This photo, taken Monday, August 18^th, shows Missouri Wonder pole beans, planted in 3-gallon buckets of soil, growing up strings on a bean tower.

            Time for true confessions.  I had good intensions of showing this last month when the beans looked like a lush, green tropical jungle.  They’re past their prime now, but are still producing, in spite of having been through storms, including hail once.  Insect damage hasn’t been too serious.  Weather is a little cool for August at my location, so maybe plants are getting ready for fall.  There are probably 30 plants growing up the tower.  At least one couldn’t be dissuaded from latching onto the electric pole guy wire.

            From my reading of the experiences of other gardeners, Missouri Wonder beans may not be as flavorful as the more popular Kentucky Wonder beans or similar varieties, but the vines are said to handle stress well.  When it comes to survival gardening, having a productive bean is more important than having the most flavorful bean in my opinion.

            These beans had excellent germination when I planted them in late April.  They started producing abundantly in late June and early July, but slowed a little as the summer has progressed.  At first I got handfuls of large beans daily, but now I harvest about every other day.  So far we’ve put at least a dozen bags in the freezer, in addition to several bags kept in the fridge now and then for fresh eating.  I’ve never grown pole beans before, so have been quite impressed with the results.  I plan to save some of the seeds as well.

            I share all of this with you to show you what is possible for your survival gardening efforts, even if you have limited space, poor soil, or other adverse conditions.  Choose pole beans you like, try them on a tower, then watch the bean factory go to work.  If you have experiences you’d like to share regarding beans you’ve grown, please feel free to leave a comment.

Hydroponics doesn’t have to be complicated.  There are several methods ranging from the simple to the very complex, and they all work, providing you give your plants what they need.  Like you and me, they need food, water, a comfortable temperature, and air.  Of course, plants also need light for photosynthesis.

As for nutrients, pre-mixed nutrient solutions can be found from a variety of sources or can be made by you, the home gardener.  If you are a beginner at hydroponic gardening you don’t have to be a chemistry whiz.  You may want to keep things simple and opt for the pre-mixed nutrient solutions.  You just need to be sure that nutrients are fully dissolved in the mixture before being circulated through the vegetable plants' root systems.  The nutrient solution can be used for a maximum of two weeks when plants are small.  When your plants have matured the nutrient solution should be replaced every week. One benefit of hydroponics is it doesn’t require nearly as much water as soil gardening.

            Plants have different requirements for light, temperature, and humidity.  Often a serious problem growing indoors is that plants don’t get enough light.  You can spend a lot of money on lighting systems, or buy shop lamps and fluorescent bulbs to place close to your plants.

            One of the simplest ways to grow hydroponically is to use self watering planters, such as those you can purchase from WindowBox.com and Gardener’s Supply, whose logos you see on this page.

            I recommend getting a copy of The Hydroponic Garden Guide.  Just click here.  It provides you with everything you need to know to get started with hydroponics and covers all of the bases so that you understand the essentials.  The Hydroponic Garden Guide doesn't just focus on the advantages of hydroponics in a theoretical way. As noted on the author’s web site, it combines a broad outlook with step-by-step instructions, handy checklists and solid "do this" information.  The Hydroponic Garden Guide gives you a wealth of information and tips for making hydroponic gardening part of your life. It's an honest, straightforward guide.

            Why wait?  Get started now by clicking here for your copy of The Hydroponic Garden Guide and discover the fun and efficiency of survival gardening year round for yourself.

Among the activities, you’ll discover some  are fun and some are challenging; but the objective is to discover practical new ways of being prepared.  For example, how well could you go for a day or the whole weekend without electricity or electronic devices?  What survival supplies could you purchase from the coupons and ads in the Sunday paper?  How well can you and your children identify edible wild plants and animals?  Those are just three hints about the family activities you’ll discover in “Family Survival School”.  You can do any or all of these 27 activities.  Give one or two a try this weekend.

Of course, in “Family Survival School” there are no quizzes or grades.  Life will present you with enough tests.

            You can get your free copy of “Family Survival School”—valued at $14.97–simply by filling in your name and e-mail address in the upper part of the right sidebar on this page.  Plus, you’ll discover you get a bonus when you get your e-booklet, and everybody likes a little icing on the cake.  So, get your free copy of “Family Survival School” right away.  Start strengthening family bonds while at the same time you’re preparing for survival.

You’ll want to check your child’s school Web site or call the school office to request a copy of the school’s emergency plan.  Then keep a copy at home and work or other places where you spend a lot of your time.  Make sure the school’s plan is incorporated into your family’s emergency plan.

This would also be a good time to learn about the disaster plans at your place of work.  How well prepared are you in the event of an emergency while you’re at work and your child is at school?

A really neat kit idea is the One Person Economy Lunchbox Survival Kit from QuakeKare.  Here’s a list of its contents.

 (1) ER Food Bars - U.S. Coast Guard approved. 3 day supply for 1 person, 5 Year Shelf-life.

(3) Water Boxes w/ Straws - U.S. Coast Guard approved. 3 day supply for 1 person, 5 Year Shelf-life.

