The Stronghold continues the 299 Days story with the development of the main town, some development of the lesser characters that are building their own extended households, and more information on the situation in the major cities without effective law enforcement.
We see the main town and some of the lesser characters' locations pull together for security in their respective locations. All of the security is done the same way, though: guard the front gate. There are a couple of other small ideas as well, that I'll leave to your discovery as you read through the books.
In The Stronghold we get another dodge of a big battle. We see some people from the main town go to the neighboring, larger town for supplies and get a good picture of how the author believes things will go in larger towns during a major, long-term breakdown.
Some of these lesser locations start to develop a bit more. We get more information on a functioning family farm with long term guests (the main character's co-workers from The Collapse). The main character's pre-collapse community falls lower as it is led by a semi-psychotic big government resident. A glimpse is presented into the state government workings from the view of a loyalty torn public information mouthpiece. A couple other locations are described along with the how those local economies function with and without government assistance.
The main town's community meetings continue and the main character continues to verbally spar with a man and his followers who disagree. It seems as if the author uses this antagonist as an outlet to explain some of the things he believes, forgoing the need for an all-knowing narrator talking to the reader. For the most part this works, with some awkward moments that don't seem like interactions real people would have.
The books, this one included, end in cliffhangers, reminiscent of the One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Oh, well. It doesn't hurt anything.
OK, now I wait for the next two books to be released.
The author's blog and the story homepage.
Showing posts with label SHTF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SHTF. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Book Review: 299 Days:The Community by Glen Tate
Our story picks up, of course, where it left off in the last book, The Collapse. The family and immediate community (hence the title) start to pull together.
The author takes us through his vision of some occurrences in the local area. The main group goes to "town" and split up to gather supplies, finding most things very expensive. Fuel, groceries, household goods, are twice the normal price or more and many of the local businesses are rationing sales. We see most people not taking the collapse seriously and not even thinking about stocking up on longer term items. Lines are starting to be drawn as the larger area town divides itself into areas racially.
In The Collapse we start to see some of the minor characters that lived or worked with the main character break off into multiple smaller side-stories of the main plot. Perhaps the author will bring them back together somehow later in the story, or maybe they will remain separate and will just be used to demonstrate how other areas around our main town suffer and/or thrive in different ways.
Still no "action" in the sense of gunfights. The author continues to feint at action like a man playing in traffic; he'll stand in the lane and jump away at the last moment before being hit by a car. (There's my poor literary analogy for today, but reading the first few books it will make sense)
The main character begins his journey as a leader in the small town near his new home. He and a permanent resident of that town start to form a leadership group and plan the safety of the area.
OK, enough for now. The story is still good. I'm still reading.
299days website
The author takes us through his vision of some occurrences in the local area. The main group goes to "town" and split up to gather supplies, finding most things very expensive. Fuel, groceries, household goods, are twice the normal price or more and many of the local businesses are rationing sales. We see most people not taking the collapse seriously and not even thinking about stocking up on longer term items. Lines are starting to be drawn as the larger area town divides itself into areas racially.
In The Collapse we start to see some of the minor characters that lived or worked with the main character break off into multiple smaller side-stories of the main plot. Perhaps the author will bring them back together somehow later in the story, or maybe they will remain separate and will just be used to demonstrate how other areas around our main town suffer and/or thrive in different ways.
Still no "action" in the sense of gunfights. The author continues to feint at action like a man playing in traffic; he'll stand in the lane and jump away at the last moment before being hit by a car. (There's my poor literary analogy for today, but reading the first few books it will make sense)
The main character begins his journey as a leader in the small town near his new home. He and a permanent resident of that town start to form a leadership group and plan the safety of the area.
OK, enough for now. The story is still good. I'm still reading.
299days website
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Hugelkultur (sorta) Beds
In the spring of 2011 I had been hearing about the "hugelkultur" stuff for a while from Jack Spirko and Paul Wheaton so I decided to give it a go. In the corner of my back yard I had a pile of wood that had been there for years and was now in various stages of decay, so I thought "Perfect!" I have what I need. What did I have to lose other than a pile of rotting wood that was probably attracting carpenter ants?
