really old style living?

mardatha

RAS, I know you picture me as a huge loud bullying witch. I can just feel the vibes ! I'm not, though !

NualaBuala

mardatha wrote: »

:eek: Oh my god neither am I !

You could invite your son and his friends around and ask him to bring the Kelly Kettle. With the branch on standby of course.

EstherH

Thanks for the recipe Zara, I'm thinking I may try it but add oats instead of breadcrumbs because of yeast intolerance, tho I do have bread from time to time when I really want some, but I know about it pretty quickly if I have too much. I am getting more used to adapting things thanks to all I keep learning on os and think oats might work as it's all blitzed up. Somebody please tell me if this is a bad idea.

ThriftyFelicity

RAS wrote: »

A couple of links to basic hobo stoves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfY269_Zcpg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCdOFlBzNbY&feature=related

You may want to turn the music on the second one down first.

waaaay cool... especially the first one.

This is the same idea, but bigger & fixed rather than portable:

Rocket stove

And speaking of cooking without gas or electric... some chimeneas come supplied with a grill for cooking.

RAS wrote: »

Anyone got a storm kettle?

Yep, LOVE it!

Kiwisaver_2

Thank you ladies for the lovely read, I've laughed my way through all fifty something pages whilst seriously seeking some inspiration and ideas to better prepare myself for impending doom or disasters. This past two weeks have made me seriously rethink my somewhat half-hearted attempts at preparation for the times (frequent) when we have no water or power. We live with what seems to be at times a very 'fragile' infrastructure and extremes of weather that quite regularly take out the power supply.

Although this didn't directly affect us, just two weeks ago we had a massive earthquake here in New Zealand that took down many buildings and seriously damaged people's property, businesses and homes, it took out the power and water supplies to many thousands of people for several days. The water supply was seriously compromised by broken sewerage systems and subsequently contaminated nearby waterways. So those challenge scenarios really do happen and I look forward to exploring more of those, even if I don't actually do them, they make you think what if the worst did happen. Seeing day in and day out reports and listening to real people's stories and has however been the HUGEST wake-up call for me and I know I really need to do a lot more to prepare us for any such future events.

This past two days we've been surrounded by what is being termed as the 'biggest storm on the planet': a weather front the size of Australia overhead and we're still in the midst of lashing rain and very strong squally winds. Again today many more homes without power, roofs blown off, trees down, roads closed and the advise is to stay home unless absolutely necessary. We're fine just a tree blown over so far but it worries me no end.

From witnessing the scenes here over the past two weeks, where some people have lost their homes, livelihoods, jobs, kids schools all in one foul swoop; the things that scream out at me the most are the need for water, First Aid and cash.

Just imagine not being able to flush the loo for a week! I think most of us can cope for a few hours with no water or power for a short time, but to have both out at the same time with no idea when normality will be resumed must be the worst thing ever and we rely on them being there at the flick of a switch, or the turn of the tap.

I am presently working on the first aid and medicines and will start to build a little stockpile of kit, painkillers, antiseptics etc so that we can at least treat ourselves or indeed assist others for minor injuries or pain.

I mentioned on another thread about the need for cash, so sorry if I'm repeating myself, but gosh it never really dawned on me that should the 'electronic' world as we know it end today most of us would be royally shafted with no means to buy anything, even if it were available. I think most times I would even struggle to find the bus fare to town.

mardatha

I only deal in cash, I cant be assed with cards and PINs and faffing about with cash machines... I need to ask/find out about toileting though when the systems are down. I think the shed with a good sized bucket of compost or something would be best... :eek:

parsonswife8

I've asked DH to buy a medium sized chimenea with a swing out grill for the garden.
He said..........YES!!!!!:j:j:j
Handy if there is a power failure, we could boil some water in a pot on the grill and cook a bit of food too. Also nice for cool evenings, when you feel like sitting out in the garden.

seasalt_2

Loved the stove vids - altho I have to watch them in 2 sec bursts as always take so long to load on my ancient laptop - very inspiring and want to rush out and make one but must do some clearing and tidying in the garden as it's first decent day for ages. We do after all already have two indoor stoves and the lorry wheel contraption for outdoors - I fancy having a go at the small portable hobo stove or tin can rocket stove though - I guess the trick with the hobo stove is to find a tin that just fits your billycan - beautifully made and so neat that one slotted into the other for carrying. Thanks RAS and Thrifty Felicity.

Have always liked this kind of bushcraft/resourcefulness although, like Nualabuala, I can't quite get my head round end of the world as we know it scenarios. Anyone read Cormac McArthy's "The Road"? Or remember an early70s(?) TV series called "Survivors"? Utterly terrifying. There are some bridges I do not want to cross until I get to them (although I can see having a rope when you get there would be handy!). Extreme weather/emergency evacuation/food & fuel shortages are easier for me to imagine and the suggestion to have a cash stash of some kind is one I hadn't thought of - have only got an overdraft in the bank anyway!

mardatha

"Survivors" got me into this stuff. I never forgot it all the years since it came out. And other sci-fi stuff like the Day of the Triffids and Quatermass. I dont ever see it happening either, but its nice to have a plan just in case it does

carriebradshaw

mardatha wrote: »

"Survivors" got me into this stuff. I never forgot it all the years since it came out. And other sci-fi stuff like the Day of the Triffids and Quatermass. I dont ever see it happening either, but its nice to have a plan just in case it does

I wish they'd repeat the old series of Survivors it was brilliant, the new one was just rubbish