Installing Beadboard Wallpaper

If you've been reading my blog since 2009, then you've no doubt seen my love for beadboard wallpaper and all that it adds to plain homes by injecting some architectural detail where there was none. I discovered Graham Brown beadboard wallpaper back in 2009 and have done many projects in my current and former homes with it. It really is a great cost-saving way to add some cool wall treatments without breaking the bank and without a lot of trouble to install.

I loved it so much, I started selling it in my online shop, so check it out if you're interested.

The post Installing Beadboard Wallpaper appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Burrowing Crawfish Problems: Getting Rid of Crayfish In The Garden

By Bonnie L. Grant Crawfish are a seasonal problem in some regions. They tend to make burrows in lawns during the rainy season, which can be unsightly and can have the potential to damage mowing equipment. The crustaceans aren't dangerous and don't hurt any other part of the lawn but often their burrows are cause enough to want them gone. Getting rid of crawfish is not that easy and really should start with re-sculpting your yard. Try these tips for removing crayfish in the garden. Crayfish Mounds in Lawns Burrowing crayfish problems are primarily a nuisance and an eye sore. These crustaceans feed on detritus and whatever they can scavenge. They don't do any harm to landscape plants and their burrows don't permanently damage turfgrass roots. About the biggest complaint are crayfish mounds in the lawn. These don't get as numerous as say, mole hills, but they can be unsightly

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'epic tomatoes,' with craig lehoullier

BY TRAINING, Craig LeHoullier is a chemist, but these days his lab is a little different from what you might [read more…]

The post 'epic tomatoes,' with craig lehoullier appeared first on A Way To Garden.

Pine Tree Pruning: How And When To Prune Pine Trees

By Jackie Carroll We treasure pine trees because they remain green throughout the year, breaking the winter monotony. They seldom need pruning except to correct damage and control growth. Find out when and how to prune a pine tree in this article. When to Prune a Pine Tree Pines are among the easiest trees to maintain because they have a naturally neat shape that seldom needs correction. About the only time you'll find yourself pruning pine trees is to correct damage from severe weather or vandalism. There's also a pruning technique you might want to try if you'd like to encourage a compact growth habit. The best time for pruning pine trees is in spring, but you can prune to correct damage any time of year. Although it's best to take care of broken and mangled branches right away, you should avoid pruning in late summer or fall whenever possible.

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Pear Decline Phytoplasma: Treating Pear Decline Disease In The Garden

By Teo Spengler What is pear decline? As the name indicates, it is not a happy diagnosis. This disease causes susceptible pear tree species to decline in health and die. Since there is no effective pear decline treatment, your best bet is to purchase resistant plants in the first place. For information about symptoms of pear decline disease, read on. What is Pear Decline Disease? Pear decline is a serious, often lethal pear tree disease caused by a phytoplasma called Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri. It is a mycoplasma-like organism without rigid cell walls. A tree is infected with this pear decline phytoplasma by insects called pear psylla. The pear psylla itself gets infected with pear decline phytoplasma from eating the foliage of infected pear trees. Once infected, a psylla stays infected and can transmit the disease to other host trees. It is also possible for a pear tree to get pear

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Stock Your Bunker: Common Necessities You May Have Overlooked

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

What you do now before an emergency happens to stock your bunker or even your home could help you survive.

The post Stock Your Bunker: Common Necessities You May Have Overlooked appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

What Is Dischidia: Tips On Growing Dischidia Plants

By Bonnie L. Grant What is Dischidia? Dischidia are epiphytic rainforest plants native to Southeast Asia and can be hardy in United States Department of Agriculture zones 10 and 11, or grown as a houseplant anywhere. These plants are also called ant plants because of a unique symbiotic relationship with ants. Dischidia ant plants are a fascinating species with a host of interesting features. Read on to learn more. What is Dischidia? It isn't correct to call Dischidia a carnivorous plant, but in a sense they do attract ants and eat the dead ones – lending to its commonly referenced name of ant plant. Ants live inside the strange balloon-like organs produced by the plant. They bring in nutrients and fend off predatory insects. In return, the plant provides a secure home. This is a fun and unique plant to grow in your home (without the ants). Dischidia plant care

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Can Ligularia Be Divided – Learn How To Split Ligularia Plants

By Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer Like me, you may find yourself constantly on the lookout for shade plants other than hostas and coral bells. If you are lucky enough to have discovered the large and beautiful specimen plant, ligularia, odds are you're hooked and want more. Growing three to six feet tall and three feet wide, the large purple tinged foliage topped with bright yellow flowers of ligularia have a dramatic effect in a part-shade or shade garden. One is simply not enough. If you've wondered can ligularia be divided, continue reading. Propagating Ligularia by Splitting Dividing perennials can rejuvenate them and stimulate new growth. Sometimes perennials will let you know when they need to be divided by not blooming well or when the center of the plant dies, leaving only a sort of donut shape of growth around the original plant crown. The plant overcrowds itself, and absorption of

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Trash Cans – Overlooked Survival Tool for Preppers?

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

You may already have a mental running list of items like duct tape, canned food, and cooking oil, but there is one item you may not have included among your prepper tools: the trash can.

The post Trash Cans – Overlooked Survival Tool for Preppers? appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Feature Friday: Edith and Evelyn Vintage

I began seeing this fairly new blogger around in the last year or so and finally checked out her blog and am getting to know her a little better. This pretty lady has had an online shop for a few years now, but really started blogging to share her 1970's house renovation and wow, is it a stunner. If you like French Country style, you will love Edith and Evelyn Vintage. Cindy is the blogger and she named the blog after her late mother and mother-in-law, Edith and Evelyn. I think you're going to enjoy this renovation story! I love to see a down trodden, good bones home come alive with new owners and Cindy and her hubby have definitely loved on this home, making it their own.

The post Feature Friday: Edith and Evelyn Vintage appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Grid Down Intelligence Gathering: Prepper Force Multiplier

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

If we want security in an SHTF scenario, then we need to know more about the threats. What we need is real-time intelligence gathering.

The post Grid Down Intelligence Gathering: Prepper Force Multiplier appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Cyclamen Dormant Period – Is My Cyclamen Dormant Or Dead

By Jackie Carroll Cyclamen make lovely houseplants during their bloom season. Once the blossoms fade the plant enters a period of dormancy, and they can look as though they are dead. Let's find out about cyclamen dormancy care and what to expect when your plant begins to fade. Is My Cyclamen Dormant or Dead? During the cyclamen dormant period, the plant may seem to be dead. First, the blossoms shrivel and drop off, and then the leaves yellow and fall. This is a normal part of a cyclamen's life cycle, and you shouldn't be alarmed. There are two things you can check to make sure your plant is still alive. First, look at the calendar. When it's time for the plant to go dormant, nothing can stop the decline. If you still have doubts, you can push some of the soil aside and check the corm. It should be plump

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Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

I don't always share a ton of new recipes on my blog, but sometimes I'll see something online that grabs my attention and this was one of them. It's a winner! I made it for Mark and we both loved it and ate like pigs that night. He said it was as good as any pasta dish he's had at a restaurant and I'd have to agree. And it's a one dish pasta dish that's easy too. Takes no time to put together!

I saw this on Facebook and it's from Buzzfeed. They grab you with those short videos that make you say, wow....I can do that, it looks easy and fast! This one really is easy and fast. Anything with shrimp and pasta, I love!

