HPC - Our Journey

HPC has come a long way and this video shows a few highlights of our journey. We started with a few ugly shrubs out front and little gardening knowledge. We took out the shrubs and installed a rain garden in front of the garage,.
 
 
 
 

The Columbus Garden Railway Society 2019 Fall Garden Tour

HPC visits the Columbus Garden Railway Society 2019 Fall Garden Tour. Notice the use of plants and trees used to landscape the railway gardens. This year 12 gardens participated, but time only allowed us to visit 7 gardens. I can't wait until next year to visit more railway gardens.
 
 

HPC - The Homesteading and Preparedness Collective at Summer Jam West 2019.

The visitors enjoyed playing the PVC musical instrument, viewing the displays, and taking a Wheatgrass pet kit and activity bag home.

 
HPC at the Summer Jam West Festival in Columbus, Ohio 2019. Pictures of visitors playing the PVC musical instrument, hydroponic systems, growing tower, water lettuce, PVC growing system, Wheatgrass pet kits, and activity bag goodies.
 

Kombucha - The tea of Immortality

I have been experimenting with flavoring my 2nd Kombucha brews. I flavored this bottle with Sassafras, Wintergreen, Sarsaparilla, and Vanilla for a Root Beer Kombucha. I purchased my spices from Kombucha Kamp and I have been using recipes from “The Big Book of Kombucha.” These resources have been very helpful on my Kombucha brewing journey. I was so happy to see the carbonation when I opened the bottle.

Opening a 2nd brew of Root Beer Kombucha. Look at that carbonation.
 

Prepper Camp 2018

Visit HPC-community.com
 

Prepper Camp 2018- Mead Making

Making Orange Clove Mead
 

FROM THE HPC COMMUNITY

WE WISH YOU A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Video Created by: Melinda Lee

 

Fabulous and Frugal Field Trips

As a homesteader I am frugal with my money. Therefore, when searching for vacation or day trip ideas, I am on the lookout for inexpensive trips. I enjoy visiting unusual events, festivals, or locations and I seek out activities that are not offered in my hometown. I begin my online searches at state tourism websites. I use Triple AAA discounts and search for online coupons. Most of my trips are day trips but sometimes an overnight excursion is necessary.

 

A Rockwell Christmas

Video Created By: Melinda Lee

Rockwell Christmas Exhibit at Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio. ( 2006) For more videos, articles, and schedule of events go to HPC-community.com
 

Castle Noel - Medina, Ohio

Video By: Melinda Lee

Our visit to Castle Noel. This is a great place to visit during the holiday season. It is fun for children and adults. After visiting Castle Noel take a stroll around the town square. You can find interesting gifts from one of the shops and then stop for lunch at one of the restaurants.

Visit the Castle Noel website for hours, directions, events and pricing. https://castlenoel.com/

From the Castle Noel website -“Step into the fantasy world of Mark Klaus, creator of CASTLE NOEL. “America’s Largest Year Round Indoor Christmas Entertainment Attraction”. As seen on “Entertainment Tonight”, “PBS” National, SyFy channels: “Profiles in History” and “Treasurer Hunters Road Show”. Fox8: Kenny Crumpton, WKYC, WOIO, WEWS and more to come. Castle Noel features so many wonderful things to see and do. Housing the world’s largest privately owned collection of Hollywood Christmas movie props and costumes from your favorite Christmas movies including “The Grinch”, “Elf”; “Santa Claus The Movie”, “Fred Claus”, “The Santa Clause 1, 2 & 3”, “Jingle All The Way”, “Christmas Carol”, “Deck the Halls”, and MORE “

Our visit to Castle Noel. This is a great place to visit during the holiday season. It is fun for children and adults. After visiting Castle Noel take a stroll around the town square. You can find interesting gifts from one of the shops and then stop for lunch at one of the restaurants.
 

Dragon Lights- Columbus, Ohio 2018

Video Created by: Melinda Lee

Our visit to the Dragon Lights at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. A beautiful light display and mesmerizing performances. A wonderful addition to holiday celebrations.

For directions, hours, performance schedule and pricing go to https://dragonlightscolumbus.com/

Dragon Lights- Columbus, Ohio 2018 To see more go to - HPC-community.com or follow on Facebook - Urban Homesteading and Country Skills

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular 2018

Video By: Melinda Lee

Visit Iroquois Park in Louisville, Kentucky to walk a one-third-mile trail to see 5000 professionally carved jack-o-lanterns. This year’s theme is “A Night at the Library.” 

Visit Iroquois Park and walk a one-third- mile trail to see 5,000 professionally carved Jack-O-Lanterns. This year's theme is "A Night at the Library."

The Palace of Gold

Video By: Melinda Lee

The Temple and Gardens of the Palace of Gold in West Virginia

 

Robert Mullinax plays music on a Native American Flute at Cumberland Falls, Kentucky.

