tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53615932011-11-27T16:53:01.414-08:00Thoughts on Self SufficiencyDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.comBlogger181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-19994647998867996442008-07-16T10:58:00.001-07:002008-07-16T10:58:16.383-07:00

Please visit me at cohoe.net

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-54847088683723821962008-03-04T09:56:00.000-08:002008-03-06T15:23:15.778-08:00

There are lots of events coming up for radio enthusiasts.Mike and Key (3/8)Mike and Key's famous Ham flea market is on March 8 from 9-3 at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. There will also be exam sessions for anyone who wants to get or upgrade their ticket.MicroHAMS (3/22)Microsoft's Ham group will be hosting a digital conference on March 22 at the Redmond campus. On-site registration is $15 and

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-56353811512133770992008-02-28T11:54:00.000-08:002008-02-28T13:50:37.263-08:00

I recently stumbled across the cargo bike community and was amazed at the number of options for folks who want to dump their cars. Clearly, 10-speed commuter bikes have been around for years, but people who want to get groceries or take their kids to daycare have an increasing number of options.I was really impressed with the cargo carrying capacity of the Xtracycle and Mundo bike, which are

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-5552632534300512072007-07-25T07:11:00.000-07:002007-07-25T08:54:30.142-07:00

Have you ever wondered how you could get involved in ham radio? It's easy. There is a wealth of information online including study sites, practices tests, and the complete test question pool for each license class. In addition, many local clubs hold classes. In case you haven't already heard, learning Morse code is no longer required.Study the questions, contact a Volunteer Exam Coordinator,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-91363130025386593082007-06-14T12:21:00.000-07:002007-06-14T13:40:51.274-07:00

Here are a couple new(er) arrivals to accompany my earlier review of portable cooking systems.First is a how-to for building a soda-can stove. This concept has been around for a while, and it is widely used by travellers and ultra-light hikers. An ingenious concept - MacGuyver to max.Next, the wood-gas stove is a concept similar to the larger Vesto. This stove will burn almost any solid fuel.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-29743329769762410282007-02-16T18:29:00.000-08:002007-06-17T10:06:37.192-07:00

I learned about the Kelly Kettle on Wikipedia, and Outdoor Idiots has an entertaining article about this fascinating device. It appears the Kelly Kettle was invented by Irish fishermen for making tea in remote locations. With only a limited amount of time and fuel, one can have one or two cups of tea.It is available from the Kelly Kettle Company in County Mayo, Ireland. The Eydon Kettle

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-89848289611250644332007-01-26T20:38:00.000-08:002007-01-26T20:47:09.265-08:00

It's official: Effective February 23 the FCC will no longer requires learning morse code (CW) to pass any of the ham license exams. Kinda sad and the end of an era. FWIW, CW still has legit uses, and is the best mode of transmission for long distance and lossy conditions. The first hams on scene after the Indonesian earthquake of 2004 used CW to pass their traffic.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-1149790397305552922006-06-08T08:31:00.000-07:002006-06-08T12:48:13.290-07:00

If you are interested in emergency preparedness, you should check out the Citizen Corps. As part of the Citizen Corps, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program offers free online training through FEMA.The main focus is to help out your community after a disaster, although "disaster" can refer to events all the way from a house fire, to a winter storm, to a major disaster.I recommend

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-1127026991921732562005-09-17T22:18:00.000-07:002005-09-18T00:05:57.440-07:00

Business Week has a great list of resources for getting assistance after a disaster. It's targeted at Katrina victims but contains great links for anyone needing help.The Seattle Times also has an excellent article on preparing for a disaster, as well as a printable disaster tip sheet.One of the latest recommendations coming from unfortunate Katrina victims' experience is this: 72 hours of

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-1121028898347061072005-07-10T13:53:00.000-07:002005-07-16T11:55:31.540-07:00

I was talking with another outdoor enthusiast about cooking systems, specifically outdoor dutch oven cooking using charcoal briquettes. He brought the multi-fuel pyromid cooking system to my attention. It's pretty efficient, and has add-ons for baking. The whole unit folds down into a compact package. The literature proposes it as a possible solution to some of the fuel shortages (read:

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-1106101138352405542005-01-18T18:00:00.000-08:002005-01-18T18:23:52.353-08:00

I just saw The Gleaners and I, directed by Agnès Varda. C'est fantastique! Agnès exposes what good dumpster divers have known for some time; the amount of waste in Western society is astounding. Her French subjects, ranging from Gypsies to street kids to volunteer teachers to gourmet chefs, realize the untapped bounty in leftover produce, from both the field and the market. We would all do well

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-1102021034988425892004-12-02T13:57:00.000-08:002005-02-06T12:10:35.956-08:00

I went to the Communications Academy a couple years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is two days of seminars on a variety of radio communications topics. I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in emergency communications attend. It's extremely interesting and free! 2005 session is April 2-3 in Shoreline, Washington. Have a look at past offerings to get an idea of what's in store. (

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-1101498547152807412004-11-26T11:35:00.000-08:002004-11-26T11:58:58.506-08:00

My friend Dan had a casting party last week. You may be thinking "thespians," but no. This was a molten metal social event. Dan turned his backyard into a foundary workers dream. There were a dozen people there and at least 2 projects going at any one time. Dan was melting aluminum in the foundary while another fellow fired his lost-wax mold for a small totem. The keystone for the occasion was

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-1061789952143714502003-08-24T22:39:00.000-07:002004-11-26T11:49:53.933-08:00

Check this out: I have been designing a chicken tractor - drawings & descriptions in my notebook - that allows me to move chickens around the yard. It keeps down weeds & bugs & distributes fertilizer while keeping the chickens secure & free-range happy. Imagine my surprise, when visiting the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, in finding a luxury chicken tractor! This coop has everything: a second

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-943055942003-05-13T20:17:00.000-07:002004-12-10T20:34:18.863-08:00

BUILDING I'm reading a great book about living the good life. It's called... surprise! Living the Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing. There is a whole chapter about building with stone, using forms similar to concrete forms. Now I'm not the most handy man around. My son keeps mentioning how we start a project, then later start another project, and rarely finish one. So, although I may never

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-941253972003-05-10T17:22:00.000-07:002005-02-06T12:14:06.166-08:00

I've been thinking about this for a long time. What is the perfect dog for a homestead? A dog should be a great companion, handle livestock, and defend against interlopers. On the security front, a dog or pair of dogs should be able to handle other dogs & coyotes, four legged garden pests (deer) and unfriendly two-legs who wander by. A good dog should keep the honest neigbor honest & the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-941205582003-05-10T14:47:00.000-07:002005-02-06T12:17:36.070-08:00

I was thinking about the perfect garment for kicking around the homestead. I want something simple and comfortable that can be worn in numerous weather conditions. Top picks are: The great kilt or Caftan with sandals* *While I love barefooting and letting my feet breathe, I realized on a camping trip a few years ago that shoes are essential for certain environments. (Sorry Barefooters!) While

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361593.post-938305722003-05-05T16:48:00.000-07:002004-11-26T11:52:19.090-08:00

I break ground on the virtual homestead. Plenty of room for camping - no facilities yet. Please pick up after yourself. Dave

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01372010580744397390noreply@blogger.com