Direct Download
Today, we talk about starting your garden plants from seed. We will take this from a beginners perspective and sprinkle in “Innovations” for those of you who are old hands at it. We will also cover our usual Monday Segments: Tales From the Prepper Pantry, Weekly Shopping Report from Joe, Frugality Tip, Operation Independence.
Featured Event: Feb 25 RV Solar Installation Workshop, $50, Westmoorland, TN, https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/event/rv-solar-install-workshop/
Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com
Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
- Mason Jar Storage Challenges
- Refining the apothecary
- All The Meat
- Fat Tuesday Crepes
- THE EGG
Weekly Shopping Report
Frugality Tip from Red Fyer Media (Rebecca)
For your DIY Construction projects
Get free lumber, hardware, plumbing PEX, Electrical supplies & even tools!
Building contractors, especially smaller ones who build 1-5 houses at a time, have to pay clean up crews to haul off the excess lumber & they rent the dumpsters & sometimes have to pay extra by weight & to be emptied.
If you see a house is being built, stop by and talk to the contractor about dumpster diving or collecting left overs. They will usually say ok, as long as you promise to go by after the crew is done for the day and they also want you to guarantee you are not going to sue them if you hurt yourself.
Every contractor I have talked to is THANKFUL that I am taking stuff away and they don’t have to pay to haul off.
Here”s a short list of what I have gotten for free that way:
1/2 pex – appx 150 ft because crews don’t like to mess with the last 20-30 ft of the roll stuck in the plastic.
3 strand wire (at least 150′ from 4 different houses. They are short runs, maybe 2′ – 7′, but most DIY homestead projects use a lot of short runs and a few long ones. Super heavy duty wire like for 220 – enough for any DIY project.
Lumber! 2x4s, 2×6, 2×8, trim pieces for both indoor and outdoor – most NEW lumber that was extra at the end of a house build. Right now I have 20 20′ 1×4 cedar boards that were left overs for ONE house.
Other items:
Insulation, pipe insulation.
Door hardware, cabinet hardware, plumbing hardware, electrical boxes (like on power poles) All NEW!
Operation Independence
- Thoughts on building yourself and your health into your schedule
Main topic of the Show: Starting Seeds for Beginners
First: Why try?
- Cheaper than buying them (But be prepared to buy plants)
- Increases self reliance – if you can start the seedlings, you can save the seeds and be relatively confident that you will be able to use them
- It’s fun
Next: What can go wrong
- You might fail and not end up growing exactly what you want that year
- Pests can wipe them out
- You spend tons of money on equipment and fail and walk away – so dont do that
About failure:
- Failure happens – prepare for it
- Have a backup plan
<Story: extra tomatoes and holey hoses>
Things to cover
Seeds: Heirloom, vs hybrid and its all okay
What to grow via seedlings: Tomatoes, peppers, kale, swiss chard, broccoli, lettuce, loofahs
- Squashes and cucumbers less good but ok
- Dont do peas, beans, carrots and other root veggies
1) Light, light, light. Generally a window isn’t going to have strong enough light. By far, this is most common pitfall.
Burrina Grow Lights – https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Spectrum-Daylight-Equivalent-Greenhouse/dp/B0B3CM9FYK/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1CVUC8DV4MO08&keywords=burrina%2Bgrow%2Blight%2Bbar&qid=1707764491&sprefix=barrina%2Bgrow%2Blight%2Bba%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1
$59-89
Lighting – and what to do if you dont have any
- Proper, full spectrum lighting uncomfortably close to the plants for 12-16 hours
- Go for it anyway and be prepared for leggy plants
2) Soil temperature. Too low, and you’ll have bad germination rates and weak seedlings.
Heating source – and what to do if you dont have any
- The mats
- Stability
- My greenhouse story and why we germinate indoors
- Top of the fridge or other warm corner
Seedling mats
https://www.amazon.com/BN-LINK-Durable-Seedling-Hydroponic-Waterproof/dp/B08BTFNTG4/ref=sr_1_6?crid=34WCO0YTLETWX&keywords=seedling%2Bmats&qid=1707764562&sprefix=seedling%2Bmat%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-6&th=1
$13
3) Consistent moisture, not overwatering. Dampening off and failure to thrive despite good lighting is generally due to overwatering.
