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Apocalypse Then

* Hundreds of survivalists and ‘Preppers’ gathered in Salt Lake City last weekend to forestall the Apocalypse

* Shown underground bunkers, tactical weapons and an armed $2,500 Motoped Survival Bike

* Taught how to store food and dressed as zombies for special contest

Hundreds of survivalists and “preppers” were gathered in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy for the first PrepperCon, last friday, featuring demonstrations of underground bunkers, food storage and armoured vehicles.
Scott Stallings, one of the show’s founders, says the event was inspired by the success of ComicCon and is amping up the entertainment with the hope of attracting younger people who may not be enthusiasts of food storage and other survivalist strategies.

Among the expo’s main events is a zombie apocalypse costume contest and appearances by actors from the AMC hit show “The Walking Dead.”

During the two-day expo, visitors were shown specially-equipped underground bunkers, learned new methods of storing food, tried out solar powered flashlights, knives of all shapes and sizes, hi-tech gadgets, food storage units, first aid supplies and armored trucks. There were also live demonstrations and a survival cooking contest.

Motoped employee Ken Stone showed off the Motoped Survival Bike, described by the company as a ‘tactical blank canvas’ with a 500-mile range, 200mpg efficiency and a heavy-duty universal rack.

THE MOTOPED SURVIVAL BIKE

The Motoped Survival Bike is described as something in between a ‘hard-core downhill mountain bike and a fully-fledged motorcycle’.
It can be pedaled or motored without stopping to make a change, and can ‘go where stand alone bicycles or motorcycles can’t’.
Unit weight: 132 pounds
Range: 500 miles (805 km)
Efficiency: 200 mpg (1.2 L/100km)
Top speed: 24mph
Engine Displacement: 49cc / 125cc
Max Horsepower: 49cc – 2.41 HP @ 7500 RPM / 125cc – 7.78 @ 7500 RPM
Front Suspension: Adjustable DNM USD-8 Forks (8″ travel)
Rear Suspension: Adjustable DNM Burner – RCP2 Shock
Seat Height: 35″ (Adjustable)
Cost: $2,499
Source: Motoped
The $2,500 bike can be pedaled or motored without stopping to make a change, and can ‘go where stand alone bicycles or motorcycles can’t’.
But with a top speed of 24mph, could it outrun zombies?
The company certainly appears to think so. ‘This bike was built for the creative survivalist. Apply your favorite gear and escape with your life,’ an online description of the vehicle reads.
Following PrepperCon, Miller, 15, told KUTV that she thought the expo had been ‘really cool’ and that Salt Lake City was a ‘gorgeous’ region.
‘I enjoy meeting the fans and getting their perspective on the show,’ she added.
The North Carolina teenager was joined at the event on Saturday by her co-star, Theo Crane.
Celebrity survival expert Mykel Hawke, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer who is best known for his role on the reality TV series ‘Man, Woman, Wild’, also made an appearance.
On its website, PrepperCon describes …

April 27, 2015 No Comments

Community

Project green junk – Reflector oven

I have some truly ingenious friends on FaceBook, and Kent Lee Ivey is one of the best, he loves nothing more than to travel around, pick up seemingly unrelated junk and turn it into really useful stuff. Earlier today I saw pictures he posted about how to build a reflector oven, these are really cheap items, but with a bit of effort, it is transformed. Here is how he did it in his words (and pictures):

Two sets of cheap baking trays from Wally World, a pack of brass fasteners from their office supply, and a cheesy trellis thingy from the garden section..
Whalla !
A reflector Oven for $15
Folds back down and nestles together for easy travel.

Re-posted with permission

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April 25, 2015 No Comments

Community

Castle de-fence

Well, more like a gate, it is part of the defense, I don’t expect anyone to really charge the door, they would have to find it first. PB decided he wanted to reinforce the front door from whatever or whoever may try to come in uninvited, so he built a gate out of solid oak, it’s big and it’s heavy. It’s mostly finished, just needs a good latch of some sort. Here are some pictures of the gate.

With spring here, it’s getting warmer, though it’s still cool enough at night to sometimes build a small fire, just enough to break the chill. The rain seems to have started up early, which is fine, unless I’m needing to get out of the neighborhood, then it’s a mudfest on our unpaved roads, most of the time I can just wait a while for the roads to dry out enough to pass through.

The truck is looking pretty good, PB has really gone above and beyond in getting everything pushed, pulled and knocked back into place, I have been traveling very slowly at night, no more than 45 mph (the speed limit is 70 mph!), I get home later but I get home in one piece. I have had a few more close calls with deer, I seem to be a deer magnet now for some reason. I still plan on getting a grille guard, the one I’m looking at is over $500 installed, but that’s cheaper than having to replace my truck or even spending some time in the ER or worse.

