the Trash vitae

Trash is the editor-in-chief of an independent Colorado micro-publisher/ design studio. I dabble in digital photography, the lost art of film image making, and guerilla digital video. DrMAC Studios specializes in books and videos on self-reliance, gardening, dumpster diving, urban foraging and living off the excesses of others.
This blog documents my daily experiences with the rest of the world

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Now that the guvt can control the car industry

bfast- oatmeal, fruit, coffee
lunch- ramen soup, fruit, water
dinner- SONIC burger, tater tots, water

I hate talking about politics but with the apparent takeover of GM (guvt motors) last night the missus gave me this idea. This is what cars could look like under the new owners..
Yabba Dabba Doo

Monday, March 30, 2009

Monday morning blahs

Bfast- turkey and swiss burritos, coffee and orange
lunch- bowl of cereal, toast and water
dinner- Roast beef, mashed taters, sweet potatos, and water

Wifes back went out again yesterday. SO spent the day handling her work and mine. Changed out door on daughters room, fixed tire on Jeep, moved some compost and coffee grounds around as the snow melted. Its going to be a good year in the cultivation project.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

a funny thing happened right after my last post

my hard drive in this machine crashed hard. Amazing.. So guess who had to rebuild his machine this afternoon.. fun fun..
What a lovely way to spend a Sunday. But at least its back up..

I also picked up a whiskey barrel for planting i, along with a grate. As for food I got some free smoked ham coldcuts and some greens and fruit from behind the Safie..

I also got to play with my new car lighter powered air compressor that I picked up as a free gift last year and never opened.. fun for that slimy stem on the jeep that needs replacing..

Back to Babylon tomorrow

return to Eden


The wife and I were talking yesterday about some thing she has seen a connection within the bible. In Genesis before the sin Adam was at one with nature, hunting, gathering, gardening, and living one with nature whila Eve was his soulmate and helper. Its amazing how many people in 2009 are making this return to Eden mentality. And they don't make the connection.

It isnt survalism, green freaks, wierdos, eccentrics or any other phraseology. Its biblical. To live life as God meant us too. Don't forget about him and his part in the rebirth.

As we come to the Easter let us also resurrect to a better way of life than we have had. Plant/ tend that garden, gather the necessities and prep, learn to hunt and harvest from the wild, become more self-reliant, live more simply, but never forget the one who made this way of live available to us..

Saturday, March 28, 2009

the snow is melting and I am riding the dumpie rig

I decided to take the bike and trailer out for a ride to the Wallieworld. I should have known that the curb crossings would not be shoveled.. And of course the sidewalk/ bikepaths were being torn up. Lots of mud but the rig is working fine.
Picked up a brand new hat on the trail that apparently fell off someones head quite recently from Next Generation Energy.. Just what I needed for summer.

Anyhow I am back at the stead now trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of the afternoon. A nap sounds wonderful.

saturday morning meandering

bfast- oatmeal fruit coffee
lunch- leftover salisbury steaks, fried taters and oniond, juice, fruit
dinner- didnt eat as I ate a late lunch.. wasn't hungry..

How can anyone survive the end-times?
You cant do anything to prep for that one, except to bring your family closer together and work together to make your family right with the almighty. Stay close, work together, pray and enjoy each other as if today might be the last day. It prob wont be but be thankful when you wake up tomorrow.
Now I am not saying not to continue prepping, please do do diligently. But never forget the spiritual prepping that must be included. The bible should be part of your BO Bag .

Friday, March 27, 2009

20 inches at the stead

bfast-quesadillas fruit coffee
lunch- orange- sausage,eggs and hash browns, coffee
dinner- fish fillets, potatos and water
I walked out and checked the measuring stick in the yard this morning. 20 inches at the stick with 36-40 inch drifts in some spots of the stead.. Dam that was a good snow...
The roads arent plowed out at the main residential roads so I guess I will be staying at the stead today. A 4 day weekend.. I need it.
Gonna take some of the snow and pass it around to the neede parts of the yard.. I am real glad I lisened to my head and didnt take the warmth for granted and plant anything outside yet.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

the snow has arrived


1245 update-
15 inches and its still coming down..
9am update-- 7 inches measured thus far.. And it only started about 5am.

Tried getting out twice this morning and made it as far as the front of the neighborhood before turning back.. Screw it. Now the snow is heading down towards the people in Denver who will soon be heading home.. I AM STAYING HERE at the stead.
Plenty of surfing, snoozing and making the sure stead stays safe and secure..

