NEWSLETTERS

Modern Homesteading Movement

Newsletter 2-7-05

1) Homemade Rabbit Hutch
2) New Military Technology Combats Sniper Fire
3) News Bits
4) Feedback

1) Deborah, a newsletter reader, asked for details on how we construct our rabbit hutches.

The rabbit cages are made of wood and wire netting. Their dimensions are 48" long x 27" wide x 27" high. Each cage / box is supported on four stilt-like wooden legs that hold them 4 feet above the ground. This puts these defenseless critters out of the reach of most predators. The door is big enough to insert a nesting box if this is a cage for a bred doe or to put one in to shelter doe or buck in bad weather. The whole thing is heavy enough to stay put, yet light enough that Don and I, one on each end, can easily carry it to a new site when we want.

The little house is the nesting box that goes into the door and sits on the wire inside the cage. Its dimensions are 14" x 14" x 12" high. The sun moves. So sometimes it's all in shade. Sometimes it's all in sunshine except inside their house. So they can get away from unwanted sunshine by going to a shaded part of the cage or inside their house. Often they sit on top of the nesting box! The fact that the roof and backside of the cage are solid help provide shelter from wind and rain. The nesting box provides a second layer of shelter that is even more complete.

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2) New Military Technology Combats Sniper Fire

John Cary of BusinessWeek magazine reported that a private-sector firm has developed a cutting-edge technology for the Pentagon that helps military under fire locate snipers. The U.S. gov hired a company to develop a
bullet-tracking system, called Boomerang. It works in a moving vehicle as well as a stationary situation. It works by analyzing the shock waves that bullets create as they fly through the air. It has seven microphones spread out like sea urchin spines. The bullet's shock wave hits each microphone at a slightly different time. The instrument measures those time differences, and then can calculate the trajectory of the bullet and the elevation and range of the sniper.

Source: John Carey, "Taking Quick Aim Against Snipers," BusinessWeek,
January 31, 2005.

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3) News Bits

a) EAT FISH? People who eat tuna and other non-fried fish several times a week have a 27% lower risk of stroke. But people who eat fried fish or fish sandwiches ("fishwich") have a 44% higher stroke risk! So eat fish, but don't fry it.

b) INSURED? America has 45 million uninsured people.

http://www.cmwf.org/General/General_show.htm?doc_id=256036

Half of Bankruptcies Blamed on Medical Bills, Study Finds
A study published this week on the Health Affairs Web site found that almost half of bankruptcies filed in 2001 were because of medical bills. (Chicago Tribune) The study's researchers said that the majority of the filings were from middle-class workers who had health insurance at the beginning of their illnesses, but lost it when they had to leave their jobs.

c) NEWS FROM UK HOMESTEADERS?

http://www.acountrylife.com/

d) URBAN HOMESTEADING?

The featured chickens are Black Australorps. They are a breed imported from Australia that is the most hardy I know of against a climate that includes days of extreme heat.

http://www.pdbd.com/henwaller/

e) ORGANIC FLOWERS FOR V'S DAY?

http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=73&articleID=1044

f) PINE TREE SERMON FOR CHRISTIANS?

http://www.noahsnet.com/Wanda/pinetreecrosses.html

g) EXERCISE TAKES OFF WEIGHT

Study Finds THAT Obese People Sit More Often, Do Fewer Minor Physical Activities Than Lean People. Obese people do fewer minor physical activities and remain seated at least two more hours per day than lean people, according to a new study published last week in the journal Science. (Washington Post) Just that two hours a day more of sitting could account for the extra weight, in and of itself in a person whose body is predisposed to putting on weight.

http://bcbshealthissues.com/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=144132

h) Looking for a reliable person to build or care for your website?
Here's the e-mail addy for my wonderful webmistress, Kelly.
network@atgproductions.com

i) Interested in training oxen?

www.wmich.edu/tillers

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4) Feedback

Dear Carla, How can I get a copy of your older edition, the one called the Old Fashioned Recipe Book that came out back in the 70's. No offence meant, but I prefer that one, and somebody stole the one I had.
Ann Moran

Dear Ann, I just happen to have several of them here. For a mere $60, I'll part with one! You know, when you buy direct from the author, you support a good cause!
Gratefully,
Carla

Good morning, Carla!

I thoroughly enjoy your newsletters. I know they are a lot of work and sometimes, a word of praise and thanks make the work more worthwhile.

Concerning your wonderful article on rainwater, I would like to let you know that there is legislation in the works concerning collection of rainwater. The article and many, many comments can be found at www.washingtonvotes.org/2005-SB-5113.

Keep up the good work!

Mary Anne Grant

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Carla,
I was looking over your website last night and, while I am well aware
of the peaking in oil production, I find your senarios very troubling--in part because of what is not said. If the breakdown from peak happens as quickly as your predictions, there is going to be a lot of chaos way sooner than I had expected. I think I find the shortage of coal more troubleing in many ways
than running short of oil mainly because the numbers I had looked at 10 years ago indicated that there was better than a century of coal reserve that was practical to mine. I think loss of electricity will have an even more profound impact on society than loss of gasoline because that means losing things like municipal water supplies and waste water treatment plants. Even a lot of rural areas now are dependant on electricity, plus our entire comunication network. There is still time, even in your predicted time table, to finish preperation to a great degree, but most people I talk to won't believe there will be a shortage, let alone complete loss of fossil fuel-based technology systems. I'm hoping that your predicted time table is pesimistic rather than optimistic so I (and the rest of the country) have a little more time for transition.

