M.L. Lewis
Bio
Welcome to my little slice of pie. This blog will primarily focus on prepping and homesteading skills with a sprinkle of fiction every now and then.
Stories (167)
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It's Canning Season
With Fall beginning and harvests being brought in, it is time to cover some people’s favorite seasonal hobby, canning. Canning is a food preservation technique dating back centuries. It is when food is processed and sealed in glass jars designed for the job. It can extend a food’s shelf life by one to five years, sometimes longer in special cases when done correctly. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 39% of those over 50 years old consider themselves regular ‘Canners’, and 31% of those under 35. For a beginner ‘Canner’, the process may look complicated, but it’s easier than you think. There are two main types of canning, so for the article, we will only discuss the most popular method known as Water-Bath Canning.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Feast
Doomsday Little Ones
Kids are the future. They are the bedrock foundation for powerful communities and overall society. In the US, there are 23.6 million kids between the ages of zero and five years old, 24.3 million between six and eleven years old, and 25.1 million teenagers. There are three million babies born every year adding to this number. Disasters can be scary events, and the aftermath is overwhelming for adults. For kids, it’s ten times worse, especially if they are too young to process what is happening around them. Today is National Care For Kids Day, and here are some ways to get the little ones Doomsday-ready.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Families
Finding Your A-Team
Going into Doomsday with a team is a common strategy to survive. Whether it is your family, friends, or like-minded people, being part of a group increases your odds of survival greater than going at it solo (Lone-Wolf Style). Many people who are new to prepping often lean on a veteran prepper who brought them into it for support and guidance. This usually leads to you being mixed into a pre-existing team. If you are unfortunate enough to not have a prepping team nearby, consider forming your own using these tips to find members.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Longevity
Raising Chickens Is Clucking Fun!
Chickens are the most widely domesticated fowl in the world. There is no official number of how many households privately keep chickens, but in 2019, the US Department Of Agriculture (USDA) predicted that 13 million people were raising these birds in their backyards. The USDA knows that there are 233,000 poultry farms being regulated by them, earning 48 billion dollars a year. The National Chicken Council states each American consumes, on average, 94 pounds of chicken products every year. Because of COVID and the recent string of food insecurities we face regularly, more people are taking up this hobby than ever before. Here are some helpful tips to get you started.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Earth
Just Because The Internet Said It, Doesn't Make It True!
Today is the official day that Larry Page and Sergey Brin launched Google in 1998. Google is the most used web-based search engine in the world. The site processes over two trillion searches a year with the average person using it 3-4 times a day. Even though it was intended for good, it can turn evil quickly. Many people used the web for a sinister purpose. Using the platform to pass deadly lies and false information. Here are some terrible and lethal myths we all believe to be true.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Longevity
Prepping With Creativity
September 14th is National Live Creative Day. It’s an annual event that encourages people to look at the world through creative lenses. This holiday states that all of us are artists of our own rights. Today, we let our uniqueness shine and show everyone our inner artistic soul. In the US, there are currently 11,970 employed artists earning an annual salary of $68,690. 56% of households in the country will turn to a crafting hobby for personal enjoyment. Every year, the crafting market makes $44 billion dollars in the sale of supplies. With so many types of art mediums out there, quite a lot of them can save your life and benefit you in the apocalypse.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Lifehack
The Silver Prepper
Disasters affect people of all ages. In the US, there are currently 47 million senior citizens, with the number expected to increase to 100 million by 2060. A senior citizen is usually someone who is over the age of 60, but some believe we should set the age at 65 years old. Older Americans will often face unique challenges in a disaster that the younger generations won’t have to deal with at the level they do. They’ll be cut from services they depend on for everyday activities for an undetermined length of time. Here are some tips you can use to help you prepare ahead to get you through the aftermath of such disasters.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Longevity
To Boldly Prep, Like No Prepper Has Done Before
September 8th is National Star Trek Day. A day dedicated to the beloved sci-fi fandom that has been around for decades. Star Trek has been on TV since 1966 and has spun off into several popular TV series and countless movies. The show is so popular that it has parody spin-offs such as The Orville enjoying just as much success as them. As of 2020, there are over 5,500 dedicated fans (or Trekkies, as they call themselves) in over 240 fan clubs, with many more not joining. The fans are so dedicated to the franchise that many have learned the foreign languages made popular on the show like Klingon. Whether your captain is James T. Kirk, Jean-Lu Picard, or Christopher Pike, we can learn a lot about surviving doomsday while on board the USS Enterprise.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Geeks
Heading Off To The Library
Libraries are a treasure trove of knowledge. Currently, there are nineteen thousand public and one hundred thousand school libraries currently operating in the US. They estimate libraries make, on average, 2.3 billion dollars a year. 311 million people live near a library, and 171 million of them are registered, active users of them. Every year they will see 1.35 billion visits from a wide range of people as young as three years old. This month is National Sign-Up Month at your local library, and here are some ways it’ll help you through doomsday.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Journal
Beginner Sewing
September is the National Sewing Month. Sewing is an essential skill that everyone should know. Ronald Reagan declared this monthly holiday back in 1982 to recognize the importance of this at-home activity. Six out of ten people have a strong desire to learn to sew, making it a 36 billion dollar industry with 41% of its sales coming from crafters between 18 to 34 years old. For someone new to this, putting together your own sewing kit is the best way to get started.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Lifehack
When Life Gives You Mold
The National Indoor Mold Society has established September as Mold Awareness Month. Mold is a common issue that could affect any home, hitting those in hot, humid areas more frequently. Mold is a diverse group of fungi known for causing extensive property damage and health risks. They are plant-like organisms that are a natural part of the environment, often thriving in warm, moist conditions. Mold can cause many illnesses like athlete’s foot, allergies, and other conditions. Here are some ways to kill the spores on common surfaces of your house.
By M.L. Lewis3 years ago in Lifehack
