More PVC Projects for the Outdoorsman

Book Review: More PVC Projects for the Outdoorsman
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Forbes’ first book, PVC Projects for the Outdoorsman, became a runaway best-seller with do-it-yourselfers, outdoorsmen and survivalists alike.

in his new More PVC Projects for the Outdoorsman book he’s taken his no-frills approach to creating inexpensive shelters, primitive weapons, sturdy outdoor furniture and hunting and fishing gear and come up with more than 30 new projects, all made with durable, cheap PVC pipe.

Using photos and easy-to-follow instructions, this book guides you through such projects as a slingshot, brush bow, shooting bench, spotting scope stock (this pvc stock is a favorite of mine), bow-fishing reel, wall tent, animal pen, pickup truck shelter, firewood cradle and many more.

If you failed woodshop but still want to enjoy the dual satisfaction of building something yourself and saving loads of money in the process, this is the perfect do-it-yourself book for you.

The book is pretty cool, and the concepts inside are great.  I love the idea of using something so readily available inexpensively to make items that you may need.

PVC projects are in the reach of almost anyone, the simple projects give confidence to tackle larger and more difficult things.  It is a good step in the incremental process of becoming “handy”.

I have made several projects out of PVC pipe, and find it a great DIY material.

On War

Book Review: On War
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On War is considered to be one of the best military strategy books in existance – everyone has heard of it, but few actually take time to read it.

That is a shame as Carl von Clausewitz was a 19th century military theorist who drew many of his ideas from his own experience as a Prussian soldier.

Clausewitz’s conception of war is strikingly unique: characterizing it as a Hegelian dialectic of opposing factors which interact and build upon each other,

Clausewitz’s theories are also surprisingly romantic. Nevertheless, the author stresses war as a political action that must be ruthless and uncompromising in its annihilation of the enemy.  This sounds bad, until you recognize that it is necessary for war to be brutal so war can be won.  Wars end faster when they are won decisively.

I like the book On War because it sets forth the ways wars should be fought.  In my mind this means, only when other means are not appropriate and then fought as quickly, brutally, and strategically as possible.While totally devoting a countries entire industrial output to completely destroy another countries ability and will to resist sounds brutal, but in the end, it causes less total suffering and hardship.

What is better to sacrifice a lot for a short time, or half as much for three times as long?  To me (and to General Von Clausewitz) it is simple math.  On War is the formula.

Simple Recipes Using Food Storage

Book Review: Simple Recipes Using Food Storage
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Simple Recipes Using Food Storage gives you a doable plan to help you prepare.  For many of us, storing the food is much simpler than finding recipes that use them.

My family uses the LDS principles of bulk food storage, and if you don’t use them on a regular basis it can be hard to make meals from wheat berries and powdered milk.

Whether emergency strikes, your family falls on lean times, or you just need to rotate your food storage, you can use these recipes to make everything from breads and desserts to smoothies and soups.

Having recipes that are easy and taste good – while using your food storage goes a long way to helping you use what you store.  This alone makes the book Simple Recipes Using Food Storage a worthwhile purchase.

If you store food, you should get some cookbooks so you can follow the wisdom of eating what you store, and storing what you eat.

This small cookbook is a good start on that wisdom.  I know that in my home, we are very busy during the week (who isn’t) and having simple recipes makes the difference between cooking and eating out.

Review on Independence Days

Independence Days

Book Review: Independence Days
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Hard times aren’t just coming, they are here already. The recent economic collapse has seen millions of North Americans move from the middle class to being poor, and from poor to hungry.

At the same time, the idea of eating locally is shifting from being a fringe activity for those who can afford it to an essential element of getting by.

But aside from the locavores and slow foodies, who really knows how to eat outside of the supermarket and out of season? And who knows how to eat a diet based on easily stored and home preserved foods?

Independence Days tackles both the nuts and bolts of food preservation, as well as the host of broader issues tied to the creation of local diets.

It includes:

  • How to buy in bulk and store food on the cheap
  • Techniques, from canning to dehydrating
  • Tools—what you need and what you don’t

In addition, it focuses on how to live on a pantry diet year-round, how to preserve food on a community scale, and how to reduce reliance on industrial agriculture by creating vibrant local economies.

Better food, plentiful food, at a lower cost and with less energy expended: Independence Days is for all who want to build a sustainable food system and keep eating—even in hard times.

Sharon Astyk is a former academic who farms in upstate New York with her family. She is the author of Depletion and Abundance, the co-author of A Nation of Farmers, She also is a writer for Resilience.

The Amazing History of Early Weapons

Book Review: The Amazing History of Early Weapons
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The Amazing History of Early Weapons is 120 pages of illustrated articles reprinted from American Machinist Magazine, 1918. 1. Cannon making in past centuries. 2. Musket manufacture in past centuries. 3. Early attempts at submarine building. 4. Some types of modern (1918) hand grenades. 5. Early history of the marine torpedo. 6. Ancient helmet making. 7. The development of gun manufacture. 8. The forerunner of the tank. 9. Fighting with fire in ancient times. 10. Early attempts at rapid-firing guns. 11. Making boring bars for big guns. 12. Intrenchments and the wire barrier.

This book is reprint from an old magazine, it gives good information, but it is not a step by step assembly guide.  I have used this book to build things, but you have to be able to extrapolate from what they are saying.

This book came from the now defunct Lindsey books, which was a priceless tool for preppers, DIYers, and the self reliant.  I was very sad when Lindsey decided that the world was now overrun with the stupid and he didn’t want to deal with the public anymore.

I can’t say that the History of Early Weapons is the best of his books, but I did find it pretty interesting as well as a book full of ideas.  I believe that the handy and smart modern man, with desire and the willingness to work hard can replicate any of the technology of the 1800’s and earlier.

This means that if you want it, and are willing to do the work any of the subjects in this book can be replicated.

Which is why, if you dig down to the root, is the reason I took up metal casting.  One day I hope to build my own cannon.