scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 25, 2014 18:59:31 GMT 10
Had seven more ducklings hatch over the weekend. Some interesting colourations... Mother is a Elizabeth duck, drake a Vietnamese Blue. The two that hatched a few weeks ago are already half the size of the mum, so they should reach a decent eating size. Attachments:
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 25, 2014 13:21:06 GMT 10
I looked at them too, and wasn't convinced they would work in my climate. Have also looked at building a solar dehydrator, as I'd like something that isn't reliant on electricity. Here's a few that look pretty good... www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Food-Dryer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.motherearthnews.com/diy/solar-food-dehydrator-plans-zm0z14jjzmar.aspx#axzz3K2xAtSy8 www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Food-Dryer/For the time being, I've decided to go electric... But would love to hear from anyone who's built a solar one!
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 24, 2014 19:49:08 GMT 10
If you could get one an old trotters sulky would be ideal as they're light, large radius wheels to make them smoother and better in most terrain, and you could adjust it to have storage, added seats, plus someone could ride the horse when needed I grew up with horses and have no problem stealing one or two should the shtf, and know how to make improv tack The husband is just finishing up a sulky he's built from stuff he found at the dump: motorcycle wheels, timber, steel, etc. It's looking pretty good, and he's built it so that we can hook up our son's pony or one of our horses. Do love a handy husband. Attachments:
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 22, 2014 15:52:23 GMT 10
Pigweed (Purslane)! Grows everywhere, and doesn't taste bad at all. We eat it raw in salads, and steam it as well.
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 22, 2014 15:46:16 GMT 10
Blue Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea). We've had them growing in our yard for a while, and recently decided to look them up. Loe and behold, not only are they edible, but actually medicinal! "has been used for centuries as a memory enhancer, nootropic, antistress, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, tranquilizing and sedative agent." -http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874108004911We tried making a tea of the flowers the other night. It turns the water a pretty blue, and doesn't taste bad, either! Attachments:
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 22, 2014 12:27:21 GMT 10
I don't know about everything, but I have noticed some things are a lot less sweet... For example, the same brand of peanut butter here and in Canada doesn't taste as sweet here. My mother always comments on that when she visits. Gluten free is massively trendy over here; I don't buy it myself, but I've noticed even the smallest grocery stores have gluten free options.
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 22, 2014 12:23:26 GMT 10
Both my babies did BLW -- the second one intentionally. SOOOO much easier, if a bit messy. Another things that should be noted is that many nutritionists now say that there is no reason to stagger your child's introduction to foods -- you can introduce them to meat, peanut butter, etc at 6 months. In fact, it's been found that delaying their introduction to food can CAUSE allergies! Yep, I think from memory honey is the only thing you shouldn't give them (risk of botulism) until they are 12months old. Having said that... There has never been a documented honey botulism case in Australia (the husband and I had an argument about this and looked it up). I'd use your judgement - if processed and stored properly, it should be okay. We use it to sweeten both the bubs weetbix.
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 22, 2014 9:45:00 GMT 10
Both my babies did BLW -- the second one intentionally. SOOOO much easier, if a bit messy. Another things that should be noted is that many nutritionists now say that there is no reason to stagger your child's introduction to foods -- you can introduce them to meat, peanut butter, etc at 6 months. In fact, it's been found that delaying their introduction to food can CAUSE allergies!
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 22, 2014 9:38:26 GMT 10
I immigrated from Canada to Australia five years ago (married an Aussie)... Happy to help with any questions.
When I first came here, I couldn't understand a thing my father-in-law said! Australians may speak English, but it's a different dialect. Off the top of my head:
Dunny = toilet/outhouse biscuit = cookie mince = hamburger chewies = chewing gum poddy = orphaned calf weiner = weened calf muster rounding up cattle/sheep hen party = stagette
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 22, 2014 8:07:32 GMT 10
Yeah I find they are under valued by many preppers. Much quieter than motorbikes for one thing, no need for petrol for another. Very intelligent and can jump without a ramp, and absolute worst case, you can't eat a motorbike. Nor can it make its way home if you're injured. Lol Didn't really even think to mention horses... Just took them as a given! Another few pluses for horses -- They will usually take you home, or at least to water if you are lost, and as my husband always says, horses have brains, motorbikes don't. I've been wanting to breed a mule or two for a while now. when my husband and I met we were working for an outfitter with mules... Having trouble finding a jack donkey around here, though!