I visited Cumberland Falls Resort in Kentucky last month. I went to the falls to take pictures and I met Robert Mullinax. He was playing a flute he made. He is a local artist and musician. Thanks Robert for allowing me to video record you playing the flute.

I visited Cumberland Falls Resort in Kentucky last month. I went to the falls to take pictures and I met Robert Mullinax. He was playing a flute he made. He is a local artist and musician who was nominated in 2014 by the Native American Music Association for Debut Artist of the Year in the 15th Annual Native American Music Awards.   The nomination is for his first CD, “Dream of a Sacred Song.”  Spirit Wind Records awarded him with the Silver Arrow award for Outstanding Contributions to the Native American Music Industry. 

To purchase "Spirit of the Heart" CD, visit Robert's website:   webg11.wix.com/robertmullinax 

Thanks Robert for allowing me to video record you playing the flute.    

 

From the CD: Spirit Of The Heart, Available here: http://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00Z95CSL Memories of the Past, Native American Flute by Robert Mullinax Find Robert on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/robertrobert.mullinax © 2013

Sit back and enjoy Robert's music.

 
 

A few pictures from my trip.  The Cumberland Falls Lodge, my cabin,  flutes made by Robert Mullinax, the falls area and the river. 

 

Annie Warmke and Carie Starr at the Women Grow Ohio Workshop in Zanesville, Ohio.  How do I make a living at what I love to do?

Annie Warmke and Carie Starr at the Women Grow Ohio After Chores Workshop in Zanesville, Ohio.  How do I make a living at what I love to do?

A video clip of Women Grow Ohio- After Chores Workshop in Zanesville, Ohio. The speakers are Annie Warmke and Carie Starr, the WGO founders. A great event with delicious food. Annie Warmke owner of Blue Rock Station with the only Earthship in Ohio and Carie Starr owner of Cherokee Valley Bison Ranch in Thornville, Ohio. These women are truly an inspriration

September is National Preparedness Month.

DISASTERS HAPPEN.  PREPARE NOW.  LEARN HOW. 

 Go to Ready.gov for checklists, guides, videos, and resources. 

 
 

Pack a Go Bag and make an emergency kit.

 
When disaster strikes, you want to be ready to go at a moment's notice. Having a Go Bag ready for emergencies is a simple solution. Find out more information on how to prepare for emergencies at Ready.gov.
 

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A WINTER STORM?

Cold weather is already upon us and snow storms soon to arrive. Have you stocked up on groceries, pet food, medications, water, batteries and secondary heating source? Don’t wait, prepare now.

 

Preparing your car for winter and Car Kit Advice from Consumer Reports

Make sure your car keeps going when the weather gets cold and snowy. Consumer Reports has important advice on tires, fluids, wipers, car batteries and more.

Make sure your car keeps going when the weather gets cold and snowy. Consumer Reports has important advice on tires, fluids, wipers, car batteries and more: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/index.htm
 

BBC’s Historical Documentaries are full of valuable information and I suggest watching the below series.

 

A look back in time at common 19th century remedies.  Some of the remedies were worse than the ailments.  

 

BBC's Victorian Pharmacy

LIFE IN A 19TH-CENTURY PHARMACY IS RE-CREATED IN THIS FOUR-PART DOCUMENTARY. HISTORIAN RUTH GOODMAN, PROFESSOR NICK BARBER AND DOCTORATE STUDENT TOM QUICK DISCOVER HOW PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO CURE COMMON AILMENTS BEGINNING AT THE TIME OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S REIGN IN 1837, WHEN REMEDIES SUCH AS LEECHES, OIL OF EARTHWORM AND OPIUM POTIONS WERE COMMONLY USED.  Go to You-tube to watch the four part series.

BBC's Victorian Farm

VICTORIAN FARM IS A HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY TV SERIES IN SIX PARTS, FIRST SHOWN ON BBC IN JANUARY 2009, IT RECREATES EVERYDAY LIFE ON A SMALL FARM IN SHROPSHIRE IN THE MID-19TH CENTURY, USING AUTHENTIC REPLICA EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING, ORIGINAL RECIPES AND RECONSTRUCTED BUILDING TECHNIQUES.

This documentary series follows a team who live the life of Victorian farmers for a year. Wearing period clothes and using only the materials that would have been available in 1885, historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn who are going back in time to relive the day-to-day life of the Victorian farmer.

The project is based on the Acton Scott estate in Shropshire - a world frozen in time, lost in Victorian rural England. Its buildings and grounds are cluttered with antique tools and machinery collected by the Acton family, who have lived on the estate since the 12th century.

Working for a full calendar year, Ruth, Alex and Peter are rediscovering a lost world of skills, crafts and knowledge, assisted by an ever-dwindling band of experts who keep Victorian rural practices alive.