Before I go into what I have done (and I am by no means an expert, this is just one man's attempt at bettering his garden), here's a quick definition:
Hugelkultur: buried wood
That's it. You can click the link for a more thorough description and history, but "buried wood" is it. The premise being that when you bury the wood, it rots. As it rots away two things happen, one is the wood gets spongy and holds water, the other is that the wood itself becomes nutrients and organic matter on which the garden plants and soil critters live.
The moisture holding ability is an asset during drought. If it is done right, your plants can even survive hot, dry summers without the addition of manual watering. Mind you, the vegetables will do better and thrive when well watered, but they can survive without water addition if you need to go on vacation or are trying to set up a bug out location where you can't constantly tend to its needs.
OK, so here is what I have done and what little results I can attest to so far. I wish I could find the pictures, but as a result of my disorganized life, I can't come up with them. If I do I'll add them in later.
#1: Done up in the spring of 2011. Simple, I dug a deep, round hole (4' across, 2' deep) in the middle of my garden, piled in a bunch of wood from the top of the old wood pile, then put the dirt back on. The problem is that I have only been gardening in earnest for a few years and I don't have really good, deep soil yet. My ground is quite sandy, so digging down a couple feet resulted in a lot of sand that ended up thinning out the topsoil when I piled it back on. This, I believe, is what has resulted in poor performance. The first year (2011) was not good at all. The wood wasn't well rotted and the nutrients were scarce. The second year (2012) was better, but still not optimal. I have been piling on the organic matter trying to build the soil back up. I have higher hopes for this year.
#2: Second one done in spring of 2012. Thinking that the wood in the first bed was too deep, I dug a shallower bed (1' deep and 2'x3' rectangle) and made a higher pile above. I also added coconut coir to the dirt I piled back into the hole to help my sandy soil hold more moisture. The 2012 garden didn't see much in the way of results here, either. The wood was newer and I'm starting to get the impression that the first year or two aren't going to do well as the wood starts rotting and the nutrients and microbes return to a balance in the disturbed soil.
#3: My best hope yet done during last summer (2012). While cleaning that back corner of my yard I came to the bottom of the wood pile. Here lay the wood that was well on its way to being soil itself. For this bed I dug a deep hole again (2' or so deep) that was 5' by 6' square in shape. Trying to overcome the first year blues I mixed the well rotted wood with some newer stuff (trying to balance longevity with immediate useability). I also lasagna style layered this in with other things. So my bed was built with three layers, each consisting of these layers: mixed wood, a slop of kitchen scraps, leaves and grass clippings and dirt. My hope is that the kitchen scraps and leaves will add the immediate nutrients after having sat for 9 months, the dirt will add some structure, and the layers will help with the mix.
Well, folks, that's my attempt. I'll do up a report this fall on how well those beds worked this year. Here are a few resources I have used to gain what information I have:
a Paul Wheaton video on hugelkultur
TSP episodes (audio) with hugelkultur
richsoil.com page with lots of visuals and details
Some closing thoughts:
-I don't know how long these beds last. It seems to be a newer idea here so I have found only speculation on how long it's good before you have to "recharge" your beds with new wood.
-My wood is pretty much all pine. It should rot faster and be useable faster, but would also be depleted faster.
-Something I didn't do, as seems to be the recommendation, was plant some sort of cover crop immediately after building the bed. I let them sit and settle a bit. Future beds will be immediately planted with peas (for nitrogen fixing), as well as clover or buckwheat just to get some root paths started and the soil held together.
If the SHTF and you have to survive, having this stuff already established is a better idea than trying to survive on what I have gotten as first year results. Work out the bugs ahead of time. Be prepared for no commercial water, or no ability to pump water and still have your food source survive.
So now... WWYD?