I now have the money to buy this grille guard, but haven’t had the time to get it installed, I’ve been working a LOT, not complaining though, it makes for good paychecks (remember, I live on the cheap, so even a little more money seems like a lot). I’ll be happy to get back into my regular schedule though, working a few days a week then having the rest of the time off to do the other things I need to do.

That’s an update on my life lately, it’s a good life, I am so thankful that I get to live this way, it’s not for everyone, and it took hard work and time to get here, it was worth it.

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April 24, 2015 No Comments

Community

I finally got it!

Actually got it last week, it was sent out a month ago from the UK, it arrived in Chicago and took a long rest, must have been very tired from flying over the ocean ;). I was starting to worry that it just vanished, more likely it fell on the floor behind some desk and someone found it later and sent it on its way.

So what is this? I’m very excited, it’s a Battery Extra battery desulfator, but not just any desulfator, this is designed specifically for off-grid users. This works on the larger battery banks that off-gridders typically have, many desulfators work best on single batteries, they aren’t designed to work on multiple batteries. Sakura Batteries UK company designed this 2nd generation desulfator to work on deep cycle lead acid batteries that are connected together in bank, the one I received is the “EX02 12-48-400“, this work for 12-48 volts up to 1500 Ah, there is one above this unit, it will handle up to 120 volts and 3000 Ah.

Here is what they have to say about this unit:

For the first time a single unit battery desulfator specifically designed to maintain, recover and keep large battery packs in top condition whilst still maintaining the ability to work on smaller battery packs. Generally battery packs in the 12 to 48 volt range, over 500Ah are found in fork lift trucks, medium size off-grid solar systems and power back up systems. Dual power settings allow you to set the Battery Extra EX02 for battery packs up to 500 Ah, or for packs from 500+Ah up to 1,500 Ah. A thermostatically controlled, built in, cooling fan helps dissipate the heat created, when used with 24 volt or higher voltages. The EX02 Battery desulfator also gives an indication of battery internal resistance.

Off-Grid solar system battery packs are particularly susceptible to battery sulfation. Lead acid batteries should always be fully charged before use and with solar batteries this not always possible.

– Quad voltage 12, 24, 36 and 48 volt
– Automatic voltage detection
– Dual power settings 200 and 400 mA
– Battery voltage indicator
– No mains power required
– Works during both charge and discharge cycle
– Aluminum case
– Settable low voltage cut off
– Internal cooling fan
– Short circuit protection built in
– EMC tested to EU standards
– CE compliance tested
– Works on all types of lead acid batteries
– Easy installation via ring connectors.

Noticeable results may be seen after the first use, but in most cases the full benefits of using the Battery Extra will take longer, which is why we offer a 60 day risk free trial. If within 60 days, you are not impressed with the results, we’ll refund your money in full – no questions asked. Try the Battery Extra today.

FREE DELIVERY

Our prices

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April 19, 2015 No Comments

Community

New Earthship lands in Oz

April 14, 2015 No Comments

Community

Japanese inspired tiny home in Ohio

When Alex Melamed and his wife moved to the traditional brick and mortar town of Yellow Springs, Ohio they built a home only as big as they needed at the time. Melamed is a builder (Green Generation Building) and could keep costs low while still incorporating high design elements like shou-sugi-ban (charred wood) siding.

The tiny square house was affordable to build and to run. It meets Passive House standards relying on “primo” insulation, passive solar and a heat pump when necessary. “Our electric bill was $36 last month,” explains Melamed.

Johnny Sanphillippo filmed the video and gives more context to the story on his blog. “It’s not only a super insulated Passive House, but it’s also a super small and cute Tiny House. It was part of a long-term plan that allowed Alex and his wife to buy land, build a honeymoon cottage for themselves, then save and organize the construction of a larger home in the front portion of their lot. The Tiny House in back will eventually be pressed into service as a home office/guest house/rental unit that can provide flexibility and/or generate income as they go through different stages of life. They’ve actually built with their future children and grandchildren in mind. People are more likely to build a durable high quality home if they expect to occupy it for a lifetime. That’s a very different approach than a developer slapping up cheap condos and speculators buying them with the intention of flipping as the market fluctuates.”

“The larger home that’s currently under construction will not only meet the Passive House standard for energy efficiency, but it will blend with the historical character of the neighborhood while sporting a few modern touches… Of course the town itself is a significant part of why Alex and Andrew are building where and how they are and it’s a key part of the success of their business model. Yellow Springs, Ohio is a pre-World War II “Norman Rockwell” town that offers a pedestrian oriented environment where kids can walk to school and the elderly can age in place in their own homes without the isolation and auto-dependency that is common in post war suburban sprawl.”

