Do-It-Yourself Outdoor Camp Showers

If you're planning to have an outdoor trip or go camping with the family, it is a nice idea to bring along a camp shower or an outdoor shower that is comfortable. Keeping yourself clean is already a challenge when going on a camp. Nowadays, there are already a lot of companies that offer ready-made outdoor camping showers. However, preparing your own camping shower is a fun activity and it also saves you money.

How to Build Outdoor Camping Showers

In building a sample outdoor camp shower, the materials needed are eight 3-way connectors, 9 pieces of 1-foot PVC pipes, 5 pieces of 5-feet PVC pipes, a garden hose, a 4 x 6 feet plastic tarp, tie backs, a bucket and a drill.

The first step in building your camp shower is to create a square by connecting the 4 one-foot pipes and 4 three-way connectors together. Following the steps above, the base and top of the shower is already created. With the help of the 5-feet PVC pipes, the sides of the shower will be made. And so, the basic frame of our outdoor camp shower is created. The frame is then wrapped by a plastic tarp for the purpose of covering it. The tie backs are then used to connect the tarp to the frame of your outdoor camp shower.

Do It Yourself Outdoor Camp Shower

We have 2 choices in making our camp shower. We can either make a cold-water shower or a warm-water outdoor shower for camping. The materials needed to make a basic cold-water shower are heavy duty rubber bands, a rope, knife, 10 feet of rubber medical tubing and pump spray bottle of 1-gallon capacity.

The Cold-Water Camp Shower

Cut the hose that is connected to the bottle using the knife. Also cut the other end of the hose which is connected to the spray nozzle. The purpose of cutting off the hose connected to the bottle and spray nozzle is to replace it with the rubber medical tubing. The rubber medical tubing should then be fitted to both the nozzle and bottle. The heavy duty rubber bands should now be wrapped at the points where the rubber tubing is fitted. If there is no available rubber bands, duct tape or aquarium sealant can be used as alternatives.

Fill up the bottle with water using the pump of the spray nozzle. Always check for leakages the connections where the tubing meets the bottle and nozzle. If you do find any leakages, the rubber bands should be readjusted. After completing the steps above, the outdoor camp shower is ready for use.

Warm Water Camp Shower

To make a warm water shower is very simple but needs dry and sunny weather to help in heating the water naturally. Another alternative is using a stove or pot to heat the water and then just pouring it in the 1-gallon bottle as storage of the water.
The rest of the steps in building the warm water shower is the same as of the cold water shower. Following the steps above helps us get a better understanding of how outdoor showers for camping are made.
Proper planning with a good foresight of what you want to build and organizing of the required materials are needed in building a good quality outdoor camp shower. Build it on your own or build it with the family to have some quality time spent with your loved ones.

For more shower information, please visit Outdoor Shower Shop or another great resource is Walk in Showers [http://www.walkinshowershop.com/] for details on shower enclosures.

Build water filter

http://www.shtfpreparedness.com/build-bio-water-filter/

Free DVD of Off The Grid Living

Here’s what we cover in this brand new DVD that is sold exclusively here:

• How I set up my solar power system using this "simple little trick" for maximum efficiency
• How we wired our affordable and easy-to-use solar panels, and how you can do this too...
• We go over the inverter, the controller and the batteries and what they do to maximize your power output.
• Our backup system in case the weather doesn’t cooperate!
• Our affordable but powerful wind power system and how it works – it’s so simple you’ll laugh when you see it…
• I go through every room of the house and show you our power efficiency tricks so that we need a small, easy-on-the-wallet power system!
• I’ll show you how we use the sun to heat AND COOL our house for FREE
• I’ll go through all the little tricks and tips you can do that can slash your power bill BEFORE you ever spend a dime on solar!
• Why anyone can do this with a little bit of elbow grease and desire for independence.

And its all FREE in the Off Grid Solar DVD. FREE Off Grid Solar DVD

WOODS, FUELS & FIRES FOR OUTDOOR COOKING

WOODS, FUELS & FIRES FOR OUTDOOR COOKING was a free book when this post was written.