The team move into a Victorian smallholding on the Acton Scott estate that has not been used in nearly half a century. Their first task is the restoration of the cottage. As incoming tenants, they help thresh the previous summer's wheat crop, their first experience of steam-powered machinery. Alex attempts to sow a wheat crop using horse-power. Ruth and Peter install a range in the cottage and take a trip to the canals to load up on coal. It's time for the apple harvest, so Alex and Peter turn their hand to making cider. Ruth explores the challenges of Victorian cooking by making preserves ready for winter and cooks her first meal on the range. And the team must learn shepherding skills the hard way as the first livestock arrive on the farm - a flock of Shropshire ewes.

 
 

BBC's Edwardian Farm Documentary

In this historical documentary series, archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn and domestic historian Ruth Goodman team up to re-create a working Edwardian farm. The farm, located at Morwellham Quay in Devon, becomes home for the trio for a full calendar year as they learn to live a simpler but harder life during the turn of the 20th century. They have access only to tools and materials that would have been available at the time, and take up the crafts and responsibilities of the average Edwardian farmer, from harvesting crops and raising livestock to mining and fishing.

 
Education Purposes Only
 
Educational Purposes Only!
 
Uploaded by Brad Collett on 2015-01-21.
 
For educational purposes only
 
Uploaded by Geoffrey Crawford on 2015-08-19.
 
Educational Purposes Only
 
Educational Purposes Only
 
Uploaded by Brad Collett on 2015-03-04.
 
 
Uploaded by Brad Collett on 2015-03-07.
 
 

 

BBC's Wartime Farm

Published on Jan 3, 2013

Historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn face up to the challenges of the biggest revolution ever seen in the history of the British countryside as they turn Manor Farm back to how it was run in the Second World War. When Britain entered the war, two-thirds of all Britain's food was imported - and now it was under threat from a Nazi blockade. To save Britain from starvation, the nation's farmers were tasked with doubling food production in what Churchill called 'the frontline of freedom'. This meant ploughing up 6.5 million acres of unused land - a combined area bigger than the whole of Wales.
In this first episode, the farmers find themselves in a new location, a new time period and with a new team member. There is a new farmhouse to modernise, strict new rules to abide by and air raid precautions to contend with. 
The team begin by reclaiming badlands to grow new crops. Peter works with a blacksmith to design a special 'mole plough' to help drain the waterlogged clay fields. Ruth and Alex get to grips with a troublesome wartime tractor - and must plough through the night to get the wheat crop sown in time.
On top of farmers' herculean efforts to double food production, their detailed knowledge of the landscape also made them ideal recruits for one of the war's most secret organisations - the 'Auxiliary Units', a British resistance force trained to use guerrilla tactics against German invasion.
Wartime Farm was produced by the BBC in partnership with The Open University.

 
Historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn face up to the challenges of the biggest revolution ever seen in the history of the British countryside as they turn Manor Farm back to how it was run in the Second World War.
 
The team tackle the conditions faced by British farmers in 1940, when the full impact of rationing took hold and which also saw Britain face the onslaught of Nazi bombing in the Blitz. Ruth finds out how about the impact rationing had in the kitchen as food became strictly limited - and also explores the temptations of the black market.
 
The team tackles the conditions faced by the British farmers in late 1940, when Britain's cities were heavily bombed by the Nazis. The Blitz resulted in one of the biggest mass movements of people in British history as three million city dwellers fled to the countryside.
 
The team discovers that Wartime Farmers could lose everything - their home and their land - if the government did not think they were productive enough. Over 2,000 farmers deemed 'not good enough' were thrown off their farms during the war.
 
Wartime Farm Ruth finds out how Britain coped with shortages of the wood vital for the war effort in the building of aircraft, ships and rifles, as well as pit props for crucial coal mining. With her daughter Eve, she travels to the New Forest and discovers how women known as 'Lumber Jills' were drafted in to fell trees in the Women's Timber Corps.
 
The Wartime Farm team tackle the conditions faced by British farmers in 1943, when food imports slumped to their lowest level during the war. The government feared a crisis and after four long years at war, Britain's farmers were challenged with somehow increasing food production yet again.
 
The team face the farming conditions of 1944, when Britain had been at war for five long years and the fields surrounding Manor Farm filled up with thousands of troops as the Allies assembled the largest naval task force in history for the D-Day landings.
 
The team face the conditions of 1945 and prepare to tackle the most crucial event of their farming year: harvesting the wheat crop. They grapple with weeds, one of the wettest summers in memory and wartime machinery to bring the crop home, but take a giant leap into the modern era with the arrival of a 1940s combined harvester.
 

Listen 24/7 to The Prepper Broadcasting Network

I enjoy listening to podcasts and I found a great site, The Prepper Broadcasting Network.  The site plays music and Old Time Radio.  In addition the host schedules expert guests and has live shows so that you may call in to ask questions or participate in the chat room.  There is a nice resource page and bookstore.  I have many of the books myself.  The shows are 24/7 and are updated daily. The web address is:                                             http://prepperbroadcasting.com/all-shows/