[KimC]

I love the sound of running water in my yard. Not sure what state you’re in, but here, if even a very small pond is more than 17 inches deep it has to have a fence surrounding it to prevent children from drowning and probably legal liability as well. Might check your local ordinances.

I had a very small koi pond in a previous home and because it was pretty shallow something (likely a raccoon) killed all my beautiful fish one night. Might need to consider covering it with chicken wire if you have predator issues in your area and don’t plan on it being deep or have a place built in for the fish to escape to in a grotto, cave or deeper area. To keep fish through cold winters in part of the country you have to have depth.

I’d recommend at least some curvature or shape other than all straight lines, just for interest and aesthetics (if those things matter to you). There’s a YT channel called Plant Abundance. Dan dug his own back yard pond and has fish in it. He did step-by-step videos of the build. Likely a play list available. Another YT channel, Epic Gardening, also did a back yard pond, but it was larger and more elaborate, but could provide ideas or highlight issues to consider? He used quite a lot of edible water plants in his. MIGardener YT channel rehabbed an overgrown, existing pond at their new home and that was interesting. I think they had some good info on things to do and not do to prevent issues like what they were dealing with. I believe they did three videos on it.

If I could do another one, I’d flank or surround it with raised garden beds and maximize growing space as well as an area for relaxation, with a couple of openings for access and maintenance. Stagnation and foul smells along with algae issues would likely be a problem if you’re not planning to use an electrical circulation pump. In my small pond we fought algae overgrowth constantly, especially at certain times of the year, even though it had a filtration system and a circulating pump running 24/7. There are specific fish you can get that are algae eaters/cleaners. They do also make solar products for aeration and circulation. Might be worth checking into?

Hope it works out well for you.

[KimC]

FYI: Redmond’s Real Salt has a product called Real-Lyte, (electrolytes) that include salt with the necessary minerals for proper hydration. Comes in different flavors to add to water. Also, Dr. Eric Berg (DrBerg.com) sells flavored electrolytes as well. I’m sure there are probably a lot of companies out there that have similar products. I always check the quality and additives (or preferably lack thereof). I stocked some for times of sickness when dehydration could be an issue due to vomiting or gut issues, etc., but it certainly is helpful in the heat of summer too. Berg’s is sweetened with stevia. Don’t recall what sweetener the Redmond’s brand uses, maybe monk fruit.

[KimC]

Hello everyone! So happy to find this thread. My people are here. 🙂 I live in the suburbs on a small lot with an even smaller north-facing back yard that is limited by a lot of hardscape (neighbors are very close).

For five years I have been learning to grow as much of my own food as possible and have tried to maximize the area by building mini raised beds (each is about equivalent to one garden row in varying widths to fit the spaces) along the front edge of the flower beds (that I have planted fruit trees in) that run the full length of the fence on three sides of the back yard. There’s about 60 linear feet of growing space total in the mini beds. Planted 10 trees instead of flowers along the fences at the end of 2017/beginning of 2018; several are grafted with multiple stock for a variety and different harvest potential to cover as much of the year as possible. Several are three- or four-in-one varieties (multiple cherries on one, multiple apples on another, a variety of stone fruits on yet another, etc.), to hopefully eat throughout most of the year. Several provided a decent real harvest this year (2022) for the first time, others are finally just getting started with meager offerings. I’m looking forward to next year. So grateful for what God blessed me with this year.

I also use several Greenstalk vertical planters, one 100-gallon water trough, two 30-inch large, round planters, and several 15-gallon containers, among other smaller ones and grow bags. Never enough space to grow all I’d like, but thankfully, in this area of the Central Valley in California, most things grow year-round. A lot that are seasonal for other parts of the country have become perennial for me, or at least multi-season. I have jammed perennials and multi-season plants into every conceivable space (including converting an old three-tiered fountain to growing space, and hanging strawberry plants because there’s no room on the ground to grow them (when I tried that, snails and slugs ravaged them continually anyway).

Last year I got four bantam Cochin hens for eggs. One or more of them have gone broody a lot this year, which has been disappointing due to the decrease in egg production. I might be able to have two more, but would definitely be maxed out at six total, space-wise. Earlier this year I also added Japanese jumbo Coturnix quail for eggs (including a few males in case I need to raise meat in the future). Really grateful to have their eggs as the bantams have not produced as hoped. I really like the quail eggs. I call them one-bite wonders. Great taste and creamy texture. Plus, I was told that by volume, the nutritional value of one jumbo quail egg is equivalent to two regular chicken eggs.

