What to do with the money? Spend it?

With Governments around the world so eager to shift the burden of this financial crisis onto society through bailouts and quantitative easing, there are more and more people realising that paper money (or more realistically data entered into a computer) has no intrinsic value. All money is created by the issuance of debt, so one begins to question whether money really is the same as wealth. Once we realise that it is not, the next natural question then is how to invest any surplus money we have into real, tangible assets.  

It’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about now that I’m out of debt, so a recent discussion on What should you do with the money you have available? – Part 1 on the The Oil Drum was very timely.

Gail suggests four possible courses of action: Spend Money Now; Give it away; Pay down debt; Invest it using conventional approaches. Since I’ve already paid down my debt and for reasons I’ll cover another day I choose not to invest conventionally, today I want to talk about the option of spending my paper money now. Here are some of the options Gail suggested, followed by some discussion on my plans for the next couple of years.

1. See the world, while you still can.

Experiencing different places and cultures is really important to me. In fact, other than servicing debt, travelling has been my biggest expenditure over the last few years. As the financial crisis deepens and energy becomes more expensive, I imagine travelling will never be as cheap and easy as it is now.

2. Visit friends or relatives you have wanted to visit, but put off.

Last Christmas we spent a few days in London with an old friend of mine. It was really great to catch up with her now because I don’t know when I’ll get to see her again (other than on a Skype call). This summer we plan to visit our good friends in Alaska and other than that, we’ll get to see our families when we return to Australia later this year.

3. Take care of health or dental issues that need to be taken care of.

Brendan and I both had some elective surgeries prior to moving to the U.S. We had heard horror stories about the American health care system, so we wanted these things taken care of before leaving Australia. I had laser-eye surgery which has been money extremely well-spent in my opinion.

4. Take a course that might be helpful long term.

This is an important one. We’ve already seen so many jobs in certain industries (construction, manufacturing, auto) disappear or be outsourced. This trend is likely to continue in the coming decade. Investing in skills that are going to be needed long-term is a no-brainer.

5. Buy extra canned goods or other non-perishables.

The price of food keeps going up. I therefore think investing in some non-perishables is a very wise strategy. If food prices rise 15% this year (it could happen if there is another oil price shock) and you’ve locked in prices early, you’ve essentially earned a 15% return on your investment. Try doing that in the stock market! It also makes a lot of sense to store some extra food in case of emergency.

6. Buy property where you can farm (if you have the skills to do this).

Ultimately this is what we’d really like to be spending our excess cash on. Unfortunately for now, the Australian property market is still inflating into a huge bubble. We won’t be buying until prices become more realistic.

7. Buy gardening related equipment, or soil amendments.

This year we plan to buy all the garden tools we are likely to need for the next 10 years.

8. Buy books about specific skills you may need.

I have already started a library of books which contain useful information, but I will continue to add to it this year as I come across more good recommendations.

9. Buy goods to trade.

Brendan has been stocking up on spare bicycle parts. They are items he can use himself down the track, use in his bike repair business or barter if needed. I’m reluctant to spend money on items we won’t use ourselves as I don’t want a bunch of useless items in storage forever, but bike parts are usuful purchases.

10. Buy a dog that can be trained as a guard dog/helper.

Zoe is already a pretty good guard dog. Being a German Shepherd, it’s in her genes. As far as her being a helper…. does collecting socks count?

11. Insulate your house, make it tighter, and/or add some sort of passive solar heating.

Since we are currently renting, there is little we can do here. We have been encouraging our family to take advantage of Government grants to improve efficiency.

12. Buy a solar thermal hot water heater, solar voltaic panels, or wind generating capacity.

As for #11. Brendan’s parents have recently installed solar hot water and I’ve been encouraging my Mum to do the same. In Australia, with ample sun, these system work fantastically.

13. Install a water collection system. (If water is to be used for drinking, you will need to have the right kind of roof and will need to take proper precautions. It still may not be legal.)

As for #11 and #12. Brendan’s parents and my sister have water collection systems. I think Mum is also putting one in.

14. Buy tools for a new trade. (For example, wood working or making leather goods)

Brendan has been purchasing most of the tools he needs for a bicycle repair business. I’m yet to decide on a trade that is interesting to me and would be useful in the future, although I have a collection of crochet hooks now. Does that count?

15. Buy a gun and ammunition (For catching rabbits, if nothing else).

Nope. Not legal in Australia (unless on property), so we’ll be giving this one a miss.

16. Buy a more fuel efficient car.

Upon return to Australia we have plans for a very fuel-efficient diesel vehicle. We aren’t sure what yet, but efficiency is paramount in my mind.

Does anyone have any more ideas about things worth investing in now?

Photo by: alles-schlumpf

The journey of 100 posts starts with a single line!

Today marks a milestone. 100 posts! I thought I should celebrate with a little look back at my journey since last July, when I started this blog.

This blog was conceived because I had a mind full of thoughts that needed writing down. I’ve found the process cathartic and illuminating at the same time. Usually, as I go about my day I’ll have a swirl of thoughts and emotions running through my head. If I grab onto one of those thoughts and start to write it down, the process of making it legible for others forces me to work through the issue myself. For that moment in time I am focussed on the issue and can give it my undivided attention. I have enjoyed the process and I love the journey this blog has taken me on over the last seven months. 