(1) Thermal Blankets - Designed by NASA to retain body heat! Lightweight and compact. Fits in your pocket!

(10) Water Purification Tablets - To purify unsanitary water. One tablet purifies one liter of water.

(1) Lightsticks - 12 hours of bright green light at the snap of a finger! 4 year shelf life formula.

(1) 33-piece First Aid Kit - Comprehensive first aid kit in plastic case. Lightweight and compact.

(1) Tissue Packs - Help maintain sanitary conditions. Multi-task sheet.

(1) Dust Masks - Prevents dust and germ inhalation. Reduces risk of inhaling toxins.

(1) Pair Vinyl Gloves (in 1st aid kit) - Protects hands from infection. Maintains sanitary conditions.

All of the above is packaged in a lunchbox style container.  That makes it easy to store.  QuakeKare offers quantity discounts so your school or office can order as many as they need.

To find out more about the discounts or to order your own personal lunchbox survival kit, click on the quakeKare Logo, then go to the School Kits category near the top of the left sidebar on their home page.  You'll see a page with several choices.  Click on the picture of the 1 Person Economy Lunchbox Survival Kit. 

Add this kit to your child’s school supplies and be ready for the unexpected.  Get one for that college bound student, too. 

            Allow me to suggest “Fishing and Hunting News”.  Magazania says it’s the most complete source of local outdoor information and features expert advice on where to go and what to use to land more fresh and saltwater species, as well as local hunting opportunities.

            “Fishing and Hunting News” publishes 24 issues a year, so you know you’ll be kept up to date.  Right now, Magazania is offering a 61% discount off the cover price!  To subscribe, click on the image of “Fishing and Hunting News” below, which will take you to Magazania’s site so you can order.

            The next time you’re waiting at the doctor’s office, you don’t have to flip through their six month old magazines.  Take your copy of “Fishing and Hunting News” and read what you want to read. To enhance your knowledge for survival.

I just bet I’d get the strangest look from you right now if I could ask you in person whether you’re a farmer or a foody.  No, I don’t mean footy or hoody.

What’s a foody you ask?  According to farmfoody.org, a foody is “a customer, chef, everyone with a relationship to a farm and who wants to make friends with a farm or another foody.”  They define a farm as “a farm, vineyard, PYO, Farmer's Market, CSA, a victory garden — a local producer. All farms want foodies as friends.”  By the way, PYO stans for Pick Your Own, and CSA is Community Supported Agriculture, where you work out an arrangement for a share of a farmer’s produce.

Farmfoody.org is a social networking site to connect local farms and customers, otherwise known as Foodies.  Farms let people know what they have and Foodies let farms know what they want.  Farmfoody matches people by location according to Zip code and by whatever you’re looking for, such as peaches, tomatoes, or beef.  If you’re searching for Pick-Your-Own farms and orchards, vineyards, CSAs, and Farmers Markets, this will be useful for you.   Also, it can be helpful if you’re a local gardener who wants to trade produce and ideas.  Just like Facebook and Myspace, foodies and farms can become "friends".  Once a friend, you can receive up-to-date bulletins about what is available and ready to pick from your farm friend.

            You can check it out at http://www.farmfoody.org.  Be sure to tell those new friends about DestinySurvival.com.  I know John would appreciate that.

            On the other hand, if you're not into the social  networking thing and just want a way to look up farmers markets by name or Zip code, the USDA has a search page, too.  You can click here for that.

            Let us know here how this works out for you.  Happy searching, and happy eating!

            In case you’re not aware of it, a dome can be used as a dwelling place, too.  A couple of companies offer their customers what they need to build quite nice cabin-like dome homes at a fraction of the cost of a conventional home.  In fact, a few years ago, the New York Times included an article giving the account of one couple who chose to build a dome home.

            Whether it’s a greenhouse, a permanent dwelling, or something in between, such as a play area for the kids, consider where a dome might fit into your survival strategy.  Start by doing some reading.  Illustrated Dome Building: Step-by-step Complete Plans, by Gene Hopster is a 96 page paperback that provides information you need to build your own dome.

            Here’s what a reviewer on Amazon.com wrote about this book.

This is the classic book on how to build a hexadome. Geodesic domes are great, the math behind the design is impressive, but they are complicated to build and the complication leads to leaks. Gene Hopster presents a simplified dome design he calls a hexadome. A Hexadome is not quite so efficient as a geodesic but its geometry makes it easier for real people to build! So you get the advantages (and beauty) of a dome and an approach that a carpenter without a PhD in math can actually understand and implement. The book is short but it explains the basics. It has some great house plans to give you ideas. Unfortunately we lost Gene Hopster a few years ago so he will not be updating this.

            Click on the logo below to order your copy of Illustrated Dome Building: Step-by-step Complete Plans.

            “Yeah.  This thing’s more like off and on again,” he said, shifting the bags in his arms.  “Diane’s brother Bill is coming over this evening to do some more down there, so I guess we’re in the on again phase.”