The post Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Elm Phloem Necrosis – Methods Of Elm Yellows Treatment

By Teo Spengler Elm yellows is a disease that attacks and kills native elms. Elm yellows disease in plants results from Candidatus Phyloplaasma ulmi, a bacteria without walls that is called a phyoplasma. The disease is systemic and lethal. Read on for information about the symptoms of elm yellow disease and whether there is any effective elm yellows treatment. Elm Yellows Disease in Plants The hosts of elm yellows phytoplasma in the United States are limited to elm trees (Ulmus spp.) and the insects that transport the bacteria. White-banded elm leafhoppers transport the disease, but other insects that feed on the inner elm bark – called phloem – may also play a similar role. Native elms in this country have not developed a resistance to the elm yellows phytoplasma. It threatens elm species in the eastern half of the United States, often killing trees within two years after the initial

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Beating The Heat Old-School Southern Summer Style

Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

There are a ton of ways we can help cool our bodies and little changes to activity and habits that can lower the heat in our homes, too, but for this article, I'm going to concentrate on the dwelling space itself.

The post Beating The Heat Old-School Southern Summer Style appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

What Is A Root Zone: Information On The Root Zone Of Plants

By Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer Gardeners and landscapers often refer to the root zone of plants. When purchasing plants, you've probably been told to water the root zone well. Many systemic disease and insect control products also suggest applying the product to the plant's root zone. So what is a root zone, exactly? Read more to learn what the root zone of plants is, and the importance of watering the root zone. What is a Root Zone? Simply put, the root zone of plants is the area of soil and oxygen surrounding the roots of a plant. Roots are the starting point of a plants vascular system. Water and nutrients are pulled up from the oxygenated soil around the roots, called the root zone, and pumped in to all the aerial parts of the plant. A proper and healthy plant root zone is spread out past the drip line of

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Homeschooling Resources For Teaching Technology

If you've paid any sort of attention to the landscape of education in the last five years, you know that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects are very “in” right now. There's been a huge push to teach children how to code, Lego Robotics teams are all the rage in schools and at home, and then there's the perennial frenzy over whether American kids' math test scores are high enough. Many traditional schools are making a real effort to get kids into the 21st century by issuing laptops, iPads, and other devices.

Obviously the easiest way to teach your 2nd grader electrical engineering, short of enrolling him at MIT at the tender age of six, is to make sure one of his parents is also an electrical engineer. If, for some reason, you have failed to provide your child an engineer parent, do not despair! Whether you're a homeschooling parent or just want to keep your kids from forgetting everything over the summer, tons of easily accessible STEM resources are available.

Coding

Computer programming is everywhere in our lives, even if we don't often recognize it for what it is. Most animated movies these days are someone's calculations just as much as they are art. Think of the scores of apps on your smartphone, or even the technology that allows you to read this article right now. Most people who are adults today never heard much about coding until high school or college, but there are lots of opportunities for children to learn how to code when they are young.

• From MIT, we have Scratch, a free online coding instruction program. By dragging and dropping commands, you can create your own animations, stories, and games. Scratch is set up like an open source community that allows users to share their projects and the source code behind them.


• Code.org  has a game based on the Disney movie Frozen that teaches coding via a series of puzzles to make snowflake designs. Also uses a drag-and-drop interface. Code.org also has a coding game that has an Angry Birds theme.


• Khan Academy's coding instruction program is less like a game and more like actual instruction. Like Scratch, Khan Academy is also set up like a community. This one would be more effective for older students (as in, not 8-year-olds).

Math

A solid foundation in mathematics is essential for someone wanting to enter the technology field. Lawmakers are forever lamenting America's low math scores. Electrical engineering requires a solid basis in multivariable calculus and differential equations. This is a problem in a society where math is automatically labeled “hard,” whether it is or not, and kids who like math are sometimes teased. Kids need to be comfortable with math when they're young if they are to get into it when they're older, and something as basic as a math puzzle book can help. Here are some ways to make math fun (or, at the very least, slightly more interesting):

• Math Facts Games. The curator of the Easy Peasy All-in-one online curriculum has assembled a list of free online math games for practicing basic math facts


• Number Munchers. Kids of my generation probably remember playing endless rounds of Number Munchers during computer class in elementary school. Happily, Number Munchers is now classified as abandonware, which makes it freely available to the public at no cost. You can play it in your internet browser at archive.org, or if you are more technologically inclined, you can download it and play it via a DOS emulator.


• Calculus by and for Young People. Don Cohen was a mathematician who ran a math clinic for children, wherein he introduced topics such as infinite series, fractals, and the Fibbonacci sequence. Materials related to this clinic were made free and open to the internet upon his death in 2015. Calculus by and for Young People includes a series of videos (via YouTube), a workbook, and a textbook, both pdfs. If you prefer the actual workbook, it can be purchased here for a little over $10.


• Vi Hart. You may have already run into those “doodling in math class” videos. Those are the work of Vi Hart, who is an expert in explaining interesting calculus concepts with colored sharpies and a spiral notebook. After watching a couple of her videos, you, too, will want nothing more than to go out and count the spirals on pinecones.


• Math Blaster. Another math drill game. It requires registration, but is free. Also available as a mobile app.


• Khan Academy again. While Khan Academy also offers lectures, etc, on a variety of other topics, most of the site is devoted to mathematics. The early math and basic arithmetic section are enjoyable enough that my four-year-old likes to dabble in it from time to time. There is plenty for older students, as well, with courses in algebra, geometry, and calculus. Khan Academy differs from the others because it offers full courses – if you can pass every question and meet the challenges, you can feel confident that you've actually mastered the subject. It uses a self-directed learning approach that lets you choose which topics you'd like to cover, so you can save harder questions for later or skip easier ones.

Engineering

• Hacker YouTube Channels. There are many of these. You'll know them when you see them. There are about a million and one online tutorials about how use a lemon to light things on fire or a vaccuum cleaner out of a plastic bottle. Most of these projects only require basic items usually found around the house, in addition to wires and nine volt batteries.


• TeachEngineering.org. This is a teacher's dream. Oodles of free lesson plans for all grades in a variety of subjects related to science.

Non-Internet Resources

Old Textbooks

Yes, old college textbooks. I use them for my elementary school-age kids. If you know where to look, these are easily sourced for cheap, and have lots of pictures. I live in a college town, so our local thrift store is full of textbooks that the university bookstore wouldn't buy back. Last year I found a 1000+ page biology book with the glossy pages and fancy illustrations and it only set me back $4. If it's good enough for Biology 101, it's good enough for me. In my experience, it's a lot easier as a teacher to dumb down a text than it is to try and give more detail when it's not printed in the book, so it's easy to work a level you and your child are comfortable with. For my first grader, looking at the pictures and reading the captions is more than satisfactory at this point.

Check Your Local University

The university in my town has a lot of programs open to the public that are specifically to encourage children's interest in STEM fields. Our local university had an engineering expo for middle and high school students this last spring. Many local schools brought their students on field trips, but as it was open to the public I went along with my elementary-aged kids and we had a fabulous time. The physics department also hosts a big astronomy day for the community every May, with activities for all ages. The scope of university-sponsored family activities varies considerably from one establishment to another, so you'll just have to ask around or check out the university's website.

Visit Your Local Library

Libraries aren't just for checking out books, any more! Some libraries have summer or after school programs for Lego Robotics or computer programming. The children's nonfiction section is full of possibilities in itself.

