Fall home maintenance checklist: 7 things to do before temperatures drop

Once autumn's chill is in the air, we don't think twice about swapping our tank tops for sweaters and stocking our pantry with pumpkin-spice everything. So why wouldn't we prepare our houses for the chill, too?

Yes, that first freeze can often take us by surprise, leading to major headaches and thousands of dollars in repairs. So before you start stuffing your bookshelves with decorative gourds and planning the best Thanksgiving dinner your in-laws will ever eat, take a swing through these simple fall maintenance tasks. We promise a little prep work now will help keep your home running smoothly all season long.

1. Prep your pipes

The term "winterization" is a bit of a misnomer: Yes, you're prepping your home for winter, but the hard work needs to happen in autumn. And that's especially true when it comes to your pipes.

More 

DIY: "Shut off all faucets and valves, and drain any outdoor piping, like sprinkler systems, before the temperature drops," says Jane Li, a senior project manager at Mercury Insurance. To be extra careful, Li recommends putting away any outdoor hoses and wrapping socks around outdoor faucets.

Call in the pros: If your winterization efforts uncover a leaky pipe, hire a plumber to fix the mess before the temperature drops. On average, a plumber will cost $300, but a broken pipe could run you upward of $5,000, depending on how much water damage there is. In other words, consider this money well spent.

2. Keep out the critters

Just as you'll spend more time indoors when the weather cools, rodents and pests will seek out a warm place, too — like your home.

"Mice especially are flexible little creatures and can get through holes that aren't much bigger than a dime," says Karen Thompson, an editor at InsectCop.net, which researches and evaluates pest-control products and methods.

DIY: Take a tour of your property, seeking out any cracks that might let a critter sneak inside. Seal any openings with spray foam or steel wool.

"As a bonus, doing this will let you not only avoid rodents, but also ants and fleas," Thompson says.

Call in the pros: If there's evidence these pesky little guys have already infiltrated your space, consider bringing in a pro. An exterminator will charge between $90 and $250 for an initial consultation, and costs will scale from there depending on what you need.

3. 'FALL'-proof your space

Whether you're getting up there in years or frequently hosting elderly parents, use the fall season to prevent, um, falls.

"Falls make up almost one-third of all nonfatal injuries in America, and a little prevention can go a long way toward keeping you safe," says Jason Biddle, who runs The Helping Home, a resource for aging in place.

DIY: Use the "FALL" mnemonic to make sure your place is slip-proof:

• Floors: Scan your floors for fall risks. Look for clutter, slippery stairs, and loose rugs. Add sticky padding to prevent slips.
• Activities: What does your daily routine look like? You might need grab bars in the shower, or a second handrail by the stairs.
• Lighting: Is your home bright enough to see any potential hazards? "A well-lit home can help [you] avoid tripping on dining table legs, floor planters, and out-of-sight power cords," Biddle says.
• Leaving: Examine your porch and outdoor paths. Are there any broken steps or overgrown shrubs that might trip you up when leaving your home?

Call in the pros: Your home might require a major aging-in-place adjustment, like installing a lift or wheelchair ramp. Costs for a motorized stairway lift start at $3,000, and a wheelchair ramp could run $1,500.

4. Remove or cover your air conditioner

If you want to be sure your AC unit will work just as good next summer, don't let it fester.

Unless you live in the desert or the deep South, you probably don't run your air conditioner during autumn. But you might be letting your system waste away if you leave it sitting out in the elements all fall and winter long, which can damage the fan and coils.

DIY: "Window units should be removed, covered, and placed in an area like the garage for safekeeping until they're needed again," says Richard Ciresi, who runs Aire Serv in Louisville, Ky. Outdoor AC units should be properly covered.

Call in the pros: If you've noticed your HVAC system running sluggishly all summer, now's a great time for an inspection, which will probably cost a little more than $300.

5. Check the fireplace

Your wood-burning fireplace has been sitting dormant for months now. Make sure it's good to go before you light it up

DIY: Before getting your fireplace inspected, make sure you're not putting any living things in danger.