Along the way, people have come along and read what I have to say. I wasn’t really expecting that and didn’t set out to get an audience, but I’m richer for it. The little blog community I have become part of enriches me in a way I can’t fully articulate. Every day I learn something new, see things in a different way or get inspired to take on new challenges. I thank all of you for that.

The blog started out as a place to share my thoughts on voluntary simplicity, sustainable living and my gardening efforts.

It then morphed into an exploration of the triple crises confronting us: Economy, Energy & Environment. I started my World Changing Wednesday series to help myself better understand the predicaments confronting us in this most historic of times. I will continue writing these types of articles as the mood takes me. A get a lot of visitors to my site who are obviously looking for this type of information. I hope I can help people understand how all these issues are interconnected and how together they will make the next couple of decades very challenging times for us all.

Towards the end of last year I was away a lot with my job and I lost my blogging mojo for a while. I gave myself permission to have a break which was a good thing. The last thing I want is for this blog to become a chore.

Anyway I’m back into the new year and my focus has moved more towards personal preparedness for likely changes in the coming decades. I’m focussing on Self Sufficiency, Independence and Lifestyle Planning. Less talk, more action! I got myself out of debt and we have been considering our options for where best to adapt to a world of less complexity and expensive energy. I’m learning new skills.

Who knows where this blog will go in the future. I haven’t set any boundaries around it, so it’s free to become whatever I need it to be at the time. I’m also keen to provide information that people want to read about. If you can think of any topics I should cover, please feel free to leave me a comment.

Here’s to another 100 posts sometime down the track. I wonder what I’ll be talking about in another six months times?

How to make Compost

Last night I was talking to Mum on Skype about composting. She was frustrated that none of her food scraps were breaking down in the bin she was using. I started to explain that there is more to composting than just throwing all your scraps in a pile and waiting for them to magically turn to compost. I told her I’d send a link to my post on composting and then I realised I never actually wrote that post! So here it is. How to compost….for my Mum.

Composting involves mixing yard and household organic waste in a pile or bin and providing conditions that encourage decomposition. The decomposition process is fueled by millions of microscopic organisms (bacteria, fungi) that take up residence inside your compost pile, continuously devouring and recycling it to produce a rich organic fertiliser. Once you know a few simple principles it’s pretty easy. Nature does her job beautifully.

The Compost Bin (The Oven)

First things first. You need a proper compost bin. Most people say you need a pile no smaller than 3′ x 3′ x 3′ (1 cubic metre), but I’ve found a large, well aerated rubbish bin does the trick.  In a previous post I explained how Brendan and I made our own Compost Bins for free.

Decide on the location of your compost bin based on function and aesthetics. Your neighbours probably don’t want to see it, but you want to keep it away from buildings as the decomposition may cause wood to rot.  From a functional standpoint, you’ll need a place with good air circulation. Partial shade is a good idea so the compost doesn’t get overheated. Also make sure the spot of land where you place your heap gets good drainage.

We decided to place ours in the corner of our small courtyard. It has easy access to the garden and a water source and is easy to get to from the kitchen, but it is out of the way and utilises a space that wouldn’t have been useful for much else.  This photo was taken last summer when we had about 4 hours of full sun per day on that side of the garden. In winter it’s in full shade.

How to build Compost (The Recipe)

I like to think of compost making as a recipe of sorts. There is some science to it, but it’s also an artform. Just remember that you need each of these ‘ingredients’ for your compost to work properly and then you can adjust the recipe to suit your conditions.

Organic Materials

The most obvious ingredient for compost is organic waste. This can come from your garden, your kitchen and from a variety of other sources around the home. In addition to our own organic matter, I collect food waste and coffee grounds from work so I can build my compost pile very quickly. Ingredients that can make good compost include:

Browns = High Carbon

• Ashes, wood
• Bark
• Cardboard, shredded
• Dried Leaves
• Newspaper, shredded
• Peanut shells
• Peat moss
• Dried Pine needles
• Sawdust
• Stems and twigs, shredded
• Straw

Green = High Nitrogen

• Clover
• Coffee grounds
• Tea bags
• Food waste
• Garden waste
• Green Grass clippings
• Hops, used
• Manures (No dog or cat waste)
• Seaweed
• Vegetable scraps
• Weeds (I don’t compost weeds that have gone to seed)

I include roughly a 50:50 mixture of brown ingredients and greens, I tend to layer them and always finish on a brown layer as it stops pests getting into the pile.

To speed up the process of composting, chop or shred larger items so they break down more easily; turn the pile regularly; add big meals to the pile rather than small, regular ‘snacks’; full sun will heat up the pile and speed up the process, but be careful it doesn’t get too hot and catch on fire.

Moisture

The microbes in the compost pile require water for survival. Too much water means your organic waste won’t decompose and you’ll get a slimy and smelly pile but too little water and you’ll kill the bacteria. The more green material you put in, the less water you’ll need to add. In general your compost should be moist, but not sopping wet – think the consistency of a wet sponge that has been rung out.

Aeration

Oxygen is also required by many of the microorganisms responsible for successful composting. Give them adequate ventilation and they will take care of the rest. You can make sure that the bacteria in your compost gets sufficient air by turning the pile often using a pitch fork or spade. We can usually leave ours for a few months without turning and it still breaks down nicely, but if the pile gets too wet we spend more time airing it out.