 Do you love the smell of wood-smoked food? A rack of crackly smoked ribs straight out of the barbecue oven? Or lamb chops and a chunk of tenderloin seared and then grilled over an open wood fire in the wilds?
Want to know which woods go best with which foods? Which are poisonous, and to be avoided? How the different flavours of different woods can lift a great smoked meal to an outstanding one?
"Woods, Fuels & Fires for Outdoor Cooking" answers all of these questions – and more. The book helps you to choose the best wood for any particular application, and to match exactly the right wood to the food you're grilling or smoking. Introducing you to a range of different woods, it shows you how to use them and how to find them.
In addition to raw woods, it discusses the merits and demerits of wood-based derivatives like chips and sawdust, pellets and charcoal – and makes suggestions as to when and where they work best.
A whole section of the book is devoted to showing you how you can make your own, premium quality charcoal – safely, at home, and regardless of how much or little yard space you have available. It explains why home-made charcoal is a better substitute for briquettes than its commercial equivalent, and why it burns hotter and longer. Construction details and plans are provided for making, simply and economically, a scalable charcoal furnace-and-retort assembly out of readily obtainable bits and pieces.
The book explains how, in the same way that differing soil quality and climate are major determinants in the flavour of wines from the same vine stock, so too is their impact on the flavour of hardwoods from the same tree species growing in different soil conditions and different areas of the country.
It also suggests, when wood is not available, how to use substitutes like coconut husk, corn cobs, and dried seaweed, and the special precautions that need to be taken. It characterises wood according to the density of smoke generated, the strength and flavour of the smoke, and the heat and quality of the coals produced.
A whole section of the book is jam-packed full of tips for constructing, starting and maintaining fires both at home and in the wilds.
Armed with the information in the book, anyone can make a good wood fire, and even if you're a pro, there'll be tips and suggestions here to help you up your game.

When the lights go out!: A guide to living in your home without power or water, during a emergency.

When the lights go out!: A guide to living in your home without power or water, during a emergency. was a free kindle book when this post was written.

For the person that wants to be more aware of ways to use what they already have. A guide to living in your home without power or water, during a emergency. Using the items already in your home. For example how to locate and get water hidden in your hot water heater. Including real life examples based on living for up to 3 weeks without power and water after hurricanes in Florida and ice storms in North Carolina.

What To Do If You Get Lost in the wild.

We have been talking about this a lot the past week with the Little Man. We want to go camping this summer and want him to know what to do if something happens , like getting lost. The number one thing that you need to reenforce is that you have to stay calm. If there are many hours before sunset than you can easily just follow the path that you had been on back to where you were , but if you can't that follow these simple rules:

S is for Stop -  Stop moving. Stay where you are so that others can find you soon. Try and make a shelter if you have too.

T is For Think - After you have calmed down, think about who knows where you are. What is around you? How much time before it gets dark? What is the weather like and do you need a shelter? What do you have on hand that can be used as tools? Think and stay calm. Since you are staying in one spot you will be found soon.

O is for Observe - Look around you and get aquainted to the area that you are in. Is there water nearby? This will make it much easier for you to stay calm. If you get your bearings and use what you have nearby.

P is for Plan - Plan what you need to do and in what order they need to be done. What is the first thing that you need to do and so on. Planning and keeping yourself busy will help to keep you calm until you are found also. Plan on some way to give a sign that you are where you are. Can you start a fire safely? Or use big rocks to make a marker for someone to see from above?

If you ever get lost you will be alright and be able to survive if you stay calm and prepare.

Beginners Guide to Raising Meat Rabbits & 10 Reason to Raise Rabbits!

Beginners Guide to Raising Meat Rabbits was a free kindle book when this post was written.

Raising rabbits for meat is one of the easiest ways to supply nutritious meat for your family. This book will teach you everything from choosing your breeding stock to butchering.

You may have been considering raising chickens, geese, ducks, goats, sheep or other small livestock for meat, but once you learn how easy it is to raise rabbits, you'll never consider another animal for a primary meat source.