Mark A Abner

BriarPatch Farms and Fiber
Monticello KY

Hi Mark. Thanks for your thoughtful letter. You're right. I didn't spell it
all out. And, from the range of estimates, I chose ones that suggest the
quickest running out to quote. I want people to wake up and
make changes, so I figured it was better to light a fire under them sooner
rather than later!
Gratefully,

Carla Emery

Dear Carla, I have a few questions and comments on that last newsletter:

Q: BAD FOR BUNNY: Potato leaves, sprouts, or peels...
I know about the leaves and the sprouts, but what's wrong with the
peels? I would expect them to be fine, as long as you make sure there's
no sprouts on them.

A: Thanks for your feedback. Potato peels are bad to eat for
bunny or human if, and only if some green has developed in them. The green
in the skins is the same bitter-tasting, unhealthy stuff as in the sprouts.

Q: Comfrey? Really? I've seen some books (can't remember titles; sorry) where the authors swear by comfrey for all animals, and include rabbits in their
list. What's wrong with it?

Here's the info I've collected on comfrey:
Comfrey (Symphytum) used to be considered totally harmless, a traditional cure for anything, food for anything. Well, it's not deadly poison, but modern chemistry has identified a poisonous substance in it, pyrolizzidine, so the latest government advice is to not eat it in any form. Take this in perspective, however, because the pioneers fed it to animals and used the developing center leaves near the crown in poultices. It's one of the few plants I know that can survive in a chicken yard once it is well established. Comfrey is a deep-rooting, hardy perennial with lush green leaves that can grow 3 ft high and come back quickly after being cut back. (The same hardiness has been known to result in a comfrey-turned-weed problem.) Russian comfrey (Symphytum peregrinum) is slow-growing, a good source of compost for organic gardeners, and used to feed animals. Comfrey cannot be raised from seed. It has to be propagated by root cuttings. Plant a 2 in. root cutting 4 in. deep any time of the year-3 ft apart, because they get really big.

Q: Fireweed? I disagree with that one. I grew up in Alaska, and our rabbits enjoyed various amounts of fireweed leaves as an addition to their (purchased) pelleted-feed diet. We never saw any ill effects, and we fed up to one to two large plants per adult rabbit. (But we did limit the quantities offered to young rabbits, or to any rabbit that wasn't used to it--like first thing in the spring, we'd give 'em a little bit first). So is it considered to have "no nutritional value" or to be actually harmful? (We are talking about the same plant, right? The kind I know grows 3+ feet tall, has a single stalk with long-ish narrow green leaves, and grows a lot of small flowers on the top foot or two; flowers are a bright pinkish-purple.) Natalie Tillotson

A: Natalie, I appreciate the info on fireweed and will adjust my advice to folks accordingly.

Carla and Don,
Thank you for this weekly newletter. You have such good information and links. Being independent of the feed stores, that you spoke of in this past newsletter(Feb. 1, 2005), also means getting away from the pesticides and GMO grains. This year, we're going to try raising wheat, oats and barley along with corn to supplement our feed. We have been growing our own hay. Grain seems to be our challenge. To buy it organic simply isn't cost effective. We won't grow large amounts this year, but want to see how it will work out, as we'll be doing it all by hand. Thanks again for the information and links
Blessings,
Mike and Kelle

I don't know if you answer e-mails personally or not, but i am in need of
some advice, and someone with Christian values. You might remember me, my name is Natasha. I'm homesteading little by little, and saving money for a place in upstate NY, or upsate PA. I'm 22, and have talked with you on the phone.

About a year and a half ago, I attempted to kill myself, and almost died.
I've been in and out of treatment programs (therapy) due to sexual abuse my
my father, and major depression. I wanted to get better, and to serve God,
so I did as the doctors suggested, and started to see a psycologist, for
therapy and medication.They quickly diagnosed me with Bipolar
disorder, and post tramatic stress disorder. They put me on a fistfull
of medication, and sent me to therapy 2 days a week. Now, I'm much
better....but honestly, I don't think that is from the medication, because I
get more sideeffects from the medication than any good.

My question is...everyone these days want to stick people with mental illness
in a box, drug them up...and make them quiet. Instead of teaching us how to
heal ourselves with Christ's love and help. My question to you is....what is
your take on and opinion of the treatment of those with mental illness...and
do you think that city life can honesly be a factor of depression?

So I'm doing what God has lead me to do...which was to go off the meds
(which sorta pissed off the doc), and look for healing from God and nature,
instead of from men.

My thing is, is there doens't seem to be any younger women like myself, who
love homesteading. I've not come across any on my own. I don't really have
many friends, so far, the count is two, lol. And I'm lonely out here in
NJ. Well, I guess I rambled on enough, and I know you have plenty to
do, so any kind words you can send my way, I'd love it.

God Bless,
Tasha

Hi Tasha. I answer every e-mail I get, and gladly. Thanks for writing me.
I'd suggest that you start networking with the folks at www.mindfreedom.org. They are fighting for the rights of people who have a mental diagnosis. You'll
find friends there. There aren't all homesteaders and they aren't
necessarily Christians, but they sure can advise and support you in the
process of getting off psychiatric meds. I say good for you for wanting to
get off them, but my impression is you have to do it gradually and
carefully. Then keep your head on straight to prove that you can handle
being off them okay. Mind Freedom has some good books to tell you how to do
it and there are psychiatrists associated with them who help people get off
meds.
A good place to find other homestead-minded folks is
www.homesteadingtoday.com . There are literally thousands of folks signed up
there. Just post and you'll get responses. Lots of Christians there too.
Your friend,
Carla