            The sun ducked behind a cloud as we weaved through the parking lot.  Then Duane spoke up again.

            “Hey, I haven’t heard you say anything about the poll question you had on your blog last month.  How’d that come out?”

            “Interesting you should ask,” I said.  “I’m all for dispelling negative stereotypes of survivalists, and, if my informal poll is any indication, I’ve disproven another myth.”

            “What’s that?”

            “That people preparing for survival are totally isolationist and don’t care about others.”

            “Yeah?  How’s that?” We had just reached Duane’s car.  He set his bags on the ground and reached for his keys to open the trunk.

            “The question was sort of a follow-up to the one the month before, when I asked if people knew anyone preparing for survival.”

            “Yeah, I remember.”  Plastic rattled noisily as Duane hefted bags into the trunk.  “Didn’t you have about 63% who said they didn’t know anybody preparing?”

            “That’s right,” I said.  “You’ve got a good memory.  This time I asked how readers felt about those who weren’t preparing for survival.  I had a very good response from readers, but the results were sort of mixed.  The highest response was 49%  who said they try to educate other people.”

            Duane closed the trunk.  “So about half try to reach out to others.”

            “Right.  On the other hand, the next highest response was 26%, about a quarter, who said people who aren’t preparing are fools who get what they deserve.”

            Duane chuckled at that one.  “I guess those are your heartless ones.”

            “Maybe, but 21% said they pity those not preparing,” I said as I closed the door and began to fasten my seatbelt.  “If you combine that with those who try to educate, you’ve got 70%, or more than two thirds who aren’t shutting themselves off from people completely.”

            Duane started the car.  “I see what you mean about breaking the isolationist stereotype.”

            “Another interesting tidbit is that 3% selected the answer choice where they admit they’re not preparing themselves.”

            “Maybe on a blog about survival you could expect such a low number.”

            “You’re probably right,” I said.  “This month’s question is one I brought back from several months ago, back when I didn’t have nearly as many visitors to my page as I do now.”

            “I saw the question,” Duane said as he looked for oncoming traffic before pulling out of the parking lot.  “How’s that one going?”

            “That’s a deep, dark secret.  I think I know how it will turn out, but you’ll have to wait until September for the answer to that one.”

            Duane grinned as we merged with traffic.

            QuakeKare has bird flu emergency kits for you and your family.  According to QuakeKare’s description, their small kit includes:

(1) Tyvek Suit - DuPont hooded coveralls w/ elastic wrists, ankles, and nonskid socks (small/medium).

(1) Safety Goggles - adjustable band. Protect eyes from harmful dust and debris which might arise.

(1) N95 Particulate Respirator - 3M quality. Compact and very effective.

(1) Liquid Bandage Spray - 3 oz. Protects against infection and help wounds heal quicker.

(10) Antimicrobial Wipes - Disinfectant wipes prevent spread of germs and maintain sanitary conditions.

(1) Pair of Nitrile Gloves - 5 mil. thick industrial grade.

(1) Antiseptic Hand Gel - 4 oz. Maintains sanitary conditions, prevents spread of germs.

(1) Survival Guide - Designed for All Emergencies and Locations.

(1) Plastic Sheeting - Shelter-in-place for protection from contaminants. Easy to follow instructions.

(1) Packaged in Flip-top Waterproof Container

            When you click on QuakeKare’s logo, look for Bird Flu Kits on the left sidebar of their home page.  Clicking on that takes you to the page featuring their specially prepared bird flu kits.

            Survival means being prepared for the unexpected.  Bird flu isn’t the only biological threat we could face one day.  Preparing now will ease your mind in the event of a possible pandemic.

You would not be asked to agree with Mazza’s political sentiments or any implied problem solutions.  Your task would simply be to determine whether he makes valid points about learned helplessness and whether you’ve been duped into a perceived sense of helplessness in your own life.  If so, what can you do about it?

            Granted, we all have our limitations, and I believe it’s important to recognize those limitations.  The other side of the coin is that we each have strengths.  What are those strengths, and how can we best put them to use?  What are the strengths of those around you, and how can they best be put to use?  In using those strengths, individually or collectively, we may be able to compensate for our limitations and achieve things we had not previously believed we could achieve.

            If that sounds rather general or vague concerning how this ties in with survival, that’s because I’m relating principles.  How those principles are applied in your own life and specific situations is up to you.

            An important reason John started this blog is to help you, the reader, to understand that you have alternatives.  Namely, be prepared, rather than wait for something to happen to you.  As I’ve said often, survival means having a certain attitude or mindset.  You don’t have to be angry or rebellious, just open minded and willing to embrace resourcefulness in the midst of whatever crisis we either will experience or are experiencing now.

Then, of course, there are physical items you’ll need in order to implement your survival strategy.  Thus, a number of products from various companies are promoted here for your benefit.  As you already know, shopping online offers you the advantage of not spending time and gas money searching for something you may not be able to find locally.

            Enough of that for now.  You get the idea, or you wouldn’t be looking at this blog in the first place.  So, class dismissed.