Sunflower

http://solarcooking.org/recipes/bread.htm

Thanks for these recipes. My oven arrived a week ago. The weather has been cloudy, rainy, and snowey at times. The oven is still in the box.

My wheat grinder is still in the box too. Once I get the kitchen cleared up, I will be baking bread. Organization is a big issue for me. I have a lot to discard and sort.

Although it may seem premature, I am already prepping for winter. The last 50 years have been abnormally warm, so for those under 50 years old the 'normal' weather patterns are an enormous shock. Colder, snowier and longer will be the new winter norm in my part of the country, so I am reviewing my preps and cold weather survival techniques. Many are drawn from the historical past and just as relevant today. I'll tell you what has worked for me, and hopefully you have some new ideas I can try. Let's brainstorm!

 

I have discovered that I can allow the kitchen to get as cold as 48 degrees before my pipes start to freeze. The books I have read claim 40 degrees, but my water pipes are not very insulated, and they are on the windy side of the house, so 48 degrees is the limit for me. I have a heat lamp that I leave shining on the pipes under the sink that doubles as a night light (and the cats used to love sitting there during the cold months). Running a trickle of water worked for me to help keep the water in the pipes moving. (I have my own well, so it does not cost me extra water fees, which I am grateful for.) 48 degrees is not a bad temperature for the kitchen. Food keeps longer, and hot food cools down quickly to put into the refrigerator, which does not have to work so hard. Cooking heat is appreciated, so winter for me is a heavy baking season. The living room has the only heat source in the house, a propane space heater. But I keep that turned down too. The ...."

 

Boy were you smart. Wish I been more on the ball.

Burr.

along with safety glasses (mine are SUPER dorky) i have ear plugs, the custom fitted kind i have ear muffs as well, and a 3M respirator with particulate filtres, (i was fit tested and certified by 3M) one of the most impoertant safety items we need is HAIR ELASTICS! the last thing you need is for your head to be sucked in by a fan belt, or power drill, pittsburg machine....nasty buisness that is.

 

make sure gloves fit well, they can also get caught on things and sucked in, same with watches, and rings.

 

make sure your clothing fits well and cant get caught in machinery/tools, make sure it is close fitting so sparks/slag from welding, or soldering can get in and burn you.

 

oh my...there are SOOO many safety things you need to remember...any more anyone thinks of please post!

What do you suggest for protection when working on a well house during winter (with pack rats up at head level)? I wore heavy gloves, and a scarf over my face. It was creepy. Only pulled one out, another was reyond reach, and Thankfully the rest escaped. The pack rats can smell bad. I heard that they can have disease.

Thanks.

Hi, I am new here as of tonight... Look so forward to getting to know everyone....and to learning things and hopefully sharing some things i have learned along the way.

Thanks for having me here.

I bet those four boys eat a lot. Welcome. I am new too.

I am a 50 year old also. I am new at the skills part of prepping. I am sort of lazy these days - maybe it is the medical/pain/other responsibilities that contribute, but in the end I am not very productive. I spent the afternoon with duct tape and sizzors. The kitchen was still freezing. The wind picked up and I was able to determine the problem. Chalking is wearing off glass in paine. I hope they don't break out. I have two taped now. The wind was coming in from round the frame also.

This morning I took the recycled Princess table cloth from my friend's 100th birthday party of a few years ago, and tacked it on the window above the tub. I think I can see a difference already. I am a post stroke person (1991). I have use of both hands/arms and can walk real good since about 2002. I am overweight, so that is one of my big prep areas to deal with. I have debt also.

I am still trying to get acquainted with the site. It is hard to get in 30-60 min to just sit and work at it.

My next food prep task is on the spare bed. The spare bed is now in the living room, next to the piano. Yes, the spare room is now a pantry or preppers room. Boxes of dehydrated #10 cans, and 5 and 6 gal buckets mostly. I store the drink items, like Tang and instant coffee under the dressor. I also store the rolls of lard under their too. It seems to work but is visiable. I plan to hang long curtains over most of my supplies in the prep room. I have drapes up over the entry space into it, but no doors. Luckily, I have a sewing machine and can sew a hem. I also make about 20 quilts a year, I complete about 20 that is and start another 10, plus continue to work on another 30 or so. It gets kind of wild. Some of my quilt stacks almost reach the ceiling. I am an artist in my heart, and my quilts show some of that.

Does anyone have any opinions about saving nickels? saving clad half dollars? If so, where would you suggest since they are so heavy.?

BTW, I took the poll. I have been on all the Govt web sites also. It was helpfu in the beginning, but not so much anymore. I also acquired two more good souls to prep for.

Thanks.