Temperature

As they eat, the organisms responsible for composting generate large amounts of heat, which raise the temperature of the pile and speeds up decomposition. A compost pile that is working well will produce temperatures of 60-70 degrees C (140-160 degrees F). At these temperatures almost all weed seeds and plant diseases are killed. A “very hot” compost pile will generate temperatures of up to 80 degrees C (170 degrees F) for up to a week or more. You can use a compost thermometer to measure the exact temperature, but we don’t get that technical.

How do you know when it’s cooked?

As organic material in a compost pile heats up it breaks down and takes up less space. A compost pile can shrink up to 70% as it “cooks.”

Compost is finished when it’s a dark, rich color, crumbles easily, and you can’t pick out any of the original ingredients. It should have a sweet, earthy smell. If it’s too stringy or lumpy, it may need more time. We usually sift ours through nursery flats and put any big pieces back in another pile, leaving us with lovely, dark compost. It can take anywhere from three to 12 months to produce compost depending on temperatures, what organic matter you’ve used, how fine the waste material was chopped, how often you’ve turned it etc.

How to enjoy it

We add compost to our soil twice per year, before planting begins each season. We simply spread the compost in a thick layer on top of existing soil, cover with straw and then water it down. Within days earthworms have worked the compost into the soil and the improvement in soil quality can be seen almost immediately.

Here’s what ours looks like before we ‘sift’ it and put it in the garden.

I wish I was Boy Scout – I want to Earn these Merit Badges

Last week I mentioned that I want to learn more skills. A number of coincident events got me to thinking about the Scout’s and how great it is for teaching young people worthwhile skills. Since we are never too old to learn new things, I’ve decided to focus on gaining some new skills this year. Using the Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge system as a guide, I’ve decided on some badges I want to earn this year:

First Aid:

Administering First Aid is something everyone should know how to do. The reasons are obvious, so I won’t go into them other than to say that you never know when you might be first on the scene of a car crash or have someone have an accident while out hiking. As part of my job I used to have to do a refresher First Aid course every couple of years, but I don’t think I’ve done one in the last 5 years. It’s time to refresh those skills.

Because I’ve undertaken first aid course before I can probably just refresh my memory with a couple of books I have at home. One of the best investments I’ve made is the 493 page tome, When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency

My local Fire Department offers CPR courses every month for $25, which I might consider doing. 

Emergency Preparedness:

While I was looking up information on First Aid courses, I came across another fantastic initiative in my community: The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).  I think I’m going to sign up for their Spring training course which covers the following classes and skills.

Module 1 — Disaster Preparedness. Introduction to types of disasters and the role of CERTs in a disaster.

Module 2 — Disaster Fire Suppression. Basic fire suppression strategy, fire fighting resources and fire fighting techniques.

Module 3 — Disaster Medical Operations. Treatment techniques for life-threatening conditions, principles of Triage, establishing treatment areas, and more.

Module 4 — Disaster Light Search. Search and rescue priorities, size-up strategies, and rescuer safety.

Module 5 — Terrorism/Disaster Psychology/Team Organization. Potential threats and how to identify them, CERT activation and Preparedness. The post-disaster emotional environment, the CERT organization and decision making.

Personal Fitness:

Working on my personal fitness is one of my primary goals in 2010. I aim to be in better shape, have more energy and gain confidence in my bodies ability to do whatever it is I put my mind to.

Late last year I had a complete physical including blood tests. Everything was  within normal range so I was happy that my first two years in America had not given me high blood-pressure or anything that might lead to diabetes, despite the pounds I put on.

As part of earning my personal fitness badge I aim to do the following:

• Get back within my healthy weight range
• Increase strength and endurance, through a regular weight lifting routine.
• Eat a nutritious, healthy diet which consists of foods that are as much as possible: minimally processed, local, organic and fair trade. 

Hiking

Hiking is the activity I love to do to keep my body and mind in shape. Walking packs power into my legs and makes my heart and lungs healthy and strong. Getting out into the outdoors challenges my senses and makes me happy.

To achieve this badge there are a few things I need to learn/work on.

• Know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while hiking, including hypothermia, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, sprained ankle, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, hyperventilation, and altitude sickness.
• Adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace.
• Develop a plan for conditioning myself for 10-mile hikes.
• Plan and undertake five 10-mile hikes, including map routes, a clothing and equipment list, and a list of items for a trail lunch.
• Take a hike of 20 continuous miles in one day.

Camping:

I used to go camping with my family as a kid and last year Brendan and I went a couple of times. I mostly relied on him to pack everything we needed, so this year I want to work on my own camping skills.

To achieve this badge there are a few things I need to learn/work on.

• Know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur while camping, including hypothermia, frostbite, heat reactions, dehydration, altitude sickness, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.
• Plan an overnight trek using a topographical map and compass OR a topographical map and a GPS receiver.
• Prepare a check list of clothing and gear needed for overnight campout in both warm and cold weather.
• Know the importance of camp sanitation and know a couple of ways to treat water.
• Know how to use different types of lightweight cooking stoves and be able to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trail.
• Know how to make a fire using materials in the local environment.

Climbing:

Brendan has been climbing for a couple of years and our friends back in Australia are keen for us to become their climbing partners when we get home. I’ve been indoor climbing, but have yet to learn the skills required for rock climbing. Lucky for me, Brendan is an instructor so I should be able to learn what I need to know from him.