1. Rabbits have an extremely high reproduction rate. One healthy, mature doe can produce up to 1000% of her body weight every year. Owning just one female and one male can supply meat twice a week for a family of four.
2. Rabbits need very little living space. Whether you're living in a condo or out in the country, you can always find space to raise a couple rabbits. No grazing is required and they're rarely classified as livestock which allows you to keep them virtually anywhere. How many apartment complexes would let you keep a chicken or goat in them?
3. Rabbits are low maintenance. Check in on them every evening to feed, water and do quick health checks, clean their cages once a month and keep a simple breeding journal - that's all you need to do! Females take care of the young themselves and the only special tools you'll need are nesting boxes which you can even build yourself. No incubators or hand feeding required.
4. Rabbits are virtually silent roommates. Aside from the mating shriek, rabbits are extremely quiet animals. They won't reveal your location to anyone, even if you're traveling with them. Who knows what a chicken, goose or duck is likely to attract, not to mention a rooster. If outdoor cages are well hidden and clean, neighbors may not even know they are there.
5. A little rabbit feed goes a long way.  When bunnies are being weaned (6-8 weeks old), they are large enough for consumption. This allows you to skip giving most of the bunnies feed as you gradually cull the young, leaving only the adults to consume expensive rabbit feed.
6. Rabbits are the perfect sized meal for a family of four. Rabbits are compact and usually butchered at "fryer size" (3-5 pounds), so you don't have to worry about storing or eating leftovers.
7. Rabbit manure will make your garden love you. Rabbit manure is an excellent fertilizer for your garden that won't burn plants. Plus, if you vermicompost, your worms can be fed the droppings which will make them love you too.
8. Rabbit meat is very high in protein and extremely low in fat and cholesterol. Very few other meats have nutritional values like rabbits, and none of them can be raised in your living room. Doctors have actually been known to prescribe rabbit meat diets to overweight patients.
9. Rabbit fur will make an incredibly warm coat and is a great bartering item. On a cold winter's night, snuggling into a blanket made from rabbit pelts will keep your family warm long after the fire has gone out. You can also make hats or other accessories, and kids love getting a lucky rabbit's foot.
10. Rabbits are relatively easy to butcher and clean. No one likes doing it but if you're going to eat them, they day will come eventually. Someone with experience can take a rabbit from cage to freezer in 15 minutes or less. No plucking is needed and there's very little cleanup.

Tiffany Savage is a suburban homesteader who has been living a more sustainable life for too many years to count. When she discovered how easy raising rabbits for meat was, she immediately wanted to share her knowledge with others. That's when she wrote the eBook Raising Rabbits to Survive!, a comprehensive eBook which gives even those who've never even raised a goldfish the courage to start on their own journey to freedom by raising rabbits.

 

April 15 Total Lunar Eclipse

                              Great map to show who will be able to see the Total Lunar Eclipse.

Four Blood Moons - Something Is About to Change

"...There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars...Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:25a, 28

It is rare that Scripture, science, and history align with each other, yet the last three series of Four Blood Moons have done exactly that. Are these the “signs” that God refers to in His Word? If they are, what do they mean? What is their prophetic significance?

In this riveting book, New York Times best-selling author, Pastor John Hagee, explores the supernatural connection of certain celestial events to biblical prophecy—and to the future of God’s chosen people and to the nations of the world.

Just as in biblical times, God is controlling the sun, the moon, and the stars to send our generation a signal that something big is about to happen. The question is: Are we watching and listening to His message?
John Hagee authored New York Times best seller "Jerusalem Countdown " that at this writing has sold over one million copies. He is a nondenominational evangelistic pastor who stands in the pulpit every Sunday at Cornerstone Church filling his twenty thousand member church with the latest news in the world and how it relates to what God has in store. He is the founder and leader of John Hagee Ministries and national chairman for Christians United for Israel. His message goes out to 249 countries via radio and TV.

Latest Contribution

Hagee's latest contribution to Biblical prophecy is called "Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change " that shows how history, science, and scripture are aligning with each other pointing to a coming time of great change on the earth.
Hagee brings into context the supernatural hookup of pointed celestial events to Biblical prophecy. He brings into relationship the future of God's chosen people and how it effects the other gentile nations of the world.

Clear Signs to Appear

He makes it clear that as in biblical times, God is the controlling factor of the sun, moon, and stars that will be sending the final generation a clear focused signal that something huge is about to transpire. The real question is will we watch for and listen to God's message and be able to discern his meaning when these signs occur.