This is not anywhere close to an exhaustive list. If you've found something that you find useful for teaching STEM subjects, let us know in the comments!

Care Of Button Mushrooms: Learn About Growing White Button Mushrooms

By Liz Baessler Growing mushrooms is a little talked about side of gardening. While it may not be as conventional as tomatoes or squash, mushroom growing is surprisingly easy, versatile, and very useful. Growing white button mushrooms is a good place to start, since they're both tasty and easy to maintain. Keep reading to learn more about how to grow white button mushrooms and some white button mushroom information. Growing White Button Mushrooms Growing white button mushrooms doesn't require sunlight, which is especially nice for the indoor gardener whose windows are full up with plants. They can also be grown at any time of year, with winter actually preferable, making for a great gardening opportunity when everything outside is cold and bleak. Growing white button mushrooms takes spores, tiny microscopic things that will grow into mushrooms. You can buy mushroom growing kits made up of organic material inoculated with these

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Fashion over 50: Linen, Lace, and Bling!

It's a Holiday week and things are moving little slow around here. Plus, it's hot, hot, hot in Atlanta right now. We are needing some rain and the heat is making it very miserable outside, so I'm trying to stay cool and comfy in my clothing choices too.

Today, I've got an outfit I wore to church last weekend. It's all black, which I like, and it's a mix of linen and lace.

The post Fashion over 50: Linen, Lace, and Bling! appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

What Is Willow Scab Disease – Learn How To Treat Willow Scab Disease

By Teo Spengler Willow scab disease attacks different types of willow species in Europe and the United States. It can attack weeping willows but is not one of the more common weeping willow diseases. Willow scab is caused by the fungus Venturia salciperda. Scab on willow trees usually doesn't cause serious harm unless the black canker fungus (Glomerella miyabeanais) is also present. Read on to learn about how to recognize and how to treat willow scab. Scab on Willow Trees Willow scab is a fungal disease that causes leaf symptoms, followed by brown spore masses at the base of leaves. The symptoms of scab on willow start with dark spots on the leaves. These can be brown or black, and cause the leaves to wilt, shrivel up and die. In time, as the willow scab disease progresses, the fungus spreads to the stem tissue at the bases of leave petioles.

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Leonotis Plant Information: Lion's Ear Plant Care And Maintenance

By Mary H. Dyer, Master Naturalist and Master Gardener A gorgeous tropical shrub native to South Africa, lion's ear (Leonotis) was transported first to Europe as early as the 1600s, and then found its way to North America with early settlers. Although some types can be invasive in tropical climates, Leonotis leonorus, also known as minaret flower and lion's claw, is a popular ornamental in the home garden. Read on to learn about growing Leonotis plants and the many uses for Leonotis lion's ear plant in the garden. Leonotis Plant Information Leonotis is a fast-growing plant that can quickly reach heights of 3 to 6 feet. The plant consists of sturdy, upright stems that bear rounded clusters of fuzzy, reddish-orange, tube-shaped blooms measuring 4 inches across. The colorful blooms are highly attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. In its native habitat, Leonotis grows wild along roadsides, in scrublands and other

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Sanitation: The Often Overlooked Necessity

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Although food, water and security are definitely necessary to keep you alive, there is one aspect of prepping that is often overlooked and it can hurt even the most knowledgeable and well equipped survivalist.

The post Sanitation: The Often Overlooked Necessity appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Harvesting Hops Plants: When Is Hops Harvest Season

By Liz Baessler If you're a home brewer and a gardener, growing your own hops is a natural progression. Hops are the female flower cones of the hops plant, a long, climbing vine. They are also one of the main ingredients in beer – added during the brewing process to help preserve the beer and give it its classic bitter flavor. With enough space, you can grow your own hops and put an extra personalized spin on your homebrewed beer. Keep reading to learn more about how and when to harvest hops. Hops Plant Harvesting Hops plants grow from rhizomes, fleshy underground stems that can be separated to grow new plants. You can dig up these rhizomes from existing plants or buy them from brew supply websites. You should plant your rhizomes in very early spring, and over the course of the summer, they will grow into 20- or 30-foot

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Coming Gun Control – Prep Yourself Before It's Too Late

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Whatever you believe, one thing is certain - the upcoming election will be the most important one in the last century as it relates to gun control.

The post Coming Gun Control – Prep Yourself Before It's Too Late appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

18 Tips For Buying an Affordable & Usable Property for Getting Out of Dodge

An affordable bug out location or Get Out Of Dodge (GOOD) property is a wish and a dream for many a prepper. Unfortunately, though, few of us can afford those multi-hundred-thousand dollar properties we see on TV with orchards, solar power, stocked ponds, and all the bells and whistles.

Even a moderate property out in the country is an additional expense, not only for survival or preparedness but as a place to go while the kids and grandkids are little. Time in the country makes for many happy memories. After all, you might want to get out of Dodge simply to escape from the stresses of everyday life.

If this is a dream and a goal for you, the first step is to find an affordable, usable GOOD property for your family, preferably one that is a fun weekend and summer getaway as well. Once you've found that dream piece of land, then it's time to design and build your dream property, all without breaking the bank or having to drive too far (as defined by your family).

Finding your affordable bug out location

The first issue to tackle is where you want to buy property. My husband and I started to really talk about buying property after finding out about Plateau Preppers, an amazing project to create a community for preppers. As much as we would love to be part of that, and as perfect as the location sounds, it's not perfect for us. It is simply too far from where we live.

To narrow the search, the first decision is how far it is reasonable to go. For us, anything more than a full work day (eight hours) of driving in normal conditions was too far both for that Get Out of Dodge location and for an enjoyable family weekend/summer retreat. If everything did hit the fan, getting that far would be difficult to impossible. For family getaways, we would spend two days driving, which uses up an entire weekend and cuts down too much on a longer vacation. In addition, getting there to check on problems and make sure everything was safe is too difficult.

PREPPER TIP: Decide how far you're able to drive, in both hours and miles, and then mark those distances on a map, going in different directions from your current home. This may lead you to the perfect area you hadn't considered.

Living near a major city, two hours is bit too close to the potential hordes. Ultimately, we decided that a three to four hour drive from our home is comfortable for us both in terms of being far enough for a SHTF situation and close enough for summer vacations and weekend trips. However, a knowledgeable friend in our own town has a retreat ninety minute to two hours from here. His belief is that three to four hours is too far if you need to walk, and his family is able to regularly use their weekend place because it is convenient. Point being: the ideal distance is what you are comfortable with, not a static, fixed number.

Take terrain, hazards, and weather into consideration

Another consideration is the terrain you will need to travel. Given our location, a lot of potential destinations involve twisty, country roads or heavily traveled interstates. That definitely impacts our choices.

Depending on where you live, some directions may have rivers, lakes, mountains, deserts, canyons, and other geographical features that can make driving harder, or possibly easier. Seasonal features such as flood plains and roads that are routinely threatened by avalanches, mudslides, or rock slides must also be considered, although these are unlikely to be marked on anything other than, possibly, a detailed map such as a DeLorme Atlas.

Man-made potential hazards such as dams, prisons, and power plants are not marked on all maps, but should certainly be considered. (I lived near Three Mile Island when it made nuclear history.) Other considerations include having a national border (Mexico, Canada) or big city (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles) within a few hours. We have a big city about six hours north of us. Six hours is more than far enough to feel safe from it even in our home, but any property owners several hours north of us will regret being that close to a large city. Obviously that isn't ideal in a SHTF situation, but it also tends to make property much more expensive in everyday life.