My biggest challenges are squirrels who damage or pilfer anything/everything possible (unless I pick it early to ripen inside and not on the vine/tree), and the summer heat, which this year was quite protracted and oppressive (it peaked at 108.5 and 107 here, but the official numbers for several days in the overall area were 115 degrees). The early and often on-again/off-again ups and downs in the temperatures this year set the garden back in so many ways. I expect this may be an ongoing issue with the grand solar minimum and everything else that’s happening with strange weather. Several things that did really well last year, or at least better, have either not done well at all this time around, or have been marginal at best, and a few were just complete duds.

I’d enjoy trading tips, tricks, work-arounds, resources and things learned with those who are interested in the dialogue.

God bless, Kim

[KimC]

A while back I stocked up on OTC items for various ailments that I’ve never even dealt with, such as fungal issues of multiple types, UTI, and several others. The Organic Prepper has an extensive list of useful OTC products in one of their articles with names (not brands) of actual items and what they’re used for, which was quite helpful. I also buy chapstick or lip balm with just about every grocery shopping as it comes in handy not only for dry or chapped lips, but is supposed to be combustible with cotton balls or dryer lint as a fire starter. I also recently saw a YT video on using lard in glass jars with birthday or taper candles in the center as a hand warming heat source as well as light in case of power outages. They said a large container of lard (three pounds I think) would burn for (I believe he said) six or eight hours a day for 72 days with a single taper candle in the center functioning as a wick. They claimed it’s odorless. The dollar store near me sells pint jars with lids and tall birthday candles, and generic lard seemed quite cost effective when I did a price check.

Patriot Nurse (on YT) addressed the medication longevity issue in a video and said that most of them will last for many, many years (I think 10 or more) when kept cool, dry and dark (sealed properly and refrigerated). There is one antibiotic that is not safe long-term and she named it. Might have been tetracycline or doxycycline? I recommend you watch her video on the subject to be certain as it’s been quite a long time since I saw it and am not certain of the name. I believe she was citing a government study that confirmed the efficacy of meds after being stored properly for many years.

[KimC]

I saw two YT videos on this subject a while back. One was a guy who piled all his leaves and any others he could get hold of all along the entire outside of his structure (except in front of the door), right up against it. Piled high. He said it insulated well enough through the winter to keep from freezing and created its own heat from composting, and they even got some snow at one point where he was located. Can’t remember the channel name, sorry, but you might be able to search and find it with key words.

The second one was from a YT channel called Plant Abundance. He plugged in a simple, small water distilling unit in his and let it do double duty. The heat generated from the distilling unit was enough to keep his structure above freezing, and he got the water he wanted as a result too. He experimented and found that he only needed to increase the ambient inside temperature a small amount. I can’t remember how many degrees it was, but it didn’t require a huge difference for his plants to be okay.

[KimC]

Thanks for the clarification. I have been checking out Lehman’s laundry items trying to decide what would be best on my budget. They have quite a few interesting things. Sure seems like you’re VERY WELL prepared for just about anything/everything. Good for you!

[KimC]

Hi. Glad to know I’m not alone in being limited in discussing preparing with those around me. I seem to pretty much be the only one in my family and circle that takes this seriously, and have been mocked and ridiculed by immediate family, etc.

I also got a push carpet sweeper in case it’s needed with no electricity, but you’ve got me stumped on what pegs and mangle are? Maybe I’m just too much of a city gal. Ha-ha! Please elaborate. It might be something I need to find. That’s pretty impressive about the sling shot. Kudos to you!

One suggestion (if a person has access to solar for backup power): Many people don’t realize that inside their web browser is an option to “save the page as” where they can choose “webpage complete” for off-line use. You can save complete pages of what I consider luxury information like recipes that sound good but might not be necessary, interesting articles or info on herbs or whatever, but wouldn’t be critical in a true survival situation, etc. That way I don’t have to use a lot of expensive ink or paper. I purchased an external hard drive that I save my luxury web pages/info to. Since it’s not the critical info, if it doesn’t work in the future for any reason, it’s not a huge loss, but if it does work and there’s a need for the additional information, it will be there and hopefully would be usable, and even valuable to someone. I categorize my saved pages into folders under topics such as survival, health and treatments, recipes, etc. Just a thought for those who may not know they can save web pages.