Four Blood Moons and Eclipse

The title of his books tells of coming signs in the heavens in the spring and fall of 2014 & 2015 that just happen to fall on the Jewish Holy Days that also has a total eclipse in the middle separating the four. The significance of these signs is that they fall on the feast days and every time that they do they are linked to historical events in Israel, but what of the future?

Ultimate Guide To Soap Making

Ultimate Guide To Soap Making was a free kindle book when this post was written.

Are you interested in learning more about soap making? Are you interested in making your own soap or starting your own soap making business, this A-Z guide will show you what you need to do, the resources you will need, and how to be successful in soap making

Natural Herbal Remedies: Ancient Cures, Natural Treatments, and Home Remedies for Health (Homemade Remedies, Natural Remedies, Herbal Remedies, Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, Herbal Healing)

Natural Herbal Remedies: Ancient Cures, Natural Treatments, and Home Remedies for Health (Homemade Remedies, Natural Remedies, Herbal Remedies, Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, Herbal Healing) was a free kindle book when this post was written.

Modern medicines work, but they are expensive, filled with chemicals unnatural to the human body and cause side effects.
There is a large number of common ailments that can easily be addressed by using the right herbs and other ingredients in the form of teas, oils and tinctures. These herbal remedies are natural, cheap and come without side effects. Humans have been using them since ancient times. It is ancestral knowledge that will never be outdated.

In my book, Natural Herbal Remedies, you will discover dozens of easy recipes for homemade herbal remedies that take care of 25 common ailments, such as acne, migraine, throat ache, athlete's foot, yeast infection and many more. You will also find an overview of 16 recommended ingredients and their health benefits.

Homemade Herbal Remedies

Here is a brief overview of what’s inside:

• Dozens of recipes to deal with 25 common ailments
• Health benefits of 16 powerful ingredients
• Herbal remedies for acne, migraine, heartburn, and throat ache
• No filler content, just the useful nuggets of information
• Introduction to herbal medicines
• A lot more!

For tens of thousands of generations, mankind used herbs, other plants and fungi to treat ailments. Over all of this time, we slowly built an archive of knowledge of these natural medicines. There is no need to seek out expensive products for every problem. Many can be solved easily and in a natural way, using simple ingredients.

Ultra-Frugal: A Year Without Buying Anything

In 2006, a group of people in San Francisco launched a project and a website called The Compact. For various reasons, these people pledged to go a full year without buying anything new, or really, anything at all. They made a few exceptions, such as underwear, medicine and emergency home repair, but even these they qualified as much as possible to fit in with their overarching values system.

Since this time, many have come across The Compact. This is just the sort of thing that many families in today's economy have already been thinking about doing. With The Compact, someone else has already thought through the majority of the details. You can tailor The Compact to fit your own situation and then launch your year of basically not buying anything. You can buy food, of course, and pay your bills, but this frugal year will definitely make you more conscious than ever to buy locally whenever it is at all possible.
Here were are some altered guidelines for the year, which I refer to as "the flexible, non-legalistic, non-trauma causing rules":

• Do not buy any NEW items for one year.

• Only buy items that you or your family members NEED.

• Do not buy any convenience foods when grocery shopping, with the exception of bread.

• Strive to eat in-season, buying as local as possible.

• Bring cloth grocery bags to the store.

• Do not go out to eat at a restaurant if you have the option of eating at home.

Most that attempt this challenge cannot honestly say that they did not purchase any convenience items, didn't go to restaurants or that they ate local, in-season food 100% of the time. However, overall, those that take this challenge seriously generally do accomplish what they set out to do. Many refrain from purchasing shoes, clothing, gifts and other items that are not really needed.

Most end up having a great, ultra frugal and enlightening year. It is amazing how a little intentionality - a pledge, a compact, a reflective decision - can change your life. It really helps to have the support of your closest friends and family. The temptations can be hard to bear; especially when friends or family are going out to eat, to the theater, etc. because you want to spend time with them, but fighting the urge will give you a bigger sense of accomplishment once your year has passed.

Of course, there will be times when you may need to dust off the old Compact and give it another go. Unemployment, a cutback in hours or a new addition to the family may influence you to challenge yourself again. A close friend did the same thing when her husband was unemployed for over two years-"You just don't buy anything," she told me, "You buy food and you pay your bills, but that's about it." It's funny how we sort of forget that is an option!