Weather is another consideration. In my case, the weather even four hours north tends to be cold enough that it would limit how much we could use the property. Similarly, buying property three to four hours east of Los Angeles would tend to make it too hot and dry to be useful. (It is a literal desert.) Some areas are also prone to natural disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes, which can lead to significantly increased expenses for building, insurance, and repairing damage. In short, it's a good idea to pay attention to the local weather and natural hazards in any area you are considering.

RECOMMENDED READING: I cannot recommend highly enough the classic by Joel Skousen, Strategic Relocation, for evaluating locations within every state and continent as a potential Get Out of Dodge location.

Your family may also have specific health-related concerns that will affect your GOOD location. Anywhere with too much time on twisty roads is problematic for my family because of rampant motion-sickness. Another friend has serious health issues and has to be within an hour or two of a top-notch hospital. Allergies and even phobias may also impact your choices. If someone is truly afraid of heights, a cliff-top property might be completely out of the question.

Once you look at all those factors, you should have a solid, reasonably-sized radius to look in and it's time to narrow down the search to specific counties or towns.

Getting more specific in your search

Spend some time thinking about what your family enjoys doing and where they like to do it. Are they avid bikers, backpackers or hikers? What kind of terrain? Do you regularly canoe, kayak, sail, swim, or do other water sports? Are they better suited to the ocean, rivers, or a lake? Is the property just for you or do you plan to build with friends or family?

These may seem trivial if you have end-of-the-world scenarios in mind, but at some point, you might be LIVING in this location, so it might as well be somewhere you actually want to spend time.

How old are your kids? If they are small, what safety concerns do you have? With toddlers, a deep swimming hole could make an otherwise-perfect property a no-go. If they are bigger, do you want to make it big enough that they can join you with their own significant other and/or family? Do you have any other family members you need to consider, including your parents and in-laws? How much space do you really need both in acreage and in home space, and think ahead several years to changing family size and circumstances.

How do you plan to get there? Do you have a private plane? (If so, your search radius can be hours farther from your home – a ten hour drive might be a nice short flight!) That will clearly change what you are looking for since you will need a landing strip nearby. Will you be taking an RV or tiny house? Do you have a four wheel drive vehicle? How about a truck? Will your family or group be arriving in multiple vehicles? Not only will your form of transportation affect how far your GOOD site will be, but also the types of roads you'll be able to navigate.

Do you want to start a survival garden? If so, what plans do you have? Your needs will be different if you want to have a mini-orchard, an herb garden, or a small greenhouse, but gardening generally needs more open (not forested) land than hunting or fishing, for example, and your needs in terms of soil, sunlight, and water will be greater. The north side of a mountain may simply never get enough sunlight for successful gardening.

RECOMMENDED READING: Develop a survival garden that blends in with the surrounding native plants, providing food but camouflaged to passers by. Rick Austin provides details in his book, Secret Garden of Survival.

Would a hunting property be regularly used, or does your family fish? Depending on what you hunt, the game might be plentiful in different areas, and you might want to adjoin (or avoid) national or state park lands. As a fisherman, you may choose to avoid certain areas if the water (and fish) are known or believed to be contaminated, or to choose other areas where they are plentiful and tasty.

In our case, my kids love kayaking, canoeing – any water sports – so my preference is property on or near water, just not the ocean. (I don't want to deal with hurricane insurance or damage.) That means our ideal GOOD property will be either on a lake or a river. My preference is a lake because rivers tend to have large cities on them, which makes it easy for those citizens to go upstream in an emergency and our safe shelter might not be so safe any more. Rivers also frequently have power plants and factories on them, increasing the chances of pollution.

Narrowing the focus and looking at properties

Using MapQuest and Google Earth, I initially searched in a 2 hour radius from our home for rivers, larger lakes, and any other water feature that might serve, until we found an area that seemed to suit. (The DeLorme Atlases are also a great way to search.) The next step was to (virtually) check out actual real estate.

Some areas have realtors that specialize in that area, although that can be a warning sign that they are popular and possibly too populated. For other areas, Zillow or realtor.com can help you decide if the area suits. This is a great way to get a general idea of what the local style is. If you really hate log cabins, an area where most of the available property tends toward “log cabin” probably won't be a  great fit. But it might be perfect if you love log cabins!

In my own search, the first area I found to my liking is near a major natural spring, making geothermal energy a real option, but it's also far too close for comfort to a less-than-totally-safe city. It's also an area with lots of tourists, and this makes the prices a bit higher. Moving on, the next potential property I found didn't appeal to my husband because it was too close to where we live now.

After talking with my husband a bit more, I realized that I was looking for locations too close to our current home. It was at this point that I went from looking a couple hours away to three or four hours away. Lesson learned: it's important to be flexible and talk with your spouse while going through this process. As we talked through things, I realized that we were really only interested in looking south of where we currently live. That simplified things a lot!

I spent a few more hours on Google Earth and narrowed down the search area even further simply by looking at the geography. By identifying a more specific area and then looking at geographical features, we now have an area that's a good enough fit to actually begin looking at properties.

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Wanting to learn more about the area from those who have visited it first hand, I started to ask people what they thought of it. Since it's a popular vacation spot, asking around doesn't raise any suspicion. When I was picking my son up from school, I saw someone wearing a t-shirt for that area and asked his opinion. Since his family has been going there every year for thirty years, I think he counts as a fan! More importantly, talking to local people about it has given me a better feel for how long it really takes to get there and how hard the drive is, or isn't. (Motion sickness is a big issue for my family.)

The area has lots of summer vacation home rentals but that isn't realistic for us this year. Camping, on the other hand, is totally doable, so I'm going to try to wrangle the family and get them to go down for a long weekend to really see what we think of the area.

One item to keep in mind while you are looking at undeveloped land is that a well and septic can be $10-20,000 or more each, depending on size and complexity. Well prices depend in large part on depth; our well has water about 40 feet down but the well is over 200 feet deep, so don't assume water fairly near the surface will mean the well doesn't go deep. A $60,000 lot with a well and septic installed may be a bargain compared to an unimproved one the same size for $40,000.

Lowering the cost even more

How can the cost of a GOOD property be affordable? Consider it's potential as a rental. In the area I've been looking at, because it is a popular vacation spot, there is the potential for rental income depending on how and where we build. (Local ordinances restrict some areas from short-term rentals; other areas are simply not desirable.) Honestly, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that. Once we have our personal items there and at least enough food that we don't have to go grocery shopping immediately upon arrival, I don't know that I want strangers staying there, but I might be OK with it. I simply don't know, and it's far down the road, but it's an option that could help us if we experienced a financial setback.

Sharing the property with like-minded friends and family is another way to lower the cost, especially if you have multiple buildings on one larger property. One possibility is starting with a tiny house or two - enough covered living area to provide a sturdy shelter until a larger home can be built.

READ MORE: Could a tiny house be a realistic GOOD option? The Survival Mom researched the tiny house craze and gives her opinions and suggestions in this article.

Really be purposeful and realistic about what you are buying. Do you actually need one hundred acres, or would five to ten acres suffice for your needs? More land means more area to protect and develop. Living near a state or national park may decrease how much property you need, if isolation is your primary concern. Finding a property where you can generate off-grid power such as solar, geothermal, wind, or water power may also help you lower the long-term costs.