• Know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur during climbing activities, including heat and cold reactions, dehydration, stopped breathing, sprains, abrasions, fractures, rope burns, blisters, snakebite, and insect bites or stings.
• Learn how the difficulty of climbs are classified. 
• Learn the verbal signals required during every climb and rappel, and while bouldering.
• Learn the kinds of rope acceptable for use in climbing and rappelling and know how to care for rope to prevent damage.
• Learn the different types of knots required for belaying, climbing, or rappelling.
• Learn how to belay a climber using a top rope as well as a lead climber.
• Learn how to climb different types of routes on rock face.
• Refresh myself on how to rappel down rock face.
• Learn how to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for climbing, rappelling, and belaying.

Backpacking:

After I’ve worked on my hiking and camping skills, the next logical step is the Backpacking merit badge. I’ve always wanted to undertake more backpacking trips. The last one I did was over 10 years ago when I was much younger and fitter and it was tough work. I want to work up to being able to go away on backpacking trips later this year.

• Develop a list of essential items to be carried on any backpacking trek, while limiting the weight and bulk to be carried.
• Adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace while backpacking, including the proper methods of handling human and other wastes.
• Know what to do if I get lost.
• Know how to prepare properly for and deal with inclement weather.
• Plan and undertake a backpacking hike of at least three days.

Cycling:

I currently ride my bike to and from work most days, however Brendan does all my repairs and tune ups. I need to be a little more self-reliant and know how to do these things for myself. As part of Brendan’s new bike business he’ll be offering bike maintenance course, so I guess I can start there.

• Know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while cycling, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.
• Learn basic bike maintenance.
• Learn the skills required for mountain biking on cross-country trails.
• Plan and undertake two rides of 10 miles each, two rides of 15 miles each, and two rides of 25 miles each.
• Plan and undertake a a 50-mile trip within eight hours.

Energy:

Saving, producing, and using energy wisely is something we all should be doing and I was pleasantly surprised to see this merit badge on the scout’s list. While I already minimise the amount of energy I use, I suspect there is still so much more to learn.

• Conduct an energy audit of my home and then record what we did to reduce our energy use.
• Know the types of energy used in our home (electricity, oil, liquid petroleum, and natural gas) and know how each is delivered and measured, and the current cost.
•  Know ways to use energy resources more wisely. Consider the energy required for the things you do and use on a daily basis (cooking, showering, using lights, driving, watching TV, using the computer). Know how you can change your energy use through reuse and recycling.
• Identify and describe examples of energy waste in our community, suggest possible ways to reduce this waste and describe the idea of trade-offs in energy use. Examine how the changes would lower costs, reduce pollution, or otherwise improve the community. Examine what changes to routines, habits, or convenience are necessary to reduce energy waste. Consider why people might resist the changes.
• Learn which energy resources supply  most energy, the share of energy resources used by different countries, the proportion of energy resources used by homes, businesses, industry, and transportation, the fuels used to generate electricity and the world’s known and estimated primary energy resource reserves.
• Learn what is being done to make FIVE of the following energy systems produce more usable energy. Understand the technology, cost, environmental impacts, and safety concerns.
  • Biomass digesters or waste-to-energy plants
  • Cogeneration plants
  • Fossil fuel power plants
  • Fuel cells
  • Geothermal power plants
  • Nuclear power plants
  • Solar power systems
  • Tidal energy, wave energy, or ocean thermal energy conversion devices
  • Wind turbines

Rifle Shooting:

I already know how to safely shoot firearms and have experience with rifles, air guns, 9mm and cross-bow. I wouldn’t say I’m always the best shot, but  I do OK and know how to be safe. I’ve already met most of the requirements for this badge, but there are a few things I need to learn first.

• Understand the main points of the laws for owning and using guns in my community and state.
• Understand the main points of hunting laws in your state and any special laws on the use of guns and ammunition.

Wilderness Survival:

I’d really like to learn some wilderness survival skills. It’s likely I’ll learn some of these skills while working on my other badges, but if I do get a chance this year, I’d like to add this badge to my list. 

• Learn the priorities for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location. 
• Know what steps I would take to survive in the following conditions:
  • Cold and snowy
  • Wet (forest)
  • Hot and dry (desert)
  • Windy (mountains or plains)
  • Water (ocean, lake, or river)
• Put together a personal survival kit and know how each item in it could be useful.
• Using three different methods (other than matches), build and light three fires. 
• Know how to attract attention when lost, use a signal mirror and give ground-to-air signals.
• Improvise a natural shelter.
• Know how to protect myself from insects, reptiles, and bears.
• Know how to treat water found in the outdoors to prepare it for drinking.

LS had some more good ideas for Peak Oil Prep badges. Anyone got more suggestions?

I wish I was a Boy Scout – I need more skills

Ok….I’m not now or ever have been a boy, but it occurred to me this week that I really wish I had been a Boy Scout¹. See, I’ve been thinking lately about all the skills I’m lacking. Skills I need to be more self-sufficient. Skills I probably would have learned in the Boy Scouts.

Recently I saw some photos on Facebook from an old friend who has recently spent some time in Africa working with the Scout movement. He’s the decendent of Sir Baden-Powell, the founder of the scout movement so I think that gives him some sort of celebrity status in the scouts. Anyway I digress. While I was looking at his photos from Africa I got to thinking, once again, how I wish I had been a scout.