"Check the top of the chimney for areas where birds may have nested," Ciresi says. But check local laws first: It might be illegal to relocate active nests. Once the birds have moved on, however, you can break up the nest freely. (Just be sure to wear gloves.)

Call in the pros: Most chimney sweeps can help break up a nest, too. Besides, you'll be needing their help for another fall must-do: sweeping the chimney. A professional inspection and sweep will cost between $100 and $250.

6. Prep your firewood pile

Nasty pests like carpenter ants or termites love hiding out in your firewood. Don't let them hitch a ride inside.

DIY: If you're building a firewood pile this autumn, make sure to keep those logs at least 20 feet from your home.

"This ensures that even if the wood has pests, they are less likely to transfer from the wood to your home," Thompson says. Firewood should also be elevated during storage, which makes it even more difficult for bugs to sneak inside the wood.

Call in the pros: If you spot termites in your firewood pile, call in the pros before hauling a single log inside. Treating a local infestation might set you back $150.

7. Switch your ceiling fans

Your ceiling fans are good for more than just cooling you off.  (iStock)

Your ceiling fans are designed to cool you off during the summer — but they also serve a need during the chilly seasons.

DIY: "Many people don't realize the difference made with the simple reversal of your ceiling fans," Ciresi says. "Hot air always rises, and ceiling fans are uniquely designed to direct airflow exactly where you need it most."

Every ceiling fan has a switch hidden on its base. When the mercury level drops, flip that switch so the fan is moving clockwise.

"This updraft allows hot air to get pushed down into your rooms," Ciresi says. "This is especially useful in rooms with very high ceilings."

How To Wash Dishes With No Running Water

Dish washing is a simple skill that everyone knows how to do, right?  The dishwasher generation, however, does not know how to wash dishes, and it’s more important than you think.

One of the most important things, and first to go in any sort of more primitive situation, is sanitation.  Washing things.  It keeps people healthy and alive.  Dishes are particularly important because we eat off of them.   If they are dirty, what we’re eating is not necessarily safe.  Sometimes, though, the source of contamination comes from water.

If you are doing dishes in water that has contaminants, you’ll need to kill the bacteria so they don’t make you sick.  Most water in the US has giardia in it, a bacteria which can give you vomiting and diarrhea.  Here’s how you kill those bad bacteria and what you need to do it.

• 1 Dish pan.
• 1 large pot
• Soap
• A dish cloth
• A towel
• Any water source that produces clear water. (Lakes, streams, wells, etc.)

I set up my dish/wash pan first.  I get a pot of water on to boil and get it hot.  You want that water at a rolling boil.  If the water is particularly suspect, you may want to leave it boiling for 5 minutes or so.

When you are happy with the boil on your water, fill your dish pan half way up with boiling water.  Dilute with cold to get it to a temperature you can put your hands into.  Here’s the most important thing.  THIS SHOULD BE AS HOT AS POSSIBLE.  Nearly-scald-your-hands-when-you-put-them- in kinda hot, as it will have some time to cool down while you are doing the next step.  Put some soap in there and put your pot back on to boil with more water.

When the second pot of water is boiling, move it over into your dish line – this is your rinse water.  If you use the pot as the rinse pan, you can eliminate bringing along another piece of equipment.  Remember, you want the water disgustingly, awfully hot.  Here’s the big warning: Don’t burn yourself.
• Wash the dishes in the mildly cooler water.
• Rinse in the hot.
• Put on towel spread on a flat surface to dry.

Here’s a picture of my current set up – it’s all on the 4 x 4 table top, and it works Right to Left.  Right is the wash pan, middle is the rinse pan, and I have an actual dish strainer to put my dishes in, though it does fold for easy travel and storage.  I use this for two weeks every year to do dishes and haven’t killed anyone yet!  (Ignore the sink on the right – it’s used for filling pots & pans and draining away only, and this is the first year ever that I’ve had it.  It’s the tap and drain for 20+ people – I couldn’t have them dumping water down the ground drain in the middle of the kitchen – that would never do!)

