Recently in Home and Shelter Category
August 8, 2008 9:24 PM
Here are some simple and effective cleaning solutions made from baking soda, lemons, borax, tea tree oil, club soda and more. Get those toxic solutions and chemicals out from under your sink. You wouldn't want them around in a 'closed-in' environment either. Be safe and wise.
From Mother Earth News
August 6, 2008 9:36 PM
I STILL LOVE THIS MAGAZINE
John and Jane Shuttleworth started Mother Earth News with a budget of $1500, and published their first issue from their home in January of 1970. The magazine "embraced the revived interest in the back-to-the-land movement at the beginning of the 1970s, and combined this with an interest in the ecology movement and self-sufficiency".
"Approaching environmental problems from a down-to-earth, practical, how-to standpoint, Mother Earth News has been a pioneer in the promotion of renewable energy, recycling, family farms, saner agricultural practices, better eating habits, medical self-care, more meaningful education, affordable housing, and, in the process, offered a platform for some of the most far-thinking minds of the day".
As interest in back-to-the-land ideas waned in the mid 1980's, so did the interest in the magazine, which was then sold to a major publisher. It has had several owners since then. Despite all the changes, and hefty competition (in a future blog posting) Mother Earth News continues to deliver valuable information for these times, and lots of it.
While you can subscribe to the magazine, you can also get their free email newsletters which come about three times a week. They are loaded with ideas and resources covering many topics and interests.
Here's the info on the newsletters: http://ipost.com/motherearth/prefs
Louise
July 15, 2008 5:45 AM
March 11, 2008 8:17 PM
Welcome to our Question and Answer postings, a dynamic forum for people to have their questions answered by a group of "wise ones". Our experts bring a rich and diverse background of skills and knowledge gained from years of experience living and breathing what they talk about. Click here to meet them
It is my desire that the Weekly Wisdom Forum will reach out to a sea of people of all ages, from different backgrounds and levels of understanding and experience, and be a support and even a comfort to those who are looking for guidance in preparing body and mind for the days that are here.
Send your questions to louise@mastersconnection.com.
QUESTION: COOKING WITH PROPANE OR ALCOHOL
What is your experience cooking with propane or alcohol? And are these fuels easy to store for long periods of time? Can either be used inside?
Abigail Haddock responds:
I have cooked with propane, alcohol and butane over the years. All three are volatile flammable liquids that burn vapor when exposed to heat. They are dangerous substances that should always be treated with respect.
Propane or LP gas is heavier than air. In its raw state, propane sinks and pools at the floor. It will continue pooling until it reaches a spark or flame, such as your water heater, furnace pilot light or static electricity. Once it reaches this ignition source...BOOM!!! Propane has more heat energy and will burn hotter boiling water more quickly than alcohol.
My own experience with propane is that there is quite a bit of water vapor that is produced. I lived in a small travel trailer and always cracked a window and opened the ceiling vent when cooking or heating with propane. If you are preparing an elaborate emergency home with more than adequate air flow, then propane would be an excellent choice. Propane does not have an odor so a sulfur-like additive is used to detect leaks or give a warning when the tank is running low. It is stored in canisters or tanks and a supply of extra hoses and regulators would be necessary.
Alcohol (use methanol not ethanol) burns with fewer BTU/hr. It is easy to store in metal pails. I actually have a 55 gallon metal barrel with stored alcohol. It must be stored in a dry location to prevent rust. Simply pour alcohol into the stove reservoir for use. It must be capped securely when not in use or it will evaporate. The flame is difficult to see and it cooks more slowly than other fuels. It is a good, inexpensive alternative to propane for the more economical alternative. All fuels need ventilation. Remember, a single candle burns more oxygen than one person so plan a good supply of air flow in any design.
Butane is another alternative that is very inexpensive and easy to use. It can be purchased in hair spray like cans for use in a simple inexpensive stove that comes with a carrying case for about $20. This is by far my favorite stove. Boils water in 4 minutes, a single can lasts for about 2 hours of cooking time and no pouring liquids. This stove is my favorite for emergency use. I always recommend it for use by older people because of its simplicity in use.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pam Paizs responds:
This is such an important question.
Both of these stoves/ovens will cook your foods but there are very different reasons you should be aware of before you choose which method. But first we must look at the safety of using either one.
Propane is a clean heat and easily available in small sealed tanks-plentiful for either hiking or for keeping in a "safe house". When using the smaller propane tanks (1 pint size) they are less likely to harm anyone if there were to be any earth movements. They are easily stored into a large plastic tub. If you were to use larger size tanks, I would suggest no larger than a 5 or 10 gallon size. These 2 sizes would require securing to the wall of a "safe house" with strong fiber straps, so they will not fly about the room and potentially hurt anyone during earth movements.
Their heat output and cooking time are excellent. I have used a two-burner camping stove for a period of 10 days and have only used 2 of the small size tanks for 3 meals per day. I cook my beans or heavier foods in a small stainless steel pressure cooker, so it all takes 15 to 20 minutes start to finish. There is less moisture in the air (surrounding area will stay dryer), plus the wonderful fact that you use less water by cooking with a pressure cooker.