Then I read the following from Noni Mausa who commented on JMG’s blog this week:

Mastery simply involves the non-institutional teaching and practice of skills and fields of knowledge. Model: Scout Merit badges. People of all ages should be picking up knowledge, and a model of merit badge-like recognitions (for learners and also teachers) would enrich the country, make people prouder of themselves, and have something to show for it. A lot of mastery learning and teaching structure already exists, but isn’t given the recognition it deserves.

Learning new skills is an important goal for me this year. Given that I’m not going to be a scout and I have no kids who I could help through the process, I figured I should probably just look up what scouts learn and then teach myself. So I started searching the Merit Badges of the Boy Scouts of America and have decided on some badges I’m going to earn for myself!

First, here are the badges I think I’ve already earned:

Art: I took art as a subject all through High School, despite requiring mostly maths and science subjects for university. I went back to uni a couple of years ago for a certificate in creative photography, just for fun and I’ve run my own photography business. I think I’m good on this one.

Aviation: I’m an Aerospace Engineer by trade, have worked with aircraft for half my life and flown in them more times than I care to count. I think I’ve well and truly earned this badge.

Astronomy: As a kid I was obsessed with Astronomy and I was sure I was going to be an astronaut when I grew up. You can ask my parents. from the time my Dad explained the solar system to me at age 4, I couldn’t get enough.  Although I grew out of my obsession with becoming an astronaut, I guess I didn’t deviate too far from the profession, becoming an aerospace engineer instead. This is something really amazing about seeing the rings of Saturn, in a high-power telescope, looking so close you could reach out and touch them.

Computers: Having studied engineering I know how computers work and at one time knew to to program them. I spend too many hours a day in front of them, but I find them an essential element of modern day life and wouldn’t choose to be without one.

 Dog Care: If I hadn’t become an engineer, I might have almost been a dog handler. I love dogs, consider Zoe dog to be part of family and just a few years ago ran my own dog photography business. It was the best job ever!

Electronics: I learned more than I ever cared to know about Electronics at university. While I’ve probably forgotten much of what I learned I think four years of it makes me deserving of this badge.

Engineering: I’ve been an engineer for half my life. Even though I get told I don’t look like an engineer, I certainly think like one.

Entrepreneurship: I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I love to start new enterprises, come up with business plans, work out the finances and think of ways to market things. I’ve run my own business in the past, and see myself running a number of home based businesses in the future.

Gardening: This is my most recent skill for which I qualify for a badge. I’ve grown vegetables from seed, know how to deal with my garden pests organically and have built and maintained a compost bin for nearly a year.

Painting: I’ve renovated enough old houses to be well equipped to earn this badge.

Personal Management: If there is one thing I do well, it’s personal management. Remember I said I think like an engineer? Well, I tend to run my personal life like a really important project. There are goals and lists and schedules and resource management plans. You name it. Friends think I’m a little wacky. I think I have this one covered.

Pets: Yep. Done. I have managed to keep my dog alive for more than 10 years.

Photography: As mentioned previously…plenty of experience in photography.

Public Speaking: I regularly have to give briefs and presentations to large groups of people, often from a variety of nations. I’ve certainly earned this badge.

Reading: Ok….this is an easy one for me. I’ve been a prolific reader all my life. I’d read the back of the cereal box if nothing else is available.

Well….that was an interesting exercise. I guess I do actually have some skills. Some of them are probably not particularly useful in the sort of localised, expensive-energy future I envisage, but who knows where we can make ourselves useful in times of need.

Next week I’m going to choose some scout merit badges I want to earn for myself in 2010.

1. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Girl Guides or whatever. I’ve used Boy Scouts of America becuase they have the best information available on the internet.

Wishing I had some Cayenne Pepper right now

I have a shocking headache and I wish I had some cayenne pepper on hand.

I swore off pharmaceuticals last year for a variety of reasons. I wanted to reduce the amount of toxins I was putting into my body and therefore making their way into the water supply. I didn’t want to support the pharmaceutical industry either, because I think drugs have become far too pervasive in our society. For these reasons, I now try to find a natural alternative when before I would have popped some type of pill. Today I have politely declined all offers of headache tablets and I’ll wait till I get home to make myself a cup of Cayenne Tea.

“In 35 years of practice, and working with the people and teaching, I have never on house calls lost one heart attack patient and the reason is, whenever I go in–if they are still breathing–I pour down them a cup of cayenne tea (a teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water, and within minutes they are up and around).” ~Dr. Christopher

Cayenne pepper tea is our elixir of choice when it comes to pain relief. Whether we have a sore throat or a pounding headache, Cayenne pepper does the trick.

For centuries Cayenne pepper has been used medicinally to treat pain, inflammation, headaches, the circulatory system, digestive tract disorders, sore throat, and to boost immunity. It has been referred to as the most useful and valuable herb in the herb kingdom by many herbalists.

Capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne brings relief by depleting Substance P, a neurotransmitter that helps transmit pain impulses. Cayenne works in seconds and gets the blood moving faster than any herb known. The fact that it is such a great blood circulation stimulant makes it beneficial for many ailments.

How lucky we are to have six Cayenne pepper bushes in our garden. They supply more than enough peppers for all our cooking (cayenne goes in most meals in our house) and medicinal needs. Soon we will grind up our hundreds of dried peppers into flakes and give them away to friends.

Update:

My Cayenne Tea recipe

• 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Ginger
• 3 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Lemon if desired
• 1 cup hot water

Photo by: Chiots Run

Finding our Place – Adapting in the City or Country?