As with any big purchase, there is a lot to consider, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming or outrageously expensive (for real estate). Take your time, think about your needs – not what someone else tells you is important, and what you want out of a property. Enjoy the process – and don't rush it! It's better to take a few more months, or even a couple of years, and end up with a property you love than to settle for something not-quite-right.

What Is A Food Desert: Information About Food Deserts In America

By Amy Grant I live in an economically vibrant metropolis. It's expensive to live here and not everyone has the means to live a healthy lifestyle. Despite the ostentatious wealth showcased throughout my city, there are many areas of urban poor more recently referred to as food deserts. What is a food desert in America? What are some of the causes of food deserts? The following article contains information on food deserts, their causes and food desert solutions. What is a Food Desert? The United States Government defines a food desert as “a low income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store.” How do you qualify as low income? You must meet the Treasury Departments New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) to be eligible. To qualify as a food desert, 33% of the population (or a minimum of

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Feature Friday: Decor Gold Designs

It's Friday, so that means another Feature Friday, this week with a beautiful California home of Jennifer, from Decor Gold Designs. These girls I've discovered on Instagram have such gorgeous, well decorated homes, so I knew you'd all enjoy the peek into another outstanding beautifully decorated home tour. Jennifer is a new blogger and has shared her home tour on her blog and I'm so happy to share her with all of you. Enjoy the tour of this elegant home!

The post Feature Friday: Decor Gold Designs appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Georgia Hydrangea Garden Tour 2016

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Ryan Gainey's Decatur garden yesterday. We toured through several more gardens as well, so today I'm sharing some of those highlights. I love gardens and admire those who plan and build a beautiful garden, whether it's the front yard or backyard. It's always fun to get ideas on how to make a backyard special and inviting. Landscaping makes such a difference in a home and I so enjoy getting ideas and seeing a passionate gardener's handiwork.

Enjoy the tour! These are 4 different houses all mixed together.

The post Georgia Hydrangea Garden Tour 2016 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

No Flowers On Oleander: What To Do When Oleander Will Not Bloom

By Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer As a landscaper, I am often asked why certain shrubs aren't blooming. I'm often told it bloomed beautifully for years then just stopped or it just never flowered after planting it. There's no magical solution to this problem. Usually, it's a matter of location, soil condition or plant care. Read more to learn what you can do for non-blooming oleander shrubs. No Flowers on Oleander When you have no flowers on oleander, you have to question why. Oleanders are prized and beloved for their prolific blooms. If you're oleander will not bloom, take a good look at its location. As other plants grow up around oleander, they may have started to block out the sun. Oleanders need full sun to bloom properly. Oleanders can have large root structures, if low growing plants have grown too dense around the oleander shrub, they can compete for nutrients,

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10 Non-Edibles for Your Emergency Stash

While not exactly edible, stocking up on these ten items will make everyday life more comfortable, whatever your emergency.

Deodorant/anti-perspirant

Picture this.  You've been in your bunker for three weeks.  Sponge baths are a rare treat.  Then you remember your stash of Secret anti-perspirant.  Ahhhh….. instant morale booster, especially if shared.

Feminine products  

Periods don't stop for something trivial like a nuclear war.  A six month's stash of tampons, especially o.b., won't take up much room, and will greatly improve your quality of life. However, a much better option, by far, is a menstrual cup, such as the Diva Cup that I review here.

Small items for entertainment

Choose multi-use toys and games.  Playing cards or Play-Dough, for example. Yard sales, dollar stores, and thrift shops are all very good places to buy these. They'll keep kids busy during stressful times and will provide diversions for the adults in the group.

Bar soap

In a pinch it can be used for shampoo and even laundry. Buy a variety of soaps, including some that do not have a lot of extra dye or perfume added. You should also stock up on classic laundry soaps, such as Zote or Fels-Naptha. These are terrific as stain removers and as an ingredient for homemade laundry detergent.

Zip-Loc bags of all sizes

These can't be beat for everything from a tooth for the Tooth Fairy to containing nuclear waste, aka dirty diapers.

Rope for a clothesline and clothes pins.  Air-dried laundry smells and feels so clean and crisp.  It may become your preferred method of drying, even after the electricity comes on, and of course there's the added benefit of being oh-so-Green!

A pack of never-before-opened underwear for each family member

This is something that most folks will overlook in their zeal to stock up on freeze-dried food and ammo, but sooner or later, the kids are going to outgrow theirs and mom and dad will appreciate having a nice, fresh set. Ditto for bras.

Battery-powered CD player & CDs

There's just something about beautiful music for defusing tension and calming nerves. I put this in the category of “Sanity” when it comes to packing emergency kits and making survival preps at home.

Tylenol PM

Seriously.  Do you really want to be 100% conscious wrapped up in your silver emergency blanket, huddled in the back seat of your mini-van for hours?

Toilet paper

While it's true you can't stock up on enough toilet paper to last indefinitely, but you can stock up on a year's worth. I've done it. Use coupons and store sales to bring the price down. Keep track of how many rolls your household uses in a month, multiply by 12, and you'll know about how many rolls you'll need. Some have argued in favor of using cloth wipes in lieu of TP, and this isn't a bad idea in general, but it will require the ability to bring a few gallons of water to a boil at least 2-3 times per week, and then dispose of the resulting “black water” in an area that won't contaminate ground water or growing, food-bearing plants.

Preparing for natural disasters, nuclear war, complete societal breakdown, doesn't mean we have to lose our sense of humor. In fact, your sense of humor should be #1 on this list! Don't ever hunker down in your bunker without it!

This article was originally posted in June, 2009 and has been updated.

Tools You'll Need When Manufacturing No Longer Exists

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Figuring out the basic tools and machines that can get you productive in a time of crisis or in everyday life is more important than you think.

The post Tools You'll Need When Manufacturing No Longer Exists appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Tools You'll Need When Manufacturing No Longer Exists

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Figuring out the basic tools and machines that can get you productive in a time of crisis or in everyday life is more important than you think.

The post Tools You'll Need When Manufacturing No Longer Exists appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Moving Rose Of Sharons – How To Transplant Rose Of Sharon Shrubs

By Teo Spengler Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a large, hardy shrub that produces bright showy blossoms that are white, red, pink, violet and blue. The bush blossoms in summer, when only a few other shrubs flower. With a stiff, upright habit and open branches, Rose of Sharon works in both informal and formal garden arrangements. Transplanting a rose of Sharon shrub is not difficult. Read on for tips on how and when to transplant rose of Sharon. Moving Rose of Sharons You may decide that moving rose of Sharons is the best idea if you find that they are planted in shade or in an inconvenient location. Rose of Sharon transplanting is most successful if you undertake the task at the optimal time. When to transplant rose of Sharon? Not in summer or winter. Your plants will be stressed if you try to transplant them when the weather

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How To Divide A Banana Tree: Information On Banana Plant Splitting

By Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer Like most fruit trees, a banana plant sends out suckers. With grafted fruit trees, it is recommended that you prune and discard the suckers, but banana plant suckers (called “pups”) can be split from the parent plant and grown as new plants. Continue reading to learn how to divide a banana tree. Banana Plant Splitting In time, whether your banana plant is container grown or grown in ground, it will send out banana plant pups. Container grown banana plants may sucker as a sign of stress, from being pot bound, under watered or unhappy for some other reason. Sending out suckers is their way of trying to survive conditions that they are struggling in. The new pups will grow new roots that can suck up more water and nutrients for the parent plant. New pups can also begin to grow to replace a dying parent

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Hydrangea Garden Tour: Ryan Gainey's Home

A couple of weekends ago, Mark and I went on the annual Georgia Hydrangea tour, which has been going on for many years. This is the first year I've actually remembered it was happening so made a point to get tickets for the tour. I LOVE hydrangeas and since my front garden hydrangeas did so well this year, it made me even more eager to see all the beauty happening in the Atlanta area this year. This was a really good year for hydrangeas apparently. I want to fill my yard with lots more varieties of blooming hydrangeas, because you just can't have too many!

