February 8, 2010 | Posted by Clair Schwan
I like to be prepared. The alternative is being unprepared – not a good idea at all. It just doesn’t feel right to me. Preparation means we’re ready for eventualities and many emergencies at home and on the road.
One of the things you can do to be prepared is to carry a form of traction in the trunk of your car. Here are some ideas:
- full tire chains or cables, or the strap-on variety (one pair per drive tire)
- lengths of 2 by 6 lumber
- liquid chlorine bleach and old rags
- sand
- pieces of carpet or rubber doormats
The liquid chlorine bleach and sand are only useful for getting traction on ice. All other items can be used when you find yourself getting stuck in the sand, mud or snow.
Lighter and less bulky is better, especially if you’re going to carry it around all the time. Scrap material will be cheaper so you won’t care if it is destroyed by mud and spinning tires. Flat material will store conveniently and not get in the way.
If you drive in loose material or in foul weather, you might consider one or more of the items listed above as standard equipment in your car. Be prepared, or pay the price in terms of inconvenience and perhaps a towing fee.
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Clair Schwan was never a boy scout, but he believes that “be prepared” is a great motto. Carrying a bit of traction in your trunk can help you get out of an unanticipated jam. It’s better to have it and never need it than to need it and not have it.
Categories: emergency preparedness | 
Tags: be prepared, driving, emergency preparedness, self reliance | 
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February 8, 2010 | Posted by DDFD
Defensive Entrepreneurship is starting a business or businesses as a hedge against job loss or other financial setback. In the current economic environment, many people would be well served by defensive entrepreneurial activities. Unfortunately, to reap the benefits or help, they needed to start these businesses a year or two ago.
These “spare time” ventures are usually conducted at night (“moonlighting”) or on weekends. They are sideline businesses that provide extra cash in good times that supplements your full time gig. However, they can provide stop gap help in tight spots in the event of a job loss. This happened to me a few years ago– I had a sideline business that I did full time as I looked for a new job after a layoff.
I have run sideline businesses for years– mostly part time, sometimes full time. I have had several consulting businesses, and education and training business, and a contracting business to name just a few. I am also looking for sideline businesses that spin off passive income and create income producing assets.
What type of business? That’s up to you. You might have:
- A skill that you can develop or exploit (maybe you are a talented carpenter).
- A talent that can be marketed (music instruction or photography).
- A sideline franchise business (I once worked with a guy who had a Mister Softee ice cream truck).
- A project oriented gig (seasonal contracting).
- A consulting business (I have done part time consulting work for small businesses).
Defensive Entrepreneurship is not a term I coined, but rather one that I embraced a long time ago.
I have read the Wall Street Journal for over 25 years, and in the early 1990’s I read an article that I really identified with. It was about people who were employees at companies and were also side line entrepreneurs– moonlighters if you will. The article went on to describe these “Defensive Entrepreneurs” and I never forgot it– it described me. I am looking for the original article and will share it when I find it.
On my site, I present, suggest, discuss, and share dozens of ideas for defensive entrepreneurs. For example, I have met a state road department employee who had an upholstery business run in the evening and on weekends. Most computer and IT professionals I have met, ran sideline consulting businesses. There are more people acting as defensive entrepreneurs than you might imagine.
Once you get defensive entrepreneurship down, you may want to try Multipreneuring (I will expand on this in an upcoming post) . . . Think several businesses– not everything succeeds.
One final thought (Warning): Avoid any conflicts of interest with your employer, you may need permission. My view is to keep quiet and a low profile.
This post originally appeared on Defensive Entrepreneurship, here is the link to the original post, What is Defensive Entrepreneurship?
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DDFD believes that self reliance and self sufficiency are the roads to individual freedom. He is dedicated to living a quality life through Frugality, personal growth, development, and productivity, and Defensive Entrepreneurship. On weekends, he can be found in front of the BBQ grill.
Categories: self improvement | Tags: defensive entrepreneurship, self employment, self reliance, self sufficiency | No Comments »
February 7, 2010 | Posted by Clair Schwan
Some car driving tips are designed to help you save gas. Others are intended to help you save yourself some trouble. This one does both.
