Saving cherry tomato seeds is easy. Every grower should learn. I’m saving seeds from a hybrid I’m trying to stabilize. This will be the second year saving them
Growing Green Onions For Free From Store Bought
Growing green onions over and over for an endless supply.
Don’t throw away store bought green onions. Cut the roots off and plant them. You’ll have more green onions than you know what to do with.
The Mini Umbrella
The Forgotten Prepper Tool
One thing that seems to always be missing from everyone’s EDC kit, is the much needed umbrella. In many ways this baffles me. I suppose it might be the fact that a lot of them carry the small ponchos like the Adult Rain Poncho by totes.
I do have a few of the ponchos and they work amazingly well. However, one must remember that with the ponchos, the rain falls right off the front of your face, making it nearly impossible to use things like binoculars and cameras. And the biggest disadvantage for me, is that the hoods limit my peripheral vision. And we all know the dangers that can present, especially in a hazardous situation.
The Totes Mini Auto Open/Auto Close Umbrella
is the perfect solution.
With its auto open and auto close feature, You can hand-hold it with one hand and use your gear with the other. In many cases I prefer an umbrella over a poncho.
Of course no umbrella works very well in the wind.
I suggest you throw one in your backpack. I think you’ll agree they can be quite beneficial.
My Bugout Bag
Most people that know me, understand I never call my survival bag a “bug out bag”. But so many people have asked me to do a write up that I had to accommodate them with the title. I really don’t like the term “bug out bag”. It’s just getting old and everybody and their uncle are making videos on them.
Bug out bags are supposed to be for bugging out, but after scouring the internet, it’s almost impossible to find anyone that has actually bugged out or used their bags. Not even in mock situations. So it stands to reason that I’m incredibly exhausted and feel tired all over every time I hear or read the words “bug out bag”. I suspect that most people with bug out bag videos, wouldn’t even survive one night with their arsenal. I mean seriously, how many of them have actually USED a mini fishing kit? I tried once many years ago and tossed it in the trash. The darn thing was too flimsy to even hold my worm.
I prefer to call mine a survival bag cause really, isn’t that what it is? I know why some would only use it if they “bugged out”. So I understand the term. But the phrase has become so mundane I believe it’s lost its meaning.
So here is my SURVIVAL BAG.
Firstly, I’m about gardening. So it stands to reason I intend to stay put if disaster strikes.
However, there are definitely times where staying put would cause considerable harm. Therefore, I certainly do have what I call a “Survival Bag”
The only scenario I could conceive, considering where I live, would be some type of storm or fire.
In case of wind or fire, I am confident I would have enough time to pack a few essentials into the car before departing.
However, my bag is packed with the possibility of ditching the car and hoofing it. So, I guess I do have a bug out bag after all.
My Survival Bag Contents.
I have broken down my needs into 12 categories. They are as follows:
1. Food
2. Water
3. Hygiene Kit
4. First Aid
5. Power Kit
6. Media Kit
7. Grapple Kit
8. Shelter Kit
9. Comfort Kit
10. Communications
11. Sleep Kit
12. Tool Kit
Each kit is packed individually in its own pouch or bag and easily identifiable. They are either attached to my bag, or put in the large compartment. But still, everything goes with me. I travel prepared.
What do I carry?
My Bag
My bag of choice is the Condor Compact Assault Pack
. Now before you ask why I carry an assault pack, let me explain. The assault pack is of much thicker material and I believe a better made pack than the regular carry backpack. It just feels more comfortable. I also carry many molle attachments to it.
I also carry 3 of the Condor Pocket Pouch/US Patch
. They are small and attach very easily to the pack.
Next I have 3 of the Condor T and T Pouch (Tan)
These hold my Fire kit, Writing/Comm kit and the Hygiene kit.
I recommend that you also break down your gear into kits. That way you can find them when you need them. I’ve seen so many people just jam their gear into one big backpack. I hate to think what would happen if they ever needed even the smallest item. It would be impossible to find it.
I will be doing a video soon about all the gear I carry and which kits go into each pouch or pack. So stay tuned
But as it stands, I hope I never have to use them. But they’re there just in case. I suggest you do the same. You never know what could happen.
Saving Tomato Seeds
Start with a healthy tomato from a healthy plant. Free of disease with characteristics you desire.
Cut around the circumference splitting the tomato into two halves.
Squeeze the seeds and pulp out, either directly into a jar or onto a plate.
Put all the pulp into a jar. I use Mason jars. Add clean tap water, about 1/2 again the amount of pulp you have. If you add too much water, the mold will not form as well.
Cover with plastic like a glad bag. Secure with a rubber band.
Poke a few holes in the plastic for air circulation.
Set on a window sill out of direct sunlight.
After a few days, mold should start to grow. Within about a week, your juice should look something like the picture below.
Pour the liquid into a sieve. Rinse them thoroughly.
Pour the seeds back into the jar. Fill the jar about half full with fresh clean water.
All of the viable seeds will fall to the bottom. The bad seeds will float to the top (as shown in the photo).
Scoop off the bad seeds and throw away. Dump the good ones back into the sieve for another rinse.
Spread the seeds out on a paper towel on a window out of direct sunlight to dry.
Leave for about a week. Then gather the seeds up, put them into an envelope, mark them and store in a cool dark place for planting next year.
Make Your Own Seed Envelopes For Cheap
In this video, I will show you how I make quick and easy seed envelopes to use if you’re out and about and need to store your seeds. They are also good for giving to others.
Grape Arbor With Attached Raised Beds
Do you want to build a grape arbor?
After multiple requests, I decided to do a walk around of my grape arbor with the attached raised beds.
Survival Gardening – The Perennial Tree Collard
When people ask me what pants are best for survival gardening, I always tell them to grow perennials along with your regular summer annuals. One of my favorites is the purple tree collard. In this video, I will explain a little about them and why I believe everyone in warmer climates should grow them.
Growing Store Bought Celery
Just like the green onions, I’ve been growing celery from store bought. Seems to working out fine. I will continue to give you updates as things progress.
Growing Store Bought Celery
Just like the green onions, I’ve been growing celery from store bought. Seems to working out fine. I will continue to give you updates as things progress.