Sharon Astyk wrote a very interesting post a couple of weeks ago about Reconsidering Cities. It got me to thinking about whether the right decision for us is a few acres outside a small country town or a large house block in a medium-sized city. We go back and forth on this question very regularly, so today I’d like to spend some time determining the pro’s and con’s of each option.

I apologise in advance if this is not at all interesting to anyone but me, but it’s been something I’ve been thinking about for a while. If you do happen to have some thoughts that I’ve missed, I’d appreciate if you could leave me a comment.

This thought process is part of our five-year plan. For the next five years we intend to keep working, saving money and maybe starting a family. We also intend to keep working on our self-sufficiency plans and making our vision become a reality. OK…onto the two options I can’t seem to decide upon.

1. Adapting in the City

There is really only one city I’d be interested in living in permanently when I return to Australia. Here are a few statistics to put it in perspective.

• Population ~320,000
• 31% of the population are aged between 20-39. Only 14% of the population are aged over 60.
• Over 40% of the population are working in government administration and defence.
• 68% travel to work in a car, 6% walk or cycle and 5% catch the bus.
• Median Household income is $1400 per week.

It’s very much a government town, with much of the population well educated and well paid.

My vision for adapting in the city

We’ll be living in a small house (2-3 bedrooms) which is likely to be a post-war brick or weatherboard ex-government house. We’ll be on a block that’s about 500-600m² (5300-6500ft²) which is in the inner city area (within 7km drive of the city centre). We’ll be within walking distance of local shops, restaurants and cafes and can cycle to most places within the inner core of the city because it’s extremely bike friendly. We’ll have made our property as sustainable as possible given the climatic conditions:

• By Australian standards, summers are hot and winters are cold (snow is rare although frosts occur 25% of the year). Good insulation is a must, as is an efficient heating source to stop us freezing in the winter.
• We’ll add solar hot water and solar electricity panels to the roof. It’s a very sunny city, with mean daily sunshine of 7.6 hours/day and completely clear days 27% of the year.
• The average annual rainfall is 629 mm (25 in) with an average of 108 rain days per year. Rainfall is reasonably evenly distributed throughout the year.  Unfortunately in El Nino years the region is prone to drought and bushfires. We’ll add rainwater tanks and a grey water system to the property to maximise the usage of all available water, but the lack of rainfall is a still a concern to me.

Most people require a car to live here, but the design of the city is such that small ‘townships’ have been developed to cater to residents. Each neighbourhood has at least a local store  and it wouldn’t be too difficult to ‘relocalise’ much of the population. Farmers markets and food co-ops are already up and running and bus transportation is available.

Because it’s a reasonable sized city, I imagine we’ll find plenty of like minded friends in the community and will find many opportunities to get involved with sustainable solutions to the issues of peak oil and environmental degradation. There is a fabulous weekly market where local people can sell their home-made products and home-produced food. There is plenty of culture with fantastic museums, art galleries and theatres. There are a lot of parks and recreational areas throughout the city, making it easy to get out into nature regularly. There are plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails all over the place, making it ideal for us.

Both Brendan and I will be working part-time jobs. I imagine I’ll be working in some type of government agency which deals with the environment or energy. Between us, we will probably be running a couple of home based businesses. With a population of young government workers, the disposable income in this city is likely to remain higher than what could be expected in other parts of the country. This would make this city a good place to operate small service-based businesses with low overheads.

Because of the high cost of living in this city, we’ll have to maintain an income within the real economy to pay for the mortgage, food, transport and services. We will not have a tremendous amount of free time available to become self-reliant, so we’ll be relying more on a large community over an extended area for food and services.

Pros of adapting in the city

• Access to culture (museums, art galleries, theatres, cafes and restaurants)
• Potentially a larger group of like minded people.
• More options for employment. Jobs typically high paying. Better ability to run home-based businesses for income.
• Lovely natural environment with great hiking and biking trails.
• More opportunity to influence leaders and people to prepare for a future with less.

Cons of adapting in the city

• Prone to drought and bushfires.
• Vast distances to family.
• Car dependent culture unless able to afford inner-city living.
• Must keep working to afford the cost of living. (Rent alone would be a minimum of $500 per week for an old house)
• Expensive housing. Median house prices in a low-priced inner-city suburb are more than 8 times the median income. Prices rose 230% last decade.

2. Adapting in the country

The town we are considering is Brendan’s childhood hometown which is located on a plateau at the top of a mountain range.

• Population is 2643 including the outlying areas.
• 25% of residents are over 60. Only 15 % are aged between 20-39. It is a town full of older residents as young people tend to head to the city after school.
• 28% of the population work in agriculture, forestry & fishing.
• 48% travel to work in a car, 19% work at home and 10% walk.
• The median weekly household incomes is about $400-499 (compared with the state median of $800-899 per week).
• The unemployment rate is double the state average.