Whether your reasons are religiously motivated, environmentally motivated, or maybe you're just down-right stingy; an ultra frugal, buying freeze sort of year is possible. You can do it. And in the mean time, you may just find yourself more content than ever. Simplicity is the path to freedom.

Shawna Ruppert is the Editor-in-Chief of Moms Living Thrifty, a blog that focuses on saving money in all aspects of life. You can find a wide array of interesting articles, in addition to coupons, deals, recipes and more. Visit us today!

Vegetable Garden Planning - Important Tips for Growing Your Own Vegetables

It is always a good idea to start a new project with a clear plan in mind. Work out a vegetable garden plan based on the desired outcome that you want. Consider your family size and then work on the assumption that roughly 100 square meters is needed to feed a family of four all through the year. Next consider the climatic conditions where you live; if it is cold you cannot grow vegetables all year round. In this case the garden you plan will need to be bigger so you can grow extra vegetables.

When planning a vegetable garden the climate is usually divided into cold, temperate and tropical. You will need to do some research on the type of climatic conditions that prevail in your part of the world and the vegetables that will thrive in this climate. This is the best way to plan a garden for growing vegetables. Once you have a plan and know what vegetables to grow and how to lay out the garden you can move on to the next part of the plan.

Identify a good store for your seeds and order them well before planting time so that you are ready for the growing season when it starts. You can choose to go with organic gardening methods which mean germinating the seeds separately and then planting them as seedlings. If you have big plantings on your list, stagger the seed germination so that you don't end up with all of them maturing at the same time.

Next you have to focus on the planting plan, what vegetables to grow where in your garden. Each plant has different needs and you will have to take that into consideration when you plan your vegetable garden. Plants that thrive in cooler climes and can withstand frost include cauliflower, turnips, brussels sprouts, broccoli, snow peas and onions.

Vegetables that include carrots, parsnips, leeks, lettuces, celery and cabbages need a temperate climate. If you try growing them out of season you could very well end up with nothing for your table. The warm season vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, corn and capsicums will not survive frost and will die. The majority of their growth should be in months which enjoy warm weather.

Survival Seed Vault

You should do your own research and decide on what exactly you want to grow and when. Don't let nurseries talk you into buying seeds that will not produce anything because it is the wrong time of year to be planting them. Keep the following gardening tips in mind when you plan your vegetable garden.

• Cold winds stunt the growth of your plants and hot winds dry out the soil and harm the plants; extra strong winds will break the plants. You may need to prepare a lattice windbreak to protect the plants.
•  
• Where you locate your garden is important, it needs at least 5 hours of sunshine daily and that's direct sunlight mind you.
•  
• Taller plants should not be positioned where they will block the sunlight for smaller plants. Before you start planting it may not be a bad idea to track the path of the sun through your garden first.
•  
• Set up your compost pile and keep topping it up, it's the best way to fertilize your garden naturally. Plant rotation is good because it does not give the pests much chance to attack the garden.

Want to know more about how to plan your vegetable garden? Visit my website www.gardensetup.com for more information about organic gardening.

12 Signs That Something Big Is Happening To The Earth’s Crust Under North And South America

12 Signs That Something Big Is Happening To The Earth’s Crust Under North And South America





Heads up. Keep an eye out for this! Prepare!

Food Storage Recipe - Easy Doughnuts

YUMMY! Make your own doughnuts at home - be frugal!

Easy Doughnuts

NEED:

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup of milk

1 beaten egg

2 tablespoon shortening

1 1/2 cup flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Powdered sugar

Combine the sugar, milk, egg, and shortening.

Blend in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir it lightly into the milk mixture.

Drop by teaspoonfuls into deep fryer that has been preheated to 365 degrees. Fry them for a few minutes each or until golden brown. Drain on paper towel and then sprinkle with the powdered sugar.