Your dishes have now been sanitized to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, and hopefully, you won’t kill yourself or others! 

Telling the truth...

“In an age of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

George Orwell

What To Use When There’s No Toothpaste

Dental Hygiene should be a part of our daily lives and even more important in a survival situation for many reasons. Having access to a Dentist may be a serious challenge in a survival or prepper scenario. How will you maintain oral hygiene when your toothpaste has been exhausted? What will be your alternative methods for brushing your teeth? Do you even know that alternative methods exist and has been existing for 1000’s of years? How’s that for a track record?

What if I told you there was a tree that you could use to take care of your dental hygiene, would that not be something you would be interested in?  There is a tree called the Toothbrush tree and people have been using it for 1000’s of years. The scientific name for this tree is “Salvadora Persica, but you can call it the “Toothbrush tree”. The Salvadora Persica is a small, evergreen shrub or tree that grows in hot, dry conditions in parts of Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Toothbrush Tree is valued as a medicinal plant since it contains a number of active compounds that promote good dental hygiene and have been shown to reduce tooth decay, plaque and gum disease.

Here are a few noted benefits of this wonderful natural toothbrush:

* Kills bacteria that causes gum disease
* Fights plaque effectively.
* Useful and effectiveness for teeth whitening
* Helps reduce tooth decay
* Removes Bad breath and odor from mouth.
* Creates a fragrance in the mouth.
* Massages the gums for healthier teeth.
* Effectively cleans between teeth due to its parallel bristles.
* Increases salivation and hence inhibits dry mouth (Xerostomia)

How To Use It ?

To use the natural toothbrush: Remove the stick from the package and trim or chew the bark off one end of the stick; about a 1/2 inch. Chew on the exposed end until the twig forms bristles. Brush as usual. No toothpaste required. The natural toothbrush will freshen the mouth. Every few days (when bristles look like an old broom) cut off the exposed bristles, peel bark and start anew. The natural toothbrush should be kept in a clean place.

Enjoy and keep smiling 

If the tree toothbrush becomes dry, it should be soaked in rose water to soften the end bristles. The end should be cut fresh to ensure hygiene for each usage.

10 Effective Ways to cut down on Laundry cost

Our washer seems to be running all the time. Every time the washer runs, money is spent. Since it is a routine activity, it is always useful to find little ways to reduce laundry cost. Here are some simple ways in which you can reduce cost per load.