Using propane, I can see the flame. This will be the most important point, along with no problems with spillage, smell or moisture!
Now onto Alcohol
Most buyers of alcohol stoves have little understanding of how dangerous they are. They work with liquid FIRE! The problem with liquid fire is it falls, spills and runs over the stove on to everything! A small drip can burn, melt and start a huge fire!! The liquid is unlike propane!! It stays on anything it touches and spreads to everything!! So now everything is on FIRE!
I personally do NOT like using this product at all. It is the most dangerous product to use in a "safe house" as well as outdoors, where it can easily spill and start a fire in a flash. Let me be very clear, Alcohol cannot be seen well at all when it is alight and on the ground. Yes, you can see a flame when you are using your burner but if a little of that same alcohol spills, or we have earth movement, you will not see it on the ground. It will still be alight and it will burn anything that it meets. Unfortunately the flame itself is hard to see because it burns at a low temperature.
It is the most unsafe item you could have, especially with small children around, or being cooped up in a "safe house" where you cannot readily get away from it. I have been privy to some horrendous stories regarding alcohol stoves, where folks have had an UNKNOWN spill and their entire lodging has gone up in smoke. Remember, they could get out into the safe surrounding air!
In addition, alcohol will give off extreme amounts of moisture into the surrounding areas which can create mold and mildew. Moisture is okay if you are outdoors but not if you are inside. As far as I know, alcohol fumes aren't dangerous--just nauseating. Take all that information and place it in a small space that you may not be able to get out off and alcohol is not your best choice.
So my vote goes to Propane!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Steven Knopp responds:
This one is tricky business! Both propane and methyl alcohol are excellent fuels in terms of relatively clean combustibility and availability [at this point]. However, each has their dangers and drawbacks! Both can be stored long term. I will assume here you're asking in terms of a shelter situation. Obviously with propane gas in quantity you have a major bomb on your hands, so its installation and storage must be very professionally and safely executed.
With methyl alcohol it must be stored in steel drums. However, methyl alcohol is a neuro-toxin and can cause blindness and other very serious health problems at exposure levels before you can even smell it. If it is used you must have very good ventilation at both the cooking site, and storage and refilling of containers site. I would wear a respirator while doing the second task, and store this fuel far from the living space, with very good ventilation.
Biodiesel would be safer and cleaner, but I have not seen anyone do this yet. But it could be done. So for cooking I would go with the smaller canisters of propane and a tank for long term hot water.
Thank you experts!
NEXT WEEK: Composting
Be well. Be happy. Be outrageous.
Louise
October 27, 2007 6:37 PM
October 2, 2007 12:18 PM
A READER FROM NEW ZEALAND responded to my review of the film The 11th Hour.
I replied, and then asked if she'd give us her input on what she was doing to prepare,
what her concerns were, etc. Here's a perspective from another part of the world.
Hi Louise - just heard something on TV about the new film The 11th Hour - so we will get it here in New Zealand soon.
Re Earth changes - We were fortunate to get a report from Ed Wiltsie, especially for New Zealand, from a brief visit to our country. Very interesting, and together with Ramtha's lecture we know things could be pretty "shaky" - which is the title of the report - New Zealand Islands in Motion.
Most of the masters here are already living in rural areas and are familiar with "self sufficiency". For myself, I am choosing to move to another part of New Zealand (currently I live in the north of the North Island). This is for two reasons, one is my current relationship has "fallen apart" where we were sharing the property, and the other is the weather patterns, which have been producing increasing storms, high winds etc. Our home on this land is very exposed to the wind, so I'm planning on an area in New Zealand that I know is more sheltered.
We have had three quite bad storms this winter and were without power and phone for several days. This is an interesting situation which was a reminder of things to come, and we got a bit of a worry with a freezer full of home kill meat and no power - so we straight away looked at purchasing a generator, which until now hasn't been an issue.
Food and cooking was not a problem as we grow and can our own produce and can cook on a woodstove. Didn't realize at the time the cell phones would be affected as they (the cell phone towers) had to run on battery power, making it a very short-term service if faced with a long power outage.
The other interesting thing that has happened is that since your e-mail arrived we have had a volcanic eruption and a series of earthquakes in another part of the country! Neither of these events are "out of character" as they are prone to this activity anyway, but it seems quite synchronistic. More like a friendly reminder!!!
I guess the bottom line is to keep in touch with the God within and follow what is best for you - create surviving the earth changes and moving through the chaos.
Regards,
Christine, from New Zealand
Thank you for letting me put your thoughts in the Blog, Christine.
READERS! YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT, WHEREVER YOU ARE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL PLANET! YOU CAN SEND ME AN EMAIL OR CLICK THE COMMENT BUTTON ON THE BOTTOM OF A POSTING TO MAKE A DIRECT COMMENT.