Oh yeah and maybe watch a few movies..

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Free is free and the snow is coming again

bfast- oatmeal fruit and coffee
lunch- fishsticks, chili, water
dinner- fish fillets, fries and water

Got the word this morning that a snow is coming to Denver.. Should be entering the state tonight and lasting thru Friday.. It smells like snow is arriving a the stead. I HOPE SO.. We need the moisture// I have opened the water barrels and placed the shovels close by JIC.. Got smokes and goodies to last the day if necessary. I AM READY.

I was born in 19?0

To Those of You Born 1930 - 1980
At the end of this email is a quote of the month by Jay Leno. If you don't read anything else, please
read what he said.
Very well stated, Mr. Leno.
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!! First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?
Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Play stations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. If YOU are one of them? CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?
~ The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us...go ahead and delete this. For the rest of us...pass this on.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I want a trillion


bfast- apple and coffee
lunch- crawdads, shrimp, cajun rice beer and bread pudding
dinner- fish fillets, fries, juice.

Everyones gettin a trillion / A trillion here a trillion there.. trillion trillion..

People here at the stead are wanting to take out country back and John Rich made a great comment tonight..
If you dont like living in America,, get the HELL out..... We are supposed to be a FREE people.

Leave me the F--K alone on my stead with my family

Monday, March 23, 2009

Sunday doings

Bfast- cheese quesadillas with chili, chips, water coffee
lunch- tuna sandies water
dinner- chicken casserole, veggies and suntea

spent the day working around the stead cleaning up leaves, getting beds ready still and deciding to use back yard area for more growing potential.

Been testing the handsmithed bracket for the biketrailer and it seems to be holding well.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

"rescued a scheflera in Babylon

I dont know about you all but in my office space in Bablyon I have these wonderful windows and have rescued several plants in the last cuppla weeks. First a bamboo that is coming back and now an abused scheflera. I also have several Pothos cuttings that have rooted nicely in my space. It makes life woth living in Babylon

DIY greenhouse idea




http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/How-To-Build-A-Greenhouse.aspx

though you guys might like this .. I want mine to havs some solid walls on the side with the sun coming in from the top. and thru windows on the side.

Snow on the way

bfast- oatmeal, donuts coffee
lunch- Ramen noodles, apple water
dinner- smothered burritos, chile and water

After spring came in the other other day with temps in the 60s and 70s, It appears that we are going to get some foul weather to start the week.. how typical. But its a good reminder that its still too early to plant.. So I will keep prepping the soil..

Instead of putting the coffee grounds in the compost pile I am spreadiug it out in the containers to dry and then work it in. Along with chopped up veggie scraps etc.

I found a plastic pond yesterday and will be looking for a way to incorporate it into the landscape..
either as a water feature to attract birds or as a planter.. We will have to see.

Anyhow I am getting tired of the political and will be getting back to the prepping at both the brick and mortar stead and on the mobile BOM's.

Friday, March 20, 2009

boys night in CA, while we are going down the drain

Makes you wonder what Michelle is thinking about big daddy Barry

a wrench in their side

One of my favorite books of all times. A real inspiration..

Some of my compadres have problems with comments and opines on there blog. I dont. I welcome any and all. As the forefathers once said and I agree.
"I may not like what you have to say, but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it.. "





back in reality

bfast- oatmeal. toast and honey coffee
lunch-- Thunderbird BBQ
dinner-BLT.s chips and water

spent the day in Babylon and came home to the wonders of my prepping the garden for spring production..Spreading the wealth of coffee grounds, fruit cores and rinds etc around the beds and in the containers.
Also checked out the web for possible greenhouse ideas.. saw one I liked again that is made from cinder blocks, found large stone, 2x4 and heavy plastic panels for the roofing and windows.. will have to play with the ideas
Anyhow its Friday and I must come back to reality from the 1.5 days of OZ in the evening.

tap the heels of my sneakers and chant
"theres no place like home"

Thursday, March 19, 2009

let them eat cake

It’s Wednesday night at the White House, and the era of the cocktail party has returned.


While the rest of the sheeple eat from the trash or the food bank.

Moonshiner took his life to avoid prison

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090318/D970NDDG3.html

dam FEDS killed another one..
Why cant they just leave people alone..This is supposed to be a FREE country..

his daughter said "She has no doubt Sutton died on his own terms. "Of course he did. That man went out in a blaze of glory, and flipping his finger as we went," she said.

I can only hope my kids will say the same thing about me..

