Greenhouses without Glass

You may be familiar with the espalier pruning technique where trees are made to grow flat, but did you know that greenhouses had their origins from the same way of growing stuff in climates that were too cold: Fruit Walls.  Low-Tech Magazine has an in-depth article about this technology from the Renaissance.

Selling the Movies...

Selling stuff can be serious business... except sometimes when it is on the silver screen.  Sometimes salespeople need some inspiration.  Here are some lists of movies that can give it to them:


Cult Movies Sales People and Marketers Should Watch



16 Movies for Sales People


"The Goods" is one of my favorites.

Old School Warmth

The Wood Trekker has an in-depth discussion on Classic Backpacking Gear - Blankets.  Sometimes the old ways are better, but in the case of wool blankets in the period from 1880 to 1930, it really was a case of just doing the best they could with what they had.  That's still a good attitude to have, but it doesn't mean that we should blindly copy their results.

Look, Out In The Field...

It's A Flower!

It's A Food!

It's A Fiber!

It's Flax!

Learn All About Flax.

Dry for Cheap...

You're probably familiar with the simple PVC ponchos and thinner-than-paper Mylar blankets that, while cheap, do not always provide the protection from the elements they promise.  Here is another, repurposed option:

$3 Rain Gear That Doesn’t Act Like $3 Rain Gear

The reviewer includes instructions for making it waterproof with duct tape.

Don't Blink....

Snorg Tees

Hot Stuff....

You may have seen people collecting aluminum cans to recycle, but probably not like this:

Mobile Foundry for Recycling Aluminum.  They use the molten aluminum to cast decorative but useful objects like chairs.

This Rots....

If you want a good in-depth discussion on composting, listen to Trevor Van Hemert on The Survival Podcast.  What makes him an expert?  It's his day job!  He has a profitable business collecting compostable waste -- by bicycle -- and selling the finished compost.

'Dem Dry Bones

You may take supplements for healthy joints, but what would you do if they were no longer available?  The Prepper Pages has instructions for Making Dehydrated Bone Broth.  Not only is this something that can be done with relatively simple equipment, it is shelf stable, so you can start making it up now for use later.

All Cows Eat Grass

Occam's Grazer: An In-depth Introduction to Holistic Management

This is a really good introduction to holistic management, a way of raising cattle that helps restore the landscape.  This is intended for general audiences, it doesn't require a lot of background in animal husbandry.

Up All Night?

Having trouble sleeping?  Jeremiah Johnson at ReadyNutrition.com has 12 Natural Ways to Remedy Sleep Disorders: 8 suggestions for changes in behavior and 4 natural remedies to try.

Back From The Dead

I love it when I can pull people off my Zombie Blogroll.  Johnny Max and The Queen are back on The Self-Sufficient Homestead with Episode 202.  (They are up to 205 now.)  It has been a long hiatus, but in the meantime they have finally made the move out to their homestead.