Last week, we were doing all of the prep work for planting some trees.  This week, we picked up our order of 85 trees and shrubs and actually planted them.  In this episode, we cover some of the specifics about how we plant our trees to ensure their success, bigger picture habitat restoration, and some of the transformations that we're already seeing on the property.  Additionally, we go for a little walk around the property to check on the condition of various areas and make plans for future habitat restoration projects.  

Three things for your monthly edification- a pro tip, a book recommendation, and a monthly challenge.  For this month's pro tip, I teach you how to make perfect Scotch eggs.  If you really want to impress your brunch guests, this recipe will do it.  Our book of the month is "The Demon in the Freezer," by Richard Preston. For everyone who has suddenly become an expert in virology or epidemiology, go read this book first.  Finally, the challenge for the month is to learn and practice a new survival skill.  

Many people said it was impossible, but we have successfully gotten trees to grow on our homestead on the open prairie of southeastern Wyoming.  This is one of the most challenging environments for growing trees, but we've done it!  Of course, planting trees and shrubs is really just part of a much larger picture of habitat restoration on our property.  In this episode, we discuss general principles of habitat restoration that can be applied in just about any environment, specific challenges we have faced, and the successes that we've seen.  

Many of us live in areas that get the occasional winter snowstorm.  Any time you're on the road, there's always the possibility of getting stuck somewhere.  Extremely cold temperatures can make this much worse.  Making poor survival decisions can be deadly.  In this episode, we discuss what you should and should not do in this situation.  Also, I intentionally get myself stuck outside overnight in over a foot of snow with temperatures falling below zero.  All I have with me is a tarp and a blanket.  If I can survive, so can you.  It might not be fun, but with some basic knowledge, we'll make it through the night.  

In this episode, we jump into some of the basics of home canning.  Do you need a pressure canner or water bath canner?  Is home canning even safe?  Aside from that, let's talk about some of the benefits of turning that perishable food in your freezer into non-perishable canned food that can sit on the shelf at room temperature.  

Interested in stretching your grocery dollar, stocking up your emergency food supply, or boosting your immune system?  If you're not, then you have your head in the sand.  Making your own bone broth at home is an easy and cheap/free way to do all of the above.  

Bonus episode for the month of April 2020.  We talk basic shoe-tying skills, Dracula, and meditation.  

I've been getting a lot of questions lately about general emergency preparedness.  Without making this a Q&A episode, I'm going to lay out some general principles and specific action items to answer those questions and help you be more prepared for any type of emergency situation

In this fourth and final installment of building the hard-to-kill human, we focus on mental preparation.  This includes your knowledge base, interpreting your surroundings, and preparing yourself mentally to respond to a dangerous situation.  

Just what it sounds like!  In this episode, I'll walk you through my method for making Creole gumbo.  And yes, it does take a full three to four days.  Don't worry though, most of that time, it's just doing it's own thing; this is actually pretty easy.