Wrapping Up

This project has been an interesting experience for me.  Initially I had no idea how to create and maintain a blog, but it turned out to be easier than I had thought.  I was able to learn a few skills in the process, and it forced me to work on a project I had been putting off: the vermicomposting bin (I plan to update with pictures of the worms once they arrive). It was also interesting to see the different directions that everyone went in with their blog. Overall, this class has motivated me to examine my own habits, and to think seriously about the consequences of my actions on our environment.  It's made me realize that sacrifices are necessary but that I can still maintain a high quality of life, and helped me see connections in the environment I didn't realize were there.  As John Muir once said, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe".    

Earthbag Building

Being able to set up your own shelter in the wild is important, but so is the shelter you dwell in on a daily basis.  Lately my girlfriend and I have been thinking a lot about what kind of house we would build when it becomes a viable option for us.  The factors that are most important to us are: building costs, heating/insulation efficiency, a passive solar design, and preferably a greenhouse. With these in mind we set about researching different methods of building houses and stumbled upon earthbag building, using sandbags filled with local natural material  in place of bricks.  Earthbags homes can be assembled easily and are surprisingly sturdy.  The Earthbag website explains one of the many benefits of this building method:  "Earthbags have the tremendous advantage of providing either thermal mass or insulation, depending on what the bags are filled with. When filled with soil they provide thermal mass, but when filled with lighter weight materials, such as crushed volcanic stone, perlite, vermiculite, or rice hulls, they provide insulation. The bags can even act as natural non-wicking, somewhat insulated foundations when they are filled with gravel."   This building method seemed to satisfy all of our needs, but we expected the houses built this way would be pretty plain, box shaped, and small. We were very surprised to see some examples.

http://www.structure1.com/html/earthbag.htm

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/2005-10-01/Earthbag-Construction.aspx

http://www.logement-durable-afrique.info/?report-from-canada

There are many different guides to DIY Earthbag building online.  We came across a website with plans and schematics for different designs, some even using recycled materials for certain parts of the home.The plans were created by Own Geiger, and the website is Natural Building Blog.  We even found a plan for a partially underground Earthbag building with a greenhouse.

http://naturalbuildingblog.com/solar-pit-house/

http://naturalbuildingblog.com/solar-pit-house/

Most of us don't have the option to buy our own home right now, let alone build it.  But it's nice to know there are low-cost high-efficiency building methods out there when the time comes, and that your own house doesn't have to look like a clone of the one next to it.

Vermicomposting

Composting is an excellent way of turning organic wastes into fertilizer for crops.  Although it's not a survival skill, it's useful to know how to recycle your old food and put it to good use.  One of the more interesting ways of composting uses worms to help break matter down, and is called vermicomposting.  It involves a layer of bedding (shredded newspaper, cardboard, a bit of soil) in a tub or tray where the worms reside (only Red Wiggler worms are suited for vermicomposting). Organic waste is occasionally mixed in with the bedding for the worms to feed on.  Coupled with natural decomposition, the worms help turn bedding and waste to a rich brown color, at which point it's considered compost and ready for use in the garden   There are a few different ways to vermicompost, but cost was a factor for my setup so I went the simple route.

Supplies
-10 gallon plastic bin with lid (Think wider not deeper, worms will stay on the top 8 inches of soil)
-Shredded paper or cardboard
-Organic waste
-Drill
-Handful or two of soil
-1 lb. of Red Wigglers

The process is quite simple.  Drill approximately 30 holes in the bottom of the plastic bin to allow for proper drainage. Do the same for the lid. It may also be a good idea to drill a few small holes around the edge of the container.  All these holes with help with aeration, as a compost bin that isn't aerated will start to smell rotten.  Once you have enough bedding, place it into the bin along with the worms, and make sure that everything stays consistently moist. Its best to keep the bin elevated with something beneath it to catch all the excess drainage which can then be used to water plants Now the worms can get to work for you (and you for them).  See the link at the bottom of this post for a list of foods that should and shouldn't go into the bin.