YUMMMMMMMMMM

Food Storage Recipe - Twice Around Hamburger

This is a great way to use up left-over hamburgers or left-over meat loaf. Cut it up into small piece. Combine 1 can of tomato sauce, the left - over meat , 1 teaspoon of chopped onion, and 2 tablespoons of butter. Heat it through in a skillet. While that is cooking , in a saucepan, cook 8 ounces of thin spaghetti according to the directions on the package. Drain it and add it to the sauce. Mix it well and pour it into a Nonstick Meatloaf Pan with Drain Tray. Bake it in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Easy and frugal meal. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and serve with garlic bread and salad. 

Food Storage Recipe - Corned Beef Hash Casserole

This is a quick casserole to try and uses items that should be in your food storage.


Corned Beef Hash Casserole

NEED:

8 ounce bag of noodles

2 chopped onions - or dehydrated

3/4 of a green pepper , chopped - or dehydrated

1 tablespoon butter

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 cup of milk - use dry milk to make this?

3/4 cup of grated velveeta cheese

1 can of corned beef hash

3/4 cup of buttered bread crumbs

Cook the noodles as directed and then layer in the casserole dish.

Saute the onions and green peppers in butter until tender.

Add the soup, milk, and cheese. Cook this while stirring until the cheese is melted.

Add the corned beef hash.

Add this to the noodles and cover with the bread crumbs.

Bake at 350 degrees for  about 30 minutes. Serve this with a salad.

Dry Milk

I have used dry milk for years.It is great for cooking with and making shakes. Substitute it for whole milk and it is a lot healthier. Has less fat and is cheaper. Can save you a lot of money.

Here are some tips for making it more tasty for your family:

1. Mix it up in a blender at high speed.

2. You can add a drop of vanilla to each quart.

3. Use it to make healthy shakes. Any type of shake mix can be added to it. My son uses it for his protein shakes that he drinks before he works out.

Using dry milk is something that you should try. Great way to be able to stockpile milk in you food storage and a great way to save money in your everyday cooking.

Food Storage Recipe - Jiffy Beef Stroganoff

This is super easy and super delicious.

Jiffy Beef Stroganoff

NEED:

1 pound of ground beef

1/2 of an envelope of dry onion soup

1/2  teaspoon of ginger

1 7 ounce package of medium noodles

1 3 ounce can of sliced mushrooms

3 1/2 cups of hot water

2 tablespoon of flour

1 cup of sour cream

Brown and the ground beef and drain it very well.

Sprinkle the soup mix and ginger over the beef and mix it up well.

Arrange the noodles over the beef and then add the can of mushrooms , undrained. Pour the water over the noodles. Cover and simmer until the noodles are done. Blend the flour into the sour cream and stir into the noodles and beef. Cook until thickened. Serve.

Food Storage Recipe - Thrifty Burgers

A super quick recipe for an easy meal. You can use all of your dehydrated veggies in this recipe.


Thrifty Burgers

NEED:

1 medium onion

1/4 cup of chopped green pepper

1/2 cup of chopped celery

1 pound of ground meat - beef, turkey, or chicken

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 can of chicken gumbo soup

2 tablespoon of ketchup

1 teaspoon worcestershire  sauce

hamburger buns

Heat up some butter or oil in a pan and saute the onion, green pepper, and celery. Cook for about 6 minutes. Add the ground meat , salt , and pepper. Cook it up until the meat is all broken up and not pink.

Add the soup , sauce, and ketchup. Simmer for about 30 minutes and then serve on the buns.

A Kid's Book On Survival: Prepare For Emergencies

Todays free kindle book is A Kid's Book On Survival: Prepare For Emergencies. It was free at the time of this posting.

Expanded and reorganized in March 2014. This ebook is an introduction for children on the subject of Survival and Emergency Preparedness. The book explains in kids' terms what the dangers are in the big bad world, and how responsible adults relate to such dangers. It talks about destruction by nature, like hurricanes and tornadoes and flooding, and other subjects like looting and violence, and terrorist attacks. How to protect oneself and his family in the house and in the wild. What to stock in the home, and what to take along, what should be in the survival kit, both for the parents and for the child. There is a chapter on how to search for food and water, and a chapter on what dangerous foods to avoid. And a chapter on finding shelter in the wild and how to make a fire. The book is intended for middle-schoolers, say, from age 8-13, or to read to the child as the parent deems appropriate. Lot's of pictures to entertain and prompt discussion between parent and child.