My vision for adapting in the country

We’ll be living in a small home (2-3 bedrooms) which is likely to be an old weatherboard house. We’ll either be on a large block (1/4 – 3/4 acre) within walking distance of town or we’ll be on a few acres less than 10 km out of town.  If we are in town we’ll be within walking distance of local shops, schools and a couple of restaurants and cafes. We’ll have made our property as sustainable as possible given the climatic conditions:

• Summers are mild and winters are cool and windy. The town doesn’t receive snow and frosts occur less than 10 days per year. Insulation will be important and a good wood fire will keep us warm on those cold, wet nights.  
• The average annual rainfall is 1979 mm (78 in), making it the wettest town in the state. In a dry country, this much rain is a rarity. If we live out of town, we will not have to rely on town water at all.
• Despite all the rain, there is still quite a bit of sun (31% of days throughout the year are clear and sunny). We’ll add solar hot water to the roof and may look to use a combination of solar and wind energy for electricity.

The local community is quite well set up and all the essentials are available for purchase in town. Some of the businesses are resupplied by traveling salesmen, which seems a quaint reference to a bygone era.  If it’s not available in town, we’d have to drive one hour to the coast or one hour inland to a small city. A local bus goes to the coast once per week for the day. The region is extremely fertile and plenty of food is being grown locally, although I’m not sure that a local food movement is up and running formally yet.

It’s a small town and much of the population is elderly. While this may be good for learning skills from our elders, I’m a bit concerned about the viability of a town with such a small proportion of young adults. This situation may change as more people become aware of the need to adapt to a changing world.  On the plus-side, the town at the bottom of the mountain has a thriving cafe and arts scene with many local people already living ‘alternate’ lifestyles. The shire is already part of the transition town movement and I can imagine that we could get involved and bring much of that activity up the mountain.

As you can imagine with all that rain and sunshine, the town is surrounded by green, rolling hills and national parks. The town itself has retained much of its original character and hasn’t suffered too badly from modern times. In fact the local bakery still uses a wood-fired oven and the Gazette is the last Australian newspaper printed by the letterpress method. Apparently it’s the last independent newspaper in Australia.

The town is currently very reliant on vehicles to bring everything in from the coast or via the inland route. Occasionally the mountain will be cut off for a week due to flooding of the waterfalls. The train line closed in 1972, but I imagine it could get back up and running under the right set of circumstances. There is still an active group of residents who are doing some fantastic work to preserve railway vehicles and the equipment of a bygone era.

Because there aren’t many options for employment in town, I imagine Brendan and I will both end up working at a variety of things such as in local businesses, working at home and volunteering in a variety of ways.

We should be able to afford to purchase our home outright and with a small income from investments, we could be financially independent to the point that we can choose the type of work we partake in. We’ll have time to grow some of our own food. We can also get involved in self-sufficiency on a community level.

Pros of adapting in the country

• Plentiful water and food
• Close to family
• More affordable housing
• More time due to financial independence
• Beautiful location with access to National Parks, rivers and countryside
• More opportunity to interact with the local community and make a difference on a more personal level

Cons of adapting in the country

• Cultural activities different to what I’m used to (local theatre and blues festivals, rather than cafes and museums)
• Elderly population. Potentially more difficult to make friends our age.
• Employment opportunities limited.
• Potentially cut-off from the outside world if car usage has to decline.

I just can’t decide which option is for us

I need some new perspectives. Have you chosen one over the other and regretted it or do you love how you live? What do you see the future becoming, and what would you choose if you were in our position?

Thanks for any comments you wish to provide.

Being prepared for an Earthquake (or any other natural disaster)

By now, we’ve all heard about the terrible earthquake that struck Haiti this week. Living in Southern California I’m no stranger to earthquakes, but until now I’ve been very lucky to not have experienced a big one. This latest disaster has served to remind me that a similar sized quake could happen here….and I simply don’t feel like I’ve adequately prepared for the possibility.

Scientists predict that California is due for a ‘big one’ along the San Andreas Fault system.

But the 100-mile (160-kilometer) southern section of the fault, which runs south from San Bernardino to the east of Los Angeles and San Diego, has remained eerily quiet for nearly three centuries. Now, scientists believe, the fault is ready to rumble.

“It is fully charged for the next big event,” said Yuri Fialko, a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. When the event will occur, we cannot tell,” he continued. “It could be tomorrow or 20 years from now, but it appears unlikely the fault can take another few hundred years of slow strain accumulation.”

~ Major Earthquake Due to Hit Southern California, Study Says, National Geographic News

Being Prepared for Natural Disaster

The real key to surviving an earthquake and reducing risk of injury lies in planning, preparing, and practicing what we will do if it happens. While Earthquake is the most likely natural disaster I might experience in this location, the following suggestions can easily be adapted to preparing for Bushfires/Wildfires, Hurricanes/Cyclones, Floods, Tornadoes etc.

Practice Drills

By planning and practicing what to do if an earthquake strikes, we can learn to react automatically when the shaking begins. During an earthquake most deaths and injuries are caused by collapsing building materials and heavy falling objects. I need to learn the safe spots in each room of my home and office.  

Last year our office undertook an earthquake drill. We all thought it was a bit of fun diving under the desk at the appointed time, but I guess it’s important to automatically know what to do if the real thing happens.

Here’s what to practice during an earthquake drill:

• Get under a sturdy table or desk and hold on to it.
• If not near a table or desk, cover your face and head with your arms; and
  • stand or crouch in a strongly supported doorway OR . . .
  • brace yourself in an inside corner of the house or building.
• Stay clear of windows or glass that could shatter or objects that could fall on you.
• If inside, stay inside. Many people are injured at entrances of buildings by falling debris.