Unfortunately I could find nobody in town who had the worms in stock, so I had to order them.  But now that everything is set up it will make things much easier once they arrive. This was the most expensive supply ($25 for a pound).  However, vermicomposting helps keeps food out of landfills and come springtime I shouldn't need any additional fertilizer for the garden.

I found all my vermicomposting information in one spot: City of Sacramento's Department of Parks and Recreation.  They have a vast amount of information on the subject, so take a look if you'd like to know more.

Tons of Carbon Dioxide

Anyone interested in getting a better idea of their impact on the environment might try using the EPA's greenhouse gas emissions calculator.  It takes into account a multitude of different factors including: heating and electric costs, monthly miles driven, recycling habits and vehicle maintenance.  Since all of these things affect the amount of  CO2 going into the environment, the EPA's calculator can estimate how much carbon dioxide you contribute to annually, also known as a carbon footprint.  This estimate is expressed in pounds of carbon dioxide, and the average emission per person in the United States is 20,750 pounds per year.  This came as an unwelcome surprise to me considering there are over 300 million people in this country.

Recently I used information about my own household to calculate my carbon footprint and compare it with my parents household.  Both are 2 person households (and pets), but there are some major differences between the two.  Our annual emissions were 18,309 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, but my parents' annual emissions turned out to be over 34,000 pounds per year.  There are a few reasons for this.  First of all, my parents drive more often than we do.  Their vehicles get better gas mileage, but the amount of miles put on the vehicles daily is enough to negate the fact.  Secondly, we have a smaller house, it costs us much less to heat and illuminate it.  Another major difference is our lack of air-conditioning, which neither me or my girlfriend feel is necessary.  My parent's house, like many others, is cooled non-stop all summer long.

Once the carbon footprint is calculated, it makes it a bit easier to make changes.  The EPA's websites gives plenty of suggestions for reducing total emissions, including using Energy-Star appliances and turning the thermostat down at night  (Turn it down just three degrees and you'll take roughly 488 pounds of CO2 off your carbon footprint!). Once these things start to become part of your routine you might wonder why you didn't start earlier.  Many of us are already practiced in these areas, and realize that the whole house doesn't need to be cooled, and that a car isn't required everyday.  For those who don't, calculate your carbon footprint and see if it doesn't make you change your mind.

Facing The Facts

The validity of climate change is a topic long debated.  Due to the complex nature of the subject, and the far reaching consequences of even our smallest action (or inaction), it can be difficult to establish a “cause” for every “effect”.  In fact, although the climate on our planet has been altered (by us) for many years, only now are some of the effects becoming apparent.  It's no surprise then that the general public is beginning to take notice.  However, in order to make the right decisions we must be properly educated.  Those looking for truth beyond the ridiculous statements of politicians and pundits ought to check out BIll McKibben’s book, Eaarth. He does an excellent job of laying down the cold hard facts about climate change.  It’s not possible for me to list every effect the warming climate has had on our planet, but let’s take a look at a few.  McKibben states that “one of the key facts of the twenty-first century turns out to be that warm air holds more water vapor than cold: in arid areas this means increased evaporation and hence drought.  And once that water is in the atmosphere, it will come down, which in moist areas means increased deluge and flood.”   This basic fact explains many of the unusual weather patterns we've seen in the past couple of years.  But what about the effects unseen?  The oceans are becoming more acidic due to the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  They’re also becoming warmer,  increasing the chances of hurricanes and tropical storms.  Some of these are cycles that were set in motion years ago, and they can’t be stopped.  For instance, in arid areas the drier conditions caused by climate change lead to more forest fires, which lead to more carbon being released into the atmosphere, which leads to even drier conditions. The frozen tundras of the world are beginning to melt, releasing methane into the air and making them more susceptible to fires caused by lightning strikes. Human behavior may even be affected, as the changing climate is negatively influencing crop yields in many places. Fertile land is becoming less available, and there will likely be conflicts over it as people struggle to feed their families.    

