown with onions which seems to go well together.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kale - Grown for the first time in a small raised bed, and seem to be doing well so far.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Beetroot - These were put in late, like the Parsnips, and they seem to be going alright so far.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Leeks - Going alright, though I shall pick them early because some may well go to seed this year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Runner Beans - Late coming up but they are now flowering and near the top of the canes. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cucumber - These are in the poly-tunnel and are now flowering; last year was a very bad one for these but maybe these will be alright.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Potatoes - So far I have lifted none of these because I have a large bag from a local supplier. Plenty of green top growth but due to the wet weather there may be problems underneath - we shall see. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apples - Cut the trees well back last year so expect a smaller crop, but they are growing well. This will depend upon getting some warm sunny weather to sweeten them up a bit.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Strawberries - crap! Lifted them from the bed where they did nothing last year and put them in a barrel made for strawberry-growing. No luck again this year, so I'll try using new ones and a different variety. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cress - first crops failed, but renewed them and these are growing well. Not done these before.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Celery - did not come up, so gave up in the end. Had a good crop last year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Radishes did well this year, or at least one crop did well and the other not. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The aim this year is to try to overwinter some stuff, but I have had problems with germination on such things as lettuce, which have been problem-free in the past. Hoping to get seeds from the crops to grow on, which seems the best way to become 'sustainable' <i style="font-weight: bold;">(*) </i>into the future. Raven and I were talking about the idea of seed-sharing and we both remember our fathers with allotments always sharing their seeds with other growers. This needs to be revived if we are to go into the future with at least some hope. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>(*) </b>I don't like the term 'sustainable' since it conjures up images of certain very dark figures, but it will do for now.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One last point. I let some wild plants grow around the garden, such as nettles, dandelions and daisies, and these are sometimes used for food, especially put into a good stew. Nettles make a good tea, and I have garden mint, peppermint and spear-mint which are used to make a tea, good for the digestion and stomach. Also lemon balm and comfrey, as well as thyme, rosemary, fennel, parsley, bay, and coriander. Looking to create a herb-garden next year to grow a greater variety still. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Rowan Tree has a large crop of berries again this year, more than last year in fact, and according to an old Scotsman I know this is a sign of a coming bad winter. The last two years have been colder and this seems to be quite true. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As part of the Edel-Project those involved are trying to create a seed-bank where we can share seeds from our own growing. This is another stage in the process towards self-reliance. This is all part of our work to become more self-sufficient and to be able to buy less and grow more, and thus to cut out the State-System which is forever throwing blocks in the way of any form of freedom. This may not be achieved at all, but having it as a goal is enough to keep us motivated, which is the main thing to think of. </span></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-88919847376230699312021-04-10T10:24:00.001-07:002021-04-10T10:24:46.180-07:00Woodland Base-Camp - 3 <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYj7Xd0tTbMo3Eviiu7l58t5qFfZQuBlO3ygwzWsQbFsxfs5j9wR2vtxkKThd-ehsWbxlxS-17YJV91V9AW6WVVt3-DmcbGkJARj-TCZ2WtFCfrL6DFzcEcwHI7AKChToDujc5RmUX6NL/s2720/SAM_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYj7Xd0tTbMo3Eviiu7l58t5qFfZQuBlO3ygwzWsQbFsxfs5j9wR2vtxkKThd-ehsWbxlxS-17YJV91V9AW6WVVt3-DmcbGkJARj-TCZ2WtFCfrL6DFzcEcwHI7AKChToDujc5RmUX6NL/s320/SAM_1864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another visit to the base-camp today allowed some more work on the site, though it turned out to be a wet day in the end, and I got soaked getting home, as did poor old Sam (who is not at all keen on the wet). But firstly I would like to look at the backpack again, because I have some things to say on this which I hope will help others. This is why it pays to get out and about with a rucksack.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMohAlxfG7EU7JGteUUol7FbZuB82EeDh-m_iePODAmCB6yzR-ewdP3CQG-jxfFUCVh5pOgpKJBvVzzBWjuXWCzavSSta8CPT6pdrNokRyeY_N2dAAOnXmGPgsRB8lJV0pQx9WSGpRnUg/s2720/SAM_1861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMohAlxfG7EU7JGteUUol7FbZuB82EeDh-m_iePODAmCB6yzR-ewdP3CQG-jxfFUCVh5pOgpKJBvVzzBWjuXWCzavSSta8CPT6pdrNokRyeY_N2dAAOnXmGPgsRB8lJV0pQx9WSGpRnUg/s320/SAM_1861.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you can see I have made slight changes, adding another bottle-holder to the side of the pack. I thus carried three water-bottles, which makes for quite a bit of weight since these are the heaviest parts of a backpack. I bought the side-pouch (or shoulder-pouch) and a new stainless-steel bottle, since this can be used on its own, or it can be attached to the rucksack. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whilst going to the woodland it was noticeable that the water-bottles and cooking-pot were rather uncomfortable, being at the back of the pack, so on the way back I padded these with some of the tarp-equipment etc. This seemed to do the trick as I did not notice any discomfort on the way back. This has to be considered when backpacking or trekking, since discomfort is the last thing you would want on a long trip. This is yet another reason to get out and do this regularly, since you need to know comfortable the rucksack is in use - when packed right. This is something that many 'Bug-Out Bag' videos do not mention, but it is one of the most important things to consider. I would certainly look for a better quality rucksack in time, and one with better features since there are certain better designs than mine -</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The back of the pack is padded, but it is not as much as I would like; it was not a dear pack, hence the short-fallings.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The best type of waistband is one that is wide and padded, mine is not, and this does make for less comfort.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had to add shoulder-straps since the backpack did not have them, which is a must for comfort. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, even though I point out these drawbacks, this backpack is quite comfortable, and it does not feel that heavy, except when moving through the denser parts of the woodland which is always awkward whatever you are carrying. Enough of the rucksack.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLzSXQIBNo7cKgH9coEzwIC8zSRL2DzVoua3UmNY51br-HUij6XsEqfFgDvURXr19OKoxQd31JOoHw4n0raOTUoBCizRYyCIQCJPoQGWPSzDpMN2Z9CM-viTweEQhyphenhyphenxGvJ2CjRkWFn1T0/s2720/SAM_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLzSXQIBNo7cKgH9coEzwIC8zSRL2DzVoua3UmNY51br-HUij6XsEqfFgDvURXr19OKoxQd31JOoHw4n0raOTUoBCizRYyCIQCJPoQGWPSzDpMN2Z9CM-viTweEQhyphenhyphenxGvJ2CjRkWFn1T0/s320/SAM_1869.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first thing I did was to put an extra log on each of the sides, and two logs on the rear of the shelter. This helps to protect from the elements, though this can be bettered in time. As you can see I have put the tarp up much the same way, with some minor adjustments. It is pretty taught and now easy to put up without any problems. This is the aim here, to be able to get to the site and put the tarp on straight away, thus making it easy to shelter if it rains - which it did today. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjRJAgxhlfhfVAWDird8ecOevP6Lt5O_wkoqJjG8xOpFfkImAzeTUuHWKVPwPEPivjf1OZlAz62bWVLiFWVTQZ-di6cYlOb7Rf-NesIaCUaGfh5d2OkQze3yqhkPDBX8lM55Ih74R2LG-/s2720/SAM_1868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjRJAgxhlfhfVAWDird8ecOevP6Lt5O_wkoqJjG8xOpFfkImAzeTUuHWKVPwPEPivjf1OZlAz62bWVLiFWVTQZ-di6cYlOb7Rf-NesIaCUaGfh5d2OkQze3yqhkPDBX8lM55Ih74R2LG-/s320/SAM_1868.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This time I did not light the fire with cotton-wool and the ferro-rod; I lit it with a Zippo Lighter, lighting the eco fire-lighter rather than the cotton wool. Again, I do not see the point in using a ferro-rod over and over again and wearing it out when you can use a lighter and merely refill each time, and be able to get fuel as you go along. This saves on cotton-wool too, and it was a bit damp today so finding dry tinder would have been hard - and taking it with me saves time looking for tinder, which can be done at any time. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYR0b3pSWdIwvOUzI0EG7ckMTem8mIRoo8qUc4_RORYGfff-U1khk-q-dtu3-aFmorc8uNU0Hb_vLZL0nIv4zp6SJllg9sng9JFahJgVUI7HuyvyKKscNksw28_FIXtUTWBiXXhwRuwlqx/s2720/SAM_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYR0b3pSWdIwvOUzI0EG7ckMTem8mIRoo8qUc4_RORYGfff-U1khk-q-dtu3-aFmorc8uNU0Hb_vLZL0nIv4zp6SJllg9sng9JFahJgVUI7HuyvyKKscNksw28_FIXtUTWBiXXhwRuwlqx/s320/SAM_1879.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I boiled a pot of water for a coffee, using the two metal bars used last time I went over. This is the easiest and safest way to do this, and I find also that using small twigs on the fire and a lot of flames helps speed the boiling up. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzPJnZ0rDSi7KDZh3JeTvZm9MkdwzWpVahv1Exrsk7fKpGtB9WvxNuYlAXPIVTPlKOWv7zwOaJ349tJRpvq5hz1WJBVuGezT2UxNdKCQRuk-WSKKH3hENsrjBpX_95wmXYttuAGgc9Yuq/s2720/SAM_1878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzPJnZ0rDSi7KDZh3JeTvZm9MkdwzWpVahv1Exrsk7fKpGtB9WvxNuYlAXPIVTPlKOWv7zwOaJ349tJRpvq5hz1WJBVuGezT2UxNdKCQRuk-WSKKH3hENsrjBpX_95wmXYttuAGgc9Yuq/s320/SAM_1878.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I use a stainless-steel cup which is not blackened because It has not been used to boil the water over the flames. The lid is from the other pot set, but it fits the cup exactly. It is useful to carry such sets because if needed I could use the cup, or even one of the stainless-steel water-bottles to boil over the fire. The 'Teacher's Whisky' bottle is a miniature someone kindly gave me, and I used it in the coffee - a doctor once told my mother that whisky helps to thin the blood down, so this is, of course, for medicinal purposes only. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LnxBP95_vdPt2Vju0PwUtl4XhZ_fmLVMzInL-5nImzgnMKqmjZHN5N7hUFy-Si3BSjcPJyeQZt2MJGmsbqz6reF4ns0Jb396iIvoZiuiCX5JYtjUNNmpi0Ak-rMOBjC-0jBcjeHRmjf0/s2720/SAM_1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LnxBP95_vdPt2Vju0PwUtl4XhZ_fmLVMzInL-5nImzgnMKqmjZHN5N7hUFy-Si3BSjcPJyeQZt2MJGmsbqz6reF4ns0Jb396iIvoZiuiCX5JYtjUNNmpi0Ak-rMOBjC-0jBcjeHRmjf0/s320/SAM_1870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One improvement that may well be made is to create a Fire-Reflector at the front of the fire, which would push the heat back into the shelter. As yet I have not come across the larger tarp that I think I kept, but when this is found the shelter will be extended over the front, making it warmer I would think. You can feel the warmer middle part of the shelter because the fire is at this point, a longer fire would warm the whole thing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have cut off all of the dead lower branches of the small pine-trees so that it makes it far easier to get around the camp-area. Using a fire regularly also uses up much of the waste wood lying around, and gradually clears the area for the future. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I said before, this is a temporary base-camp which is being set up to make it easier to build something a bit stronger and better over a period of time. There is plenty of potential here for finding a suitable place to build another nearby, and use this whilst doing so. </span></div></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-90702368788736071022021-04-05T10:52:00.002-07:002021-04-05T11:01:36.750-07:00Woodland Base Camp - 2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78HhAAIdnNhxkL77zV-JmRXeSZMwXKJkrW52RXzoe1kD6rkaC6_Hx7_VIL5Lg42XAdnBSqAZSOs74sYWwsczrzoip3-Av9WQKDkq9RJHk6OWp4engtJRq5kyF9gSxRCf-IJnbfCB9x4f2/s2720/SAM_1635.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78HhAAIdnNhxkL77zV-JmRXeSZMwXKJkrW52RXzoe1kD6rkaC6_Hx7_VIL5Lg42XAdnBSqAZSOs74sYWwsczrzoip3-Av9WQKDkq9RJHk6OWp4engtJRq5kyF9gSxRCf-IJnbfCB9x4f2/s320/SAM_1635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Easter Monday and a bright, sunny day, even though the forecast was overcast and even perhaps some snow. I went to the woodlands to work on the Base Camp and to look around the area to see what else can be done there. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHciEZ4Zo9SxFvN3P0gk9sb06QBxKohIK9q8qX5CEzDQH6NPZV1GnhGONWgMCh0uvLOuBCPEhk3McRxlyjDmu_CaWlFjpkeNRi1tprIiwjcbMKQ86bBvKtJSlQ65pXrjlXSaFEjNoqciSM/s2720/SAM_1803.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHciEZ4Zo9SxFvN3P0gk9sb06QBxKohIK9q8qX5CEzDQH6NPZV1GnhGONWgMCh0uvLOuBCPEhk3McRxlyjDmu_CaWlFjpkeNRi1tprIiwjcbMKQ86bBvKtJSlQ65pXrjlXSaFEjNoqciSM/s320/SAM_1803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I made the tarp tighter at the back, and due to the edges going over the poles now there is a 'dent' in the middle. In the past such a set-up can actually be useful because when it rains the water runs down the 'dent' and can be collected in a cup or container below. I made a survival-blanket 'kennel' for Sam, but he is rather a round-arse and soon got up to turn round and shed the blanket. Tried a poncho I had with me but not having used this for some time I forgot how small it is (Hobbit size) and it would not fit the shelter. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsYFmACN2CHERit272dV7njzEqJxCBEBaZPOcU7gzftTrHNtAcqhz0YaKLbUlujqsmdzd1g3hQ1YM2cVHv021tEbuD2jlG-i7yiK_Trl43bFs-1QEV-Yb45X6lwlHIyHqL5yK3TbmWWFj/s2720/SAM_1804.