The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving

Book Review: The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving
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In step-by-step, illustrated detail, John Hoffman shows you the The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving.

If you want to learn how to use dumpster diving for food, clothing, appliances, furniture, books and other treasures then you should read this book

Discover how to dress for dumpster diving success, work your neighborhood dumpsters, dive a restaurant, use a “bag blade” and “dive stick”, handle run-ins with the authorities, convert your trash to cash, and much more!

While you are learning all these professional secrets, you will be entertained by outrageous anecdotes from a life-long master diver.

Frankly, while there is some interesting and possibly useful ideas presented in this book, I am skeptical of its use for preppers.

To me, most of the content of The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving is common sense or easily learned tradecraft.

I guess some people need to be told that id you want cheap bread you can look in the dumpster of a bakery or day old bread store – and those people may need to be told to only get the bread that is sealed in bags.

There are practical statements on close to wear, what kind of car to drive, and how to deal with police and dumpster owners, but as I said before, most seems to be common sense.

Kitchen DIY: Neat Oreo Cookie Trick

Kitchen DIY: Neat Oreo Cookie Trick
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So this is not a prepper/gun/DIY post – but man can’t like on preps alone – sometimes you just have to have fun with your kids, and I love sharing cookies and milk with my boy.

Unfortunately, my bride does not understand that messes can be cleaned up, but kids are only kids once, so she does not appreciate when I act like a kid and get WT to spread cookies and milk across 3 rooms of the house.

To keep the house clean AND still share the fun of dipping Oreo cookies in milk I found a solution.  This neat Oreo cookie trick uses a fork to keep the mess down.

It works best with double stuffed, but I have used normal ones, as wall as cheaper generic cookies.  Simply press the tines of a fork into the white stuffing and use it as a handle to dip the cookies in milk.

It keeps grubby fingers out of the milk, it allows the entire cookie to be dipped, and it cuts down on the mess.

Its not as free spirited as a double dipping, dirty fingers, broken cookies adventure that is hand dipping, but it keeps my more sensible and cultured wife happy so I think that this is a good thing to share.

The Art of Mail Armor

Picture yourself in a full set of shining mail armor at your next reenactment, fair or costume party. And the best part is that you can say you made it yourself.

The Art of Mail Armor shows you how to start with a piece of wire and end with a finished garment that costs a fraction of what it would ready-made and fits perfectly because it was custom made just for you.

The book features seven original patterns from the author and step-by-step diagrams and instructions for attractive coifs (head coverings), hauberks (shirts), gauntlets, (gloves) and bishop’s collars, as well as juggling balls, necklaces, belts, crosses and other jewelry.

Find out how easy it is to assemble your tool kit and materials; acquire the best wire for specific items; measure for a perfect fit; join, enlarge, round, angle and fit sleeves; and incorporate decorative trimmings and inlays to make your designs truly unique.

Also learn some quick and easy tricks for keeping your pieces clean and shiny – with no scrubbing or expensive commercial cleaners. Whether you are a Renaissance or medieval enthusiast, reenactor, historian, martial artist, jewelry designer or just someone with an interest in armor, you’ll want to add this book to your library. Even experienced mail makers will find new ideas and techniques.

The Blacksmith’s Craft

The Blacksmith’s Craft contains everything you need to know to make and repair your own metal tools, household items, hardware, or farm equipment.

It is full of simple and clear instructions, supplemented by step-by-step photography, and shows how to build a forge, make or acquire tools, and use those tools to create items of lasting beauty and durability.

In my opinion the ability to shape metal is what caused Humans to grow into societies and develop technology.  Blacksmiths have, for centuries, been the cornerstone of society.

While blacksmiths is no longer an essential function in a modern town, someone with the metal working skill to make and repair metal objects is still vital to the operation of industry in said town.

I find The Blacksmith’s Craft to be one of the better beginning blacksmith books, and I have learned a lot from it.  Between it and The Complete Modern Blacksmith, most beginner smiths can have a good start

While I think Weyger’s Complete Modern Blacksmith is more useful as a single book (which is unfair as it is actually three books combined) – I did get a lot of useful information from the Blacksmith’s Craft.

As a prepper, I think having books on essential skills is vital.  You won’t have the internet after a collapse.  As a guy though, I  think blacksmithing is awesome.  I suck at it, but I do love beating on hot metal and bending it to my will.

My Toddler Cooking Pancakes

My Toddler Cooking Pancakes

WT Makes Pancakes
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Today’s post is just a playful thing, it doesn’t teach anything, or show anything new – just me and my boy messing around.  All I am doing is watching as my son WT  makes pancakes.

I don’t eat a lot of pancakes, after I had the lap band, they make me throw up is I eat more than one.  However, William likes them, and I enjoy watching him play in the kitchen.

I think that cooking is not only a valuable skill, but it teaches many valuable lessons.  My wife tends to agree and uses cooking in her special education class to help teach her autistic and special need students many of the same lessons.

A few of the the many things cooking teaches children are:

  • Cause and Effect
  • Basic Math
  • Attention to detail
  • Self Discipline
  • Creativity

But today, as I watched WT making pancakes, all I was really doing was spending time with my favorite little boy.

He sure made a mess eating those things, I don’t think I have ever seen syrup spread so far.  However, he had a great time.  My boy still asks to make pancakes, but he smashes them up more than he eats them.  I think that may because of the fancy ketchup bottle art pancakes.

I do know that this is a fun family activity, and its a pretty simple thing to do.  Its really fun to do this while mommy sleeps in.  As long as WT and I clean up the kitchen before she gets up I get extra patience from her throughout the rest of the day.