* Filmed by Johnny Sanphillippo, owner of a small, mortgage-free home. He also films stories about urbanism, adaptation and resilience for his site Granola Shotgun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFRdUHJekDQ

Source:
https://faircompanies.com/videos/view/japanese-inspired-wood-clad-legal-tiny-home-in-ohio-town/

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April 12, 2015 No Comments

Community

The new shape in tiny homes, arched cabins

You have seen A-Frames, you have seen traditional box shaped cabins, but have you seen this? An arched cabin? It’s like an A-Frame but with more room. When I first saw one, it reminded me of the pictures I’ve seen of boats being turned upside down and turned into cabins. (link, link)

I would think these would be good in places with heavy snowfall, and places with lots of wind, I like the design being similar to the A-Frame but it gives you much more useable room, especially in the loft or upstairs area.

Here are some pictures and a couple of videos showing these wonderful cabins, contact info at the bottom

You can learn more about these arched cabins here
https://archedcabins.com

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April 10, 2015 1 Comment

Community

Magna Carta Village eviction threat

Residents of the Runnymede Eco-village, next to the site hosting the 800th anniversary celebrations this June, won a court battle yesterday to delay their eviction from the site where they have lived for over 2 years.

But the court ruling today may prove to be a short-lived delay. Lawyers for the owners of the land will be back in court early May and a campaign has started to defend the Magna Carta village.

“We are appealing for as many people as possible to support us,” said Phoenix Rainbow, one of the defendants.

“There are millions of acres of disused land where people could live and grow food,” and we want to draw attention to that.”…

April 9, 2015 3 Comments

Community

Oogoo

As frugal and creative off-gridders, we are always on the lookout for good DIY projects, recently I “discovered” a product that can be made with 2 simple ingredients, one of them I’d be willing to bet you have in your kitchen cupboard right now, the other one you might or might not have BUT it’s easily purchased inexpensively from your local store, even the dollar stores carry it.

The commercial version of this product is called Sugru, it’s basically a silicon molding product, it has many uses from the obvious, creating small molds of nearly anything, to creating rubber coatings and bumpers on items. The only drawback to Sugru is it’s expensive and not readily available.

There is a DIY alternative that seems to be every bit as good as the commercial product, and it’s very inexpensive to make. It’s called “oogoo”, look it up and you’ll be intrigued as to what it can do. The two ingredients to make it are corn starch and 100% silicon, that’s it, unless you wish to color it or make it electrically conductive.

A few days ago, I purchased a big tube of 100% silicon, I was going to get a small tube, but when I compared the price, I could get the larger tube for just a few pennies more, I couldn’t pass up a bargain, and besides, if I don’t use it all, then PB will use it on something.

The way this works is you use about a 50-50 mixture by volume of silicon and corn starch (it’s also referred to as corn flour), you mix mix mix until the starch is fully incorporated, do this is a well ventilated room or outside, it does release fumes that smell of vinegar, it basically smells bad and can irritate you eyes and lungs. Once mixed, it’s like a soft clay that can be shaped, molded, or you can stick small items into it to create a castable mold.

You can experiment with the ratios of silicon and starch, the more starch you add, the quicker it sets, you can add graphite powder to make it electrically conductive, I’m thinking things like making your own stylus for your tablet or phone…

Silicon by itself takes longer to cure, but mixed with the starch, it cures inside and outside at the same time and much quicker. This can act like a glue, it sticks to other items very well, but can be removed, it also sticks to itself very well, so you can add more layers of it after it cures.

I did some searching to discover what this can be used for, I am thinking that it will be perfect for repairing PB’s mukluk boots, the rubber heel part has worn through, they are basically unusable as they are now, so if it works great, if it doesn’t work, then we haven’t …

April 5, 2015 1 Comment

Whose Land Is It Anyway?

As the West prepares to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta – the cornerstone of our civil liberties – a small eco-village is under threat.

The Magna Carta stopped a powerful king from seizing the possessions of the rich and powerful barons. It was agreed in Runnymede. In June the Queen and President Obama will join 5000 other dignitaries there.

But in the wood next door, a few yards from the historic place where the Barons met, are 40 hand built homes. Living there are hard-working, eco-minded people who are doing the right thing. Musicians and web designers, factory workers and chefs – looking after themselves and the land – not one of the 60 or so residents are claiming benefits, they say.

