Articles from September 2009
September 30, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
In autumn when I leave the house, I always carry a mesh bag. It’s mushroom season in Southeast Alaska; it’s not wise to enter the woods unprepared! Opinions differ on the proper container for mushrooms, but most agree on certain features. Some prefer a basket or cardboard box to protect the fragile fungi from breakage. [...]
Categories: foraging | 
Tags: foraging for wild mushrooms, mushroom hunting tools, self reliance | 
No Comments »
September 29, 2009 | Posted by DDFD
Watch the news lately? Images of floods, wildfires, and hurricanes leading to devastation. It often makes me wonder– Are we prepared for trouble? In the northeast, the big issues tend to be storm damage such as downed trees, snow or ice storm, or electricity outage. It sounds simple, but are you prepared with the following? Flashlight [...]
Categories: emergency preparedness, self sufficiency | Tags: personal responsibility, preparedness, self sufficiency | No Comments »
September 29, 2009 | Posted by DDFD
I have decided I am a Utilitarian Minimalist! Why? Because it works toward my personal goals to be more self reliant and self sufficient. I don’t know if there are groups I can join, perhaps I am the first– because I just made this philosophy up. Let me explain– I have noticed a change in [...]
Categories: organizing, self reliance | Tags: organizing, personal development, self reliance | No Comments »
September 29, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
Calling moose is my favorite part of the autumn moose hunt. Keeping silent takes a lot of effort; calling is an excuse to make some noise! I studiously ignore commercially available moose calls. I’m frugal, I don’t like to carry a lot of stuff, and the electronic ones are illegal in this hunt. Instead, I [...]
Categories: hunting | Tags: calling moose, moose hunting techniques, self reliance | No Comments »
September 28, 2009 | Posted by Kristen
When most people think about frugal living, all sorts of negative connotations spring to mind…deprivation, misery, and stinginess might be just a few. I’ve even had people look at my lifestyle and say, “I would never want to live like her!” Maybe I’m an odd duck, but a money-saving lifestyle has always seemed like a [...]
Categories: frugal living | Tags: debt free living, frugal living, self reliance | 1 Comment »
September 28, 2009 | Posted by DDFD
What if you went into town to the grocery store and the shelves were bare? Most grocery stores have about 3-6 days worth of inventory– what would you do if they weren’t there? I am not talking about “The End of the World as We Know it” (EOTWAWKI), but I am talking about a serious [...]
Categories: self reliance, self sufficiency | Tags: preparedness, self reliance, self sufficiency | No Comments »
September 28, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
Our homestead centers on gardening, the primary focus of our planning, effort, and concern. Providing the bulk of our food, it’s our chief hedge against spending—the better the garden does, the further our money goes. Michelle guides and directs our gardening. She is a certified “Master Gardener,” although she downplays that. Her skills, research and [...]
Categories: vegetable gardening | Tags: cultivating plants sourdough yogurt, gardening in Alaska, self reliance | No Comments »
September 27, 2009 | Posted by Clair Schwan
I’m enjoying debt free living, but I’m not here to brag about it. I’d rather have my story be an inspiration and motivation to you to achieve it for yourself. I think it’s within your reach. Let me share a little about where I am and then tell you where I used to be and [...]
Categories: personal finance | Tags: debt free living, living debt free, personal finance, self reliance | No Comments »
September 27, 2009 | Posted by author
Having been formally trained in Oriental Medicine, I often get the opportunity to assist friends and family with issues that come up regarding their health and well being. No longer do I practice acupuncture professionally, but instead I have it in my self reliance toolbox, ever ready to use for the good of family members [...]
Categories: alternative medicine | Tags: acupuncture, family, self reliance, service | No Comments »
September 27, 2009 | Posted by Brad Chaffee
Do you have trouble saving money? It seems you are not alone. Prior to the Fall of 2008, the savings rate in America was negative 1-2%. The floundering economy shocked people back to reality and the savings rate jumped. This only proves the theory that saving money is tied to emotion. When people feel they [...]
Categories: personal finance | Tags: pay off debt, saving money, self reliance | 7 Comments »
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