Homestead Basics

Water Storage Info: I am sure that if you are reading this you already know how important it is to have water storage. After I read about Iowa City having to use bottled water it reminded me that perhaps we should talk on the subject some more. Store shelves can literally be emptied in hours! [...]

Learn what features to look for in a pasta maker! For more information or recipes for using food storage, visit www.everydayfoodstorage.net

Here at Homestead Basics, we have been looking for a great option for a backup type stove. We wanted something we could use to cook in the back yard and not use much fuel. We have a small propane reserve for our BBQ grill, but that wasnt enough. We found this Grover Rocket Stove and really like it! I just called them to get the specs.

So finally have some time to give a follow up on Project HOSS. The bed has been attached using custom fabricated mounts. The power comes from hydraulics powered by electric.

Strong Box StorageWith Spring right around the corner, I was starting to get a bit of cabin fever. Since we recently moved into our home, there was still some organizing that needed done. I needed to get my shop more organized so that Ill be ready for upcoming Spring projects.

If you have been following Project HOSS: The Ultimate Work Truck, you know that we are in serious need of a bed. I was down at the local wrecking yard to inquire about them taking the old bed once a new flatbed was purchased. The guy mentioned they had some used flatbeds laying around. I went out to take a look.

Here at Homestead Basics we have a one year supply of food, six months of water, and a decent financial reserve. Today I was down at NAPA purchasing everything to do an oil change on our Project HOSS. I cant believe I never thought of this, but I don’t have many supplies for vehicle maintenance. Remember that your food storage and other reserves are not just for if the world goes down in flames, but what if your job goes south? What if you get injured enough, you cant work full time? NAPA was running a sale on filters, so I purchased a case. I also purchased eight cases of oil. That is enough to change the oil every two months for each of my vehicles (My wife’s suburban or HOSS).

I previously mentioned that we were taking on a new project. With Spring around the corner and recent move under our belts, we were in need for a new truck to handle all our needs. You can find our requirements here. So I have been on the lookout. One thing I really wanted to do was keep our vehicles near the same. My wife really loves her Suburban, so the chances of her changing were slim. So I decided to find a truck that was similar. I went searching on Craigslist and found exactly what I was looking for!

Today I wanted to discuss the building of the Ultimate Work Truck. This is a project I have had on my mind since I sold my favorite truck while we still lived in Missouri. I really miss that truck and haven’t had a truck that can compete since then. This is not going to be a truck that will be purchased new, nor will it have a bunch of bling added. Im looking for a real work truck and be able to build it on a budget. I only have a couple of requests:

I was back in Utah last week and had a chance to finally visit an Emergency Essentials store. It was great! I look through their catalog every time it comes in the mail, but to actually visit the store was a real treat. They had everything that was in their catalog, but it was nice [...]

Wow, this is very impressive. This young man builds a windmill at the age of 14 that helps power his house.

One of the things I would like to do is build my own solar panel. With the high price of panels, it makes it hard to get your hands on them sometimes. I found this article explaining how to make your own:

So now that I am closer to town due to our recent move, I can take advantage of different things. One of the things my wife laughs at me about is my new transportation for quick runs.

$13 Compost Bin from Trash Cans

Missile Silo Homes

Pocket-Sized Fishing Rod and Reel - More DIY How To Projects

Top 100 Items to Disappear First During a National Emergency

When my wife gives me a chore to do, I’m all about efficiency. Sometimes I take my time and overdo a job. Sometimes I am flat out lazy and want to hurry it along so I can get back to my hammock. Today I was feeling the latter. So here is how YOU TOO can build a $10 compost bin in 10 minutes!!

Deep Rock hydra drill for do-it yourself type wells.

Using a satellite dish to make a bird cage

There is no technical mystery to sharpening a lawnmower blade. It just takes common sense and a bit of know-how. If you have a good bench grinder or a professional blade grinder, you can do a professional job.

I can not say enough about these little tractors. Ours is the Case 448 Garden Tractor. With the hydraulic system, a rear PTO valve can be installed which runs a multitude of attachments (factory tiller, wood splitter and wood chipper) along with just about any other hydraulically operated contraption you could dream up.

Every homestead needs a tractor. We chose a Ford 8n as our first piece of tractor driving machinery!