Before I go into what I have done (and I am by no means an expert, this is just one man's attempt at bettering his garden), here's a quick definition:
Hugelkultur: buried wood
That's it. You can click the link for a more thorough description and history, but "buried wood" is it. The premise being that when you bury the wood, it rots. As it rots away two things happen, one is the wood gets spongy and holds water, the other is that the wood itself becomes nutrients and organic matter on which the garden plants and soil critters live.
The moisture holding ability is an asset during drought. If it is done right, your plants can even survive hot, dry summers without the addition of manual watering. Mind you, the vegetables will do better and thrive when well watered, but they can survive without water addition if you need to go on vacation or are trying to set up a bug out location where you can't constantly tend to its needs.
OK, so here is what I have done and what little results I can attest to so far. I wish I could find the pictures, but as a result of my disorganized life, I can't come up with them. If I do I'll add them in later.
#1: Done up in the spring of 2011. Simple, I dug a deep, round hole (4' across, 2' deep) in the middle of my garden, piled in a bunch of wood from the top of the old wood pile, then put the dirt back on. The problem is that I have only been gardening in earnest for a few years and I don't have really good, deep soil yet. My ground is quite sandy, so digging down a couple feet resulted in a lot of sand that ended up thinning out the topsoil when I piled it back on. This, I believe, is what has resulted in poor performance. The first year (2011) was not good at all. The wood wasn't well rotted and the nutrients were scarce. The second year (2012) was better, but still not optimal. I have been piling on the organic matter trying to build the soil back up. I have higher hopes for this year.
#2: Second one done in spring of 2012. Thinking that the wood in the first bed was too deep, I dug a shallower bed (1' deep and 2'x3' rectangle) and made a higher pile above. I also added coconut coir to the dirt I piled back into the hole to help my sandy soil hold more moisture. The 2012 garden didn't see much in the way of results here, either. The wood was newer and I'm starting to get the impression that the first year or two aren't going to do well as the wood starts rotting and the nutrients and microbes return to a balance in the disturbed soil.
#3: My best hope yet done during last summer (2012). While cleaning that back corner of my yard I came to the bottom of the wood pile. Here lay the wood that was well on its way to being soil itself. For this bed I dug a deep hole again (2' or so deep) that was 5' by 6' square in shape. Trying to overcome the first year blues I mixed the well rotted wood with some newer stuff (trying to balance longevity with immediate useability). I also lasagna style layered this in with other things. So my bed was built with three layers, each consisting of these layers: mixed wood, a slop of kitchen scraps, leaves and grass clippings and dirt. My hope is that the kitchen scraps and leaves will add the immediate nutrients after having sat for 9 months, the dirt will add some structure, and the layers will help with the mix.
Well, folks, that's my attempt. I'll do up a report this fall on how well those beds worked this year. Here are a few resources I have used to gain what information I have:
a Paul Wheaton video on hugelkultur
TSP episodes (audio) with hugelkultur
richsoil.com page with lots of visuals and details
Some closing thoughts:
-I don't know how long these beds last. It seems to be a newer idea here so I have found only speculation on how long it's good before you have to "recharge" your beds with new wood.
-My wood is pretty much all pine. It should rot faster and be useable faster, but would also be depleted faster.
-Something I didn't do, as seems to be the recommendation, was plant some sort of cover crop immediately after building the bed. I let them sit and settle a bit. Future beds will be immediately planted with peas (for nitrogen fixing), as well as clover or buckwheat just to get some root paths started and the soil held together.
If the SHTF and you have to survive, having this stuff already established is a better idea than trying to survive on what I have gotten as first year results. Work out the bugs ahead of time. Be prepared for no commercial water, or no ability to pump water and still have your food source survive.
So now... WWYD?
Thursday, April 19, 2012
What to do with Neighbors?
Today's post is about neighbors. It poses the question of what to do with your neighbors in a SHTF scenario. Each of us will have different answers based upon our individual situation.