Watertable method – redneck style
Plant tray:
https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Planting-Large/dp/B07K5R8XN2/ref=sxin_14_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.92181fe7-c843-4c1b-b489-84c087a93895%3Aamzn1.sym.92181fe7-c843-4c1b-b489-84c087a93895&crid=UYTCVJM82FZP&cv_ct_cx=plant+tray&keywords=plant+tray&pd_rd_i=B07K5R8XN2&pd_rd_r=c560ef49-5e79-4c2a-abb8-04c469e3edab&pd_rd_w=EX36k&pd_rd_wg=dQrqP&pf_rd_p=92181fe7-c843-4c1b-b489-84c087a93895&pf_rd_r=GG1K073F254115Q2C4C1&qid=1707764631&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=plant+tray%2Caps%2C141&sr=1-3-364cf978-ce2a-480a-9bb0-bdb96faa0f61-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1
Pots
https://www.amazon.com/Seedling-Starter-Trays-720-Cells/dp/B00BRQ3QWK/ref=sr_1_2?crid=VW5BPVA8IT30&keywords=dmarketline+Seedling+Starter+Trays+120+Trays%3B+6-Cells+Per+Tray+Plus+5+Plant+Labels&qid=1707764966&s=lawn-garden&sprefix=dmarketline+seedling+starter+trays+120+trays+6-cells+per+tray+plus+5+plant+labels%2Clawngarden%2C167&sr=1-2
Trays
- Deep pots (3-4 inches)
- Start either directly in pots or in germinating trays and how to do each
- Cups work and are cheap
- A word on watering
- A word on the peat pucks – they can work
- A word on peat pots – they suck balls
4) Potting mix. Find one you get good results with and stick to it. You want good moisture holding capacity but also a light enough texture that pricking out and potting up is easy.
Potting Mix
Soil mix
- Dont make your own soil – and a hack here
- Buy a good one from the store – miracle grow makes one, walmart has an organic one – get the stuff made for seedlings or get potting soil that is “small” and not filled with barkdust.
- Don’t make your own soil, dont make your own soil, dont make your own soil
- Unless your working with mike vertrees or otherwise ensuring success through testing dont make your own soil
- Next year, feel free to try your own soil but even then go halvsies on it to test before your commit
- Know that story I told you about the failed tomatoes – she made her own soil!
Some first year advice: choose 1 or 2 things and just try them out. And dont be sad if you end up buying seedlings – try again next year. It will work at some point.
Borrow from a friend
Visit nurseries for their extras – we ended up with 100 tray carrier things that way.
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
Resources
Episode 866: Building Community for the Introvert
Direct Download
People always ask me how to build community and today I will talk about the advent of our strong network and how that worked for me as an introvert.
Featured Event: The Freedom Cell Challenge FREE online event on building real community. https://livefree.academy/op/the-freedom-cells-challenge/?ref=183
Sponsor 1: Agorist Tax Advice: AgoristTaxAdvice.com./Webinar https://event.webinarjam.com/register/8/0y70ruk
Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com
Livestream Schedule
Live With Angery American & John Willis, 12:30pm
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
Weekly Shopping Report from Joe
First stop was Dollar Tree. They’ve finally gotten off their butts and restocked all the drink coolers. The food coolers are also in good shape. Although it’s always hit or miss in there (e.g. no decongestant-only OTC meds), the health aisle is pretty full, if a little messy.
We skipped Home Depot on Saturday and went next to Aldi. The Masa that had been missing for the last two weeks was back in stock. We found everything we wanted. Staple prices were: eggs: $1.78 (-); whole milk: $2.93; heavy cream: $4.69; OJ: $3.29; butter: $3.69; bacon: $4.25; potatoes: $3.99; sugar: $3.09; flour: $2.29; and 80% lean ground beef: $3.59.
Home Depot: The store looked normal-busy to me. A 2x4x8 remains at $3.25.
I went to my regular Weigel’s earlier in the week, and I think the untainted regular was still $3.639/gallon.
Frugality Tip
NONE
Operation Independence
Wood chips and garden prep – Spent $50 on seeds
Main topic of the Show: Building Community for the Intervert
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
Resources
Express Yourself with Espresso
If you love your after-dinner espresso and your Black or White Russian, try this derivative – made with great coffee, of course. Read more
Winter Foraging Class
Go ahead and throw it on your calendar: we’re going to squeak in one more winter foraging class before setting up the spring and summer schedule.
Next Sunday, February 25th, on the farm here in West Knox County. Noon until 3pm. $20 per person or barter something useful or groovy. Email Kerry to get on the roster and for directions: strongrootsresources@gmail.com
Episode 865 – Homestead happenings for February 16, 2024
Direct Download
Today we talk about tragedy on the Homestead, the return of eggs, two people projects and more with theTactical Redneck.
Featured Event: Kentucky Sustainable Living Expo
Sponsor 1: Agorist Tax Advice- FREE webinar!