Now a fence is being built around the village.

But not just any fence – its a 6 foot tall, black,steel fence – with nasty spikes on top. “Its just to protect folks from the building work next door” say the property developers that own the land.

Ironically, the Magna Carta was originally composed of two parts – it included the Charter of the Forest, which gave Freemen the right to scavenge in the woods for fuel and food.

Not any more it seems.

We will follow the fortunes of Runnymede eco-village int he coming weeks.…

April 1, 2015 1 Comment

Solar system balancing act

Life with a small solar system is a balancing act. We have lived 8+ years now with our small solar system, tweaking it, adding to it, improving it, trying to balance our system vs the power load. Of course we are running a small load most of the time, a couple of laptops, the wireless network for said laptops, a few lights, a 12 volt water pump, a small radio, and the fridge, THAT is what takes up the most power at any given time.

Our fridge is very efficient, it started out life as a small chest freezer, we use an external thermostat (originally designed to turn small chest freezers into kegeraters), we set the temp on refrigerator temps, when it detects the correct temp inside of the box, it cuts off the power to the unit, you can read more about that here. This last winter, we pushed the fridge outside to the front porch, which meant the box didn’t have to work as hard to keep the cold temps inside.

The biggest balancing act for us is the day length vs the outside temps. During the winter, we have shorter days, which means fewer hours in which to charge our solar system, but since the outside temps are cold, the fridge doesn’t have to run as often, sometimes not at all.

During the summer months, it’s warmer outside, making the fridge run more often, but with the longer day length, there are more hours of sun to charge our batteries, so all in all, it works out pretty well, as long as we pay attention to the upcoming weather and moderate our power useage as necessary.

With the warmer temps usually come our rainy season or monsoon season, a few months where we tend to get rain nearly everyday, having overcast skies also limits the amount of solar power we get, though our panels do get some charge even with clouds present, just not the full amount of charge as a sunny day.

I have some exciting news, I have been given the opportunity to review another battery desulfator, I did a review last year on the Whizbang Plus battery desulfator (part one and part two), they worked, but were small, you pretty much have to have one per battery, this other company’s claim to fame is their second generation battery desulfators are designed to work in off-grid situation on larger battery banks, there is much more to this system. I’ll keep you in the dark about it for now, but be looking in the next week or so, as soon as I get the desulfator, which is on its way here now, I’ll do a first impression review, hook it up and let you know what I think about it, I will say that it has many more features that are going to …

March 27, 2015 2 Comments

Community

Mobile, stealthy, off-grid, vandweller

I think I got all the descriptive words covered there in the title, I am talking about Brian, also known as AdventureVanMan on YouTube. In his late 30s, single and hard working, he became disillusioned with life as he was living it and decided it was time to make a change.

Brian left his 2 bedroom apartment, sold most of his possessions, bought a cargo van and began living a life that makes him smile. He designed the inside of his cargo van to be simple, almost spartan, but it’s genius is useability and functionality. He lives in town, using a gym membership and friends & family for showering and other bathroom functions, so he doesn’t need a shower or major toilet system, he does have a backup toilet just in case, but doesn’t use it for the most part. All he really needs is a place to sleep and hang out when he’s not working.

Brian, being nowhere near retirement age, still works, so during the week, he stealth parks near where he works to save on fuel and time, on the weekends, he stays closer to the ocean in California, where he can catch a wave when he wants to, or just wake up to a beautiful sunrise glinting off the water.

I really appreciate his solar system setup, he put a lot of thought into it, utilizing the roof of his van to mount a RENOGY 100 Watt solar panel, he is able to tilt it to catch more sun, he uses two 6 volt deep cycle batteries wired together to make a 12 volt system, he uses a small inverter to power his laptop and other goodies, he also has some items hooked up directly to his batteries (12 volt goodies) so he isn’t losing power by converting from 12 volt to 110 watt. Some might deem to call Brian “homeless”, I don’t think that is the case, I feel like he made a reasonable and responsible decision to downsize and simplify his life, he wasn’t forced onto the streets, he chose to live this way.

You can view more about his solar system here:

You can learn more about Brian here
https://adventurevanman.wordpress.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/TrueBypassTheory/

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March 24, 2015 1 Comment

All you need to go off-grid

Community

Apocalypse Then

Project green junk – Reflector oven

Castle de-fence

I finally got it!

New Earthship lands in Oz

Japanese inspired tiny home in Ohio

The new shape in tiny homes, arched cabins

Magna Carta Village eviction threat

Oogoo

Whose Land Is It Anyway?

Solar system balancing act

Mobile, stealthy, off-grid, vandweller

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