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsYFmACN2CHERit272dV7njzEqJxCBEBaZPOcU7gzftTrHNtAcqhz0YaKLbUlujqsmdzd1g3hQ1YM2cVHv021tEbuD2jlG-i7yiK_Trl43bFs-1QEV-Yb45X6lwlHIyHqL5yK3TbmWWFj/s320/SAM_1804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I made a small fire-pit, some 12" diameter and 6" deep, which will make a start for a Dakota Fire-Pit if needed. This time I cut the eco fire-lighter in two, and used half the amount of cotton wool to start the fire. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3CuZyStgWt_IUyG5rHQm8UtzTSSHJM7NpbmG6Q7eDnB9Gv1nJ6e0hA1aJmj9ASJjDJmofpyRWyefd0n64q-tAWLE235J76RtJDF0FPNTFJeMhVJ1w8fPb53AJUOeLv03DaAqyGVVLDjv/s2720/SAM_1814.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3CuZyStgWt_IUyG5rHQm8UtzTSSHJM7NpbmG6Q7eDnB9Gv1nJ6e0hA1aJmj9ASJjDJmofpyRWyefd0n64q-tAWLE235J76RtJDF0FPNTFJeMhVJ1w8fPb53AJUOeLv03DaAqyGVVLDjv/s320/SAM_1814.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A cook-pot hung from a stick was used to boil the water for a coffee, but the above set-up was not really very steady, so I changed this afterwards. In the end I used two metal pieces to put the pot on over the fire.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVN1eZuAy_xCgHHwMYfx7h3JFjtv0w9EdlqucitxtivlmDWoDqBhBCPw35NB_YA5hEyHIr3FYwTSkoBRxHw4wg8adXu075J9H6i3egjvUX92ee-H2BfHwCn_5DgV3zbjJkJcjbotF153Zw/s2720/SAM_1830.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVN1eZuAy_xCgHHwMYfx7h3JFjtv0w9EdlqucitxtivlmDWoDqBhBCPw35NB_YA5hEyHIr3FYwTSkoBRxHw4wg8adXu075J9H6i3egjvUX92ee-H2BfHwCn_5DgV3zbjJkJcjbotF153Zw/s320/SAM_1830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The above seems to be the safest set-up here and the water boiled far quicker; the problem with the stake hung over the fire was that it needs better fixture at the back end because of the logs there, which I did not wish to move. Another idea is a tripod from which the pot hangs - a job for another time. (The metal bars were found near this site years ago.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJUzdfwcSoADJFoCn2EVPZ8QydAMJVjDIFLvQeYvmQZFmBXS_fvUhrs4tzNDUbYJU-2GWAW6CpullxG4-f5B9GiyB8oVZsBUEneY0l90vF9OuZlmROS5qwf5zh8TKACRMDIbBnB4-OSs5/s2720/SAM_1826.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJUzdfwcSoADJFoCn2EVPZ8QydAMJVjDIFLvQeYvmQZFmBXS_fvUhrs4tzNDUbYJU-2GWAW6CpullxG4-f5B9GiyB8oVZsBUEneY0l90vF9OuZlmROS5qwf5zh8TKACRMDIbBnB4-OSs5/s320/SAM_1826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The area was cleared of debris scattered around, but left clear as a path around the back of the shelter. The dead wood was collected up and piled at the back so that the shelter cannot be seen so easily from the upper area, which is where the public could walk. The green tarp shows up clearly at this time of year, but the back could eventually be covered with a tarp left there and dead wood, leaves and pine-needles scattered over it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XIL4AqHngu0cWwzfzGoqF50k9r5oApRD0r47-DddEWAbrDnZQE14kdqGR1QapiUtXL8e2Z5JOjAXpbuM1Ti6yQxlSl9hLqgV5wY_eRrm1u37QUE33RYN6VLQpkE9iDEw67bd-qP6SxoH/s2720/SAM_1854.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XIL4AqHngu0cWwzfzGoqF50k9r5oApRD0r47-DddEWAbrDnZQE14kdqGR1QapiUtXL8e2Z5JOjAXpbuM1Ti6yQxlSl9hLqgV5wY_eRrm1u37QUE33RYN6VLQpkE9iDEw67bd-qP6SxoH/s320/SAM_1854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The photo below shows some honeysuckle that grows in the area, which could be useful for vines and also some flowers are edible. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOszjcXSdJbuGiofASSxnBeS9LjgEIobFlgkx9NZ53DZrBerpVX_2UmqBfIhiZC3SxxoC5ilqKMZ4yH4ij6DjZYu4YsznH9jWqAZ3D_ZvTp77oytgWnrBie-hiLNxCkZoy7piVBphwzLI1/s2720/SAM_1850.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOszjcXSdJbuGiofASSxnBeS9LjgEIobFlgkx9NZ53DZrBerpVX_2UmqBfIhiZC3SxxoC5ilqKMZ4yH4ij6DjZYu4YsznH9jWqAZ3D_ZvTp77oytgWnrBie-hiLNxCkZoy7piVBphwzLI1/s320/SAM_1850.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are fir-trees growing at the upper area which would supply green shoots for using as camo, but the area around the base-camp has little greenery so this may be used elsewhere. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_EE460Z6Fvxtb40QujLM1G82h2E-rT4cKExuTUBTaqJO79evLISvgT1ayGIIgp2Jg806viL-3_RnIICzWcYn17ekQWwS9XFIT3gURiLjHda4Wzj3LlQTQsJGJjh9oGdq8vOPIGMx8DJT/s2720/SAM_1839.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_EE460Z6Fvxtb40QujLM1G82h2E-rT4cKExuTUBTaqJO79evLISvgT1ayGIIgp2Jg806viL-3_RnIICzWcYn17ekQWwS9XFIT3gURiLjHda4Wzj3LlQTQsJGJjh9oGdq8vOPIGMx8DJT/s320/SAM_1839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rBiq5YKEhr0wccvwKNcTZXLROmgLTrIVKzzRPsHpaGKX_boUgorQY4GyTjK8C8NwcN1i-LhmVzvQyqeWgmTTlwA86YMzCZhnCjC_pjQXx6U08_HKWlrEp6yTFicne9zjs0tdpdW4TiHJ/s2720/SAM_1860.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rBiq5YKEhr0wccvwKNcTZXLROmgLTrIVKzzRPsHpaGKX_boUgorQY4GyTjK8C8NwcN1i-LhmVzvQyqeWgmTTlwA86YMzCZhnCjC_pjQXx6U08_HKWlrEp6yTFicne9zjs0tdpdW4TiHJ/s320/SAM_1860.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The photo below shows red markings on the fir-trees which suggests that the Forestry Commission may be looking to felling some of these soon, which may well cause a problem for a while. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeV8qO81OQVO4vgx0G0slfl3pmgiUNjJgHTlzNJsPzA8Uu2wPd9dsGEqe6v5Ve9RYHK6tyJgCRw-w0SnTJA08MrRJd3i-35SLa5uR6LR-ZWooJ_Nb4wN9UJURkPXGatwmu6ct9O9Bg4yH/s2720/SAM_1845.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeV8qO81OQVO4vgx0G0slfl3pmgiUNjJgHTlzNJsPzA8Uu2wPd9dsGEqe6v5Ve9RYHK6tyJgCRw-w0SnTJA08MrRJd3i-35SLa5uR6LR-ZWooJ_Nb4wN9UJURkPXGatwmu6ct9O9Bg4yH/s320/SAM_1845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looked at with this in mind I found an area the other side which has bluebells growing and is thus less dense; just by this is another area of small pines which could be used, and one further from the upper area.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeY6Z-OpcX9KgFKBEx4CnbOojbgBy-Z-R6RLQPUGE4DhPqUGoNL6U8YDBHtz0T7CcWADKMQP_owGUw6651O-qUT2MADLBH76PXBvK3LDGgacxHtJ-6uT_Id0ddo2WdUgkHqHx3SYUyoZMD/s2720/SAM_1852.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeY6Z-OpcX9KgFKBEx4CnbOojbgBy-Z-R6RLQPUGE4DhPqUGoNL6U8YDBHtz0T7CcWADKMQP_owGUw6651O-qUT2MADLBH76PXBvK3LDGgacxHtJ-6uT_Id0ddo2WdUgkHqHx3SYUyoZMD/s320/SAM_1852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This clear area is about 200 yards from the back of a skip-plant, but I have never seen anyone from there and the entrance is on the main road which is further away. The reason this area is not used by many is that the woodland next to it is private and fenced off, and there is no through-way. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHgQNVmPMq68E4sEJrx0oGHvDzN_EwROQZ0CQKCKLYzRKSaiik-fO9vkkovC9FqjP2db63_7XJZKjLA-jEsA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The above short video shows how I have tied various bits of equipment to the outside of the rucksack, which is why the molle-type is used because this is very easy to fix more stuff to. The following is in the rucksack, which also acts as my <i>Bug-Out Bag </i>since it is always ready for use, everything being checked and new stuff added each time I use it. I see no point whatever in keeping a <i>Bug-Out Bag </i>ready and never using it until the one-off which could happen. Better to use the equipment and see how it works. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Vango 2-season sleeping-bag.</li><li>Small camo poncho.</li><li>A milar-backed tarp.</li><li>A tarp used as ground-sheet.</li><li>A small camo-tarp.</li><li>A Highlander bivvy-bag which is not breathable but can be used to stuff leaves and pine needles in to sleep on, or to keep equipment dry. I have used a small strap to take this down from 9" to 6" long.</li><li>Cooking Pot/cup/spoon and fork set, and Stainless Steel Cup.</li><li>Stainless Steel Water-Bottle/Plastic Water-Bottle.</li><li>Shelter-building equipment/bungees/cordage/tent pegs.</li><li>Emergency Camo-Blanket.</li><li>Fire-Lighting Equipment - lighters/ferro-rods (2), cotton wool/eco-lighters.</li><li>Knife/Silky Saw.</li><li>Pine Sticks/Fat-Wood Stick.</li><li>Phone-Charger/GPS/Batteries.</li><li>Windproof Lighter.</li><li>Small Maxpedition Pouch with spare GPS, electronic lighter, and another ferro-rod.</li></ul><div>In the Leather Waistcoat (a good German make) I have a Zippo Lighter, Torch/Lamp/Signal Light/Alarm, two emergency camo-blankets, sun glasses, and video camera.</div><div><br /></div><div>This set-up, when put together, holds enough to use for an emergency, and can be added to for a 'one-nighter' in the warmer weather, or added to for colder weather. You will notice how I have adhered to the <i>Two-is-One:One-is-None </i>saying which I believe originated with Ray Mears; this is that if you have two of something and lose one, you still have one, but if you have one and lose one you have none. This is especially true of fire-lighting equipment which is one of the most important things to carry at any time. You can find shelter or make shelter, but you will not find fire-lighting equipment easily. Water you may find but it may need boiling. I do have a number of tarps so this would not be a problem, and these can be used as 'blankets' too, and the bivvy-bag, though not breathable, can still be used as a blanket. </div><div><br /></div><div>The camo survival blankets are very neatly packet and go into the jacket pocket, but after use they will never go back that way. I have one stuffed into a small bag and this seems to be alright and has been used a number of times now. The one problem I find with Zippo Lighters is that they go dry very quickly, but I have since found that they do a very small key-chain fuel container which I may invest in soon. They are a good lighter but every one that I have had (all given to me) has the same problem - going dry very quickly. </div><div><br /></div><div>This molle-backpack is a medium size and it has areas where it can be added to, which may well be the best way to go about using a Bug-Out Bag. This is used as a 'Day-Sack' here but, as I said, it can be useful for a 'one-nighter' in the warmer months, and bits can be added to it for use in colder weather. It was not a dear one so I may in time get a better one, maybe a bit bigger and able to carry a bit more. The weight is not too heavy for me; I am 74 years old now and it seems light when travelling to the site, but gets a bit more cumbersome over the rough woodland areas. It does not have a very side belt, something which would be improved were this wider and padded, and I had to add the chest-straps myself which is not unusual in these. It is certainly very easy to use, but some improvements would make it easier. </div></div></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-9241814503455858322021-04-04T12:08:00.004-07:002021-06-21T06:49:39.338-07:00Spring Growing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHxxYvg5_YfHiXwmjVgX56sctmeRD8hdA_RhmHxKGb3KsbAJ7JsAK2uPl6JUKM0OXFB5BvxlPsGc3jbZUJHp69ICAr8oFt1mJuEKnknIgpHYVOe2iRd86-HQkujOU6QKrgKlX2bWJ4-7j/s355/wodens+folk+ethel+project%255B1%255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHxxYvg5_YfHiXwmjVgX56sctmeRD8hdA_RhmHxKGb3KsbAJ7JsAK2uPl6JUKM0OXFB5BvxlPsGc3jbZUJHp69ICAr8oFt1mJuEKnknIgpHYVOe2iRd86-HQkujOU6QKrgKlX2bWJ4-7j/s320/wodens+folk+ethel+project%255B1%255D.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Survival is just as much about how to survive in a future where the powers in control have total control over everything we need for that survival. In such a future time - not so far off by the look of it - we will need to be able to grow our own food for the use of the individual, family or group. Of course, an idea was brought before the EU to try to stop the individual growing food, but was thrown out. However, what seems totally insane today becomes reality tomorrow. Whatever happens, learning to become self-reliant through food-growing will never be a waste of time, because no matter what happens this can be done through <i>Guerilla Gardening </i>using land which is not used and which is out of the way enough not to be noticed easily. We should think of the worst that can happen and plan for this, if it does not happen that way we shall not have wasted our time.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ggFKEOCbcNVjGuaHITdVHNVC-kNDHXvaGL3kmXz-iAo-geEO7-Av4RrDJK4wyaDpjFmhn4gi12Y4ekFU9xXH0UpN_Nx2eRGkWsNoylM8jYOZP4Va439k_7io_rwB7oZy1-FPEai14qqp/s2720/SAM_1747.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ggFKEOCbcNVjGuaHITdVHNVC-kNDHXvaGL3kmXz-iAo-geEO7-Av4RrDJK4wyaDpjFmhn4gi12Y4ekFU9xXH0UpN_Nx2eRGkWsNoylM8jYOZP4Va439k_7io_rwB7oZy1-FPEai14qqp/s320/SAM_1747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Seed trays with small 'plug' compartments are useful for growing at the earliest stage, and this can be done in February-March-April. I started early with some of mine, even as early as late January, and using the poly-tunnel has been a boon for this year. The seed-tray above was planted later and the seedlings are just coming through.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW1d866jMwaXMKP3273GOSVsdkDbN8FXx6P-eyTGUKKIDhtBk-TGWfeQybViA5Oh33ofHM8nOC8hbGdwktnLQbqdSKiM2vVqf08E0718-RhWZvl120Qb7KiQ_uJwRooeWIIUCiYPvP_xb/s2720/SAM_1745.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW1d866jMwaXMKP3273GOSVsdkDbN8FXx6P-eyTGUKKIDhtBk-TGWfeQybViA5Oh33ofHM8nOC8hbGdwktnLQbqdSKiM2vVqf08E0718-RhWZvl120Qb7KiQ_uJwRooeWIIUCiYPvP_xb/s320/SAM_1745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Onion sets were planted in the poly-tunnel in early February and this is how they are now; this has put them well ahead, though this could mean some going to seed. Red Onions, I am told, can do this, and some I planted are Red Onions, so we shall see. This is the advantage of having many options as to the use of covers such as a greenhouse, poly-tunnel, cloches, or mini-greenhouses, all of which will produce food much earlier. These are used to create a longer growing season, the object of trying to become more self-sufficient.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDxkFpmci-YGfeNh134McdID3hbSuD5nxSY5fppcgLFH4KnAGsJaxc4Z47f2B9-9crf2i2CnljasUCZ_uM5DWeiMPncorG4p-4E2uLRu7EwMfpBdUtJQWdduKN-biyezBxAPLXdb2sn6F/s2720/SAM_1737.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDxkFpmci-YGfeNh134McdID3hbSuD5nxSY5fppcgLFH4KnAGsJaxc4Z47f2B9-9crf2i2CnljasUCZ_uM5DWeiMPncorG4p-4E2uLRu7EwMfpBdUtJQWdduKN-biyezBxAPLXdb2sn6F/s320/SAM_1737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are peas grown in a pot, using small sticks which they will climb up; the peas I used were dried peas from a supermarket, much cheaper than the packets from seed-suppliers. These are the first sown and I have a lot more in seed-trays and pots, some using <i>Lord Leicester </i>variety which is an old heritage seed, but which last year did not do too well. I think this was because of the location I set up the pea-canes, but I had enough seeds to save for this year to try again. I have also sown peas in an old piece of guttering with the ends shut off: this is then easily tipped out sideways to form a pea-row. Another experiment.