If you often find yourself making sudden stops or swerving to avoid things, you might want to consider just how far out in front of your bumper you drive. The farther the better as it allows you to anticipate dangerous conditions, changes in traffic flow, and other things that are better known well in advance.
From the perspective of saving gas, it’s best to know when to adjust your speed or coast into a situation so you can conserve fuel that otherwise would be wasted by getting you quickly to the point where you need to apply the brakes anyway. Coasting is a fine way to conserve energy and save wear and tear on the brakes and tires.
More importantly, being able to anticipate trouble can help you save on vehicle damage and personal injury. It could also help you save your life and the lives of those riding with you. Here are some of the things that are important to monitor well ahead of your front bumper:
- road conditions like ice and flooding
- traffic entering the roadway
- animals and pedestrians in or about to enter traffic
- cross traffic
- changes in traffic speed and direction of travel
- roadway advisories
Driving well ahead of your front bumper relates to both speed and distance. The faster you’re traveling, the more important it is to be looking farther ahead because you’ll need more response time. You either give yourself more time to respond by looking farther ahead, or you force yourself to react suddenly instead.
Look for more car driving tips to help you with safe driving. It’s a good way to save money, aggravation, time and your health.
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Clair Schwan is a big believer in conservative driving. It’s a great way to save fuel, and wear and tear on the vehicle and driver. See his car driving tips over at Frugal Living Freedom where the motto is, “…living well, and well within your means…”
Categories: driving | Tags: car driving tips, driving, safe driving, self reliance | No Comments »
February 7, 2010 | Posted by Mark Z
Our coyote visitor, taken from the dining table window.
A recent daylight visit to our homestead by a local coyote had us somewhat concerned. We don’t foresee any danger from her, but it’s unwise to become complacent about any wild animal, particularly a highly adaptable predator. Plus, we’ve tracked coyotes following our resident vole eaters, weasels (ermines) and minks.
A few days later, Michelle learned from an Eliot Coleman book that coyotes are voracious vole eaters. According to Coleman, even a splash of coyote urine will discourage voles from exploring an area. This put an entirely different perspective on the recent encounter, during which we had not been pleased to watch our visitor squat in the garden. Apparently, we should be welcoming that sort of behavior after all!
We have labored hard against the local voles ever since we first came to the homestead. They’d moved into the cabin when it was unoccupied, which led to some interesting moments, notably the day Michelle made a perfect kill shot with my blowgun on a vole she could hear but not see in the pilot bread bag on the top shelf, and the morning a litter of volelettes somehow got dispersed throughout the cabin before they even had their eyes open. The cats hardly knew what to think of that.
Each summer we trap voles in the garden, or take pot shots with blowguns. We throw chunks of wood, rocks or any other missile close at hand, and roust them out of the compost bins regularly. The minks, weasels, and birds of prey—owls, hawks, and harriers—do their part. We have periods when there are no voles at all. And yet, each year we lose a good deal of our strawberries, broccoli, and cauliflower to them. They’ve recently breached the root cellar. If a coyote will visit now and then to hunt them, or just pee in the garden, it will henceforth be most welcome. This particular coyote, with a lame forepaw, seems particularly suited to our needs: active enough to catch voles, but not fit enough to get into other coyote mischief.
This relationship will change drastically if and when we start raising chickens. When that day comes, the coyote will no longer be welcome to hunt our compound, and will be actively discouraged from going so. In the meantime, she’s welcome to scrape together a meal now and then and relieve herself as needed . . . preferably near the compost bins.
This post previously appeared on the Zeiger Homestead Blog.
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Mark Zeiger is a regular contributor to The Self Reliance Exchange. He and his family homestead off the grid in Southeast Alaska. You can see photos of coyotes and other wild animals around their compound at www.akzeigers.com.
Categories: animals | Tags: garden pest control, predators, self reliance | No Comments »
February 6, 2010 | Posted by DDFD
We love homemade– here is how to make homemade chicken gravy.
