Life After an EMP…Summer School…My talk with Halli
Quick reminder, because of my concern for rising food prices, until the end of the month I will send any new subscribers to the Totally Ready Newsletter a copy of our March issue which includes the information you will need to store a nutritionally balanced three month supply designed for your family’s needs, not the generic list you find other places. After that the issue will be bundled with the past 12 issues for purchase.
I had a great talk with Halli Stone this morning on blog talk radio. We spoke about an EMP attack, civil unrest, HAM radio, survivor stories and much more. Take time as you work at your computer today to tune it in and listen. I love speaking with Halli and I think you will enjoy her relaxed manner and passion.
As we spoke I reflected on the things we need to be doing, skills we need to be learning or honing, and remember one of the best summers raising my kids. Our school district had a fabulous summer school program but attendance was determined by a drawing and if your sibling’s name was not drawn but you were, well, that’s life. A group of friends and I decided we were not going to take any chances and we were going to hold our own summer school. It was great. Each of the moms decided on a skill they could teach and we forged ahead. We rotated homes and most times all the moms stayed to help but if you needed to run an errand you were free to leave and your children were in a safe place where they were learning and having fun. We had a swimming class, cooking class, weaving class, crafts class, and a quilting class. We even too field trips. All these little third and fourth grade girls making quilts was awesome! There were a few boys who were younger and we occasionally held a class especially for them, but what little boy doesn’t love to cook and swim? At the end of the summer we hosted a dinner for the dads and displayed all we had made and of course, the kids prepared all the foods they had learned to cook.
As I remembered these fun day it hit me, let’s do this in our homes with our children and grandchildren this summer and teach them preparedness skills. Wouldn’t this be a great way for those of us who are passionate about preparing to help our friends and family, adults here, who are not? We could teach adults skills while they were also having a great time with their kids. Think about it.
You could have a cooking class but everything needs to be prepared without electricity. You could use a dutch oven, make foil dinners, roast hot dogs on a stick, the possibilities are endless.
You could have a gardening class and plant things you know will grow like lettuce,radishes, carrots, and zucchini and then use those foods in your cooking class.
You could take a field trip to a dairy and come home and make butter and ice cream, again, without electricity.
You could teach them to sew and make a quilt or apron or pillow. When I was student teaching I had a sewing class which was all junior high school boys and we made hunting vests.
You could go to the library and check out books about pioneers, or even Huckleberry Finn or Little House on the Prairie, read the books and then spend a few weeks creating some pioneer experiences. You could dip candles, play pioneer games, even build a lean-to or a tee-pee.
You could take a field trip to an orchard, farmers market or just a neighbor’s with a fruit tree, pick the fruit and them bring it home and make jam or juice.
You could teach the kids (and their moms) to grind wheat and make pancakes, and scones. Both are easy and kids love them.
Let them practice washing clothes in a bucket and then hanging them on the line. I bet lots of moms have never even done that.
Visit a living history museum and learn about the life of those who lived when our nation was founded or who were trail blazers.
Hold a wood working class and learn to use a hammer and nails while building a simple stool. You can probably get enough scrap wood from a building site to complete the project.
If you have lots of boys help them make “uniforms” and then spend a few days living like a soldier during the Revolution or Civil War. Made biscuits in a Dutch oven or on a stick. Wash on a wash board. Write with a quill. Make a sling shot.
If you are a grandparent why not make some of these classes part of your family reunion this summer.
Please send us notes, updates, successes and even failures, and of course pictures as you hold your classes this summer.
Listen to my talk with Halli:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/idahotalk/2010/05/18/halli-friends
A few sites to spur the imagination:
http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/forkids.htm
http://www.stepintohistory.com/
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Your work has always been a great source of inspiration for me. I refer your blog to many of my friends as well. | dutch oven cast
question. as I look around to what and where I want to store in case of an emp I came up with my ham radio, a battery radio and a few of our hand held radios and my rechargeable batteries. Would my solar battery charger be affected? As to where, I thought maybe a metal file cabinet wrapped with tin foil. Would that work? Thanks, now I’m off to read your supply lists
Any item with a circuit would be affected. Since I’m not sure about the type of charger the answer is a resounding…maybe. I metal cabinet would not have to be wrapped it would only have to have all of it’s openings secure, metal on metal. I would probably use the cabinet as my first live of defense and wrap the individual items in foil, a metal mesh or a mylar blanket and then place it in the cabinet. Remember there can not be metal on metal in this case so your wrapped item would need to be separated from the metal drawer with a layer of insulation or cardboard, something that does not conduct electricity. Hope that helps.
Incredibly awesome article! Honestly!