The tour was really nice and there were 7 houses on the tour this year, 3 stops in Marietta and 4 stops in Decatur. We started on the far side of town at the house further away in Decatur and then hit the rest in that area before driving back to Marietta for the remainder of the homes.

The post Hydrangea Garden Tour: Ryan Gainey's Home appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

American Persimmon Tree Facts – Tips On Growing American Persimmons

By Teo Spengler The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is an attractive native tree that requires very little maintenance when planted in appropriate sites. It's not grown commercially as much as the Asian persimmon, but this native tree produces fruit with a richer taste. If you enjoy persimmon fruit, you may want to consider growing American persimmons. Read on for American persimmon tree facts and tips to get you started. American Persimmon Tree Facts American persimmon trees, also called common persimmon trees, are easy to grow, moderate sized trees that reach about 20 feet tall in the wild. They can be grown in many regions and are hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 5. One of the uses for American persimmons is as ornamental trees, given their colorful fruit and intensely green, leathery leaves that purple in the fall. However, most American persimmon cultivation is for the fruit.

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using native perennials in a formal border, with mt. cuba's travis beck

THE PHRASE “native plant garden” probably conjures an image of a spring woodland of trilliums and other little gems, or [read more…]

The post using native perennials in a formal border, with mt. cuba's travis beck appeared first on A Way To Garden.

Does A Spider Plant Flower: My Spider Plant Is Growing Flowers

By Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer Your spider plant has happily grown for years, seeming to like the neglect and being forgotten about. Then one day little white petals on your spider plant catch your eye. Bewildered, you wonder, “Is my spider plant growing flowers?” Spider plants do bloom sometimes. Read on to learn more. Does a Spider Plant Flower? Spider plants do occasionally develop small white flowers at the ends of their long arching stems. Many times these flowers are so short lived and inconspicuous that they go completely unnoticed. Flowers on spider plants can grow in a cluster or can be single, depending on the variety of spider plant. Spider plant flowers are very small and white, with three-six petals. My Spider Plant is Growing Flowers Sometimes, certain varieties of spider plants will send out frequent flowers as a young plant but then never flower again as the plant

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Southern Road Trip Recap & Party!

I hope you all enjoyed the fun road tripping in the South from this past week! In case you missed the recap, here is the entire lineup! But The Great Southern Road Trip doesn't stop here! We want to read all about your favorite Southern towns and continue to be inspired by our beautiful South. Link up your posts that relate to cities in the South and let's keep this virtual road trip going.

The post Southern Road Trip Recap & Party! appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Just How Safe Is Your Email From Prying Eyes?

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

As much as you maybe want to believe your email is safe, it's not… Prying eyes are watching you…

The post Just How Safe Is Your Email From Prying Eyes? appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Boxwood Mite Control: What Are Boxwood Bud Mites

By Teo Spengler Boxwood (Buxus spp.) is a popular shrub in gardens and landscapes around the country. However, the shrub can be the host to boxwood mites, Eurytetranychus buxi, spider mites so tiny that the insects are difficult to see with the naked eye. If you are planting new boxwoods, consider varieties that are mite resistant. For example, Japanese boxwood is less susceptible to boxwood spider mites than are European and American varieties. If your beloved boxwoods are already infested, read on for tips on boxwood mite damage and boxwood mite control. What are Boxwood Bud Mites? What are boxwood bud mites? They are tiny insects that eat away on the bottom of boxwood leaves. Even with a hand lens, you may have trouble seeing these pests. You'll see the boxwood mite damage easily enough, however. Leaves that are infected with boxwood spider mites look like they have been pricked

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Container Growing Lily Of The Valley: How To Plant Lily Of The Valley In Pots

By Liz Baessler Lily of the valley is a fantastic flowering plant. Producing tiny, delicate, but highly fragrant, white bell-shaped flowers, it's a good addition to any garden. And since it can do well in anything from full shade to full sun, it's a versatile plant that can brighten up virtually any spot. But can you grow lily of the valley in pots? Keep reading to learn more about container growing lily of the valley plants. Can You Grow Lily of the Valley in Pots? Lily of the valley is beautiful, but sometimes it can get a little out of hand. The plant grows from rhizomes – fleshy underground stems – and it reproduces itself by branching them out in every direction and putting up new shoots. With good soil, it can get downright aggressive and push out neighboring plants. One surefire way to get around this is by growing

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Leatherjacket Pests: Controlling Leatherjacket Larvae In Your Lawn

By Mary H. Dyer, Master Naturalist and Master Gardener Your lawn is looking pretty scruffy about midsummer, and you're wondering about leatherjackets – those ugly-looking pests you may see pushing up through dead patches and dried up turf. Read on to learn more about destructive leatherjacket pests and leatherjacket grub control. Leatherjacket Pests in Your Lawn Exactly what are leatherjacket insects? Leatherjacket pests aren't actually insects. The grub-like pests are the larval stage of daddy long legs, also known as leatherjacket crane flies – those big, mosquito-like bugs that fly around your porch light in late summer. Leatherjacket pests, which live in the soil, can definitely do their share of harm when they eat the roots and the base of plants. Adult leatherjacket crane flies lay their eggs in the grass in late summer. The eggs hatch two or three weeks later, and the greyish-brown, tube-shaped larvae immediately begin feeding

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Mites On Grapevines: Tips For Controlling Grape Bud Mites

By Liz Baessler Whether you own a vineyard or have just a plant or two in the backyard, grapevine pests are a serious hazard. Some of these pests are grapevine bud mites. These tiny, microscopic grubs feed on the bud material that ought to become new shoots, leaves, and grapes. Keep reading to learn more about mites on grapevines and grape bud mite control. Mites on Grapevines Grapevine bud mites are tiny, about ? of a millimeter long, to be exact. Their size, coupled with their clear to white coloring, make them impossible to see with the naked eye. You can spot them with a microscope, but the more common and much easier method is wait for telltale signs of damage. The presence of grapevine bud mites can result in buds that are blackened, covered in white fuzz and/or have a bubbly, rippled appearance to the surface. It can also

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The Most Scarce Commodity in the Apocalypse

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

It is the contention of this article that the one commodity that will be in the shortest supply, and one that people will most likely be short on from day one is...

The post The Most Scarce Commodity in the Apocalypse appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Fashion over 50: My Fave Cosmetics

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Fashion over 50. I've shared some of my makeup favorites with you before, but I've got a few new things in my arsenal lately, so thought I'd do a new post about that for y'all.