1. Cut down on detergent cost: You can reduce your cost of laundry even before you begin it. You can save cost on detergent by selecting a more cost efficient laundry detergent or buying in bulk quantities. You can also keep an eye for upcoming sales and coupons or offers on various detergents in nearby stores. You can also opt for making laundry detergent at home. According to calculations, it reduces the cost of detergent per load from $0.20 to about $0.02 – an $0.18 saving per load. Hence, in a month you end up saving money on laundry.
2. Save on softener cost: Like saving costs on detergents, you can also save on fabric softeners also. You can also find out if any sales or discount coupons are there in nearby stores. You can use homemade fabric softeners also, vinegar being the best and easiest option available. A cap full of vinegar in the softener spot does the trick. It also helps greatly with any lingering odor that might be in the washing machine or in the clothes themselves.
3. Wash only full loads: Try to get into the habit of waiting until you have a full of load of laundry before washing them. Placing just few garments inside the washing machine is a huge waste energy. As a side benefit, a fully loaded washing machine will require less water to fill. A very full load means less water used and less energy used per item of clothing.
4. Dry your clothes by hanging them: Once you wash your clothes, think twice before operating the dryer. Instead of wasting money in drying clothes, you can hang your clothes outside on a sunny day. There is no better or more Eco-friendly way to dry your laundry than by hanging it outside on a sunny summer day. An average dryer run eats about $0.25 worth of electricity. Hanging them up accomplishes the same thing for free. You can try to find a place in your patio or terrace where you can put up hanging clothesline. Hanging your clothes in sun also frees your garments from bacteria and other germs.
5. Wash your clothes in cold water: 90% of the energy used by a washing machine is to heat the water. Each time you wash laundry on the hot water setting, the water heater must also draw energy. A smarter and more efficient method for doing laundry is to use the cold-water setting. Unless your clothes are extremely dirty, cold water does the trick just fine.
6. Select the shortest cycle: Your washer offers a ton of options for the wash. It is best to choose the shortest one, again, unless the clothes are very dirty. This saves wear and tear on the clothes and reduces energy use and some water use.
7. Be meticulous about removing dryer lint: It is essential to empty the lint trap on the dryer before every single load. It is simply part of the required routine. If you do not do this, you reduce the warm airflow around the clothes, increasing the time the dryer has to run to get your clothes to the same level of dryness.
8. Shake your clothes before you put them in the dryer: As you take clothes from the washer to the dryer, shake them out completely. If you are increasing the surface area of the clothes, more warm air is exposed to the clothes in the dryer, making them dry faster, reducing the time and the amount of energy used when your dryer is running.
9. Pull clothes out of the dryer before they are completely dry: If you wish to iron your clothes, its better you remove your clothes from dryer before they dry completely. This means, the dryer runs less and saves your money eventually.
10. Get your own washer and dryer: If you are using coin operated laundry machine, you will end up spending more in the long run. Instead, you can start saving for buying you own washer and dryer. The cost per load when you own your own washer and dryer is far, far less than it is at a coin-operated laundry facility. You can also think of opting dry cleaning services once a while for few specific clothes. Best Laundry Pickup Service in Brooklyn offer good prices on professional laundry cleaning services.

10 Ways to Catch a Fish Without Any Equipment

Editors Note: An article from Matt at the SwimBaitZone.com to The Prepper Journal. As always, please check your local regulations on fishing as not all of these methods are allowed everywhere.

Ready to catch some fish? Most people grab their fishing rod and reel, tackle box and some bait to catch a fish but what if you did not have access to these things? Could you still catch a fish without the right equipment? Many people will be surprised to learn that there is not only one way to catch a fish without equipment but that there are 10 ways to catch a fish without equipment.

You Can Do It Without a Rod and Reel!

  

People around the world use different methods to catch fish while they are all very different methods they all focus on the same goal; getting some dinner on the table.

Use a net! A hand net can be a great tool to catch a fish with. Simply scout and area out where fish feed and scoop them up with a net. Hand held nets are a great option to test your skills and have a little fun with fishing. It takes a little practice to learn the best casting techniques and getting them snagged on a underwater tree limb or rock can be frustrating but with patience comes success. BTW, this is a catch anything approach so some common sense should be employed when handling the contents, water moccasins, as an example, have a poor disposition.

 

Hand line fishing. This is a lot like fishing with a fishing rod, except you do not use a rod. The concept is the same, you drop a line in the water with a hook on the end that is baited with whatever you can find but that is where the similarity ends. You can use fishing line with a hook, wrap it around a bottle or simply use your hand to drop the line and hold it until you get a bite! Throw out the line instead of casting and wait for the fish to start biting, then pull the line in once you have a fish hooked.

Noodling is the practice of catching catfish with your hands. The noodler (the person that is catching the catfish with their hands) sticks their hands under the water in areas that catfish are known to “hang out” like in craggy rocky underwater areas. Catfish are bottom feeders so if there is a low spot in a stream or pond, these are good places to try. It is difficult but with a little practice it is a very possible way to catch a fish with no equipment at all. Noodling is a popular option in the South Eastern United States.

Limb lining. Limb lining is a good alternative to fishing without a rod. Tie your line to a limb of a tree that is hanging over the water and drop it into the body of water, then just wait. You can fashion a hook from everything from a paperclip to a hair pin if you don’t have a hook.

Trolling. This method uses strong nylon netting with sinkers that is pulled across a length of a river or other body of water. The fish get stuck in the net as they swim downstream. It is an efficient method that is favored by commercial fishermen. Trolling is also just leaving a line in the water while you move your boat.