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnJL_AQRGoKnuu2tVJnC4xXIjhqVUEHgKvO8AAT87vq17T-09dN8IFqX3Hhemkv_CSFp-Euy4lYH0B2YKQGmZBQLoA_EeaJ_ndzYmzANDQJ7iLqY9oY5F5dlRcXvtM3EyYpaYqDNUDtAY/s2720/SAM_1798.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnJL_AQRGoKnuu2tVJnC4xXIjhqVUEHgKvO8AAT87vq17T-09dN8IFqX3Hhemkv_CSFp-Euy4lYH0B2YKQGmZBQLoA_EeaJ_ndzYmzANDQJ7iLqY9oY5F5dlRcXvtM3EyYpaYqDNUDtAY/s320/SAM_1798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The raised bed in the front garden has been planted with spring onions and different varieties of lettuce. I intended to do a Welsh form of planting spring onions, where a greater number of seeds are planted together in a pot and then transplanted into place, producing a cluster of plants close together. The tops can be harvested this way. But I forgot this and will try a second crop later; spring onions have never done well for me I am afraid, and rarely do I get any decent ones. Last year I cut the tops off regularly and they grow again, and this way seems to work better for me. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiABwo2bLIk4GnmfcnEvL7nRQ8WhgcEr6ZYMMBOZZljPRZNwFF4P7DqJI7bgdV57naPW9tLUHzzMWaujhXH1av7Y1NJI1g7SSbWR2Rs_YTM3UyPgUavIgfxnyip9kRsDNiZGEW9zOlhnp/s2720/SAM_1743.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiABwo2bLIk4GnmfcnEvL7nRQ8WhgcEr6ZYMMBOZZljPRZNwFF4P7DqJI7bgdV57naPW9tLUHzzMWaujhXH1av7Y1NJI1g7SSbWR2Rs_YTM3UyPgUavIgfxnyip9kRsDNiZGEW9zOlhnp/s320/SAM_1743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have a tub of peppermint in the front garden, and a tub of spearmint in the back garden, and these get rather tangled and 'leggy' each year. Now I get the roots up and break them into small pieces, thus being able to produce a number of pots of new plants each year. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mgkO4jw6AAKDWW72dowRioYUVrFnGSRVIA2OlUKmhyphenhyphenOCwqc4c9cXbvsB_H1sBsYBS-HYn4IycbYPt7L9CcF7Kvxvi_OmKY9NBFEqv3QdBr2yiLKD6EHqlAXpjljXoYOW85VegToNGTm5/s2720/SAM_1744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mgkO4jw6AAKDWW72dowRioYUVrFnGSRVIA2OlUKmhyphenhyphenOCwqc4c9cXbvsB_H1sBsYBS-HYn4IycbYPt7L9CcF7Kvxvi_OmKY9NBFEqv3QdBr2yiLKD6EHqlAXpjljXoYOW85VegToNGTm5/s320/SAM_1744.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These lettuce grew from the seeds produced by last year's crops, and I transplanted them into the poly-tunnel; they have grown bigger now and will soon be ready to harvest. This will be much earlier than the seeds sown in this spring, thus again lengthening the growing season, which is the aim for this year. It seems best to give yourself some kind of goal to achieve each year, trying evermore to grow more and lengthen the season's growing.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg421NZC_JMK9grlxrFtOpf2nUpMal6Ar6kZcjlByka_mm6CVjGBGzJQp5zlvhAw5KJa8XHExvQ_zPIADKRFuD2fkbXbA4xADhGURZ-ieK8UW1tucrMtiS39sgiWbuEOVnFjv6W1qqykOD/s2720/SAM_1741.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg421NZC_JMK9grlxrFtOpf2nUpMal6Ar6kZcjlByka_mm6CVjGBGzJQp5zlvhAw5KJa8XHExvQ_zPIADKRFuD2fkbXbA4xADhGURZ-ieK8UW1tucrMtiS39sgiWbuEOVnFjv6W1qqykOD/s320/SAM_1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is yet another experiment I have done this year; when cutting off the top and bottom of an onion to use in cooking, don't throw away the pieces. Keep the rooted part and plant it in some compost. This is growing now, and may produce an onion, but if not the tops can be used. First try this so I am not sure what happens. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKqBBlYsHpY_EYDKk23RceKw89Ponvpz-AYeCqZT53NmR4QBiQIxg2U7gS6C0ux6flLKxq-BhOr5uX2ZxzGzvoh3aXKdsoetDq4qBmvdk2-5B1uTBzq8HysL_TxcdaToBWSECkBGxh6mW/s2720/SAM_1753.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKqBBlYsHpY_EYDKk23RceKw89Ponvpz-AYeCqZT53NmR4QBiQIxg2U7gS6C0ux6flLKxq-BhOr5uX2ZxzGzvoh3aXKdsoetDq4qBmvdk2-5B1uTBzq8HysL_TxcdaToBWSECkBGxh6mW/s320/SAM_1753.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The above shows seed-trays with more dried peas growing, and I have done quite a lot of these. Peas need only some type of twigs (better than canes) which they can wrap around to grow upwards. They use a lot of nitrogen though and need feeding; dig the roots into the ground (like runner beans) to get the nitrogen back into the soil. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni5LjjDCkFP_nCn7VwrfTbcpttwHY57Kesj4ydSuMs0AZ7CrVA-OAMd6SoEtw-EQ_zj5jqCfmWZAcCUuWQoz_tcL-a6AKq4e__e2cijHytpwS1EaqFTtlgXACcVBhESq1BeMSr8U6tsm4/s2720/SAM_1736.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni5LjjDCkFP_nCn7VwrfTbcpttwHY57Kesj4ydSuMs0AZ7CrVA-OAMd6SoEtw-EQ_zj5jqCfmWZAcCUuWQoz_tcL-a6AKq4e__e2cijHytpwS1EaqFTtlgXACcVBhESq1BeMSr8U6tsm4/s320/SAM_1736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the strawberry-barrel which is coming on well this year, after being put into the poly-tunnel for a month or so at the end of the winter. These have never done well in a barrel, but this year I shall try to give more attention and feeding. I have a strawberry bed in the front garden but I am considering the future of this since these did badly last year too. They are well behind those in the barrel, and nowhere near as healthy-looking. Maybe the bed could be put to better use. This is something to consider when having to grow in small areas, since something that is not worth growing is merely taking space for another thing that is. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqPfF_rxttg5JDfh2Uwqw7c_bGhq_xKP1LR7NjdPIreWPydXENaTqoRQeZ4e2kWe0_uOPF0kF2BnjJ7HNW6HqlJDZ21hblaHxIl9q1lJvaBYZw9YgqhhfcBksbwH3J7wFRU4BgZVDwQGz/s2720/SAM_1769.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqPfF_rxttg5JDfh2Uwqw7c_bGhq_xKP1LR7NjdPIreWPydXENaTqoRQeZ4e2kWe0_uOPF0kF2BnjJ7HNW6HqlJDZ21hblaHxIl9q1lJvaBYZw9YgqhhfcBksbwH3J7wFRU4BgZVDwQGz/s320/SAM_1769.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have put up sticks for growing runner beans, but these have to be started later because they are not frost-hardy. They like a little shade and cool rather than too hot, and need lots of watering. I have different types in different areas, but set up sticks and canes early so as to be well ahead this year. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_YZnnltF3-xUo4yiHFIyyhjMdN6eRbnJpNNqegp0178Eqx82fd68mb6T0devP3CDBf0sMGB0ZhG_YgdIN_73nqp4FRd1Q2_46_OG47pWKDYnofBNy-EcPtKS7HWf8KjupHKGB3fYxwW6/s2720/SAM_1797.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_YZnnltF3-xUo4yiHFIyyhjMdN6eRbnJpNNqegp0178Eqx82fd68mb6T0devP3CDBf0sMGB0ZhG_YgdIN_73nqp4FRd1Q2_46_OG47pWKDYnofBNy-EcPtKS7HWf8KjupHKGB3fYxwW6/s320/SAM_1797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have a platner which my mum had when she was alive, and this is filled with strawberries and is here placed in the strawberry bed, which I have made smaller this year after some losses. This planter has also never done well, so need to rethink the strawberry growing. The large pot has lettuce in it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDGt5kQ-v23dFpJpy_5ibebLd-V90B1v2HAOYYSeewx4VtYJE4RiAh5CaLBmspfl4e-ivW5bRJo0uPCSE6PrwBllmiRyAcsBOLrqBmSgLL3fCx25qeXbJqDCj7FZ2Ny9vpldkI7BECl7Z/s2720/SAM_1766.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDGt5kQ-v23dFpJpy_5ibebLd-V90B1v2HAOYYSeewx4VtYJE4RiAh5CaLBmspfl4e-ivW5bRJo0uPCSE6PrwBllmiRyAcsBOLrqBmSgLL3fCx25qeXbJqDCj7FZ2Ny9vpldkI7BECl7Z/s320/SAM_1766.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An area in the corner next to a shed is where I intend to grow <i>Lord Leicester </i>pease this year, so I have set up canes and poles and have put seeds behind these. Next to these will grow Polestar runner-beans, but we can have frosts until, mid-May so cannot plant now. A few leeks are growing from last year, and I'll leave these where they are - no need to be too neat and tidy with growing, a bit of Chaos never hurts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykb8-MPSKLKRz9LX-AlUkCR9C0qxIS5GwEbMLoUI-aoYr9VsFFmVAYMdrD57QKvXbi0-PpUDmw-QQYAtePIvQgrgVzwcmul61ftMxXo1LB7aHys2q2_gNWpwsH12nB5pZmkTXbh4x0IUL/s2720/SAM_1755.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykb8-MPSKLKRz9LX-AlUkCR9C0qxIS5GwEbMLoUI-aoYr9VsFFmVAYMdrD57QKvXbi0-PpUDmw-QQYAtePIvQgrgVzwcmul61ftMxXo1LB7aHys2q2_gNWpwsH12nB5pZmkTXbh4x0IUL/s320/SAM_1755.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A small gooseberry bush grows in a pot for now; some of my fruit bushes and fruit trees went over to the woodlands where they grow now. This may well join them later, but for now it can grow on here. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsE4mCTwxjVyryOM5aHlniTBEVk1ioVDMMwnfGekTq1kVIne_vghhBXMR_VLatW01-CHGQfMyI2COWslhvxmmEGP4n6R39ChOowbN5b_GSARzBtr9H2RII-d7izcSH-sm7d_okfOVt-ZjH/s2720/SAM_1726.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsE4mCTwxjVyryOM5aHlniTBEVk1ioVDMMwnfGekTq1kVIne_vghhBXMR_VLatW01-CHGQfMyI2COWslhvxmmEGP4n6R39ChOowbN5b_GSARzBtr9H2RII-d7izcSH-sm7d_okfOVt-ZjH/s320/SAM_1726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lastly, as an experiment this year I am going to try to grow Whippets; as you can see here I have planted one in a small raised bed next to the pea-canes. If this works we'll have hunting-dogs for the future - until they ban hunting altogether, of course. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6Du5YKEC_fVxfL_b0DnuUW3Tx-Xoh-fvA9BYryKv146X8x8ukOg1HxrdBUD-70t-W6iJ9Knx1xgqNO3fqQk2MsH8Z-UwQkThgHOifwe9KmtcztC1XqnC6HoPiaZE2eUEesrsrvlMOqrR/s2720/SAM_1725.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6Du5YKEC_fVxfL_b0DnuUW3Tx-Xoh-fvA9BYryKv146X8x8ukOg1HxrdBUD-70t-W6iJ9Knx1xgqNO3fqQk2MsH8Z-UwQkThgHOifwe9KmtcztC1XqnC6HoPiaZE2eUEesrsrvlMOqrR/s320/SAM_1725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the world-situation and how things are panning out we shall see catastrophic change and social upheaval, and maybe even some sort of breakdown of society, just as long predicted. Whatever the case, Covid-1984 has shown how we need to forge ahead with the drive for self-reliance and self-sufficiency, and growing our own food goes some way towards our aims. </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-80880886713827474792021-04-03T13:20:00.003-07:002021-04-04T12:36:46.212-07:00Woodland Base Camp - Improvements<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcJ6m23T77kgfscrWorKwW0_gmiKQbYm-KI-Dpl0frw0Qakyeic3ohg3apaFXjU57vAETKeLRMExTbTGvxVJXWU8a5rgBpmJcD-rNwxeUJVSvx9EElwxJtJhorAEcMBb0AgC-7thS-Ln7/s2720/SAM_1700.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcJ6m23T77kgfscrWorKwW0_gmiKQbYm-KI-Dpl0frw0Qakyeic3ohg3apaFXjU57vAETKeLRMExTbTGvxVJXWU8a5rgBpmJcD-rNwxeUJVSvx9EElwxJtJhorAEcMBb0AgC-7thS-Ln7/s320/SAM_1700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the Base-Camp as it was before the improvements; it took part of a day to get the set-up right using dead wood from the area.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ga5Z8Nxbhyphenhyphen0ek_k1sG5_Unav2nUjrdUVM-Qoqq_86PnljwydXFhLjD0gtfIhlGnI1cVTXkYPZNqhfOHV3PaghK9q3BDeyCzcEj16AMzfmX-HNE_8AXua4KPMduLzfKjhoTh2Xbt1UEDl/s2720/SAM_1714.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ga5Z8Nxbhyphenhyphen0ek_k1sG5_Unav2nUjrdUVM-Qoqq_86PnljwydXFhLjD0gtfIhlGnI1cVTXkYPZNqhfOHV3PaghK9q3BDeyCzcEj16AMzfmX-HNE_8AXua4KPMduLzfKjhoTh2Xbt1UEDl/s320/SAM_1714.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I have done is to set the milar-backed tarp up using tarp-clips in the centre, bungee-balls at the ends (don't know what these are really called), and tying the back down from the tarp-grommets. This makes it far more taught and a much better set-up. I cut the rotten bits from the ends of the fence-stakes and made the seat to the left better and sturdier, though the logs are rather rotten too and really need replacing. The longer fence-stake is not rotten so I used at on its own as a seat to the right. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElhQ9Gx1wOpr_Um3-dfgHgism1GA1qETGpKWH_K2Q5eZGIywgpePrtiQ3x8YExcohjIkfeFuR1dY_sAE29ZIr0b9iiMF4b8avSiE0eGbEhPpH7DWefpedsFS0LEkAMSwqKod-7D9g1kwV/s2720/SAM_1715.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElhQ9Gx1wOpr_Um3-dfgHgism1GA1qETGpKWH_K2Q5eZGIywgpePrtiQ3x8YExcohjIkfeFuR1dY_sAE29ZIr0b9iiMF4b8avSiE0eGbEhPpH7DWefpedsFS0LEkAMSwqKod-7D9g1kwV/s320/SAM_1715.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The right-hand side has been filled with large logs, held by two uprights knocked into the ground with a wooden baton. The other side I used smaller logs, and most of this was done with a dead pine-tree which I felled and cut into pieces, using only a Silky Pocket Boy which did the job well. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc9JYYNwd_f14gfibTzBzuq9uCmaITY2O5WJIFM0kB1pN1r0CtjMYzvnkTet13g2W9je05CCLuPOKfgJO_-zgrlcKlXFfGrDYu5OVs2vrSSy-UOyLd1A4Yo9xJMfTdUO0MVJWyPO0R9mY/s2720/SAM_1719.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc9JYYNwd_f14gfibTzBzuq9uCmaITY2O5WJIFM0kB1pN1r0CtjMYzvnkTet13g2W9je05CCLuPOKfgJO_-zgrlcKlXFfGrDYu5OVs2vrSSy-UOyLd1A4Yo9xJMfTdUO0MVJWyPO0R9mY/s320/SAM_1719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Filling in the sides helps to stop some of the cross-winds, and the structure itself will be left there as it is, just the tarp removed and taken home each time. The shelter itself is sound but the logs do need filling in between the cracks at some time in the future, and maybe adding more logs to this at some stage. It is actually wise to leave the sides lower because if the wind blows smoke into the shelter this escapes through the sides. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoR1SkdSRJdrw8g4r_59dzvRZN_d3Elp_tpZNmG4bOduy0-IpxUfZollwjmGLxfbPNwSwpslBT6R3aSU9wzWenW5fsF-XrRHOhD4hOfe6iDFo3qsnJEaJq7Q4E2mfeExuD3lt7RO177ynS/s2720/SAM_1699.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoR1SkdSRJdrw8g4r_59dzvRZN_d3Elp_tpZNmG4bOduy0-IpxUfZollwjmGLxfbPNwSwpslBT6R3aSU9wzWenW5fsF-XrRHOhD4hOfe6iDFo3qsnJEaJq7Q4E2mfeExuD3lt7RO177ynS/s320/SAM_1699.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To ensure a quick start to a fire to get a brew on I used a bit of cotton-wool and an eco fire-lighter which works very well. I dug a small pit this time with a sharp stick so as to be able to fill it over and quell the fire since it has been dry most of the week. The eco fire-lighters were given to me by Hamasson, and they can be found in some stores; they work very well so carrying a few with you is something to consider. Of course, to make what you have last longer it would be fine to cut one in half and use one half at a time, especially in fine weather conditions. Just thought of that but it would have been an idea doing this fire since everything was really dry. Also goes for the cotton wool, which I have probably used too much of here. This is something to think of for the time when you have only a limited stock of anything. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TDIr0snpWBAEhFXrFDqoEMY_r8Q6wfU9jnqE2POfiRalZfCTXuOFuQbGFnzzGx385VJXgIgNVpG7SV7EflEv2MCU8PojcQ4skxWY_w0ASHrr2luy7lxXBaZqsniSkusNQUg8_YrM93U0/s2720/SAM_1703.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TDIr0snpWBAEhFXrFDqoEMY_r8Q6wfU9jnqE2POfiRalZfCTXuOFuQbGFnzzGx385VJXgIgNVpG7SV7EflEv2MCU8PojcQ4skxWY_w0ASHrr2luy7lxXBaZqsniSkusNQUg8_YrM93U0/s320/SAM_1703.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A pot filled with water was used to boil water for a cup of coffee, using a stick on a Y-shaped stick, just with a notch cut in the end to hold the pot. I also cleared the area around the camp so as to minimise the chance of fire, since the weather is now getting much dryer and sometimes warmer - though it was quite cold today. One thing to mention here; the cooking-pot gets very sooty in use, so I clean it with washing-up liquid and water using a scourer, but not taking all of the soot of in doing so. This builds up and the black finish helps to heat the contents quicker, according to science anyway. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH39PLLQpVQvONUpBDd-PrdJcjuSu14_lIuQ1DmjmhZ1zmhINGVAQhT5-FQtnUUGUmt9ooh_JOcxk9Alv9nYgXM8TB5jTZubYGxKdLdnHR9h_9N9OKGs_RVj3-lZkoptvDNa31VK1CvwMy/s2720/SAM_1720.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH39PLLQpVQvONUpBDd-PrdJcjuSu14_lIuQ1DmjmhZ1zmhINGVAQhT5-FQtnUUGUmt9ooh_JOcxk9Alv9nYgXM8TB5jTZubYGxKdLdnHR9h_9N9OKGs_RVj3-lZkoptvDNa31VK1CvwMy/s320/SAM_1720.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the back of the shelter which could be pulled tighter on the right side, but the post is in the way at the moment. I have left these higher because it may be wise to add another log or two on the top of these, and thus cutting the tops off is not really needed. I have cleared the area around the Base-Camp, and the aim is now to arrange the fallen wood (which there is loads) around the outside leaving only one entrance to the site. This I intend to do next time, at the same time cutting up more fire-wood from what is around. This will make the Base-Camp quite secure with only one entrance to the site, and anyone trying to get in would make a noise trying to get through the fallen branches. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>NOTE - On the subject of securing a site, one way to do this is to use a length of cordage threaded through a number of food-tins (drill small holes around the top) which hang from the thread. Put about five or six small pebbles in each tin, and if anyone tries to get into the camp at night they will trip the cordage and the tins will rattle as they do so, hopefully waking you up. Not high-tech but this is very effective. A more high-tech way would be to use trip-wire and a blank cartridge, but this (as we found once at Wayland's Smithy) tends to attract the police. Another option, which can be used with the tins & stones, is to use a solar-powered PIR lamp which lights up when any movement takes place. This lights up the whole area so that anyone coming in can be seen. I have done this when camping out on my own, but animals can set this off too. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8dxCinDhZY8LCQqhZDXGT91wQ7NrD2RaS72fXzBzGVyWaTqLDcQt9QZ66FHlXEP7p-o6RArjwe6GCDc07YgCUflG2MYALq3vYAGHzflniW2QADsdeNyMJzLsmZowJ6XKlKd5TGQREQPY/s2720/SAM_1723.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8dxCinDhZY8LCQqhZDXGT91wQ7NrD2RaS72fXzBzGVyWaTqLDcQt9QZ66FHlXEP7p-o6RArjwe6GCDc07YgCUflG2MYALq3vYAGHzflniW2QADsdeNyMJzLsmZowJ6XKlKd5TGQREQPY/s320/SAM_1723.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you can see here the inside-perimeter is quite secure, especially in the dark when it will most likely be needed. The front end has a couple of logs thrown down, but this is only for now, until such time as I can build a fire-reflector across, leaving a small gap to get into the base. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The aim is to get the whole thing set up ready for some one-nighters over the spring-summer months. The area has a great deal of fallen dead pine-wood which, as I said, will be used to create a barrier around the base, and for stocking up fire-wood for future use. There is more to do yet, including trying to fill the gaps in the logs at the back and sides; the aim is to make it as comfortable as possible because I intend to use only a small rucksack and light sleeping equipment to see how this works in the warmer time of the year. This can then be extended into the autumn and winter months. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPSpwHqwYfbcSFodqMilEFhUBrEZgwaT8J8z_BgARTxyCNoW2_StXKVz_jP2lRDYugS-xZfUJPkSMTE7KzcT7MOxzr4oO_MjVEE1L79IHjW2YVgKmW5ThmFmQb1U_aCpjO1YCGgBTXHzO/s2720/SAM_1700.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPSpwHqwYfbcSFodqMilEFhUBrEZgwaT8J8z_BgARTxyCNoW2_StXKVz_jP2lRDYugS-xZfUJPkSMTE7KzcT7MOxzr4oO_MjVEE1L79IHjW2YVgKmW5ThmFmQb1U_aCpjO1YCGgBTXHzO/s320/SAM_1700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The fire is quite a bit away from the tarp because I have a 3m x 2m tarp which would most likely fit this shelter and would thus have a hang-over at the front and go right down the back. I would still use the milar-backed 2m x 2m tarp because it would act as an insulation-layer and reflect the heat from the fire into the shelter. If I remember right this tarp is an old one so it could even be left on the site, especially if I can use some of the fallen wood as camo around the back. We shall see. Using a larger tarp would certainly be a must for the colder time of the year, since a hang-over at the front keeps the rain off far better than this set-up. The usual wind-direction is from the back and right-side anyway, but there may be times when the wind comes in from the front. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIzz-r43JTs6JoYoMXAwvLSWzdToNKK_VupPDjrvofFU09-is2Ng2KO38aEcHWCyMufzXV42RsB3kQoDgHgK6nmJbfmL7xoRTrxn279W4Sl1qhDmH3YLds9Xft8teoWetXEmYPJsgE9Fo/s2720/SAM_1505.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIzz-r43JTs6JoYoMXAwvLSWzdToNKK_VupPDjrvofFU09-is2Ng2KO38aEcHWCyMufzXV42RsB3kQoDgHgK6nmJbfmL7xoRTrxn279W4Sl1qhDmH3YLds9Xft8teoWetXEmYPJsgE9Fo/s320/SAM_1505.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I tried one of these camo-milar emergency blankets whilst the weather was rather chilly and this seemed to be quite warm in the circumstances. I have yet to try this out as an 'emergency shelter' but will do so in time. I do have an emergency bivvy-bag which is a closed version of the blanket, and have put this with an old silk sleeping-bag liner which is small enough to pack into a rucksack or bum-bag, and the silk liner helps to keep it warm (I feel that the milar-blankets would get rather colder in use due to not being breathable against the body, so a liner would solve this - in theory now anyway.) </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5gTXrP__ZIpb6KkMvuq7JwGgKJLBwXcAw2jsJvdTllqtmuF4zGI7RLyPpefiX0BVwcmHeHg4bUZEdIy028wtGumnqgOwfNktyyUKWlPP7LVBJce5oeAcddCyfUQjutE_ZUBMt_WQxvNY/s2048/Equip1+%25288%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5gTXrP__ZIpb6KkMvuq7JwGgKJLBwXcAw2jsJvdTllqtmuF4zGI7RLyPpefiX0BVwcmHeHg4bUZEdIy028wtGumnqgOwfNktyyUKWlPP7LVBJce5oeAcddCyfUQjutE_ZUBMt_WQxvNY/s320/Equip1+%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Silky Pocket Boy saw is very small but it is an exceptionally good tool and today cut through some logs over 4" thick. It cuts on the pull-stroke and the design makes it so easy to get through. I have about 4 Bahco Folding-Saws which are slightly larger, and are very good too, but carry the Silky now because it is so small and compact. It has a very good locking system too, which makes it very safe to handle and use, and there are larger versions for cutting larger logs. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, one improvement that could be made to such a shelter is to double the layers of the logs at the back and sides, filling the gap between layers with dead pine-needles and twigs. This would create a layer of insulation for the back and sides, making the shelter warmer in the winter. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yMXV5GtMD6duxfiaGZ7NSJVApzPu4x30Q_mO9ko4uFmqzeTVsDHTQstfT6pEr427RdscmiKWj32d9HfS-1NeXQYTsoJ5FqlK1iEOMokHLLlawaBjL-uavoOcrJIK2zjJ2sIHsQLkRu3y/s2720/SAM_1711.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yMXV5GtMD6duxfiaGZ7NSJVApzPu4x30Q_mO9ko4uFmqzeTVsDHTQstfT6pEr427RdscmiKWj32d9HfS-1NeXQYTsoJ5FqlK1iEOMokHLLlawaBjL-uavoOcrJIK2zjJ2sIHsQLkRu3y/s320/SAM_1711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I have used as a ground-sheet here is an old Highlander Bivvy-Bag bought years ago; this proved totally useless since it is not breathable and in use you get soaked in sweat. Rather than throw it away I kept it luckily, and it packs small enough to carry in a large day-sack and can be used as a ground-sheet or even for putting clothes in to keep dry - never throw old stuff away! It could even be filled with dead leaves or pine needles and used for insulation under a sleeping-bag. This is also true of large bin-liners which can be filled with leaves and /or pine needles and used as insulation for sleeping on. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have still to explore this area fully, and have found only a couple of footprints a bit further up from the base, so it is still not used by many people today. There would be enough dead stuff around to camo behind the shelter later, but it is very hard to see from the area of the footprints anyway. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The advantage of having a tarp left on such shelters is that the area inside the shelter is kept dry, and thus dry dead wood can be stored under the tarp for use each time you go to the base. This is how Wulfgar and I set up the earlier lean-to shelter in a different part of the woodlands, and this stayed completely dry through the years that the shelter remained there. You can thus also use a couple of bin-bags filled with leaves/pine needles left on the site and kept dry by the tarp left on. These can be use to sit on, rest on, or for use for a one-nighter now and again. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sleeping in a lean-to shelter can be very cold in below-freezing temperatures, hence the use of the <i>Long-Fire. </i>Wulfson and I once did this in another area of these woodlands and the temperature went down to well below zero that night - the frost was thick on the ground even inside the canopy of the woodland. We had to get up a couple of times during the night to cut wood since the fire went out - a lesson to make sure that before you get to sleep to stock up enough wood for the whole night, or make a <i>Long-Fire </i>using a couple of very thick logs. We had good sleeping-bags and kit but that night was bloody cold! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhXojcApOigsXeSsk4dz438EEU_QnuOl2tVYkZhDzFX04DPQjXquBFYmP2pciKRCEYzZRlkrZ70_TtpoT5lA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Base-Camp Video</span></h3><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Water-Purification (Boiling) -</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Boiling water is the <u>safest and most effective</u> way to purify it; chemicals can be used where boiling is not an option. Firstly, sieve out all dirt etc using a Milbank Bag, then <u>rolling boil</u> the water for at least one minute - I do this for two minutes to be safe, and longer if the water looks 'iffy'. Below is a very short video showing a 'rolling boil' -</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzJX597AldrQe84uUlXhLw2Bn3l700mPWb1Pvwps87gkz1-NfRywsHavNoBZTiXy05gXxHTSgQi2DB9zQU4xQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-51849730413689175262021-03-27T11:27:00.000-07:002021-03-27T11:27:07.536-07:00Mind-Set of Survival.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICH4FQaF12EjLLF0oyW4azUeo6MyVMHWNsyEc1O1KlW5WAN5qrSYZT2fTdJU2Wv9RTa5b7hKJLADehuCbK-aMH6bnGOtk-v4tcBdUk0xJJP6geGXn5XIh0BsA0JEwzy3XTTTaEtW-GUJv/s311/Pine+Needles.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICH4FQaF12EjLLF0oyW4azUeo6MyVMHWNsyEc1O1KlW5WAN5qrSYZT2fTdJU2Wv9RTa5b7hKJLADehuCbK-aMH6bnGOtk-v4tcBdUk0xJJP6geGXn5XIh0BsA0JEwzy3XTTTaEtW-GUJv/s0/Pine+Needles.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have said before that what we are really doing is <i>Wild Camping </i>and not what most people would call 'survivalism'. I have taken 'survival courses' which teach in the main how to survive in a dangerous situation in which you are hoping to be rescued as soon as possible. This means making yourself as conspicuous as possible, so that you can be easily seen and rescued. But there is also the other scenario, where you may well not wish to be seen at all, and in such a situation the practice of <i>Wild Camping </i>would thus be useful in what would be a <u>survival situation</u>. The term 'survive' means merely 'to live beyond' or just 'to live', and thus this can be used for any dangerous situation that the individual is faced with. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think the main point, often missed, is that what is necessary in any survival situation is one's <u>mental attitude</u>. Where one person will survive a situation through pure will-power and <u>inner strength</u> another will die in the same situation. This has been recorded so many times but is not something that is always mentioned in regard to survivalism. Unfortunately we can see the problem arising around us today, where the survival of our people is threatened, and where the vast majority of these people are either totally oblivious of what is happening, are too scared to do anything about it, do not care at all (or more likely are too scared to face such a situation and thus block off altogether) or in some cases (unfortunately) are aiding and abetting the forces of destruction. There is a good section of the people who are self-destructive and who are trying to bring down everyone around them. This we have to now look to in regard not to the whole but to each individual, and thus learn something about the mind-set needed for survival. We may not actually be in an <u>individual survival situation</u> but we are most certainly in a <u>group survival situation</u>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whether we call this wild camping, bushcraft, wilderness craft, or survival really does not matter since the core principles are used in whatever we do in regard to any of these -</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be able to build a shelter from natural materials around us at the time.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be able to light a fire to keep warm and to cook on.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be able to find water for drinking and for washing. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be able to find food from the wild.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Given that these four things are the most important we would be able to live for a short time, and thus give time to -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Build a larger and better shelter and to create some form of bedding that will give a comfortable night's sleep. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Find suitable utensils for cooking and boiling water.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Find suitable containers to store water and to boil water for drinking. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stock up a store of food for a period of time. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now comes into play what I was saying in the last post, and that is that having an already-packed rucksack would be the best way to prepare since -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">It would negate the need to build a simple temporary shelter since a tarp/poncho/basha would serve as a simple shelter, and this can be built upon to make a larger and better shelter. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A fire-starting kit would ensure that this part is made much easier than having to make up a bow-drill and find the dry wood for a 'tinder-bundle'. This would be carried with you to make the first few fires, thus using the time to prepare for future fire-lighting needs. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having a little water with you would be most useful in that this leaves out the part of finding water, straining and boiling which would need to be done straight away. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Carrying a little food would give some sustenance straight away, without the need to forage for wild food.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe that this is an important point since in a situation where the individual is forced to move out of the 'comfort-zone' then making a smooth transition from one situation to another would be a far better way to go about it. This, of course, is not always possible, in which case the first set of 'core principles' would apply, and thus the need to be able to do these things is vitally important. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last year I did some wild camping alone in a woodland in Sussex, staying over for a full week of fairly good weather. This was in the spring so not too cold, but at night the temperature drops somewhat. At the end of it I was not really ready to get back home again, since it was an enjoyable experience and I learned quite a few things from it. But the one thing that stuck in my mind throughout the time spent outdoors (and which I often think about) is what would I have done had the weather been like our very wet autumns when a week spent in the pouring rain would certainly have not been so pleasant. We have had times when it has rained for weeks on end with only a few breaks in between the wet weather, and here we are rather worse off than areas of heavy snow which is not quite so bad as endless rain. This is compounded by high winds and the wind-chill factor that sends temperatures down. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thinking on this one the necessity to be able to have some form of more permanent shelter is rather obvious, since one of the factors that would decide on our mental attitude would be how we cope with this type of situation. None of us wakes up to a sunny morning (even with a cold frost) without feeling that life is good; this does not apply to a cold, wet, gloomy day, especially if this is day after day for a while. Thus, one of the most important things to consider here is the need to have a kind of set plan to work with, and when the situation arises ensure that every moment is spent doing something positive and useful to the situation we find ourselves in. When the body and mind is not busy it gives time to think, and in such a situation where things have gone 'tits-up' this is not something we would need. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last Midwinter we held a meet-up and I slept rough in the area the night before, to save the journey the next day. Going over in the morning it rained almost all day and all night without a break, so it meant being inside the shelter for most of the time with a fire lit outside the shelter for warmth. This was quite uncomfortable, so project this to a week, a fortnight, a month....and this would be perhaps the scenario we have to prepare for. In regard to this I would thus suggest some extra stuff that would be handy to keep ready for an emergency -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I use a small poncho or tarp for training purposes, but have a basha that is of better quality and which would make a better shelter. But if the chance arose I would take with me a 3m x 3m (10' x 10' approx) DD Tarp or one of such quality, or if this is not possible a cheaper tarp of the same size or larger. This larger tarp would cover a wider area to sit under, to store wood under, to cook under (being very careful to ensure the tarp is high and the fire small), and to do some crafting where necessary.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">When going for a few days I take with me a 25ltr water-container, or two if going longer. In the situation where this would be long-term you have a couple of ready containers that you can fill with rainwater (which is where the rain does come in handy). </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have some tinder, kindling and small logs ready to go in your car/truck, and thus save time when your destination is reached.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It seems obvious but there is the necessity to use what dry weather there is to collect tinder, kindling and cut up logs. For longer term purposes a bow-saw can be carried, and if space is the problem (which it should not be) then just the blade can be packed, making a 'bow' on site. Here an axe is also needed, the minimum being a 'Forest Axe', and maybe a couple of wedges to break larger wood (or these can be made up on site). When you buy wood it is chopped from large pieces, and not left round; this burns better than round wood because it has <u>edges</u> that catch fire much quicker. This is why wood left round does not always burn right through. Smaller pieces burn faster, so keep this in mind because chopping into small pieces is necessary, especially in wet weather, to keep the fire going at the start. This is why I suggest taking some tinder, kindling and a few cut-logs with you in a vehicle; makes easier starting in cold wet weather. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whether you have the knowledge of bushcraft, survivalism, wilderness crafts, or wild camping you are training yourself in becoming self-reliant and self-sufficient, and thus breaking free of the shackles of modern society where the mass of people rely wholly upon the State (and we could say the 'corporations', but need not do so since they now seem to have taken control of the state). Many of those who are doing this are the last vestiges of the creative individuals whose work opposes the mass-production of the produce-and-consume society. In their own way they are becoming craftsmen and women in the field that they do. This in itself means having an entirely different mind-set than the masses whose lives today revolve around rampant technology and the latest 'techno-gadgets'. Here we need to ensure that we do not fall into this trap and feel the need to buy every new 'gadget' or 'survival tool' that comes onto the market. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-41572240967833490382021-03-27T11:25:00.001-07:002021-04-10T09:47:44.739-07:00Woodland Base-Camp - 1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6OZ8zxopBttV7-CMYwyZkf57uH1xwergli-HZaRq-I7QdtRt0pLZXrEEonAyitYDg5ZxJl4xEW8mJRBUbzh2HY4AA6Wuwk7QReFkHVg3uhlOvhmW1n3vnjtKxDhAJizQAEkNCjz-QYUZ/s2720/SAM_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6OZ8zxopBttV7-CMYwyZkf57uH1xwergli-HZaRq-I7QdtRt0pLZXrEEonAyitYDg5ZxJl4xEW8mJRBUbzh2HY4AA6Wuwk7QReFkHVg3uhlOvhmW1n3vnjtKxDhAJizQAEkNCjz-QYUZ/s320/SAM_1690.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I have done here is to build a small wooden structure at the back, about three feet behind the two trees from which I have hung the tarp. I cut four long pieces the last time I came to this area and today cut two more and made the wooden 'wall'. The tarp is a mylar-backed camo-tarp which fits across nicely and will be taken and put up each time I go over to do more work on this shelter. The intention is to create a semi-permanent shelter to which the tarp roof can be added, making it complete in itself. The side-walls will be made of 1" to 2" diameter logs pushed into the ground and lashed to a pole between the trees and the wooden 'wall'. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WcBelnE8eWvlBT8Puo70uXt16ZE8jvqGQTBXDSB4bMNfoJnMfAUKczMeOAO1uWeTejXM178_fAx244gnHuHVBWR5jELDk4s90DqBYmAdWp-ZXqtDJ6H6s0MNc3S3KmcTfRtKkYJKo9Er/s2720/SAM_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WcBelnE8eWvlBT8Puo70uXt16ZE8jvqGQTBXDSB4bMNfoJnMfAUKczMeOAO1uWeTejXM178_fAx244gnHuHVBWR5jELDk4s90DqBYmAdWp-ZXqtDJ6H6s0MNc3S3KmcTfRtKkYJKo9Er/s320/SAM_1692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Before starting the shelter I made a cup of coffee by hanging a pot over the open camp-fire, using a stick placed over a Y-shaped stick knocked into the ground, the back of the hanger-stick being held by a tent-peg. This worked very well and saved having a stove with me this time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RwMt7iFmPOzAQEktrB4M8PVnP9NKXbONXNzLzdMTA-x7Cm8E5kb7OEMjyJUSl9-VNibvr8JKokn6skIMJLg9pTdY_OR2Sn9ndYoA_xjz-RPBxfAP-7KzgwH4C1POMnqzXuzM1i3sFSME/s2720/SAM_1693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RwMt7iFmPOzAQEktrB4M8PVnP9NKXbONXNzLzdMTA-x7Cm8E5kb7OEMjyJUSl9-VNibvr8JKokn6skIMJLg9pTdY_OR2Sn9ndYoA_xjz-RPBxfAP-7KzgwH4C1POMnqzXuzM1i3sFSME/s320/SAM_1693.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The pot can be adjusted either up or down by taking out the log and moving the end down, or putting in a larger log. This was a temporary thing, and the best method here seems to be to cut a length of pole and then cut notches into it in which the hanger-pole would be able to be moved upwards or downwards as necessary. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjV0gV_hCGPSPG-a0-Fjp9-NoN2Ax-2f5tIU4ZHYtF0CReHRqckx8BNbsmmVWdDCYL6eVmmyCeZoDpyD36ln0Y1KFcRejQig02RsrwYszf7E5f4DOcRGkF0vGXZ_6k2gLaWINjZZq7FVt/s2720/SAM_1697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjV0gV_hCGPSPG-a0-Fjp9-NoN2Ax-2f5tIU4ZHYtF0CReHRqckx8BNbsmmVWdDCYL6eVmmyCeZoDpyD36ln0Y1KFcRejQig02RsrwYszf7E5f4DOcRGkF0vGXZ_6k2gLaWINjZZq7FVt/s320/SAM_1697.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being a bit late going today I did not have time to do much more, but cut some wood ready for the next time I go over to do more work on the shelter. The tarp is not ideal but will do for now until the whole thing is completed and then I may use a larger tarp that fits right over the back 'wall' (which I may also extend upwards by another log or two), over a tarp-line and perhaps even having a small 'porch' overhanging the front. There is so much dead wood in this area, and it is not used by many people, that it would be ideal for long-term use. </span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-15286357309439270912021-03-08T08:18:00.057-08:002021-03-10T04:57:54.121-08:00Useful Information.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm9lPGgoCGrLyNiy4vwaKtxY8bEf747zGcgvQggW3IdX84OihuoMoz9S24uWMc1BWLqhKolVn1PJyit0iscUeS6FOp5jAF-AkQeFcBDzQH8LHyixPEfKn3a_BF4yXuMFOoTqWHy3JFwI7/s674/Guerilla+Survivalism.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="674" height="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm9lPGgoCGrLyNiy4vwaKtxY8bEf747zGcgvQggW3IdX84OihuoMoz9S24uWMc1BWLqhKolVn1PJyit0iscUeS6FOp5jAF-AkQeFcBDzQH8LHyixPEfKn3a_BF4yXuMFOoTqWHy3JFwI7/w400-h46/Guerilla+Survivalism.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>BUG-OUT BAG -</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this post I would like to make a few personal comments which I hope will help those new to wild camping, which is what we are mainly dealing with now. The scenario that most people seem to wish to prepare for is that of snatching up a 'Go-Bag' or 'Bug-Out Bag' and going off into the wilds. In my opinion this should be the <u>last resort</u> because by far the safest option is to stay put where you have shelter, water and heating. Only when your safety at home, or you are forced to leave, should the next option be used. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again, in my own opinion, the next option would be to use your car/truck, loaded with as much equipment as possible, to move away into a safe area. Doing this you can take a tent and camping equipment that will make things much more comfortable. And you have the car or truck to sleep in whilst you find an area and set up a semi-permanent camp. The car or truck also has a heater which will keep you warm at the start. With this option your Go-Bag and Bug-Out Bag can be taken, together with as much other stuff as you can get in. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In regard to this there is the added advantage of being able to fix a roof-box on your car/truck, or have a small trailer ready and waiting to go at any time, so long as you have a tow-bar fitted. These will give you much more room to work with, and you have much more room to fit in not only the essentials but to add comfort to the equation. This option would only be if you know you need to stay away for some time. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last resort is the Go-Bag or Bug-Out Bag, and here you need to pack just the bare essentials for survival - and this will probably be the case when you will need to have some knowledge of survival. This should have the following -</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some form of quick shelter - a tarp/basha/poncho. Paracord or cordage of some kind. Tent pegs. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fire-Lighting Equipment.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Water - a small quantity, plus some form of water filtration system, and a Milbank Bag. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A torch or head-torch - solar power/wind-up is best in this situation. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Small packets of food which are high energy. Dried food. <b><i>(*)</i></b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A small sleeping-bag and mylar-backed survival bag. (Summer bag would be better than nothing here.