Now, let me start by saying, I'm not an expert on applying makeup. I see women who are far more adept at it than I am and they probably spend a lot longer applying than I do. I can put on my makeup in about 10 minutes. I don't go for a heavy hand in using makeup and nowadays lighter and more natural is the best look for me. I have always loved makeup back to my teenage years and spent lots of time buying makeup and beauty products and practicing putting on eye shadow and mascara, so I know the basics of highlighting and contouring my eyes and face. Back in the 80's, I was wearing a lot heavier makeup, but not anymore.

The post Fashion over 50: My Fave Cosmetics appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Yellowing Rose Of Sharon Leaves – Why Rose Of Sharon Has Yellow Leaves

By Mary H. Dyer, Master Naturalist and Master Gardener Rose of Sharon is a hardy plant that usually grows in difficult growing conditions with very little maintenance. However, even the toughest plants can run into trouble from time to time. If you notice your rose of Sharon has yellow leaves, you're understandably perplexed about what has befallen this trusty late summer bloomer. Read on to learn a few of the most common reasons for rose of Sharon leaves turning yellow. What Causes Yellow Leaves on Rose of Sharon? Poorly drained soil is one of the primary reasons for rose of Sharon leaves turning yellow. The moisture can't drain effectively and soggy soil suffocates the roots, which causes drying and yellowing rose of Sharon leaves. You may need to move the shrub to a more suitable location. Otherwise, improve drainage by digging a generous quantity of compost or bark mulch into

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Why Preppers Should Consider Homeschooling

I don't remember when I first became convinced that homeschooling was the only type of education I wanted for our children. I do know it was long before I ever became pregnant. Now that we've finished our eleventh year of homeschooling, I'm more glad than ever of our choice. Homeschooling has been the perfect fit for our prepping family.

The foremost benefit for preppers like us is that homeschooling provides a continuous flow of education in spite of changing circumstances. Any event that would normally disrupt the school year doesn't have nearly the same impact on homeschoolers. During a time of intense stress and change, a homeschooling family is together, along with the reassurance and the anchor that only parents can provide. This family survival manual will set you up with everything necessary for getting ready for emergencies.

Experienced homeschoolers know that you can “do school” at any time of the day or night. You can fill a backpack and a Kindle with all the curriculum you need and hit the road. School can happen in the waiting room of a hospital, in a Red Cross emergency shelter, or at Grandma's house for an extended stay.

READ MORE: What if you were forced to homeschool? Could you do it? What might you need to do now to prepare?

It's the versatility of homeschooling that lured us to this way of life and should everything hit the fan, for whatever reason, it may disrupt our homeschooling for a time, but at least we have the curriculum, supplies, and confidence to continue, even through the high school years.

No relocation trauma

If a family decides to move to another location or has to evacuate for a time, other than losing some time in the moving process, kids can pick up their schooling right where they left off. When we moved from Arizona to Texas, it did take a bit of catching up and a few hours with a math tutor to get my daughter back on track with Algebra, but within weeks, it was as if we'd always lived here and our schooling just continued in spite of the rather large blip.

(Our move didn't go exactly smoothly, and I wrote about it here.)

The trauma of leaving one school and starting over in another is a non-issue. Our kids didn't have to face walking into a classroom of strangers and when we landed in our little corner of Texas, little by little, they found their place among homeschoolers. We joined a large group of homeschooling families, which offered a Girls Book Club, a Boys Book Club, papercrafting classes, a homeschool baseball team, horseback riding lessons, a homeschool archery club, a rowing team, rugby, lacrosse,  you name it. Within a short time, it was as if my kids had always lived here.

In case a pandemic hits, homeschooled kids will already be at home, along with their textbooks, computers, and everything else they need for learning. School closings and quarantines will be one less thing to worry about.

Will they be isolated and weird?

If you're worried about socialization, that homeschooled kids will turn out “weird” and unable to order a cheeseburger at McDonald's,  I present to you my two children.

My daughter is now a senior in high school and, gasp!, she's been homeschooled since kindergarten and throughout her high school years. She has taken sewing classes, been on swim teams and in a year-round swim club. She's tried out cheerleading, took piano lessons, has been in Toastmasters for 3 years, a homeschool drama class, has dissected just about everything a Biology student can dissect and is handy with both a rifle and a handgun. She cooks from scratch, can make her own homemade beauty products, knows how to dehydrate food and can use a Sun Oven.

When she left for church camp this summer, she packed a small emergency kit with her: an emergency blanket, her Swedish fire knife, a Sawyer mini water filter, a multitool and a flashlight. She is confident and in so many ways already ready for college and beyond.

So proud.

My son is now 14. He's in Civil Air Patrol and focused like a laser on moving up in the ranks. He's on a rowing team, plays on a homeschool baseball team, and can talk with anyone about anything, anywhere, anytime. In the past, he's been on an archery team, gone to a shooting skills summer camp, taken horseback riding lessons, and has even made his own forge. I've seen him stay calm in situations where I was near panic and have come to rely on him as a strong and steady member of our family.

Just from these bits and pieces of my kids' homeschooling activities over the years, you can see they've had plenty of time to learn practical skills and spend time with people of all ages. They aren't unique. They are very much typical homeschoolers and ours is the typical homeschool experience.

The false argument, “But what about socialization?”, isn't an issue, and it never really was. (I don't happen to think that putting a gaggle of kids who just happen to be the same age in a room together for 9 months is the ultimate in developing well-rounded kids, but maybe that's just me.)

Both social and practical skills

Our homeschooling has given them the time to develop practical skills, like canning and gardening, that would otherwise be limited by public school hours and homework. For preppers, this is the ideal educational setting: kids are able to learn academic subjects and still have time to explore their own interests and learn skills of self-reliance.

When I was in elementary and high school, decades ago, there were practical skills classes beginning in 7th grade. I learned how to iron, how to bake and cook, and how to use basic hand tools. Hunting, fishing, foraging, gardening, and canning were once a part of everyday life for the majority of Americans. Now, if parents do not teach these skills to their kids, who will? Certainly not the public school system.

DON'T MISS: “Homeschooling: Where Academics & Survival Skills Meet“

If you want your kids, to learn practical, life-long skills, it's up to you. This is where grandparents and extended family can play a huge role. Certainly, among the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others in you family circle, there's an abundance of knowledge and skills that could die out with that generation. Just yesterday, I was wishing that I had thought to ask my own great-aunts about growing up during the Great Depression.

Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge right in your own backyard and prepare your kids for a future of self-reliance by learning those skills now. Homeschooling helps make this possible because the “school day” is generally much, much shorter than the 7-8 hours spent in public schools, Monday through Friday.

Homeschooling for the tightest budgets

Another reason that preppers should consider homeschooling is because it's many advantages come with a tiny price tag. In fact, there is a multitude of resources online that are absolutely free.

The curriculum that our family has thoroughly enjoyed over the years is AmblesideOnline. This challenging, 36-week curriculum is completely free and follows the educational philosophy and principles of Charlotte Mason, a British educator who established several schools in the late 1800's. The website, SimplyCharlotteMason, explains:

The Charlotte Mason method is based on Charlotte's firm belief that the child is a person and we must educate that whole person, not just his mind. So a Charlotte Mason education is three-pronged: in her words, “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.”