Sponsor 2: Freesteading.com
THE LIST
Forage
Livestock
Grow
Harvest meals
Holler Neighbors/Community
Infrastructure
Finances
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!
Community
Advisory Board
Resources
Episode 864 – Collapse & Recovery with Sonny Puzikas and John Willis
Direct Download
Today I am joined by John Willis of Special Operations Equipment and Sonny Puzikas from the Gospel of Violence Podcast to talk about what societal collapse AND RECOVERY looks like. Because most who frame these topics have never been through one, but Sonny has.
Each Tuesday, we welcome a different guest to tell their story, as well as take your questions live.
Featured Event: The Self Reliance Festival, SelfRelianceFestival.com
Sponsors:
Show Resources
SonnyPuzikas.com
Special Operations Equipment
Living Free in Tennessee
NicoleSauce.com
HollerRoast.com
Main content of the show
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
Resources
Episode 863 – Water Treatment and Septic with Jonathan Kitzen
Direct Download
Today I am joined by Jonathan Kitzen, https://waterplantir.com/, to talk about water treatment and septic systems
Featured Event: Webinar Tomorrow at 2pm with Sue Zoldak, https://nicolesauce.podia.com/view/courses/marketing-for-success-q-a
Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast:
Sponsor 2: EMP Shield, Coupon Code LFTN
Show Resources
https://waterplantir.com/
https://www.demizinetechnology.com/projects-2
Main content of the show
Jonathan is a serial entrepreneur having started more than 10 companies in nearly 3 decades that have focused on manufacturing, hardware, visual sciences, entertainment and commercial real estate. He has run companies in the USA, Canada, UK, Russian Federation, Dominica, Colombia. His past achievements include developing a digital 3D camera system which won the prestigious Mario Prize at the National Association of Broadcasters convention, founder of MKA Inc the only company making a profit manufacturing in the FSU according to the US state department in the early 1990’s, Founder of BHW of the UK (2002) which was early on sustainability and forestry, and has worked as professional cat herder trying to get engineers to do various tricks for over 30 years.
Jonathan is a big promoter of the decentralized movement – that more smaller redundant and local systems create more robust and sustainable response to climate change. He guided Demizine into the alternative housing market: mobile, emergency, rapid living solutions. He recognized that the market is bottle necked on the need for water and septic solutions. A house without running water and septic is a glorified tent – and formed WUB to change the way we think about and deal with water and septic.
His creative work includes multiple IMAX films, Co-Producing the academy award winning Lady in Number 6, co-author of an upcoming novel with Phillip K. Dick (Blade Runner) and Ron Schusett (Alien)
Interview
Make it a great week
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
Advisory Board
Resources
Episode 862: Seed Starting For Beginners
Direct Download
Today, we talk about starting your garden plants from seed. We will take this from a beginners perspective and sprinkle in “Innovations” for those of you who are old hands at it. We will also cover our usual Monday Segments: Tales From the Prepper Pantry, Weekly Shopping Report from Joe, Frugality Tip, Operation Independence.
Featured Event: Feb 25 RV Solar Installation Workshop, $50, Westmoorland, TN, https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/event/rv-solar-install-workshop/
Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com
Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
Weekly Shopping Report
Frugality Tip from Red Fyer Media (Rebecca)
For your DIY Construction projects
Get free lumber, hardware, plumbing PEX, Electrical supplies & even tools!
Building contractors, especially smaller ones who build 1-5 houses at a time, have to pay clean up crews to haul off the excess lumber & they rent the dumpsters & sometimes have to pay extra by weight & to be emptied.
If you see a house is being built, stop by and talk to the contractor about dumpster diving or collecting left overs. They will usually say ok, as long as you promise to go by after the crew is done for the day and they also want you to guarantee you are not going to sue them if you hurt yourself.
Every contractor I have talked to is THANKFUL that I am taking stuff away and they don’t have to pay to haul off.
Here”s a short list of what I have gotten for free that way:
1/2 pex – appx 150 ft because crews don’t like to mess with the last 20-30 ft of the roll stuck in the plastic.
3 strand wire (at least 150′ from 4 different houses. They are short runs, maybe 2′ – 7′, but most DIY homestead projects use a lot of short runs and a few long ones. Super heavy duty wire like for 220 – enough for any DIY project.
Lumber! 2x4s, 2×6, 2×8, trim pieces for both indoor and outdoor – most NEW lumber that was extra at the end of a house build. Right now I have 20 20′ 1×4 cedar boards that were left overs for ONE house.
Other items:
Insulation, pipe insulation.
Door hardware, cabinet hardware, plumbing hardware, electrical boxes (like on power poles) All NEW!