If there was a disaster of some sort that left the area isolated from help for any time, or even if the occurrence made it appear as if you would be isolated, what is going to happen to your neighbors? I'll assume you have a plan (or at least an idea) of what you would do if something bad happened, but does your plan incorporate the nearby residents? Even if you have no inclination to help them, you can't discount their effect on your plans.
There are several types of neighbors you have right now. There are, of course, many more, but these are good for our illustration. Here are some personalities:
1. Problem children (police are often there, frequent unfriendly behavior)
2. Needy (elderly living alone, disabled, single mom with kid(s))
3. "Normal" family (mom, dad, kids)
4. Unknown (secretive, quiet, new, just don't know them)
Problem children should never be underestimated. Are they drug users likely to explode if they go any extended period of time without their fix? Maybe they are just obnoxious blowhards that aren't really a threat. Do undesirable individuals come and go constantly; maybe there are a few extras at the location when the SHTF event occurs adding to your woes.
Needy neighbors are just that, in need of extra help. They may be very nice, but how long will they last if their routine is interrupted? Maybe it's a mom with kids that are just old enough to stay at home alone for a couple hours. Was mom there when SHTF? Are the kids home alone? Do you have an elderly or disabled neighbor that relies on electricity for medical needs (oxygen, battery charger for devices). Do you have any plans to help them out without request or if they knock on your door? Do you turn away your neighbor that might die without electricity when your generator is running and powering your house?
Do your "normal" neighbors have any plans or abilities to survive on their own? Do they have anything stored up, or will they become "problem children" when dad realizes this is for real and he can't feed his kids.
Take a moment to evaluate the neighbors you know nothing about. If at all possible, try to contact them now, just to say "hi" and have a conversation or invite them to a BBQ this summer. Removing as much of the unknown factors as possible before there is a problem will help you a lot when making your plans.
What other types of neighbors to you have and how will they react if they are isolated from their electricity, daily grocery store trips, or any other outside world contacts? You won't always be right in your assumptions, but if you have thought of this before hand, you will at least have some sort of plan to give them food, access to power via your generator, or something more drastic if the need arises.
So... WWYD with your neighbors in a SHTF scenario?
If there was a disaster of some sort that left the area isolated from help for any time, or even if the occurrence made it appear as if you would be isolated, what is going to happen to your neighbors? I'll assume you have a plan (or at least an idea) of what you would do if something bad happened, but does your plan incorporate the nearby residents? Even if you have no inclination to help them, you can't discount their effect on your plans.
There are several types of neighbors you have right now. There are, of course, many more, but these are good for our illustration. Here are some personalities:
1. Problem children (police are often there, frequent unfriendly behavior)
2. Needy (elderly living alone, disabled, single mom with kid(s))
3. "Normal" family (mom, dad, kids)
4. Unknown (secretive, quiet, new, just don't know them)
Problem children should never be underestimated. Are they drug users likely to explode if they go any extended period of time without their fix? Maybe they are just obnoxious blowhards that aren't really a threat. Do undesirable individuals come and go constantly; maybe there are a few extras at the location when the SHTF event occurs adding to your woes.
Needy neighbors are just that, in need of extra help. They may be very nice, but how long will they last if their routine is interrupted? Maybe it's a mom with kids that are just old enough to stay at home alone for a couple hours. Was mom there when SHTF? Are the kids home alone? Do you have an elderly or disabled neighbor that relies on electricity for medical needs (oxygen, battery charger for devices). Do you have any plans to help them out without request or if they knock on your door? Do you turn away your neighbor that might die without electricity when your generator is running and powering your house?
Do your "normal" neighbors have any plans or abilities to survive on their own? Do they have anything stored up, or will they become "problem children" when dad realizes this is for real and he can't feed his kids.
Take a moment to evaluate the neighbors you know nothing about. If at all possible, try to contact them now, just to say "hi" and have a conversation or invite them to a BBQ this summer. Removing as much of the unknown factors as possible before there is a problem will help you a lot when making your plans.