 

Create a spear out of a sapling. You can trim the edge of a sapling into a point and make a spear out of it and use it to fish. This is a primitive method of fishing that does require some skill but with practice it can be a practical way to get dinner if you need to.

Create a trap. If you have an empty plastic 2 liter bottle you can create a trap. Cut off the top of the bottle right below the neck than flip the piece that you cut off into the bottle. Be sure to remove the cap. Add some water and pebbles to weigh down the bottle and place it at the bottom of the body of water near a shallow end and wait.

Wack-a-Fish. You can catch a fish by using a long cane taken from a sapling. Hit the fish to paralyze it than scoop it up with your hands. It is primitive but effective.

Texas baiting. Cut an empty water bottle in half. Fill half the bottle with some bait, like worms, corn or insects. Place a hook hanging inside the bottle then submerge the bottle standing straight up.

Create a causeway. Take large rocks and create a causeway by staggering the rocks leaving spaces in between. You will need some netting. Place the netting between the rocks and then wait for the fish to come to you!

A Few Bait Tips

You can dig up worms, grab some insects, use corn or decorate your hook with brightly colored pieces of cloth. Bait does not have to be elaborate to get a fishes attention and get them on the hook. Try different baits to get the attention of the fish.

Fishing with a rod and reel may be the most common way for you to fish but around the globe rods and reels can be the most uncommon way to fish. Trying out some of these alternative methods is a great way to hone your skills and try something different. Of course, learning to catch fish without a rod and reel is a great way to improve your survival skills. Try them.

The Ultimate Cover Crop Guide : 7 Great Choices To Recharge A Garden!

You asked and here it is : the ultimate cover crop guide for what to plant to protect and recharge your garden!

You might be surprised to find turnips included in our ultimate cover crop guide!

For years, we have been singing the praises of planting cover crops in the garden. They are essential for protecting gardens.

They help keep weed seeds out and stop the loss of valuable topsoil through erosion. Most importantly, they recharge and rebuild tired garden soil after a long season of growing vegetable crops.  See : No Till Garden Cover Crops

With a wide range of selections to choose from, choosing the right cover crop to grow can be confusing.

Some are better for fixing nitrogen levels. Others are great for breaking up hardened soils. And still more are good for growing in dry or wet conditions.

So for this week’s gardening article, we break down 7 of the best cover crops to use. It is our ultimate cover crop guide for gardens everywhere.

The Ultimate Cover Crop Guide – Top Varieties To Recharge Garden Soil

Winter (Annual) Rye

Our number one choice when it comes to cover crops. Winter rye grass is the perfect choice as an over-wintering cover crop, weather for a traditional garden, or a Raised Row, no-till garden.

Topping our cover crop guide list – annual rye!

It is quick to germinate, and the dense, thick coat smothers out any and all weed seeds looking for a spot to hibernate.

The root structure of annual rye is only a few inches deep, but contains an extensive network that fixes nitrogen in the soil, making it available for next year’s vegetable plants.

To plant, lightly rake soil  and sow seeds. Rake again to help scratch into the soil. The seeds do not have to be completely covered in soil to germinate and grow.

Winter rye germinates quickly, usually within 7 to 10 days. The crop goes dormant in the winter months. and will re-emerge to grow in the spring before dying off before planting.

Never allow a crop to grow high enough to form seed. If the rye grows to more than 6 inches, mow to keep from forming seeds. The clippings are great for the compost bin. They can also be left in the garden to decompose.

It will take 3 to 5 cuttings in spring before the winter rye completely dies back. It can be directly planted through without tilling.  Seed Link :  Winter (Cereal Rye) Seed

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a fast-growing broadleaf plant and a  wonderful cover crop choice.

It is a perfect choice for those who have thick weed problems.
It suppresses the most stubborn of weeds, including quackgrass and crabgrass.

