[Artemisia] A New Discussion - SCA Skills in a Modern Plague

[Redhawk]

a bow drill looks like a small bow with a spindle thingy.  the string wraps around the spindle (looks a lot like a drop spindle for spinning) and the wraps make the spindle turn and you have a drilled hole.  in addition the bow drill and dried grasses are a good way to start a fire. sort of like rubbing a stick between your hands except the bow does it for you. much faster.
i'm not sure how i protect my horses.  or my cows. i would have to move everything closer to the house and hang something on the fence that jiggles as a alarm.  
my animals are not going to survive without water.  so now i have that windmill on my mind.  the old fashion one like on the old farm.  i would release the handle and the windmill would draw the water up.  in great falls we are not lacking for wind.  and now i also have solar panels on the mind.  and bentenite.  i spelled it wrong but i believe it makes light?  
i wonder how tar is made for torches?  
HE Morgan's idea about a still is great.  We would need to make alcohol to sterile things.
Red


--- On Sun, 9/19/10, Allen Hall <dukealan at q.com> wrote:


From: Allen Hall <dukealan at q.com>
Subject: Re: [Artemisia] A New Discussion - SCA Skills in a Modern Plague
To: "Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list" <artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>
Date: Sunday, September 19, 2010, 1:32 PM



Books, books, books!  I love books!

Farham's Freehold is great.  Lucifer's Hammer by Pounelle (sp?) and Niven, oh, so many good books!  Let's hear other folks ideas for books!

Nails...shoelaces (and the shoes to put them on), chapstick, deodorant (we'll be a stinky bunch!).  Socks, underwear, work gloves...  kind of a long list, huh?

Check out sand drip filters on the internet.  You'll learn some interesting, useful info on field expedient water purification.

Food:  Our medieval ancestors would work hard to have about 5-6 months of food storage to get them through the winter, and through the spring until things started to grow and be ready to eat.  Do you have 2 weeks worth of food in your pantry?  Do you have stuff that won't require refrigeration?  Who's got a root cellar, or knows how to build one and what goes in it?

Red, tell us more about bow drills.  I suspect that very few people actually know about them.  Tell us your experiences so we can learn, please!

How do you guard your horses so they don't get stolen?  Hmm, requires more people, requires more food and water.  Yipes!  Given all these considerations, it's a wonder that our medieval ancestors survived at all.  BUT THEY DID.  And so could we, if we get smart and think about it.  So all you smart people share your thoughts...dummies like me are ready to learn from you!

Alan

> Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2010 09:31:39 -0700
> From: dori.andrepont at gmail.com
> To: artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org
> Subject: Re: [Artemisia] A New Discussion - SCA Skills in a Modern Plague
> 
> I have to agree on the challenges of water. Even a well can pull up all
> sorts of nasties. I was secretary/treasurer for a rural water district,
> which sounds simple enough, but the reality was that I spent most of my time
> draining samples from the tank, getting them tested for bacterium and
> contaminants, routinely having the tank drained and disinfected, and making
> arrangement with our service to add chemicals to the water so it would be
> safe to drink.
> 
> Doria
> PS Don't forget that you need nails! (Ever since reading Heinlein's
> "Farnham's Freehold", I've never forgotten the nails.)

                          
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