According to a paper published in the science journal Nature,
the Anaktuvuk River Fire in Alaska released approximately 2.3
million tons of  carbon into the atmosphere.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management  

The list goes on and on.  McKibben focuses on the fact that much of the damage we've done is irreversible, and everyday through inaction we make it worse. We're just deluding ourselves if we think we can continue living on this planet without making a drastic change. Even if we stopped all carbon emissions today, the chain of events set in motion would continue to increase the earth’s temperature.   According to McKibben,"Scientists are now telling us that 350 parts per million [of carbon] in the atmosphere is the upper limit. We're at 387 parts per million now, and we're up in that zone where the rist of going past irrevocable tipping points is elevated." But if the damage is done, is there any hope for the future?   Fossil fuels are a major part of our economy, and the companies who produce and distribute them are some of the richest in the world.  Unfortunately this also means that they are some of the most politically influential, and its hard to pass regulations that negatively affect these companies.  McKibben set up 350.org in order to help organize a movement and guide climate change policy in a worthwhile direction.  Take a glance at the site if you’re unsure what you can do to help - there’s news of upcoming events, a Q&A section, as well as some success stories that can help anyone feeling a bit too hopeless. 

Major policy changes would help, but we also need a change in our minds - a diversion from the idea that bigger is better.  It’s going to require a lifestyle restructurization: think using less, producing less, and considering alternative and local power sources. We must make the best use of space, eat locally grown foods, and depend on our community more than many of us are used to.  If we can successfully initiate a change in policy and in ourselves, we can hopefully start a new chain of events that will help reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere and make our planet a more hospitable place.

When we hear about survival skills we almost always associate them with dire circumstances, but this isn't always the case.  If a small community truly wants to work together to provide food and necessary items to each other obtained from local resources, there will be some skill required in doing so.  Members may not possess all the skills for extracting resources and creating goods, but instead might specialize in a specific skill set.  This way each member contributes to the community and the community has a greater variety of goods and services available.  Find more information on some “eco-villages” at  the Global Eco Village Network website.

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Most of us have fished at one point or another, but chances are it was with a rod and reel.  However, if you're ever in dire need of food and don't have a rod, you can create your own hook and line with materials around you. Hooks can be fashioned out of wood and bone, and fishing line can be substituted with natural cordage.  The type and size of the hook depends on what you will be fishing, but Tom Brown Jr.'s Field Guide To Wilderness Survival shows a few examples.

All of these hooks were created out of wood, fairly dry and not rotted.  A little bit goes a long way - it took only one thin branch to make all three.  The first hook resembles a traditional metal hook, and was made using part of the branch that already had a hook-like protrusion sticking out of it. 

Once it was slimmed down, I sharpened the edges with a knife and created a notch at the top to tie the line.  If you don’t have a knife though, its possible make one using a rock.  Trails.com has a simple guide to doing so, but in a pinch anything sharp enough will do the trick. If possible, its best to create a barb on the small protrusion to increase the chance of hooking the fish. Given that I was dealing with such a small piece of wood, I elected not to cut a barb for fear of breaking the hook.



The next hook was cut out of a cylindrical branch, then sharpened on both sides with a notch in the center for the fishing line. The Field Guide To Wilderness Survival refers to this as a "skewer gorge hook". In order to work it must be parallel to the line when swallowed.

The last hook was most complicated, consisting of two skewer gorge hooks lashed together with milkweed fiber. Called a "scissor hook", it opens up once swallowed. Getting the two pieces lashed together proved tricky, but I'll be interested to see if it stays together when I test it.


You can add a rock as a sinker (just put a notch or two in it) and a light stick as a floater. All that's needed is more line. I used milkweed bark and fiber, made into small pieces of cordage by using the same technique demonstrated in the earlier post. This was the most difficult part. Making cordage strong enough not to break and yet thin enough to act as fishing line was a bit of a challenge, and I'm still not sure whether it will hold up if I hooked a fish. So in a relatively short time I was able to make three hooks and a bit of line. If I had more milkweed (and daylight) I would have tested them today, but hopefully I'll get the chance soon.