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A knife/saw/small axe. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cooking Kit/Stainless steel cup etc. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A First Aid Kit - very important.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A map and compass. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">(*) </i>In regard to dried food this need not be expensive stuff made for the purpose, there are other ways much cheaper -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><ol><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Empty a 'Pot Noodle' carton into a plastic bag and use this in a cup that is carried; all that is needed is to mark the cup with a measure suited to the contents. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cup-a-Soup comes in small sachets and these are easily carried with you.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can make up the dry ingredients of <i>Camp Bread </i>or <i>Bannock Bread </i>and put in a small container or plastic bag. These can be mixed with water on site and cooked in a small frying-pan (skillet). You can add some extras into this such as raisons, sultanas or other dried fruit, and in the summer add fresh fruit such as blackberries etc. Put a little sugar in the mix to taste. </span></li></ol></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are the basics that I would carry because they give immediate shelter, fire-lighting, water, and some food to start off with, high energy being the best. For both the option of a car/truck or backpacking I have seen a really good tip on a YouTube video, and this was to take some packets of seeds with you for future growing - something I have seen no-one else mention. This would be something to think about since in such a situation we would need to look to the future and a long-term plan, and not just an immediate plan. Packets of seeds could be placed in a Bug-Out Bag ready for use. I will look further into this later because the subject is important.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>BASE CAMP UPDATE -</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyH9g6qxxNo9luryiCJ45921pczqzATYpvtleZKanhHRET7CVHgQt7YhSSh7dwlPQJoPpB4L2vKLvNOFcKT-w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I went over to the woods yesterday for the day and set up a tarp-shelter and started to clear the area ready for the 'Great Reset'. I have cut five small pine-trunks which were dead and would have been a hazard to camping there. These will make a log back for the tarp to fit over, giving more space under the tarp-shelter. My take on this base-camp is to have a place that is local to me and which is very rarely visited by the general public. With plenty of dead wood around this will eventually be camouflaged to hide it even better. This would be a temporary base-camp used before onwards. In such circumstances storing certain things at the area would be a great help -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Store stocks of wood cut ready for use, with kindling and tinder too, keeping them dry by putting into a bin-bag and hiding somewhere from view. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">If possible store water somewhere too, even if this is only a small amount to tide you over.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you have spare equipment store this too, in some form of hidden, underground container. Needs only to be small but this would make for a good start. </span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-_T1FcxP3k0cctZldWIhvEd2wDhHRoKgEIMrKtA7O-GlQOR6txYTZDIWbe-YYUjpWBudPwEqgob_RhRlL_XIDsKD8uoiN3PiVgLXp-kQT5zNQDomIIzEutjfLeLmfKX_AcbwkLcnPFwJ/s2720/SAM_1635.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-_T1FcxP3k0cctZldWIhvEd2wDhHRoKgEIMrKtA7O-GlQOR6txYTZDIWbe-YYUjpWBudPwEqgob_RhRlL_XIDsKD8uoiN3PiVgLXp-kQT5zNQDomIIzEutjfLeLmfKX_AcbwkLcnPFwJ/s320/SAM_1635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Fat-Wood Processing -</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The area is made up of small pine-trees and birch-trees and the above shows a low branch cut off which shows the fat-wood content. The branch I took home to process and dry off completely for later use. This brings me to another point since it is sometimes thought that you need to collect tinder and fat-wood on site, but this has never been the case since when making a trip people used to take with them the essentials, processing these ready for later use. Yes, there is a need to collect dry tinder during the dry summer months for later use, and where possible use stuff on site if you have little with you, but being prepared and collecting is the best way, since it is ready for instant use. Collect when dry and use your stocks when it is wet. Otzi the Iceman started his trek over the Alps some 5000 years ago, and on him was found fire-making equipment and medicinal herbs, so as far back as time goes the essentials have been made up before a trek and carried along with the individual.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVx4arM54JNR9dV2SbBdEV8vBjuR-vKMYNw0OBAHZrVHjw3Iyg6IDhyB_0fbzJSAzQxcw_dxUwv4g9y9QCXo50-thjmMVWm7v5AD6cGCqLrSGnHs6y51VkvhQAKFW_V79iZ0nqcNRIjIB/s2720/SAM_1638.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVx4arM54JNR9dV2SbBdEV8vBjuR-vKMYNw0OBAHZrVHjw3Iyg6IDhyB_0fbzJSAzQxcw_dxUwv4g9y9QCXo50-thjmMVWm7v5AD6cGCqLrSGnHs6y51VkvhQAKFW_V79iZ0nqcNRIjIB/s320/SAM_1638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After taking off the bark, saving this for later too, and cutting the wood for the maximum amount of fat-wood, I have drilled a hole in one end and put a piece of para-cord through, allowing this to be stored on one of the loops on the molle-pack and safely held on by the cord. I always dry the fat-wood because the sticks are usually made up of part fat-wood and part not so much, and the whole thing being dried and ready is an advantage. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5aFFI9yseauJR37z1LFmPLpvSag_JxwdjPur7AKBcGCmf7avtpwKyQxzvAOBS759AyhEG6Qctv5etK7r9nrJyC2EajmnFv2Mxh8SdQPzAR24w1lEIw2PcJznDUAhiBf42oR8IDvk0SUO/s2720/SAM_1644.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5aFFI9yseauJR37z1LFmPLpvSag_JxwdjPur7AKBcGCmf7avtpwKyQxzvAOBS759AyhEG6Qctv5etK7r9nrJyC2EajmnFv2Mxh8SdQPzAR24w1lEIw2PcJznDUAhiBf42oR8IDvk0SUO/s320/SAM_1644.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Boiling Water -</i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I used the home-made (or bought) 'stove' with a cooking-pot but this proved to be a problem when I was doing something else and it went out due to not putting enough sticks on. My fault, of course, but to be honest it would have been better to make up a tripod and hang the cooking-pot over the fire, which would not go out as easily. Looking at this as an option now. Another method would be to carry a small grill in the rucksack (maybe in the area used for laptops), and use this over the open fire. The above 'stove' would serve to use where a larger fire placed on the ground is out of the question. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzDosDVGRPWIMu0WObSvR3kOWX_Lc8oc8Dd9WJ2hpqO1sOwQWcNgBqZL5yNNMZtQxNblbZk9LONgb3pBAr2Cg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Char-Cloth Making - </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a simple and easy task, and all that is needed is a small 'tobacco' type tin with a small hole drilled in the top. Use and old T-shirt or the like which is cut up and put inside the tin. Just throw the tin onto the fire and wait for the smoke to stop coming out of the hole, in which case it is usually done. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC7PtiwBlg_TDOzNmEo0vDqxwvN_G6o6kBTkLGhdz8hCXH4CKZcQjNeZxeMxxNNzkvtiRMPhW_FABG-HWvBXcn9N617Y0G6QhVIpu5gcoVHhaCuzfcyRJnC6-ViLJyMT4uG9x-4RNEi_l/s2720/SAM_1646.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC7PtiwBlg_TDOzNmEo0vDqxwvN_G6o6kBTkLGhdz8hCXH4CKZcQjNeZxeMxxNNzkvtiRMPhW_FABG-HWvBXcn9N617Y0G6QhVIpu5gcoVHhaCuzfcyRJnC6-ViLJyMT4uG9x-4RNEi_l/s320/SAM_1646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the finished char-cloth in a different tin, ready for use when needed. This takes just minutes to do on a hot fire. The same method applies to using punk-wood, but this needs a larger container. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzejAQpDhPIer0FnYwzQrGALI-hO_w_IbJD1ahAcKBhyphenhyphenOU4PqLBwg5oUmvhN6ZssG1KfzVkiDoT9Yv2UNkV8HaQxR_81lMGK3-uolkYD3hm4iRa7zfy-oSepLsDluh-xiDz5_CAsv5TSYf/s2720/SAM_1652.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzejAQpDhPIer0FnYwzQrGALI-hO_w_IbJD1ahAcKBhyphenhyphenOU4PqLBwg5oUmvhN6ZssG1KfzVkiDoT9Yv2UNkV8HaQxR_81lMGK3-uolkYD3hm4iRa7zfy-oSepLsDluh-xiDz5_CAsv5TSYf/s320/SAM_1652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tin is placed on the fire, usually on the embers but I have no patience to wait for that, and this did the job quicker anyway. Make plenty for future use, and keep with you bits of an old T-shirt or other suitable material. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Boiling Water at a base-camp area -</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One thing that I have been experimenting on is to have a fire-bowl ready in the garden for making char-cloth, processing punk-wood, and for boiling water in an emergency. When we had an electrical problem a few weeks ago this made me think on this, since if it had been for longer we would not have had heating or hot water. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjkm9JJ8tP7dIcYtI6uuVdKhmA1q7dp5Uzicafpqb3hzZ5DBmagF2rUPiwAInd87SFTG6LSRi5SGdkzestISgLgk3ORiQMdhKImX_7V9uqyEhTrO8A4DXjx3gmzuMobQXU93oS0_GfV7j/s2720/SAM_1656.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjkm9JJ8tP7dIcYtI6uuVdKhmA1q7dp5Uzicafpqb3hzZ5DBmagF2rUPiwAInd87SFTG6LSRi5SGdkzestISgLgk3ORiQMdhKImX_7V9uqyEhTrO8A4DXjx3gmzuMobQXU93oS0_GfV7j/s320/SAM_1656.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have an old aluminium container which sits on the shelf at home, doing nothing for some years now. There are those who see aluminium as not being totally safe, just as Teflon now is seen to be suspect; with this in mind I decided to use this to boil water for washing-up and washing, rather than for drinking, although I have used aluminium for years with no problems. This was placed over a small wood fire, and the results are as below -</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first day I used this it took 30 minutes to boil the water from a cold tap, without the lid on (forgot that!).</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next day I tried again, this time putting on the lid, and it took 22 minutes to boil. Neither was a 'rolling boil' but this is not necessary for washing and washing up when tap water is used. </span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This will be useful for a base-camp where water is needed to wash, wash up and to wash clothes with. It saves using small containers and having to boil over and over again. The last time I went wild-camping for a week I had to boil my water is a kelly-kettle, which is fine for tea or coffee, but for other tasks takes a lot of time up. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Heating an enclosed shelter -</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjFfTj2RC24sbYCBXE-0VBA7no1GFT41UEkJyTh5PU02zXgAZh8k6g1IhoLJQY7FSvcFac9qAGO9ErBOYzalH2EIUjxJ4dMvrvgA9ze9sjGNMEWFHZ1IOQm2qPLE4UFfYbycCKR2sGCR1/s2720/SAM_1660.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjFfTj2RC24sbYCBXE-0VBA7no1GFT41UEkJyTh5PU02zXgAZh8k6g1IhoLJQY7FSvcFac9qAGO9ErBOYzalH2EIUjxJ4dMvrvgA9ze9sjGNMEWFHZ1IOQm2qPLE4UFfYbycCKR2sGCR1/s320/SAM_1660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year we have had several really cold nights which have gone down to below zero and given us nice frosty mornings. I have a small mini-greenhouse which has tender seedlings in, and have resorted this year to making my own candles, as in the above photo. My daughter started to do this, buying the kit from Amazon, but I decided to do it without buying anything but the candle-wicks. I have used old candles which are broken up and melted down in a tin-can (can which had beans, peas, etc.) on the oven-top. Old used small glass jars were used to save money, so the only thing I have bought is the wicks so far. The tops for the jars should be saved and put on after cooling down completely. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of these home-made candles lasts over 12 hours, and I have left them overnight in the mini-greenhouse where the temperature is kept above freezing all night. I have used bought night-lights in a shelter in the woodland, but these last nowhere near as long, so the gardening experience here will help with the wild camping or survival. Two or three, lasting all night, would keep the temperature above freezing. This is yet another way of recycling old materials, and no doubt old candles can be bought cheaply from charity shops or second-hand shops. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Note - </b>In regard to being ready and prepared for any emergency I would like to relate an experience I had when I was in my early twenties. At the time I was a long-distance lorry-driver and had deliveries from Leicester to the North of England. The last one was in Oldham, Lancashire, and I was held up during the day and got there at 5.10pm. They closed at 5.00pm and refused to accept the delivery until the following day. I had no night-out gear at all, and that night the temperature plummeted to below zero centigrade; I had only a coat to wrap around me and could not use the heater since I had to park outside the local houses. It was a freezing cold night that taught me to make sure that wherever I went I would at least have a sleeping-bag with me. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We have had fairly mild winters here in the South of England but in the past this was not always so. Back in 1981 we had a freezing cold spell and I was parked up in Monmouth for the night when the temperature went well below zero; the next morning the truck would not start due to the water-droplets in the diesel freezing completely, and trying to use a small stove the canister of gas was frozen and useless. Even with a sleeping-bag and blanket on top I was not comfortably warm that night. Again, being prepared before going on a journey is something to ponder on. On more than one occasion I have been stuck for 2-3 days with heavy falls of snow. This teaches you to look ahead, but for some this type of thing never happens, hence why I am trying to look at such things for others. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-19075562146885167222021-02-19T11:56:00.003-08:002021-02-19T12:05:43.155-08:00Future Projects<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWYoGchan2JBID4SJXJxQTEOVDoksltl040FjjbFYHyHrZAO5Iz0x0XpYPxSBu-IUlFvjrYjDkaSGHMVxslm2u21TDejJQlO1JRFu75d7ylpCrJCZDd6QFShyphenhyphenRQMt5kS23xokvMJesoec/s2720/SAM_1607.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWYoGchan2JBID4SJXJxQTEOVDoksltl040FjjbFYHyHrZAO5Iz0x0XpYPxSBu-IUlFvjrYjDkaSGHMVxslm2u21TDejJQlO1JRFu75d7ylpCrJCZDd6QFShyphenhyphenRQMt5kS23xokvMJesoec/s320/SAM_1607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is an area of woodland that the Forestry Commission is said to have 'coppiced', although they are birch-trees and not really large ones at that. They have left the logs lying around and there seems no large track nearby to move them, so I am assuming they are going to be just left there. At the other end of this piece is an area of conifers that have been cut down, again not a tree one coppices. The area is one in which we made our first 'Base-Camp' and what is left lying around will be useful for shelter-building with little work. There is enough to build a log-cabin but doubt if that would go down well! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRuvVDF64Rsh2c0iUw8xdnZ8DEEJmuD9ScuaI7CWsNapo3AB26yn2SDHRnXUWEzQMkx2w5z60i22ztF9qbQzIuEeSPo6_xAlugIIPutfsmr_KkoZ5tR2v9DO1dwE2OI8M5kFcBJIE_XCd/s2720/SAM_1613.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRuvVDF64Rsh2c0iUw8xdnZ8DEEJmuD9ScuaI7CWsNapo3AB26yn2SDHRnXUWEzQMkx2w5z60i22ztF9qbQzIuEeSPo6_xAlugIIPutfsmr_KkoZ5tR2v9DO1dwE2OI8M5kFcBJIE_XCd/s320/SAM_1613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you can see the whole area is littered with silver birch logs which are usually very straight and thus easy to use in a building project. In the background you can see the area which is mainly conifer - fir, pine and spruce. Unfortunately, the pathways around are used quite a bit now since they have opened sections up, but finding a site that is not used should not be hard to do. This is the ideal sort of area to start shelter-building practice, since the materials are there to hand. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As usual I set out to explore part of the area to find s suitable place, but due to this being opened up and the extra use of the pathway the area over the other side may well be more useful. One side is a conifer wood, and the other a birch wood; the diversity (must have diversity) is very handy since these woodlands have a varied hue and thus there is a great deal of useful stuff in the same area.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I must have a gripe here, since it does seem rather drastic to cut areas out like this, and there has been a lot of clearance in these woodlands over the last year or so. In fact some areas are being totally cleared and even the flora and forna cut down - which makes one think a bit. Nigel Farage featured the mass destruction of woodlands in one of his videos, through the work of another woodland organisation. That was not that long ago either. Cutting this back so hard, and seemingly leaving the logs to rot seems disgraceful when poorer people could use them. I have not doubt that in some way these could be 'recycled'.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Foei1rmhQms2MCvRz27tdlLeCM88yLNm0YOollE81X1WSl5Pb-hStIAMdZh0rvbxsf1DOqbdvfXE0uIVT9VtyLQ0F0SZZRlAXHIdXsSasannlGAsc98mdTnw7KYSAQ2AUa5jgblCmx-g/s2720/SAM_1614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Foei1rmhQms2MCvRz27tdlLeCM88yLNm0YOollE81X1WSl5Pb-hStIAMdZh0rvbxsf1DOqbdvfXE0uIVT9VtyLQ0F0SZZRlAXHIdXsSasannlGAsc98mdTnw7KYSAQ2AUa5jgblCmx-g/s320/SAM_1614.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the conifer wood at the other side of the mass-destruction; this may be a suitable area to look at next. You can see how large an area has been cleared here, and this is not the same area as the hundreds of logs I photographed the other day. Whilst there is so much emphasis upon the destruction of the rain-forests, the destruction of the forests in England and Scandinavia goes on without much comment. This is no doubt true of other lands.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQE1QM1TiHs0qbobz0bo2unnVgYmr2OmKn1tuUagNLXWfDNgYNk-ePMz6iVeZi7NWN7mbeVOVQZncAjVTru-urqc8pYH62bZYezKl7gCKRlyjwuIFACcWVAGai0H7SAnZViLzDYhqgrN9/s2720/SAM_1616.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQE1QM1TiHs0qbobz0bo2unnVgYmr2OmKn1tuUagNLXWfDNgYNk-ePMz6iVeZi7NWN7mbeVOVQZncAjVTru-urqc8pYH62bZYezKl7gCKRlyjwuIFACcWVAGai0H7SAnZViLzDYhqgrN9/s320/SAM_1616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can also see here the fir-branches that have also been cut off, and these make really good cover for a shelter. All the materials are here ready to use, and this saves cutting green trees.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo1Rh-bVxTL2_tkUvOJT01Jd_JRtooesaoITVdZoo4Owz5TTGplr6TNEbfliXk88Fc6QJupFgdAzyOJGkpuxb92vvg1AESwtt0aNul8sniCn0MA0z6thyphenhyphen4isgVBkKcqd3BPxGoB9rW7zm/s2720/Fatwood.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo1Rh-bVxTL2_tkUvOJT01Jd_JRtooesaoITVdZoo4Owz5TTGplr6TNEbfliXk88Fc6QJupFgdAzyOJGkpuxb92vvg1AESwtt0aNul8sniCn0MA0z6thyphenhyphen4isgVBkKcqd3BPxGoB9rW7zm/s320/Fatwood.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whilst in the woodland today I collected some pieces of pine, which included a couple of pieces of good fat-wood. These two pieces will be made into a Fat-wood Fire-Starter by drilling a hole in it and using a piece of para-cord to hang it. This is then used to cut slithers off which will burn very quickly. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsCD2eyj1ukGT8G34SYkdyk24gm50dIwCXQo0M3nDBvPliuDzWRiAwwIxYmY5TyUerLQqQBy-CiZeX8MPsZc4ZnSMdhK0rXe8kfy3gB1Yed_BgU2xsSLqzlBL8vwKf78jzHN5adEGLrLv/s2720/Punk-Wood.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsCD2eyj1ukGT8G34SYkdyk24gm50dIwCXQo0M3nDBvPliuDzWRiAwwIxYmY5TyUerLQqQBy-CiZeX8MPsZc4ZnSMdhK0rXe8kfy3gB1Yed_BgU2xsSLqzlBL8vwKf78jzHN5adEGLrLv/s320/Punk-Wood.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also collected was some Punk-Wood taken from a dead stump, which I am going to try (first time with this) to make into a char-tinder in a similar way to making char-cloth. This is yet another experiment which will help in giving tinder which can be carried along, thus saving the need to forage for tinder, especially in wet weather. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not wanting to waste anything I have kept the scrapings from the pine-wood pieces and put them in the airing cupboard to dry off. Drying this stuff off increases the chances of success in the field. The pine-wood pieces which do not have much resin will be taken along to use as 'Feather-Sticks'. These are also drying out to make this more efficient. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-75JMaUarhmAqHBoUvf_0KVyL_xWgVcE7kLh1OONKAxx_UGK_Sd4UgmfVXN-y0IebxU-4Id5fHRpHfryyoT26Xi6K4zT5eFBnvrGwHIx8Av_DbDKoY6lbUxx886DUUgZNdETlOGjkhR3L/s2720/SAM_1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-75JMaUarhmAqHBoUvf_0KVyL_xWgVcE7kLh1OONKAxx_UGK_Sd4UgmfVXN-y0IebxU-4Id5fHRpHfryyoT26Xi6K4zT5eFBnvrGwHIx8Av_DbDKoY6lbUxx886DUUgZNdETlOGjkhR3L/s320/SAM_1612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you can see here the potential for shelter-building and fire-lighting is excellent in this one area. The conifer area at the back looks like the best place to start looking to build a Base-Camp because it is thickly-wooded and thus not usually covered in brambles, although too easy access is not a good thing either. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All of this is being done now in order to prepare for the spring-summer when plans are being made to set up base-camps around the woods nearby, hopefully as last time in areas where they will remain unseen for some years. Whether these are ever used (except for practice) will remain to be seen, but as things go the best thing to do is to start to prepare for when the SHTF. </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-12969833318820218612021-02-18T12:50:00.003-08:002021-02-18T12:50:58.314-08:00Off-Grid : On-Grid<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHxxYvg5_YfHiXwmjVgX56sctmeRD8hdA_RhmHxKGb3KsbAJ7JsAK2uPl6JUKM0OXFB5BvxlPsGc3jbZUJHp69ICAr8oFt1mJuEKnknIgpHYVOe2iRd86-HQkujOU6QKrgKlX2bWJ4-7j/s355/wodens+folk+ethel+project%255B1%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHxxYvg5_YfHiXwmjVgX56sctmeRD8hdA_RhmHxKGb3KsbAJ7JsAK2uPl6JUKM0OXFB5BvxlPsGc3jbZUJHp69ICAr8oFt1mJuEKnknIgpHYVOe2iRd86-HQkujOU6QKrgKlX2bWJ4-7j/s320/wodens+folk+ethel+project%255B1%255D.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'Off-Grid : On-Grid' - make up your mind! No, I have not joined the power-hungry lunatics at the top of the pile. The heading may sound paradoxically, so I will explain. Here in England we are miles behind those in the US and Canada who have for decades been 'preppers' and who have gone much further in 'Off-Grid Living'. It is thus logical to study what is being done in the US and Canada. Having studied this for a while I can see the overall picture better, and maybe we could go some way to catching up with them. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the warnings given over going off-grid is that it would be far wiser to start this <u>before</u> actually moving into the wilds. This gave me an idea, since being much older I have little chance of actually going the whole way - until, of course, I am forced to do so. Even then I would be hard pushed to take such a step in one go; we all would but when younger this would be far easier. There is a viable alternative, which I am going to go into here. It is also a viable alternative for those with young children; they can use it as an 'adventure' and get used to off-grid living at the same time. This is something for families to consider.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I have decided to do is to put up a shed at the bottom of the garden, a shed big enough for me to use for practice, that is for an 'overnighter' first, and then longer periods actually <u>living in it</u>. If there were problems the house is there to use if needed, and all amenities, though the idea would be to make it totally 'off-grid' in regard to energy, water, and heating. This would be the first move to make, thus getting used to not having the amenities of the 'grid'. I would also alternate between the shed and roughing it in the woodlands. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My first plan was to build a log-shelter since I have access to some logs, but this would take a long time, and without the experience would be hard work. This would also have been an open shelter of some kind. Far easier to buy a shed and put it up myself, and I have already cleared a space at the bottom of the garden, next to the stream (water in the winter). This would not be a very big shed, but that may be the better bet since the bigger it is the more it can be seen for what it is. This is a point to remember since the world is full of 'State Spies' and it could be deemed a 'dwelling'. Keep it secret - Keep it safe! Telling others what you are doing would create future problems.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The shed can thus have the following as a <u>minimum</u> -</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some form of heating, such as Calor Gas, or better still a wood-stove which need only be small for such a small space. (Either way it is best to put a Carbon Monoxide Tester in the shed.) This would be enough for the heating, although a back-up could be at hand just in case. With a wood-stove care would be needed in ensuring the chimney does not leak into the building. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A wood-store would be best made near to the shed so that it is easy to get wood, even in the wind and rain. (For those better off, sheds can be bought with an integral wood-store nowadays.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A battery and solar-panel(s) - lighting can be done on a 12v system which is in fact safer and easier to put together. LED lights can be used on this system. Wind-power should be the next on the agenda, but this is a bit more expensive. Just a small type used on boats etc. would be sufficient I would imagine. In both cases a bit of mathematics (don't ask me) would be the best way to work out what you need. A permanent solar-panel could be put on the roof, but an alternative would be one fixed on a structure near the shed, facing south and being made so as to allow the panel(s) to be turned around as the Sun moves, and also up and down to cater for the seasonal shift of the Sun. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A small petrol (or diesel which is more expensive) generator could be used, enough to power small tools or even a kettle etc. A good supply of petrol should be held for this. This would solve problems with lack of power through the solar panels not producing enough at times, or the wind-power not producing at other times. I have a Clarke 1200 Watt generator which has been used for about three years or more now, and is sufficient to do the tasks I want at the moment, though a more powerful one could come in handy in the future. It is not too dear and not too loud either. The generator could be used in an emergency for lighting or heating.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A sink can be fitted into the shed, with the waste water running outside, preferably into some form of container to be able to reuse this. This would mean using eco-friendly soap and washing-up liquid. Also, some form of water-container would be needed to use for washing and washing-up. Water can be pumped in with a small solar-pump (or foot-pump as a back-up). This would come from a food-grade container outside. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Drinking-Water - some form of container would be needed for this too, and also a filtration system and purification system. Rainwater could be collected, which is a very wise move, and if a clean polythene sheet is used to collect the water this would need far less cleaning and purifying. Water from a gutter would be used for washing, but even this should be filtered and treated if possible. The best way for this to be done would be through a <i style="font-weight: bold;">rolling-boil for one minute</i>. Purification tablets can be used, or even iodine or chlorine (bleach), <b><u>but the latter way should be done with extreme caution after finding out the very small amounts to use</u></b>. (Chlorine is already in our water, and can be smelt and tasted; even this is not so good for us.) The best way by far is to have a stainless-steel (or aluminium which is not quite so good) saucepan large enough to boil a good measure of water that can be then stored for later use. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some form of bed (beds) could be put in, doubling as seating at the same time. The bed could be simply a mattress on top of base-units, these being storage-units for the stuff you leave in the shed. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cooking Facilities - Some form of cooker will be needed inside the shed, and this will have to be down to how much it will be used. It would have to double as an emergency cooking area though to be of any use in the long term. A Calor-Gas cooker would be fine, although this must be one suited to indoor use. An alternative would be to fix some form of porch along the front of the shed (if there is room) and to build some form of <u>safe</u> barbecue under this. It would still be best to have an indoor gas-cooker of some kind to do small cooking tasks in the cold, wet winters. For an oven a small Dutch Oven would be perfect for an individual, or a larger one for a family. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think this gives some idea on what I am getting at here; this is an ongoing job which can be improved upon with time. However, what I would like to do is to get on with this during this spring-summer so as to get the very basic unit ready for the autumn-winter of 2021-2. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have not discussed toilet facilities which are rather more difficult, and there may not be room in the garden; if you have a larger piece of land then there is no problem. There are plenty of ways to make Compost Toilets, which can also be bought. Another thing is washing and a shower; I have used a small £20.00 Solar-Shower to heat water last summer, and this in fact did work quite well (it was a hot, sunny summer though). There are ways to make solar water-heaters with copper pipes, blackened glass etc. and YouTube has some ideas on these. An alternative would be to make some form of wood-stove-boiler which would boil enough water, and keep it hot as the fire goes down. This would be the most efficient since it does not rely upon Sun or Wind. A mixture is always the best anyway. This stage could come after heating water in a large saucepan, as suggested before. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The way that this would roll out is that the use of the on-grid facilities in the house would become less and less as the work progresses, until such time as the process has got to the stage when the off-grid facilities are enough to be able to survive for a longer time. This may well be found to be more healthy too, since there are many little-known health hazards in modern homes. And one point that should be considered is that we are - through our own personal initiative - doing our bit to heal the wounded planet, and to become truly 'sustainable' into the future, as opposed to Klaus Shwab's con-tricks. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is far more to this though, and there are many things that can be done with this project to make life much easier. It is also a point that this is another way to ease the stress and strain of the 'Great Oppression' and to forget about all of the propaganda and get on with something useful that will one day regain our freedom. There are also other things to remember with such a build -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Food-stocks can be stored in the shed; this would be fine since this is not a 'tool-shed' that remains unheated meaning it become damp over wet periods. Constant use of the wood-burner or stove would ensure this is dry and free from damp and mould. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">To ensure a dryer shed it would be best to get the best you can, preferably ship-lap rather than the feather-edge type (cheaper type). One thing to remember is that this should be thoroughly treated with some form of oil-based preservative because no matter how much they say about 'treated timber' this will make the shed last much longer. This should, if possible, be done once every year, and this leads to another point before building starts - ensure you can get to all sides of the shed for treating. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can always insulate the shed inside, by putting insulation boards inside a wood-cladding; even if this is not affordable, better to plan to allow this to be done later. There is a point here, and that is that you used to be able to buy Gypsum Plaster-boards with an aluminium side; this would insulate the shed, but turned with the ally-side inwards rather than it should be would act like the mylar-tarps and reflect the heat <u>inwards</u>. Never done this but it could be experimented on. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The weakest part of any shed seems always to be the bitumen-felt roof; so ensure this is easy to get at in a later time to renew the felt. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another thing I did not mention (no doubt there are tons more) is a fridge or freezer, which can be run off Propane Gas. There is an alternative to a fridge and that is a small <u>underground</u> food-storage area, since such an area is cool, and even more so in the shade. Consider this <u>before</u> the build since it could be done by digging an underground storage area under the shed, having a trapdoor to access it. This would need thought and also some modification of the shed floor. Thermalite blocks are (I believe) alright for this since I have seen them used in footings of house-builds. These are much lighter than concrete blocks. Such a storage area would have to have some form of lining (like fridges or freezers) that can be cleaned easily. Again this move does without any form of energy-source to run it, and as house-builders in earlier times knew a cellar keeps things cool. This is why today beer-cellars are still used in pubs (or what is left of our pubs). In this case we can actually learn from the past. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The building could also be used to house small tools such as drills, hand-saws etc. A cupboard could be used for this either made or bought second-hand somewhere. This would also allow the area to be used as a workshop for doing small craft-projects (to do so the mattress could be lifted off and the area used as a temporary bench). </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the subject of cupboards, these can be put up around the walls to hold tinned foods, or home-made preserves (which is the aim), and the utensils needed for cooking. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are thus many uses for the 'Off-Grid Shed' -</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">An 'Off-Grid' experiment.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A spiritual retreat for meditation and contemplation.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A craft-workshop.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">An area to go for peace and quiet. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A 'Safe-House' to go to in case you are in the 'doghouse' with the wife after getting home too late from the pub. (Oh no! Can't go to the pub now - there are other things one can do wrong). Saves sleeping on the landing. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">An adventure area for the kids to learn how to live Off-Grid. This may prove to be the most important thing you will do since I have no doubt that children would be the most likely problem in making a move Off-Grid. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are my own ideas, and no doubt everyone will have their own unique ideas on how they would like to get Off-Grid and become self-reliant and in this way somewhat self-sufficient. For meat-eaters learning to fish, hunt and trap is a must, and for everyone learning to forage wild plants would be a must too. Growing, preserving and cooking are also the main things to learn. <u>And all this takes is a small shed, or maybe an old workshop if you have the land</u>. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One final point, it would be wiser to put such a building together using bolts and nuts rather than screwing it together as per the usual instructions. The floor can be screwed, but even then it would be best to use some form of screw that is easily removed, and using grease or Vaseline on the threads. I say this because this could be an ongoing project that you may need to move, especially if you move house. Bolted together this takes no time to take apart. Consider the roof too, since this would also need to be made so that it is easy to take apart. This may mean modifying it to suit such a purpose. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">NOTE ***** </i>Here in England you <u>are</u> allowed to go to your shed in the garden! It does not stipulate how many times either! Or how far you can go! The joys of living in a 'free country'. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387428666389893292.post-74872396930135923052021-02-18T01:55:00.005-08:002021-02-18T08:34:40.070-08:00Fire-Chips<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGJFq5njT58DtPkBd7Qyrz6bEKOcVOdEfGzqyfIgzPf10-8mtjcBLnW8m8ZlIn89Aqdzu8ugrrcXYLDoIwsebbQ7dTdw_t082eNTIFbmWJqoNw_8urG37_WFOS2OPsAg18erBW9ihN3Ny/s2720/Fire-Chips.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGJFq5njT58DtPkBd7Qyrz6bEKOcVOdEfGzqyfIgzPf10-8mtjcBLnW8m8ZlIn89Aqdzu8ugrrcXYLDoIwsebbQ7dTdw_t082eNTIFbmWJqoNw_8urG37_WFOS2OPsAg18erBW9ihN3Ny/s320/Fire-Chips.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A tip that I found on <b>"Corporal's Corner" </b>on YouTube; potato crisps ('chips' in the US) have a high oil content, obviously since they are fried in oil. They can be lit with a lighter or matches and burn for long enough to light a fire. A second good point on this method is that if they go out they retain a glowing ember on the charred part, and this can be used to relight a tinder-bundle. If you look closely at the video you can see the oil running out of the crisps as it burns. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxl3psSUWoDWBWQEzNCFma0-D7qzZMQPXoJ7LmiTRBnBvsZ5AWbohTieF8HKCPNpNISaqtLVLoefo8AK8Fq7Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I used <i>Kettle Crisps </i>which are sold as 'British Potato Chips' and the oil content can be seen in these; it is the oil that burns quickly, but it also flares up as it burns making it ideal for fire-lighting.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yw8jJIA0MEc9Nn9pHoXZG2hMzuryfeqHSDUJEWJ8piqWGEWCCqoZGR9rOdsDthl8lE_8XmZ-cV4bUPNvgUS4eNe8hHLTvQbQIwrDeD03yIqL6psiW6VBrPcaU0gPV6Rvu0CchBPDzZS1/s2048/Tinder1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yw8jJIA0MEc9Nn9pHoXZG2hMzuryfeqHSDUJEWJ8piqWGEWCCqoZGR9rOdsDthl8lE_8XmZ-cV4bUPNvgUS4eNe8hHLTvQbQIwrDeD03yIqL6psiW6VBrPcaU0gPV6Rvu0CchBPDzZS1/s320/Tinder1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A tinder-bundle of Fireweed (Rosebay Willow Herb), small birch shavings, and thistle-tops makes ideal natural tinder. It is always best to use natural tinder where it is available, and to pick it, store it, and dry it out when it is available, usually in the summer-autumn period. Taking tinder with you is sometimes necessary, but collecting it from the field, drying it and storing it has got to be cheaper than buying tinder. Fat-wood shavings have a high resin content and they too are something to consider collecting and drying out.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why dry out? Well, some stuff like fat-wood and birch shavings will catch a spark when wet, but stuff like Fireweed and Thistle-tops will not do so. I find it wise to collect when available, dry out (to make catching a spark<b> easier</b>) and storing in a container for use in the autumn-winter period when it is wetter and colder. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After writing the above I went out for my daily one 'legal' walk with the dog - for the second time today - and whilst out I collected some <i>useful tinder </i>because for the last couple of hours it had rained. The best place to collect drier tinder in such conditions is at the top of a the field where it is higher up and the ground stays drier. Here the grass is drier in places even after the rain, and carefully picking from the side where the wind is blowing I got some moderately dry stuff. Lower down I collected some very dry dead tops of stinging-nettles which can easily start a flame. Trying these with some more crisps (chips) I got a fire started easily. (Cannot show the video I made because I managed to mess the whole thing up!)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Taking the idea of the 'Fire-Chips' one stage further I got some cotton-wool and slightly soaked it with some Sunflower Oil, then finishing by dabbing some Vaseline around it. Ensuring that the 'Cotton Ball' was pulled apart so as to let the air in, I lit it in a tin using an <b><i>electronic lighter</i></b>. Now, having had problems lighting the crisps outside due to the wind, using an <i style="font-weight: bold;">electronic lighter </i>rather than a gas-filled lighter seems to be a step up. The added advantage is that this needs no fuel whatsoever and can be recharged again and again, and this can be done through a small solar-panel or any small portable charger (which can be charged via a larger solar-panel. The cotton-ball would, of course, have taken a spark from a Ferro-Rod to light it, which potato crisps may not do. Again, the idea is to go prepared, but in an emergency crisps could be a life-saver. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzl0XwF_Q_SN3rSgcmC1mw0_44FyzSnyPtFEb9abjdpZ7Xvf_M4OtEVsWesWw0Cr_8lVa7ig0f9ImLtYhLIrg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The video goes on for just over a minute, but the cotton-ball stayed alight for over five minutes after this, which is ample time to light a tinder-bundle and kindling-bundle.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkRUHMMZqyJbDlmxoC6f8Tt0a-tL86a4B-0BUh5yiGFaukiB0sO-6IX3NAOKGxyNvPgM_Ob61qqeg_h-r4kzNIQUB5nvFwJuG6adGXZBqjOkMIo-UvrOcSZYKO8tmf1ZPB4HLKms9g0Zs/s2720/Cotton-Ball1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkRUHMMZqyJbDlmxoC6f8Tt0a-tL86a4B-0BUh5yiGFaukiB0sO-6IX3NAOKGxyNvPgM_Ob61qqeg_h-r4kzNIQUB5nvFwJuG6adGXZBqjOkMIo-UvrOcSZYKO8tmf1ZPB4HLKms9g0Zs/s320/Cotton-Ball1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another tip from <b>"Corporal's Corner" </b>is to use an old Emergency Blanket (Mylar-Type) which can be cut into small strips and placed in a 'Fire-Bundle', and will light by a spark from the Ferro-Rod. Not tried as yet but will certainly do so (would have saved money if I had kept an old one that has just been thrown away). This is another tip, always <u>try these things out for yourselves to ensure they do work</u>. </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0