Events have pretty much overwhelmed my plans for this year.

Been reading some of my older posts here where I discuss my plans. It's now near the end of August so much of that will be placed on the backburner.

Babysitting at least twice a week, getting older and not having the stamina I once had, doing plumbing and electrical work on the side for a neighbor when I can physically do that and with my wife being ill much of this year, doing a good part of the house work and all the cooking pretty much eats up the week.

But I've also had some success this year. The layout of the vegetable garden is to my satisfaction. I was able to plant a 40' long row of asparagus to the east of the garden and I was also able to plant a 40' row of raspberries, a 40' row of blueberries and a 30' row of honeyberries. Further to the east of that, the plots for the fruit trees are plotted out and worked up and I hope to start planting those next year. I'm well over half done with the root cellar with the hardest part, the digging out and laying of cement block walls, completed.

Here is my list I posted earlier this year:

"Spend time fishing for suckers and learning how to clean, can and pickle them. There is no daily limit on how many one can catch.

Install a vent free LP gas heater in the basement. They don't cost much and it would be quite useful during a power outage during winter. Another option would be to install a flex gas line to terminate in the office and when needed, I could hook up the gas heater to the line. This setup would provide more heat to the main living area rather then having to rise up the basement stairs, into the kitchen and then to the upstairs

Plant the summer bearing and fall bearing raspberry plants I have already ordered and paid for.

Install an emergency waterless toilet in the basement next to the utility sink. Also install a shelf near the basement ceiling for a 5 gallon bucket that would supply water to the utility sink, if needed, and will be for hand washing. I have the materials for this. Just need to build it.

Install rain gutters on the storage building to divert water to the 275 gallon water tote I have in the back of the storage building.

Purchase 2 more 275 gallon water totes and place them in the back of the storage building and to be fed by the rain gutters. This water will be used to water the garden and orchard using soaker hoses or watering can. As the one I already have and the ones I plan to purchase are used, I don't know what they contained in the past so i will only use them for watering the garden and orchard.

Purchase at least one touring bike. I could sell my scooter to pay the cost for a good quality bike.

Build a 8'X4'X4' cold storage bin in the basement.

Visit yard and estate sales to buy hand tools and garden tools.

Lose 30 lbs and exercise on a regular basis.

Replace current 500 gallon LP tank with a 1000 gallon tank or add another 500 gallon tank to the one I already have. This would allow me to purchase more gas in summer when it's about a $1 a gallon cheaper then it is in later winter.

Build more selves in the basement for home canned foods.

Construct a biosand water filtration system.

Take an on line American Red Cross Adult, Child and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED course.

Purchase a quality first aid kit and adult/child CPR mask.

Purchase a quality hand crank/solar AM/FM/NOAA weather radio with 2000mAh power bank and USB cell phone charger

Purchase a single shot break action 20 gauge shotgun for home defense, hunting and varmint control.

Purchase 2 30 gal or bigger heavy duty trash cans with lids to be used as storage and in an emergency, to collect rainwater from the house roof.

Learn to make Pemmican and make it.

Become adept at using cattail roots as food.

Learn how to and become proficient in at making basic breads such as sailor biscuits, tortillas and Navajo bread.

Repair and get working the portable gas generator. This would be important to keep the fridge and freezers cold during the warmer months. Not so critical in winter.

Get back on track with taking free on line courses at Khan Academy. What I had learned from their basic geometry class came in handy when laying out the garden.

Continue working to convert backyard into a garden and orchard. Lay down sheets of cardboard between the raised rows in the garden and cover with a thick mulch of hay. I'll be getting topsoil from a neighbor to build up the berms where the fruit trees will be planted in the near future.

Give the basement a really good cleaning and keep it clean in case I need to use it as a primary living space. Acquire camping gear that I could use to make the basement a living area such as cots, folding camping chairs, folding tables and such.


The above will be paid for with the money i will be making baby sitting.

I'll update this as I make progress on and complete projects."

https://democraticunderground.com/11284578