Buckwheat grows quickly and is best planted in the cooler temperatures of mid to late fall. It matures in 6-8 weeks. This makes it ideal for a late fall planting before the winter weather arrives. It is also great to plant as a quick “green manure crop” in the early spring before planting vegetables like tomatoes and peppers.

Mustard seed growing as a cover crop.

In the fall, plant buckwheat 45 days before your first annual frost date. The buckwheat dies off completely over winter, but can be left to cover the rows until ready to plant. Simply mow off, and plant through when ready.

If planting in Spring or Summer for a green manure crop, plant and then mow off before you are ready to plant the next crop. Allow the crop to mature for at least 40 days for a green manure crop.  Seed Link : Buckwheat Seed

Mustard

Yes, believe it or not, mustard seed is an excellent garden cover crop!

Mustard is fast growing, and a good weed suppression crop. It also is a great choice for suppressing soil-borne pests and diseases. .

Broadcast seeds at a depth of ½ inch about 6 weeks prior to last frost date. This allows enough time for the seed to become established.

Mustard will cover the garden with a thick coat of foliage. It will die completely back in the winter and can be planted through after mowing in the spring. Seed Link : Mustard Seed

Crimson Clover

Crimson clover is a legume that grows well in fertile, well-drained soil. It is a great choice for established gardens needing to replace lost nutrients.

Vegetables like tomatoes take a lot of nutrients out of the soil.

It germinates and grows fast, and can be used as a overwinter cover crop, or even a summer cover crop in between spring and fall crops.

For use as a fall cover crop, seed 6-8 weeks before the first frost date. Crimson clover dies off in the winter in cold climates. Sow seed liberally and rake into the soil.

Be sure you are choosing crimson clover, and not red clover. The leaves and stems resemble red clover but crimson leaves are more rounded and appear to be hairy along the stems.

Like winter rye, it can be mowed off and planted through without having to till soil.  Seed Link : Crimson Clover Seed

Annual Oats

Annual oats are an excellent choice for gardens prone to excessive rain and moisture.

Their root system and foliage canopy are one of the best choices of cover crops to prevent soil erosion. Annual oats are also great for providing organic material back into the soil.

Annual oats are not winter hardy, so plant in late summer or early fall so the crop can become established. Common pairings for an annual oat cover crop include radishes, turnips and clover.

Cover crops protect garden soil from the harshness of winter

As winter approaches and the oats die off, you may need to add straw or shredded leaves to help protect your soil from weed seeds.

To plant, lightly rake the soil surface and sow seeds on top of the soil. Lightly rake the seeds to set in the soil. Product Link : Cover Crop Seed

Turnips

Although turnips are a true garden crop that can be harvested, they are also an excellent cover crop. When planted as a cover crop, leave the crop in place to decompose. As they grow, they break up the soil. Then, as they decompose, they release their nutrients back in to the soil,

Their thick roots and turnip cores are great for loosening hard and compacted soil. They are easy to plant, and good for raised beds and all garden set ups.

Although turnips hold up against a light frost, plant in early fall to allow for adequate growth before winter. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, a few inches apart from each other to ensure full coverage.

Allow the turnip bulbs to stay in the ground through the winter. They will begin to decay by planting time, leaving behind a more fertile and aerated soil.  Product Link : Turnip Seeds

Hairy Vetch

Hairy Vetch is another great choice to recharge vegetable garden soil.

It is the cover crop of choice for problem soils and climates. It is excellent at fixing nitrogen levels in the soil, so a great choice for tired and lifeless soils.

Hairy vetch works well in cold climates and in areas with little rainfall. It is extremely resilient to dry, arid conditions. It also does performs well in soils with high pH levels. Do not plant in areas where excessive moisture is problematic.

Plant in late summer or early fall. Broadcast seeds across the soil surface and rake into the soil lightly. The crop will begin to grow prior to the winter freeze and go dormant. In the spring, it will resume growing.

Cut back using a lawnmower when the crop becomes greater than 6 inches in height. Mow off for the final time prior to planting day. Vegetables can be directly planted through the soil and cover crop.  Seed Link : Hairy Vetch Seed