Being able to create your own hooks, like many other survival skills, allows for a greater degree of confidence when in the outdoors. It's nice to know that you have your own abilities to fall back on if you ever choose (or are forced) to find food for yourself. However, if you do decide to cast a line keep in mind than overfishing is becoming a major problem - toss the fish back if you don't absolutely need it.

Learn more about overfishing
Learn more about Tom Brown Jr.

Hope, Human and Wild

In Hope, Human and Wild, Bill Mckibben describes in detail a city quite different from what we're used to in the states: Curitiba, Brazil.  While still thought of by some as a "third world" city, it does a better job than most of keeping it's air clean (designing the city with factories downwind), trees plentiful, (the city went from 2 square feet of green area per inhabitant to 150 square feet, even as it's population tripled), and streets rubbish free (a program was put in place exchanging food for people bringing in recyclable items).  It has an ultra-efficient bus transit system that is the envy of the modern world, with 85% of it's population making use of it.

What makes Curitiba - with its government budget dwarfed by most major cities - so successful?  It could be that there's less bureaucracy to bog down new ideas, or that the city's infrastructure was designed with speed and efficiency in mind (e.g. minimizing loading time by raising platforms a few feet at bus stations).  However, I believe that the answer lies in one of the cities core values, the idea that respect is a two way street.  If everyone in the city feels respected, then they start to feel responsible for the conditions around them.  For example, mobile bus classrooms helping Curitibans become more employable increased the level of connectivity they feel with the local government.  The sense of community and the overall quality of life are enhanced as people see the city doing them a service and want to repay the favor.  The city seems to be in an upward spiral; the prouder citizens feel about their hometown, they more they are willing to do to protect it.

Mckibben says that "99% of Curitibans told pollsters they were happy with their town".  This type of satisfaction level can only be achieved elsewhere if local governments start respecting and considering the interests of every class of citizen.

Cordage

Many of these techniques come from my Field Guide To Wilderness Survival by Tom Brown.  I'd recommend checking out a book or two of his, he's mastered nearly every survival skill and has some very interesting stories as well.

Cordage is one of the most important items to have in any survival situation.  It can be used for bows, traps, fishing and shelter building, among others.  To make cordage a number of different materials can be used, just try to stick with strong, fibrous material.  For my attempt I used a type of dried sedge I found in my yard.

There are a few different ways to make cordage, but I went with the simplest method.  First I took a dozen or so of the sedge blades and rubbed them back and forth in my hands to loosen up any extra material.  One I trimmed them all to an approximately equal length, then tied a knot in one end and bit on to it, pulling the material tight as I rolled it.

Once this was finished, I simply bit the middle, and tied the two ends together.  It twisted naturally into something resembling an oblong pretzel, but it was strong.  Splice a few of these together and you can have any length of cordage you'd like.

This was a fairly straightforward procedure without many complications.  The most difficult part was finding the proper material.

My next post will focus on the author Bill Mckibben and the South American town of Curitiba.

Surviving, Naturally

These days there seems to be a lot of hype about preparing for a major disaster scenario.  Although the methods vary, many of these "preppers" essentially stockpile as much food and ammunition as possible and wait for the cataclysmic event they so anticipate.  While that may be a great start, I think they would be better off preparing by acquiring skills that will help them survive long after the canned rations have dwindled.    Things like trap setting, fire starting, tool fashioning, and shelter building can all be done without the aid of man made objects. All of our absolute necessities can be extracted from the natural environment, it's just a matter of learning how.

Becoming an expert on these survival skills will take longer than the month or so I have left in class.  However, I intend this blog to be a record of my own experience attempting to learn some of these skills.  I will post updates with news of my progress as time goes on, as well as any difficulties I'm sure to encounter.  Feel free to comment, and to try any of these techniques yourself.