What other types of neighbors to you have and how will they react if they are isolated from their electricity, daily grocery store trips, or any other outside world contacts? You won't always be right in your assumptions, but if you have thought of this before hand, you will at least have some sort of plan to give them food, access to power via your generator, or something more drastic if the need arises.
So... WWYD with your neighbors in a SHTF scenario?
Thursday, March 29, 2012
EMP Strike. What Would You Do?
Electromagnetic Pulse
Hi folks. Here's the scenario:
An EMP has rendered all non-shielded electronics useless. Cars. Radios. Cellphones. You name it...it's toast.
You live 30 miles from where you work.
What Would You Do?
That issue has been bothering me lately. I read the .pdf e-book 'Lights Out' by HalfFast and it got me thinking. What do I do if we have an EMP strike here? I live 30 miles from where I work. I work in the city and live in the country. That's a long walk. Granted, I could do. It would take me two days most likely. Sadly it's mostly uphill. I would have blisters and a sore back--but I can do it.
I would choose not to stay at work. I like my coworkers--but I don't want to stay and take care of them in a SHTF situation. I'm not being mean...I'm being realistic. My main focus is to take care of my family and my close friends who I consider family. I also think looting would begin pretty rapidly after a major power outage. The sooner I'm out of the area the better.
I have a Bug Out Bag under my desk at work. Nothing fancy. A change of clothes, a few granola bars, extra socks, tennis shoes and a hat. I obviously need to beef it up with more stuff. Here's what I'm thinking of adding:
Hi folks. Here's the scenario:
An EMP has rendered all non-shielded electronics useless. Cars. Radios. Cellphones. You name it...it's toast.
You live 30 miles from where you work.
What Would You Do?
- How do you get home?
- Do you stay at work?
- What do you eat?
- What do you drink?
- What do you wear?
- What if it is below freezing?
- What if it is over 100-degrees Fahrenheit?
- How do you protect yourself?
- How do you navigate?
- What if major roads are closed? Do you know alternate routes to get home?
- What about family?
- How do you meet up with them? Do you have a plan?
- What about friends?
- Do you have like-minded friends who you can join up with? There is safety in numbers.
That issue has been bothering me lately. I read the .pdf e-book 'Lights Out' by HalfFast and it got me thinking. What do I do if we have an EMP strike here? I live 30 miles from where I work. I work in the city and live in the country. That's a long walk. Granted, I could do. It would take me two days most likely. Sadly it's mostly uphill. I would have blisters and a sore back--but I can do it.
I would choose not to stay at work. I like my coworkers--but I don't want to stay and take care of them in a SHTF situation. I'm not being mean...I'm being realistic. My main focus is to take care of my family and my close friends who I consider family. I also think looting would begin pretty rapidly after a major power outage. The sooner I'm out of the area the better.
I have a Bug Out Bag under my desk at work. Nothing fancy. A change of clothes, a few granola bars, extra socks, tennis shoes and a hat. I obviously need to beef it up with more stuff. Here's what I'm thinking of adding:
- A poncho
- Paracord (With the poncho I could make a simple shelter to get out of the elements if I needed to stop and rest.)
- Water purification of some sort (Most likely Micropur tabs. I'm lucky enough to live near lots of rivers and streams.)
- ASP tactical baton
- A tritium compass
- Coast Guard rations
- Fixed blade knife
- First aid supplies (bandaids, tylenol, VetWrap, sunscreen, etc.)
My buddies and I have been talking about keeping an old bicycle at work to help us get home faster. I could keep one in the basement of the building I work in locked up in the corner. I would need an air pump and some patches just in case. The thing I was worried about is what happens when people try to take my bike on my way home? Do I fight? Do I surrender the bike and proceed on foot? Depends on how many of them there are I guess.
Hopefully I've got you thinking what you would do if you were presented with this situation. I'd love to hear what you think.
Thanks for reading,
NinjaClerk
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