[KimC]

Just thought of something else: Have they/you tried manuka honey (the highest rated) or medi-honey? I’ve read testimonials of people with the little red line going from and injury/infection through their skin heading to the heart (as in blood poisoning, I believe) being healed by keeping the honey on it 24/7 and at least one said they did nothing else medically. I thought it was quite a claim, but hey, whatever works, right?!

Of course, prayer goes without saying, but you might also want to post a prayer request for your friend in the Church forum, in the discussion called Prayer Requests and Praise Reports.

Take care.

[KimC]

<div>Hi Rox. Thanks for the kind feedback. I can’t recall exactly, but think I bought the goldenseal plant from Well Spring Gardens online. They carry a lot of things, but some are intermittent or just seasonal. I have bought several times from them in the past and had pretty good results overall. I think the goldenseal I purchased probably needed a better location than I put it in or some more specific care than I knew to give it. I can’t remember now (since it’s been a few years) if it was even rated for zone 9b where I am. </div>

I also bought goldenseal powder at my local health food store that sells many bulk herbs along with all kinds of books, supplements and remedies for just about everything. Maybe there’s one near you that carries it? It wasn’t cheap, but I stocked enough to treat at least a couple of infections. They also sell capsules to put it in for those that want to invest in that.

So sorry to hear about your friend. I think comfrey is supposed to be very good as a poultice for many skin and bone issues. Might research that? Rosemary Gladstar wrote many books on herbs and remedies. There are a lot of books out there by many authors on natural healing. I hope you find something that works. Have you checked Niti the Farmacist in these forums? Or the new Clinic forum? Could be worth posting something there. I’ll bet there’s someone here that knows something that could be helpful. I wish I knew more. Something to always be learning about.

We have definitely given up so much natural medicine knowledge for the ‘promise’ of pharmacological benefits that are either mostly elusive or nonexistent and only benefit the bottom line of big pharma.

Blessings, Kim

[KimC]

You’re welcome. I’ve been thinking about getting one of these myself.

[KimC]

Is this the kind of product you’re talking about? Hope this helps.

https://www.gardeners.com/buy/stackit-stacking-herb-drying-rack/8595724.html

[KimC]

Great info. What zone do you grow goldenseal in? I tried it in 9b, after paying a hefty price for a small starter plant, and it didn’t make it. Any growing tips would be appreciated. I might try again. Thanks.

Also, something I haven’t seen anyone else mention yet: I’ve stocked Melaleuca essential oil for decades (original high quality tea tree oil that comes in at least two strengths; I get mine from Melaleuca.com). In my experience, it works amazingly well on just about everything (think of the analogy of Windex from the My Big Fat Greek Wedding movie that the dad claimed was a cure-all for any ailment, only better). It’s antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic, etc. Can be added to water to spritz the air to remove germs, removes bug bite pain on contact, great for scratches, helps stop bleeding quickly (not for a huge gash, but for small cuts works well), great added to salt water gargle for sore throat, speeds skin healing and reduces scarring, prevents/fights infection. I swab my nasal passages with it on a q-tip before using nasal spray when I feel a cold or possible sinus infection coming on. Works quickly to prevent fever blisters when used as soon as the tingling feeling occurs, and reduces the length of a bout when used often early on. Clears sores in the mouth quickly, especially when used early or on first discovery. It even helps prevent bruising and gets rid of bruises quickly, as well as aids lotion or muscle rub with its deep penetrating properties. Don’t ever put it in your eyes. Be careful where you buy it because there are a lot of lesser quality versions sold that won’t really work. The brand I buy has never failed me. I can’t think of a single injury of issue I’ve had that it hasn’t at least helped, if not actually fixed. I’ve used it for over three decades and am 100% sold on its benefits. If I could choose only one essential oil, it is my go-to.

[KimC]

God gets all the glory. I’m convinced it was His idea.

[KimC]

My thinking is that even if I don’t need some of those things myself, they’ll potentially help a friend or family member or become an item I can barter to someone having an acute issue. Besides, just because I haven’t needed them yet doesn’t mean I might not in the future, particularly if everything is truly sideways and circumstances become incredibly stressful, thereby possibly contributing to lowering people’s immune systems, etc.

[KimC]

Much appreciated.