Eating vegetables can be an ordeal for some people, especially kids whose stomachs are keen on sugar and sweets, not vitamins and fibers. As a parent or a host to an event, you could stress yourself a lot about making a dish that hides well enough the vegetables or disguises them in a way that will make friends or family eat and enjoy them.
See more at: http://www.goodshomedesign.com/10-creative-christmas-veggie-trays/
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A modern movement toward self-reliance has inspired people to unplug from society and to live more simply, removed from the trappings of modern life. But how off-grid are they really? How long could they last completely isolated? Time itself can reveal any weakness or flaw in a person’s self-reliance.
There is a tale from the other side of the world that illustrates the concept of true off-grid living. It includes all of the important concepts for a true off-grid experience: wilderness, isolation, material scarcity, wild abundance and time.
No Hollywood movie would have to change a thing in the story of a remote family – the Lykovs — who cut the bonds of society and lived truly off the grid.
The story of the Lykov family begins in post-Bolshevik revolution Russia. As many studious historians are aware, Vladimir Lenin and his bloody band of Bolsheviks took command of Russia in November of 1917. Looking to fulfill the “dream” of a communist state, the Bolsheviks implemented all aspects of a planned government in what became known as the Soviet Union. One aspect of communism the Bolsheviks energetically pursued was the spreading of their atheist beliefs across the new nation. Religions of all kinds were harassed and persecuted, and religious practitioners were even murdered.
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It was in this setting a young man named Karp Lykov found himself. Karp was a member of the Old-Believers, a sect of Christianity that had been popular in Russia. Although Christians had a history of oppression in Russia, Karp had never experienced anything like Lenin’s reign of terror. One day while Karp was working on a government-controlled farm, a member of the new state’s armed police force executed his brother in front of his eyes. It was then that Karp committed himself to flee the oppressive government, at all costs.
Leaving would not be easy. For one thing, Karp had a young wife and two children under the age of ten. For another, the Lykovs would face serious punishment for an attempted escape if captured by authorities. Finally, the area Karp would take his family, the Taiga, was some of the wildest land in the world. As one of the largest forests in the world, the Taiga had been known to swallow up people whole. It was the type of place you sent someone you wanted to get rid of. This immense forest was home to numerous creatures, but the main opponent of the Lykovs would be something less foreboding: cold. For nine full months a year, much of the Taiga is at risk of frost. It would challenge them in their attempt to raise crops from year to year.
With the deck stacked against them, Karp and his young family dove headlong into their escape in 1936, fleeing to the forest to save their lives and religious beliefs. They were loaded down with what little they could carry: the clothes on their back, a handful of pots and pans, seeds for crops, a family Bible, and, strangely enough, the components of a spinning loom. Over time the family would build several shelters, each time pulling up roots and moving deeper into the reclusive wilderness. Eventually, they made their home in a remote mountaintop more than 150 miles from the nearest settlement.
As the family retreated ever deeper into the Taiga, they added more children to the mix. Soon, there would be two more Lykov kids — two who would not know the outside world until well into their lives. More children meant more mouths to feed, a problem constantly present.
The Lykovs survived mainly on the crops they raised which included rye, potatoes and seeds of hemp. The area proved to be a difficult place for cultivation, and one year the family lost all of their crops to a June frost. They then turned to the forest for their food. With an abundance of berries and nuts to gather, they were able to eat well during the summer and fall months, but as winter clenched the isolated family in its icy grip, things got bad — very bad.
Before the end of one particularly bad winter, the family was reduced to eating leather and bark to survive. This was the year Karp’s wife, Akulina, would choose to see her children fed rather than herself, and would die of starvation.
Of course, the Taiga did offer up countless varieties of creatures the Lykovs would have been able to eat. Reindeer, moose, beavers and a plethora of smaller creatures appeared to be ripe for the taking. But when they fled to the Taiga, the family had failed to take any sort of weapon with them. Not only had they not taken anything with them, but they also had never built weapons, such as a bow and arrow. Although the family did eat meat occasionally, their means of obtaining it were rather crude.