Here what you need:
- 1 can of chicken broth
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 2-4 tablespoons of flour (depending on desired thickness)
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1/3 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 teaspoon of garlic salt
- 1/3 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/3 teaspoon of pepper
Here’s what to do:
- Mix all ingredients (accept flour)
- Heat to boil in sauce pan
- Slowly add flour until thickness achieved
- Simmer until served
Enjoy!
This post originally appeared on DaddyCooksQuick.com, here is the link to the original post, How to Make Your Own: Homemade Chicken Gravy.
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DDFD believes that self reliance and self sufficiency are the roads to individual freedom. He is dedicated to living a quality life through Frugality, personal growth, development, and productivity, and Defensive Entrepreneurship. On weekends, he can be found in front of the BBQ grill.
Categories: recipes | Tags: chicken gravy, cooking from scratch, recipes, self reliance | No Comments »
February 6, 2010 | Posted by Clair Schwan
I perform a traction test anytime I believe the road surface under my wheels to be in question. It’s a simple test that allows you to judge for yourself how well your tires, the road, and weather conditions match up to provide the grip necessary for safe driving. Sometimes traction is poorest when you least expect it.
I’m willing to explain this method, but be careful if you try it. It can be hazardous if you overdo it, so take it easy when testing.
- Find a stretch of road that is straight and representative of what you’re traveling on.
- Make certain there aren’t any cars nearby. Give yourself plenty of space – perhaps three hundred yards or so.
- Slow down by about 5 to 10 miles per hour so you have better control should the road surface be more slippery than you imagine.
- Prepare yourself to recover if you begin to drift, skid, hydroplane or fishtail.
- With an automatic transmission, simply lift off the gas when you perform the test. With a manual transmission, you’ll have to push in the clutch while performing the test.
- Strike the brakes lightly, sharply and very briefly to see how your vehicle reacts. Be sure to get off the brakes quickly so your wheels can track (continue to turn) and thus allow you to steer your vehicle. Continue the traction test by increasing the intensity of the strike on the brake pedal, but make certain you quickly release them. Continue to increase the intensity of the strike on the brakes until you’re satisfied that you have sufficient traction on the road, or you find the point where you’re loosing traction.
- Adjust your speed and approach to handling the vehicle according to your findings.
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While traveling through New Mexico one winter morning many years ago, I noticed that the road surface appeared to be covered with frost. I questioned the traction that I had with my big lumbering sedan, so I performed a traction test and determined that I couldn’t travel any faster than 45 miles per hour. I distinctly remember two trucks blasting by me and thinking that they either had a better idea of what was a safe speed for them, or they were headed for trouble.
About 10 to 15 minutes later I passed them on the road and as I expected, they weren’t – on the road that is. One was jack-knifed in the median and the other was only a few miles farther down the road turned over on it’s side in the median. I’ve said it before and it bears repeating – drive your drive and let others drive their own.
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Clair Schwan believes that safe driving is mostly about operator skill and awareness, but also about having a vehicle in good working order. Both work in combination to reduce the likelihood of accident and injury. Learn more about car driving tips that can save you money over at Frugal Living Freedom where the motto is, “…living well, and well within your means…”
Categories: driving | Tags: safe driving, self reliance, traction test | No Comments »
February 5, 2010 | Posted by DDFD
Based on the popularity of my red sauce recipe, Cooking From Scratch: Linguine With Clams in Red Sauce, I figured I would run this one . . .
Want to whip up a quick, quality dinner (for under $10 for six people) that is a real hit with the whole family? Try linguine with clam sauce (white sauce).
Here is what you need:
- 2 cans of chopped clams
- 1 can of chicken broth
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 cup of white wine
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1/2 of a lemon
- 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon of basil (Fresh would be better)
- 1 tablespoon of parsley (Fresh would be better)
- 1-2 lbs of linguine pasta
- Parmigiana grated cheese
Here is what to do:
- Start the pasta in a separate pot
- In a separate pan heated to high
- Put in olive oil and butter
- Mince the garlic and drop into pan
- Drop clams into pan
- Pour in chicken broth
- Pour in wine
- Squeeze in lemon juice
- Add salt, pepper, basil, parsley
- Bring to a boil
After the pasta is drained add the sauce mix and parmigiana grated cheese to taste with the pasta in a large bowl, then serve with Italian bread.