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 21, 2014 13:42:24 GMT 10
I'm fairly sure a dehydrator is in the cards for Christmas! Can't wait.
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 21, 2014 13:39:44 GMT 10
One other thing - even though I react to their stings, I see great potential value in keeping honey bees. Honey would not only useful in a variety of ways for my own tribe, but also a valuable barter item. I agree on the bees! If sugar was in short supply, honey could prove very useful, plus they are wonderful pollinators!
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 20, 2014 20:19:28 GMT 10
aquaponics is a good way to get fish, you can make it almost self sustaining if you get a plant eating fish like Bass and use the grow beds to grow plants they will eat. I am working on this at the moment but finances are short as I am saving every penny for the shot expo in a couple of weeks! That's a good one, thereth! I've been thinking lately about setting up some bathtubs in our greenhouse and having a go at a crop of watercress... Don't know that bass would do to well in a bathtub... But if we had a dam, would definitely try stocking it with a few things!
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 20, 2014 20:14:59 GMT 10
We live in a (small) town, too...
Have chooks, ducks and a pony, but that's it... We do also have cattle, but currently on agistment. The in-laws also have pigs and goats, which my husband helps butcher, so we're never without meat!
We hope to move out of town next year. If that happens, my number one priorities will be a milk cow and a milk goat.
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 20, 2014 17:08:19 GMT 10
I do enjoy a thread with some pictures... Here's our latest additions: two ducklings that one of our chooks (yes, chook!) hatched a few days ago. She's very proud of herself; so far she seems a better mother than most of our ducks! Our ducks are fairly small, Elizabethan crosses, but they are delicious when cooked and have very nice eggs, too! Attachments:
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 20, 2014 16:42:56 GMT 10
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 11, 2014 6:22:29 GMT 10
In 1719 log records how Australia was locked in the grip of a drought in which masses of flying foxes and birds were recorded falling dead from the trees due to the searing heat. "Up to 20,000 of them were seen in the space of a mile."
How do you handle the heat if you don't even have fans, let alone air cons?
I quite often run a cold bath and put the kids and myself in it, but that's not going to work much longer this year... It's now hot enough outside that my hot water tap has become pretty much redundant. I know also, that many of the early settlers found their water tanks became too hot for bathing in the summer.
The best way to keep cool I know of is the Coober Pedy solution: go underground. Here in NQ, though, that can be highly dangerous -- people in basements get killed in flash flooding.
So how would you stay cool and survive?
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 7, 2014 19:15:38 GMT 10
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 6, 2014 12:48:35 GMT 10
I have a question re bleeding after delivery... I've had two children, completely au natural. After both, I've had bleeds. Both times, it has required two shots to stop the bleeding. The second time, the baby came fast, and I was unable to to get to a maternity ward in time, so it the baby was delivered by a GP who panicked and in addition to the shots, jammed a heap of paper towel up my hoo-haa in an attempt to stop the bleeding. I do wonder if the bleeding is in part caused by their insistence on pulling the placenta out right away, although a midwife told me they do this is done to PREVENT problems with bleeding. My question is, in the absence of a hospital and injections, how can I prevent myself from bleeding out? I have studied this for the last 4 hours and still have no answer! The articles describe what a midwife or Dr may do, but not a first aider or yourself! If you plan on having more children I would suggest to get a birthing emergency kit from your Gyno!!! With the medication to help stop bleeds! Sorry I could not help more! The effort is much appreciated! ...Thanks to everyone else for their comments/suggestions as well. I have a friend who used to be a midwife in Africa: I'll try to remember to ask her for suggestions the next time I see her -- If she has any tips I'll post them!
|
|
scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
|
Post by scoutmum on Nov 3, 2014 18:31:45 GMT 10
I agree that in a crisis situation you don't need a leader who is going to put emotion before fact. I just feel that that needs to be tempered by mercy and compassion. I guess my point (in my second post) was that I am not inclined to follow a leader (whatever his/her psychological state) and that is why I prep and why I try to be as self-sufficient as possible.
|
|