For most of their time living in isolation, the family would get meat by setting primitive traps — mainly pitfalls. Once their son Dmitry, who was born in the forest, reached maturity, he actually practiced an ancient hunting strategy called persistence hunting. When hunting, Dmitry would chase animals in the forest until they simply collapsed from exhaustion. Although not easy, this method has been proven to be a realistic way to obtain meat. However, meat would always be considered a luxury at the Lykov residence. In reality, their diet was a monotonous repetition of the same dishes.
Life continued much the same for the Lykov family each year they lived in isolation. They would do their best to store up food in the summer months, reach a point of near starvation in late winter, and, if they were lucky, they would repeat the process the next year. The family claimed to hold a meeting each year and vote to either eat up all the seed, or leave some for planting. In addition to their farming, the family would do their best to support their collapsing cabin, repair their tattered clothing with forest material, and try to find a way to replace their slowly deteriorating metal cookware.
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Then, one day, life would forever change for the Lykov family. In 1978, a group of geologists employed by an oil company were scouting new lands by helicopter. As the group flew close over the treetops, they were astonished when they saw a settlement high on the mountainside. With no place to land the chopper, the team retreated back to the nearest town and prepared for an overland expedition. After days of walking through the thick brush, the team of geologists eventually relocated the site. They stumbled upon the Lykov family home and were greeted by the surprised Karp with a gruff: “Well, since you have come this far you might as well come in.” It had been 42 years since the family had fled into the forest.
Over the course of time, the geologists would come to learn the story of this isolated family. The two youngest family members, Dmitry and Agafia, would for the first time in their lives meet someone other than a family member. The Lykovs would hear of the world events they had missed, including World War II. Eventually, the Lykovs would learn of the technological advancements that had been made over the past four decades. As the family began their reconnection with the outside world, they struggled to incorporate new innovations into their strict religious beliefs. Many times they would marvel from a distance but not allow themselves the opportunity to partake fully in the conveniences.
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Today, all but the youngest family member, Agafia, have passed on. Well into her 70s, Agafia continues to live in her forest home. She has sporadic contact with the modern world and even ventures to town now and again. She prefers the clear water and clean air of the mountains, and spends much of her time as she was raised.
The story of the Lykov family is an amazing off-grid tale. Completely dependent only upon themselves, the family could not have been further from modernity. Their life was a mix of extreme hardship, self-reliance, and the freedom such a life affords. For someone looking to move off grid, it offers multiple lessons, and it can teach us much about living in isolation. Like so many people of the past, the Lykovs were able to pass the real test of self-reliance: the test of time.
What is your reaction to this story? Could you do what they did? Share it in the section below:
Bibliography
Chacko, R. (2014, October 4). Top 10 Largest Forests in the World. Retrieved May 31, 2016, from List Dose: http://listdose.com/top-10-largest-forests-in-the-world/
Dash, M. (2013, January 28). For 40 Years, This Russian Family Was Cut Off From All Human Contact, Unaware of World War II . Retrieved May 31, 2016, from Smithsonianmag.com: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/for-40-years-this-russian-family-was-cut-off-from-all-human-contact-unaware-of-world-war-ii-7354256/?no-ist
Eniscuola. (2016, May 31). Taiga biome. Retrieved May 31, 2016, from Eniscuola: http://www.eniscuola.net/en/argomento/taiga/taiga-biome/animals-of-the-taiga/
Fraizer, M. (2016, May 31). Good News, Endurance Runners; One Scientists Says We’re Not All Nuts. Retrieved May 31, 2016, from No Meat Athlete: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/lieberman-persistence-hunting/
History Channel. (2016, May 31). Russian Revolution. Retrieved May 31, 2016, from History Channel: http://www.history.com/topics/russian-revolution
Learn How To ‘Live Off The Land’ With Just Your Gun. Read More Here.