Outside of waiting for the pasta water to boil, the whole process takes less then ten minutes.
Enjoy!
This post originally appeared on DaddyCooksQuick.com, here is the link to the original post, Dinner Idea: Linguine With Clam Sauce.
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DDFD believes that self reliance and self sufficiency are the roads to individual freedom. He is dedicated to living a quality life through Frugality, personal growth, development, and productivity, and Defensive Entrepreneurship. On weekends, he can be found in front of the BBQ grill.
Categories: recipes | Tags: cooking from scratch, linguine with clam sauce, recipes, self reliance | No Comments »
February 5, 2010 | Posted by Mark Z
Lately, I’ve been making a new granola that we call “muesli,” as it’s closer in appearance and consistency to that cereal than to “regular” granola.
Mark’s “Muesli” (variations on a theme by John Robbins, “Sunny Nutty Granola” from Diet for a New World)
8 Cups Rolled Oats
1 Cup Wheat and/or Oat Bran
1 Cup Chopped Nuts (Almonds or Walnuts)
1 Cup Sunflower Seeds
1/4 Cup Flax Seeds
1 Cup Sesame Seeds
2 Cups Raisins
2 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Honey
Preheat oven to 275°.
Combine and stir together all ingredients but raisins, cinnamon and honey.
Spread on cookie sheet, bake for 30 minutes, turning and mixing halfway through.
Put toasted mixture in mixing bowl, add raisins and cinnamon. Drizzle honey over all and mix thoroughly. Cool completely before storing in an air tight container.
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I measure the honey in a Pyrex cup, and set it near the stove vent to warm while the oven preheats and the dry mixture toasts. This makes it much easier to pour.
The original sunny, nutty granola used maple syrup instead of honey, and wheat germ. I used what we have on hand, which meant honey, and no wheat germ. I added several ingredients from the granola recipe, particularly the flax seed.
This recipe is more energy efficient, baked at 100° less, and less mixing means less opening the oven. It amazes me that a reasonable cereal results from mixing the honey with the hot dry mix rather than mixing first, then baking. The nuts (we use almonds) are a very expensive ingredient, which I’d prefer to omit, but it really makes the recipe work.
The last few times, this recipe has clumped up in the plastic cereal pitcher we store it in. A thorough shaking before pouring breaks it up pretty well.
I’m not sure which recipe will win out. I’m going to start experimenting with the granola recipe, using less or no sugar, and perhaps no juice concentrate. If I’m successful (or even if I’m not) you’ll no doubt hear about it here on the SRE.
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Mark Zeiger is a regular contributor to The Self Reliance Exchange. He and his family homestead off the grid in Southeast Alaska. See and learn more about their every day lives in their blog at www.akzeigers.com.
Categories: recipes | Tags: homemade cereal recipe, homemade muesli recipe, self reliance | No Comments »
February 4, 2010 | Posted by Clair Schwan
Leaking tires aren’t difficult to fix while on the road. All it takes is a little self determination, a comfortable spot to do it, the right tools and materials, and a frame of mind that recognizes this type of repair is long term, but temporary in nature. You’ll need a plug repair kit that comes with an insert tool and fibrous plugs. A reaming tool and rubber cement are also handy, but not necessary.
Here’s how to do it when a nail or similar object is the source of your problem:
- Find the foreign object and position the tire so you can get at it comfortably. If you can’t get comfortable access to the spot requiring repair, you can always take the wheel off to work on it. That will allow you to get “right on top of it” for a more comfortable repair.
- Estimate the size of the whole you’ll be repairing. A small hole like a nail can be repaired with one fibrous plug while a moderate size hole from a screw or small bolt will likely need two fibrous plugs.
- Thread the repair plug(s) into the insert tool until held in the middle of the plug(s).
- Coat the plug(s) with rubber cement. (optional step)
- Pull out the foreign object with a pair of pliers.