Evacuation Plans

If an earthquake occurs, we might need to evacuate the area afterwards.  We need to come up with a plan for what we would do for evacuation so we’ll be better prepared to respond quickly to signs of danger or to directions by civil authorities. Here are some suggestions:

• Take a few minutes to discuss a home evacuation plan. Walk through each room and discuss evacuation details.
• Plan a second way to exit each room or area, if possible. If you need special equipment, such as a rope ladder, mark where it is located.
• Know where your emergency food, water, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers are located.
• Know where the utility switches or valves are located so that they can be turned off, if possible.
• Determine the location of your family’s emergency outdoor meeting place.  

Establish Priorities

Before an earthquake strikes, write an emergency priority list, including:

• important items to be hand-carried out
• items to be removed by car if available
• things to do if time permits, such as locking doors and windows, turning off the utilities, etc.

Write Down Important Information

Make a list of important information and put it in a secure location. Include on your list:

• important telephone numbers, such as police, fire, paramedics, and medical centers
• the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your insurance agents, including policy types and numbers
• the telephone numbers of the electric, gas, and water companies
• the names and telephone numbers of neighbours
• the name and telephone number of your landlord or property manager
• important medical information, such as allergies, regular medications, etc.
• the vehicle identification number, year, model, and license number of your automobile, boat, RV, etc.
• your bank’s or credit union’s telephone number, account types, and numbers
• radio and television broadcast stations to tune to for emergency broadcast information

Gather and Store Important Documents in a Fire-Proof Safe

•  Birth certificates
•  Ownership certificates (automobiles, boats, etc.)
•  Social Security cards
•  Insurance policies
•  Wills
•  Household inventory

Emergency Supplies for Earthquake Preparedness

Stock up now on emergency supplies that can be used after an earthquake. These supplies should include a first aid kit, survival kits for the home, automobile, and workplace, and emergency water and food. Store enough supplies to last at least three days. I’ll write another post soon with some things to consider putting in each of the kits.

Photo by: Telstar Logistics

Farewell My Subaru – A Book Review

Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living by Doug Fine

In this memoir of mishaps and lessons learned, Fine shares his yearlong trek to turn his newly bought New Mexico ranch into a green and sustainable environment with as little carbon fuel as possible. From using two very lovable goats for his organic food production to transitioning into a biofuel engine for his truck and even installing solar panels, Fine balances the troubling decisions Americans must consider while also revealing a host of unexpected benefits. He advocates that a gradual process, despite having to deal with moments of hypocrisy, is essential for it to work. Fine’s wry narration blends well with his often humorous and sarcastic tone. The energy and enthusiasm of his reading indicates that Fine not only relished the events but is happy to share his experience with listeners. ~ Publishers Weekly

At only 224 pages this was a a quick and enjoyable read, just perfect for some vacation down time. Even Brendan who never was much of a reader knocked this one over quite quickly with a few chuckles along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and came away more inspired than ever to get my little piece of land somewhere and make a go of living more locally. The message throughout is that we need to take steps, however small, to move to a more sustainable lifestyle. We can’t avoid being hypocrites at some point along our journey, but as long as we are moving in the right direction it’s better than doing nothing at all. I also really enjoyed reading about the journey from a guy’s point of view (as did Brendan). I highly recommend this book (8/10) and had added it to my list of books in the blog’s resource section.

I feel myself losing hope

I’ve almost finished my first week back at work and the energy and enthusiasm I had coming back from vacation is gone. I’m feeling really down on the world right now and have very little hope for humans. Here are a few contributing factors:

• On each of the last three days, I’ve nearly been knocked off my bicycle by people who are either not paying attention or are too arrogant to consider my safety. After three days of it, it got too much for me and today I drove the car into work. Although it’s probably just some bad luck (I’ve never had this many close calls on the bike) I feel like something has shifted within people over the last few months.  I feel like this simple inattention to road safety is symbolic of what’s going on in greater society…. almost like people are drawing into themselves, or watching out for themselves at the expense of others. This is coming at a time when we should be banding together as a human community and that makes me despair for the future.
• On our morning walks this week, a large percentage of people simply ignore us when we say good morning. Not that they didn’t hear us….they simply refused to acknowledge that we had spoken to them. This has always happened to some extent, but it seems to be more pronounced this week. How hard is it to simply exchange a pleasantry with a fellow human being?
• Yesterday I overheard a conversation regarding the wasting of resources. I was within earshot and the people involved knew how I feel about the wasting of resources (mainly water, oil and electricity). This person was so arrogant about their right to use as much as they like and exclaimed loudly that they didn’t care if they had to pay more for it, but there was no way they were going to use less. Southern California is in drought and is running out of water and this persons solution was desalination plants. Never mind turning off the tap or allowing your lawn to become slightly less luxurious…the answer is to build extremely expensive desalination plants during a global recession (California is insolvent by the way) and run it with increasingly expensive energy. Oh boy! I could live with people who are clueless about our limited resources; education can solve that. But that fact that some people are aware of the issues and still arrogantly believe they are entitled to more than their share…now that does my head in.

Although I’m feeling a bit down on things at the moment, a couple of blog posts this morning brought a smile to my face.

• Homegrown Luffa and homemade soap
• Crocheted dishclothes
• Homemade bread

These are simple things. Things I can control. This weekend I’m going get dirty in the garden, finish off some crochet projects and work on my self-sufficiency plans. I suspect that there is nothing like a good dose of personal action to make me feel more empowered and hopeful.

Photo by: h.koppdelaney