Operation Independence
Main topic of the Show: Starting Seeds for Beginners
First: Why try?
Next: What can go wrong
About failure:
<Story: extra tomatoes and holey hoses>
Things to cover
Seeds: Heirloom, vs hybrid and its all okay
What to grow via seedlings: Tomatoes, peppers, kale, swiss chard, broccoli, lettuce, loofahs
1) Light, light, light. Generally a window isn’t going to have strong enough light. By far, this is most common pitfall.
Burrina Grow Lights – https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Spectrum-Daylight-Equivalent-Greenhouse/dp/B0B3CM9FYK/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1CVUC8DV4MO08&keywords=burrina%2Bgrow%2Blight%2Bbar&qid=1707764491&sprefix=barrina%2Bgrow%2Blight%2Bba%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1
$59-89
Lighting – and what to do if you dont have any
2) Soil temperature. Too low, and you’ll have bad germination rates and weak seedlings.
Heating source – and what to do if you dont have any
Seedling mats
https://www.amazon.com/BN-LINK-Durable-Seedling-Hydroponic-Waterproof/dp/B08BTFNTG4/ref=sr_1_6?crid=34WCO0YTLETWX&keywords=seedling%2Bmats&qid=1707764562&sprefix=seedling%2Bmat%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-6&th=1
$13
3) Consistent moisture, not overwatering. Dampening off and failure to thrive despite good lighting is generally due to overwatering.
Watertable method – redneck style
Plant tray:
https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Company-Planting-Large/dp/B07K5R8XN2/ref=sxin_14_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.92181fe7-c843-4c1b-b489-84c087a93895%3Aamzn1.sym.92181fe7-c843-4c1b-b489-84c087a93895&crid=UYTCVJM82FZP&cv_ct_cx=plant+tray&keywords=plant+tray&pd_rd_i=B07K5R8XN2&pd_rd_r=c560ef49-5e79-4c2a-abb8-04c469e3edab&pd_rd_w=EX36k&pd_rd_wg=dQrqP&pf_rd_p=92181fe7-c843-4c1b-b489-84c087a93895&pf_rd_r=GG1K073F254115Q2C4C1&qid=1707764631&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=plant+tray%2Caps%2C141&sr=1-3-364cf978-ce2a-480a-9bb0-bdb96faa0f61-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1
Pots
https://www.amazon.com/Seedling-Starter-Trays-720-Cells/dp/B00BRQ3QWK/ref=sr_1_2?crid=VW5BPVA8IT30&keywords=dmarketline+Seedling+Starter+Trays+120+Trays%3B+6-Cells+Per+Tray+Plus+5+Plant+Labels&qid=1707764966&s=lawn-garden&sprefix=dmarketline+seedling+starter+trays+120+trays+6-cells+per+tray+plus+5+plant+labels%2Clawngarden%2C167&sr=1-2
Trays
4) Potting mix. Find one you get good results with and stick to it. You want good moisture holding capacity but also a light enough texture that pricking out and potting up is easy.
Potting Mix
Soil mix
Some first year advice: choose 1 or 2 things and just try them out. And dont be sad if you end up buying seedlings – try again next year. It will work at some point.
Borrow from a friend
Visit nurseries for their extras – we ended up with 100 tray carrier things that way.
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
Resources
Episode 861 – Homestead Happenings for February 9, 2024
Direct Download
Today, we talk about electrical fencing woes, escaping sheep, egg issues and more with the Tactical Redneck.
Featured Event: Wild Foraging Class April 8, 2024 with Kerry Brown. https://selfreliancefestival.com/product/wild/
Sponsor 1: HollerRoast.com
Sponsor 2: Freesteading.com
Fence Charger Woes – Is it the battery?
Forage
Livestock
Grow
Homegrown Meals
Holler Neighbors/Community
Infrastructure
Finances
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!
Community
Advisory Board
Resources
Darby Remembered and Appreciated
Nicole Sauce’s grandfather was a cook from the time he served in the military until his death, a span of 70 years or so. For several decades, he owned and did the bulk of the cooking for a nifty small restaurant in a scenic small town not too far from Portland, Oregon. One of his sons, Nicole’s dad, worked during his teen years as a short-order cook at Darby’s and went on to a career in food science.
Let’s celebrate with a breakfast sausage the entire extended family clamored for – well over 100 people during Nicole’s childhood – when relatives joined for meals. This recipe came directly from Darby, makes just a taster’s worth of sausage (so you know he scaled it down for household use), and bears the name he gave it. Read more
Sequatchie School Trapping Class
Join me there.
$125
Email: Sequatchieschool@gmail.com