- Ream the hole so the plug will insert easily. (optional step)
- Insert the fibrous plug(s) using the insert tool. The plug will fold up as you push it into the tire. Push the tool into the tire until the loose ends of the plug(s) are just above the surface of the hole.
- Twist the insert tool a couple of times to wad up the plug on the inside of the tire.
- Withdraw the insert tool until it just clears the surface of the tire as it pulls the folded over portion of the fibrous plug(s) back out through the hole, effectively doubling up the fibrous material to fill up the damage done by the foreign object.
- Cut off the plug(s) as close to the surface of the tire as you can.
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Fixing a hole in a tire will require considerable effort. It’s best to practice on an old tire first to see just how much force you’ll have to exert to get the insert and reaming tools to penetrate the tire.
Also, if you intend to fix the leak with the wheel on the vehicle, you need to be quick from the time you remove the foreign object to the time you pull the folded over end of the plug back out through the tire. It is possible to do this quickly and still keep plenty of air in the tire so you can continue on your way.
If you find yourself needing to take the wheel off to get good access to the spot requiring repair, it’s just as easy to install the spare instead of trying to fix the tire. Of course, you always carry a well inflated spare with you, right?
Leaking tires caused by cuts or large holes, or damage to the sidewall cannot be fixed in this manner and will require taking the tire off the wheel for repair or replacement. Also, if the repair is in the edge of the tread adjacent to the sidewall, expect that the repair won’t hold well for very long.
In any event, it’s recommended that you get the tire dismounted and repaired from the inside at the next opportunity as fibrous plug repairs can be permanent, but many of them will perform as if they know they’re only temporary in nature.
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Clair Schwan has been known to pull over alongside of the road and fix leaking tires using this fibrous plug technique. It’s all about being prepared and being self reliant. See his adventures in self directed living over at Frugal Living Freedom where the motto is, “…living well, and well within your means…”
Categories: car repair | Tags: car repair, fix a flat, how to, leaking tires, self reliance | No Comments »
February 4, 2010 | Posted by DDFD
The simple answer is– Why invite trouble? My views have been shaped by many events and people, but for those of you who need more convincing– Have you:
- Ever been through a rough divorce?
- Heard about the rise in home invasions?
- Read the news about the recently discovered, murdered lottery winner?
- Watched the news and seen how desperation leads people to looting and violence in an emergency?
- Been disturbed by the amount of info government seems to be collecting on all of us?
Forget my divorce– I have a law abiding client (and friend) who is going through a “civil union” divorce. She was shocked when the judge ordered her to turn over a weapon she had in her home to the court for “safe keeping” based on the simple accusation by the other party. This is despite the fact that the other party has actually illegally entered her home twice during the proceedings.
Home invasions are on the rise with the current economy. In the State of Connecticut the perpetrators targeted a doctor’s wife and daughters based on their clothes and the car they drove. Further, I have a colleague who is extremely worried about this because incidents like this are happening close to his home– I told him his “living large” approach might be cause for his concern.
As for the lottery winner– money makes people do funny things and friends can be your biggest enemy. This one just hit the news recently. He is dead due to his misplaced trust and the greed of others. He would have been better off quietly moving into the background.
You might be thinking that I am referencing Haiti here, but I was thinking back to the disturbing behavior after Katrina– right here in the good old US of A. Food, water, medicine, and other supplies were in short supply and so was civilized behavior.
Forget the massive databases gathering information about you and yours– The coming census will be more than just collecting a headcount– Orwell’s 1984 might have been more prophetic than one might think. Keeping your personal information “close to the vest” is good advice.
I am not a “sky-is-falling” fanatic– I just listen and observe very carefully, and then I apply a little old fashioned common sense. I always come back to the idea of . . . Why invite trouble?
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DDFD believes that self reliance and self sufficiency are the roads to individual freedom. He is dedicated to living a quality life through Frugality, personal growth, development, and productivity, and Defensive Entrepreneurship. On weekends, he can be found in front of the BBQ grill.
Categories: low profile living | Tags: low profile living, personal safety, self reliance | No Comments »
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