by Jeffrey Green The U.S. Agency for International Development is a government body in charge of distributing taxpayer dollars to foreign projects that will theoretically bring humanitarian aid to struggling regions. No matter what one might think about the nobility of such a mission, the…
A new model for solar farms that “co-locates” crops and solar panels could result in a harvest of valuable biofuel plants along with solar energy. by Ker Than Growing agave and other carefully chosen plants amid photovoltaic panels could allow solar farms not only to…
by Joe Martino Is it time that we all became a little more self reliant? I think so. When we look at the fact that the mainstream idea of food production is becoming more and more out of touch with nature, it becomes clear that…
By Heather Callaghan Shareable.net, where have you been all of my life? I clicked all over you recently. Shareable is a non-profit news hub for people to share ideas and real how-to information for transformation amid a crisis-ridden world. Read: grassroots economics. A fallen economy…
by Jeffrey Green In the video below, builder and innovator Bob Cinque takes us to his small voluntary community and inside his own organic shelter. At the heart of his “Yurtle” is the “Innovative Hearthmaster Stove” which is of paramount importance living off the grid…
By Heather Callaghan Have you ever heard or spoken the tired line of “single-dom” – but if I don’t get married, I might choke alone and die and no one will ever find me in my apartment until weeks later… But married people choke too…
by Jeffrey Green An increasing number of people are moving into urban environments and away from traditional agriculture. As a consequence, those who have a mind for self-sufficiency can find themselves falling short. Storable foods are of course an important part of every emergency prepper’s…
By Heather Callaghan As demand for local and raw goods continue to rise, more people are asking – where do I find local organic? Where do I find raw milk and join a herd share? Where are the farmers markets, co-ops and stands? [Listen In!…
By Ernie Allison A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (Chinese proverb) ‘Tis the season of ice and snow rushing towards us with giant steps. Birds are going to be in dire straits and need…
By Daisy Luther In every relationship there comes a time when you have to sit down and take a serious look at the future. Where do you want to go? Are your goals compatible? Are things working as they stand right now or do some…
by Tess Pennington The journey toward self reliance has many paths. For some, you are beginning to distrust the food supply and want to grow our own food. Or, perhaps, you live in an area prone to many types of disasters and have seen how…
Biomass fuel refining breakthrough leads to potential to displace 30% or more of total US petroleum production. A fungus and E. coli bacteria have joined forces to turn tough, waste plant material into isobutanol, a biofuel that matches gasoline’s properties better than ethanol. University of…
By Tess Pennington It is a fact that our country is more reliant on electrical power today than at any time in its history. Our way of life – from everyday conveniences and the security of local emergency services to commerce and communications – is…
by Tess Pennington Even if you live in a city, you might be shocked to find out how much food is available, free for the taking. I’m not talking about shoplifting from the corner store – I’m talking about foraging. In ancient times, humans were…
By Jonathan Parker A while back we posted an article about the benefits of Aquaponic Gardening. I’d just like to share a couple photos and a quick update on the systems we built for our greenhouse. The systems consist of a 325 gallon IBC built…
by Heather Callaghan Even though the EU is initiating a 2-year ban on neonicotinoid pesticides which are heavily implicated in causing massive bee die-off, and a few organizations are suing the EPA for turning a blind eye towards pesticides – there is still a dire…
Guest post by Chett Wright Surviving man-made and natural disasters requires some serious planning. After a disaster occurs, you may not be able to buy food for your family’s survival. That’s one reason why so many activists choose to be prepared with Bug Out Bags,…
by Natural Blaze Our modern way of life has strayed from the family farm and has moved toward the urban and suburban environment. This change has left many people in a compromised position when it comes to full self-sufficiency. However, there are some fantastic examples…
By Jonathan Parker Recently there has been a lot of press about a report released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The report focuses on insects as an untapped food source with broad uses. And why not? Insects have composed the diet of less…
By Jonathan Parker With early plants coming up strong and spring in full swing (except for some northern states, sorry folks) it’s probably time to start considering protecting your garden from pests. The negative effects and safety issues of pesticides have been frequently addressed. With…