This article first appeared on offthegridnews.comSee it here
Insects in the garden can become very destructive if they are not dealt with properly, and can settle into a plot and be very hard to remove later. It is important to figure out what pest is attacking your garden, and from that, you can create a spray to help remove them. Growing your own vegetables and fruits, it is important to know what you are spraying, so here are some recipes for some DIY insect repellents that can be safely used in the garden. Most of these recipes are made from basic supplies that are around the house and can be made in any size batch. All you need is a spray bottle and a few ingredients to get the pests out of your garden and away from your fruits and vegetables.
This recipe uses chili peppers, onions, water, and requires the mixture to sit to absorb the oil from the vegetables. Once the mixture is cooled, strain off the chunks, and place in a spray bottle. It is a great way to keep your garden pest-free for the whole season using organic and safe ingredients.
Link: http://www.thegardengurus.tv/tv/factsheets/sheet.php?id=1873&state=au&hit=1
Using dish soap and vegetable oil, this recipe is good for vegetables and flowers. It does not have as strong a smell as the chili and onion recipe but does work great on any garden plants. Make sure your dish soap is bleach free so your do not burn your plants, and the oil helps to ensure that the solution sticks to the leaves and provides a good barrier from pests.
Link: http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-make-homemade-insecticidal-soap-for-plants/
This simple recipe of water and dish soap is a milder solution that is great for more sensitive plants. It is important to choose a soap that is bleach free, because a strong detergent can cause damage to your plants, especially to lettuce and other leafy plants that are generally more delicate. This spray is great for tender indoor plants too.
Link: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/ratio-water-dawn-liquid-detergent-making-insect-repellent-82232.html
While this recipe sounds a bit weird, it works against most pests in the garden. It is great for whiteflies, aphids, and other small pests that suck nutrients from the plant’s new growth. The idea is that the nicotine from the cigarette butts is absorbed by the leaves and then is consumed by the bugs and kills them off.
Link: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/use-tobacco-juice-control-pest-garden-42841.html
While you might think that oranges would attract pests to your garden, this recipe, containing only water and orange peels actually is a great spray to keep ants away from your garden.
Link: http://www.gardenguides.com/93597-use-orange-peels-kill-ants.html
While this is an old recipe, it is still a good one. The chemical in chrysanthemum flowers, called Pyrethrum, is extracted by boiling chrysanthemum heads in water and then straining off the liquid to be sprayed on plants once it has cooled.
Link: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Pyrethrum-Garden-Spray
Extracted from the neem tree, a member of the mahogany family, neem oil and castile soap mixed with water can create a great spray that is effective against both bugs and fungus.
Link: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2014/09/neem-oil-garden-spray-uses-neem.html
The post 7 DIY Insect Sprays For Your Garden appeared first on Homestead & Prepper.
Canning is a great way to save your garden produce. It’s made to be shelf stable, so you can store it on the pantry shelf, saving you plenty of freezer or fridge space.
There are lots of jars to be found at thrift stores, yard sales and more to get you started. There are jars from spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and even mayo that are just waiting to be filled with garden goodness. But, is the practice of reusing glass bottles safe to use for canning? Can you reuse store bought jars for canning? That depends on which camp you are in. Some say “absolutely not”, and some say “sure, why not, reusing jars is completely safe.”
According to the National Center For Home Canning,
Most commercial pint- and quart-size mayonnaise or salad dressing jars may be used with new two-piece lids for canning acid foods. However, you should expect more seal failures and jar breakage. (emphasis mine) These jars have a narrower sealing surface and are tempered less than Mason jars, and may be weakened by repeated contact with metal spoons or knives used in dispensing mayonnaise or salad dressing. Seemingly insignificant scratches in glass may cause cracking and breakage while processing jars in a canner. Mayonnaise-type jars are not recommended for use with foods to be processed in a pressure canner because of excessive jar breakage. Other commercial jars with mouths that cannot be sealed with two-piece canning lids are not recommended for use in canning any food at home.