AmblesideOnline provides the curriculum, book lists, and dozens of resources - the only expense is the actual books, and many of those are free online and can be found in used bookstores. For many reasons, this curriculum worked out perfectly for my family. When I saw my 11-12 year old daughter reading the original Mary Poppins, the original Peter Pan, and Oliver Twist and then discussing with me the themes of the novels without the need of a textbook or workbook guiding her thoughts and conclusions, well, I was impressed, especially coming from a public school background as a teacher, where so much literature for kids is “bottom of the barrel.” (Captain Underpants, anyone? The mindset of the public school system is that kids just aren't bright enough to comprehend “hard” books.)

There are dozens of other curricula, though, and if you're a beginner, you can read through my articles of advice for beginners. The main point is that homeschooling doesn't have to cost much money at all. In fact, since so many homeschooling families are single-income with mom staying home, you'll find yourself right at home with families who are also budget-minded and prefer to live simply in order to provide this education for their kids.

A multitude of free homeschooling resources on the web can take the place of more expensive curriculum if need be.

Self-reliant families in homeschool circles

I have found that homeschooling parents are generally eager to share their experiences and offer advice and suggestions, and chances are, there are homeschooling activity groups and co-ops in your area. However, beyond that help, you will find that homeschooling families tend toward self-reliance, and you will likely find other prepper families in these groups.

We're used to swimming against the flow and are just a little bit rebels at heart, so prepping and homeschooling are a natural fit.

READ MORE: Here is a list of all the homeschooling articles that have appeared here on The Survival Mom.

“Follow your heart”, isn't always the best advice, but when it comes to homeschooling, I think it's an excellent guide. If your heart is telling you to, at least, consider homeschooling, there's no better time to do that than right now.

This article was originally published in June, 2009, and has been updated.

English Ivy Pruning: Tips On How And When To Trim Ivy Plants

By Mary H. Dyer, Master Naturalist and Master Gardener English ivy (Hedera helix) is a vigorous, widely grown plant appreciated for its glossy, palmate leaves. English ivy is extremely hale and hearty, tolerating severe winters as far north as USDA zone 9. However, this versatile vine is just as happy when grown as a houseplant. Whether English ivy is grown indoors or out, this fast-growing plant benefits from an occasional trim to stimulate new growth, improve air circulation and keep the vine within boundaries and looking its best. Trimming also creates a full, healthy-looking plant. Read on to learn more about pruning English ivy. When to Trim Ivy Plants Outdoors If you're growing English ivy as a ground cover, ivy plant trimming is best done before new growth appears in spring. Set your mower on the highest cutting height to prevent scalping the plant. You can also prune English ivy

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Feeding Babies In Times of Trouble

To paraphrase Terry Prachett, the author of the popular Discworld series, taking care of a baby is the easiest part. There's none of those crazy child-rearing garbage to put up with – just put milk in one end, and keep the other end as clean as possible. Works for me!

On an ordinary day, the first part – putting milk in one end of the baby – is something we take for granted in developed countries. Even if you are not a breastfeeding mom, the ease with which can can obtain formula would make our ancestors weep with envy. Before formula became widely available, women who were unable to breastfeed because of medical issues would be forced to find alternate means of feeding her infant. Many of these milk substitutes were incredibly unhealthy, and were ultimately a leading cause of infant mortality. One of the few ways a woman could keep her child alive if she couldn't feed it herself was to make some kind of agreement with another woman who could nurse the baby for her.

All of this begs the question – what if, Heaven forbid, something were to happen that would send us back in time to this situation, whether it be permanently or on a temporary basis? Even if you have stash of formula in your long-term food supply, what if your water source is contaminated? It's not difficult to imagine a worst-case scenario that involves a hungry baby, but no way to feed him or her. Aside from stocking up on formula (which is a perfectly legitimate option for feeding infants) what can be done?

Preparedness and Breastfeeding

If you are a breastfeeding mom, you'll need to add the following to your emergency preparedness plans:

1. Extra water. The rule of thumb for non-pregnant adults is one gallon per person per day. A breastfeeding woman should store half again as much, or more. You can read just about everything you need to know in this book about water storage.


2. Extra food. A lactating woman needs extra calories. One medical professional explained to me that a breastfeeding mom should be eating the equivalent of an additional peanut butter and jelly sandwich every day. That's not much, but if you already have very little extra food on hand, storing high protein and high calorie foods, such as nut butters and fruit jam, would be a good idea.


3. A good hand pump. I have a Medela Harmony in addition to my electric one, and I like it a lot. You might need to pump for any number of reasons. If you don't have electricity, having a manual back-up is essential. This particular model is also extremely portable, so it can fit easily in your 72-hour kit.


4. Some formula, as a last resort. Stress and anxiety can cause your supply to drop. There is wisdom in having an alternative on hand. The danger in using formula in this situation, if you have your heart set on breastfeeding exclusively, is that you could cause your supply to drop even further. Milk supply is tied to demand, and use of formula decreases demand. That said, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Milk Donation for Feeding Babies

For every woman who has trouble with her supply, there's one who self-identifies as a jersey cow. Overabundance of milk is a problem that I'm sure many people would like to have. I don't have to describe what that's like – if you are one of these people, you already know. If you know that you have more milk than your baby needs, you can use it as a valuable resource that will benefit your whole community. Essentially what donation does is to connect women with low supply and women with high supply, so everyone is happy, especially the babies.

In healthy babies, it doesn't matter a ton in the long run whether they are fed formula or breastmilk. For sickly babies, however, the difference is much greater. Hospitals often refer to human colostrum and breastmilk as “white gold,” because they see the difference it can make in the health of preemies. Medical centers regularly request donations on behalf of infants in the NICU. There are usually some health and quantity requirements. Milk banks put the milk through tests to make sure it is safe to distribute. To make it worth their while, they won't take less than 100 ounces at one time.

For more information, you can go to the websites of La Leche League, National Milk Bank, and the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Information about the proper care and storage of breastmilk can be found here.

Of course, donating privately is as easy as handing off a bottle of expressed milk to a friend. It's not uncommon in my town for a woman with a baby in the NICU to ask friends and family for donated breastmilk. Another option, should the situation arise, is to use breastmilk as a commodity for bartering.

Cross-nursing (occasional nursing another woman's child while also nursing her own) and wet-nursing (complete nursing of another woman's child, often for pay) are generally frowned upon in most modern circles. The La Leche League actively discourages these practices for multiple reasons. However, it can be done. I have cross nursed two babies in my day – the first was my niece, and it didn't feel weird at all (it was an emergency). The second instance, though, was the daughter of an acquaintance and that was so weird I will probably never do it again.

For Formula-Fed Babies

Not everyone is willing or able to breastfeed, and there's no shame in that. Most women I know would really like to, but have been hampered by some health issue or other. The answer here is twofold:

1) stockpile formula like there is no tomorrow (babies always seem to need more of everything than you expect)

2) in case there really isn't a tomorrow make friends with a lady in your neighborhood who might be able to spot you the odd bottle of milk should the need arise.

Be sure that you are also storing an adequate amount of clean water with which to mix the formula. Most infant deaths related to formula feeding in the third world are caused by a contaminated water supply, or adding inappropriate amounts of water. If you can, develop a system for sterilizing bottles and other feeding equipment that does not require electricity. A solar oven, such as the Solavore or Sun Oven, can cook food at temperatures in the 300-350 degree range, which is plenty hot for sterilizing baby bottles.

There is much more that could be written, of course, about “putting milk in one end” of a baby. For more information about keeping the other end as clean as possible in an emergency, try this article about cloth diapers.