So, you CAN reuse some spaghetti sauce jars, some mayo jars or peanut butter jars with little issue. Best practice is to make sure they are very clean and sterilized. The lid and band will need to fit snugly on the top of the jar as well. If you notice any cracks, toss the jar and do not reuse. Small cracks can cause the jar to become weaker and break. They just are not suitable for pressure canning. During World War Two, the USDA actually encouraged people to reuse jars from store bought products (spaghetti sauce, mayo etc) to home can garden produce with. This was due to the wartime shortage of glass. This was a common practice for many households for years.
Are there times when the recycled mayo, spaghetti sauce, or peanut butter jars are NOT safe? Sure. The quart sized mayo jars that many say “My Grandma reused these with no problems” are not designed to withstand the heating and reheating that comes with home canning food safely. They also have a more narrow sealing surface, and the lid may not properly seal out air, bacteria and such. An improper seal will cause loss of food, and possible bacteria build up that you DON’T want.
The advice for reusing store bought jars is actually no longer USDA recommended for home canning, and Nancy Hudson, a former extension agent in Greene County, Ohio, explained the reason for the recommendation as far back as 1986:
As of 1987, USDA will be recommending the use of one way jars such as instant coffee or mayonnaise jars to be used in a hot water bath canner only if the family has no other alternative However, these jars will not seal with the zinc lids and rubber rings…. With one way jars, the glass is thinner and will take a heat shock of only 75 F degrees. If the jar is at room temperature (70 F degrees) and the food is at 145 F degrees, you will have no breakage. However, with a one way jar at room temperature and the food at 190 F degrees, the jar will break.”
According to Clemson University
Never use commercial jars such as mayonnaise and pickle jars for home canning. These jars are not very resistant to temperature extremes; they break easily. Also, lids may not seal on these jars because their sealing edge is rounded rather than flat. Finally, the neck of the jar may be so short that the screw band will not hold the lid firmly in place during processing.
What does this mean? Do you need to throw away all your old jars that are from store bought products? I have a bunch of old mayo style quart jars that my home canned peaches look simply lovely in. Many people like to reuse glass jars for canning simply for lifestyle choices. Some are doing it because of limited funds to purchase the “real” canning jars. As always, you are free to make your own choice here. When in doubt about the jar, err on the side of caution and safety. Reusing glass jars for food storage such as oats, rice, dried beans may be a much better idea for some.
If you choose to reuse jars from store bought products, and wonder if it’s really safe, just remember:
Do you reuse your store bought glass jars for canning or do you avoid them completely? Be sure to pin this for later!
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The off-grid life is never easy, but when you’re in the middle of the Alaskan bush – without a road – it can be particularly challenging.
But that’s the life of homesteader Bryan Emerson, and on this week’s edition of Off The Grid Radio he tells us how he makes it work – including how he gets cell service.
Bryan and his wife were guests on Off The Grid Radio in September, when they explained why they chose such a remote location that is a 20 minute flight to the nearest road.
On this week’s show, he tells us:
We learned a lot about off-grid living by talking to Bryan, and we know you will, too!
This article first appeared on offthegridnews.comSee it here
Tiny houses are great and you can find a lot of inspiration on the Internet when it comes to switching to a small house.
There are lots of specialized websites which offer consultations in choosing the best tiny house, but have you ever thought about finding your next home on Amazon?
Yes, Amazon has a lot to offer, including tiny houses and this next links features a selection of the best ideas you can find to make the search easier for you.
The kits you are going to find on the retail website are mostly prefabricated modular homes, but they sure look very nice and cozy.
For instance, the Arlanda Garden House is a 180-square-foot garden house with a modern design and the home costs only $6,995 with shipping included. Head to the link below for more great ideas and visit
Amazon if you would like to order your own tiny home.
Allwood Bella is a popular cottage styled kit cabin made from high quality Nordic wood. Functional floor plan ofg 324 Sqf makes Bella ideal to be used as and elegant lake house, guest house, beach or garden cottage or even a stand-alone retail building.
This is available HERE…
This is available HERE…
This is available HERE…
This is available HERE…
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