They are watching you

bfast-oatmeal, fruit, coffee
lunch- roast turkey sandies,chips, fruit, water
dinner- roast chicken, spanish rice, veggies, water

Trash is enjoying spending the day reading the blogs of people who are just recently coming to the realization that they are being watched and may be on a list of potential threats. DUh

Didja ever wonder why the grocery stores have discount cards for you, which you must use to get discounted prices. Didja ever wonder why debit cards were invented.. As an addon or in replacement of credit cards. THEY wanna know where you shop or what you buybut maily what are your habits that can be traced. How about going down to the DMV every few years with addie changes and to renew.. Why is that ritual embraced so easily.
Then of course there is the grandaddy of all ID's the SSN. You get one for junior when baby is born. She has to change the name when she gets married and you use it again when you retire.. Isnt that stupis beyond beleif. And you wonder ? The list gets longer. SIMS in phones,l GPS in more and more devices etc..

Gotta say why are you all surprised?

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Building your own portable generator

bfast- McD's and coffee
lunch- Toxic hell
dinner- tuna sandies, chips and dip, water

Looks like a good read on "what to do with that old 5.5 hp gas mower engine..
Trash likes to tinker and so when I saw this this morning I thought "why should I spend 200-300 on a portable generator when I can make one for cheap?"

http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/build-your-own-12-vcg-engine-generator/6470526

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

feelin' old

bfast- oatmeal. yogurt, fruit, coffee
lunch- leftover hot dogs, and fries, fruit, water
dinner- turkey ghoulash, french bread, water

The knees are still achin as I headed back to babylon.. more Glucosamine. Anyhow I am sitting in a training class in Babylon today on "crucial conversations" in the workplace.. What a crock of crap.. Talk to your fellow workers like you talk to your friends. Treat bosses like you would your kids.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

working the dirt

Spent the day moving dirt and containers around. knees hurt but its beautiful outside. Got an idea to make an a-frame structure for one of the new beds.. For both aesthetics and green-house useage. It might work but I still have it in my head to build a greenhouse this spring.. I know I wanted to do it last summer but it didnt happen.. Maybe this year.

Sunday eyes are shining

bfast- PB and cheese burritos, coffee and fruit
lunch- roast beef and cheese hoagies, fritos, Mtn dew
dinner- turkey and chees hoagie, fritos water

all that talk of working in the gardens got me going yesterday. Ordered veggie seeds, picked up some dirt and "found" some rocks and timbers for the yard. Also began the tedious work of working on the soils in the containers to see their status.

also worked on a cuppla bikes that were found this past winter in order to get them ready for spring/ summer sale and rides. Also built a bracket for the bike trailer to make it useable this summer for extra carrying in order to become more reliant on the bike rather than driving..

Saturday, March 14, 2009

this President has to be kidding.......

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/us/politics/15address.html?_r=1&hp
BHO and the FDA wants to regulate our food..hmmm Isnt it due to their deregulation and incompetence that got us into this. And yet BHO wants to put his faith and our safety into them. Kinda like putting a drug cartel in charge of marijuana regulation...

I prefer knowing what I eat by gathering it myself and growing it myself.. Its not up to the Monsanto governed FDA and it cronies.. And for Trash it never will be. I for one would rather follow Farmer D and set up the stead for greater production in a method that I oversee and control..
While I have several producing beds already and air toward sustainability I do know that there is more that I can do..
And I will.

Will you?

Friday, March 13, 2009

Junk land WANTED

One mans junk is another man treasure.
In this time of junk bonds, junk stocks, junk junk and more junk,
Why not pick up a piece, or two of junk land.
It doesnt have to be big (2 acres or better) could be backed up to some national forest. Water within a reasonable distance, preferably a few feet away. Electrical power is not a necessity as a generator and some solar panels, or a wind turbine would be fine. A somewhat level dirt road nearby to get the motor home to a level piece of the land. And of course NO building restrictions and preferably NO people around..

This is something that Trash is considering for the near future. I have been checking out web sites and trying to get a feel for where would be good. I am fairly open. It prob wont happen for quite a while but its enjoyable to look around the country and see the possibilities.

Friday morning

bfast- oatmeal, fruit, coffee
lunch- chicken noodle soup, collard greens, water
snack- popcorn and water bottle
dinner- chicken breast smothered with pepper jack cheese, corn and red pepper, lemonade

I never thought about it before but as a freegan and a dumpie diver forager I guess that I am a different type of Survivalist. What I do, and how I do it, is inbred into my psyche and not something newly learned. When I go to a front door shop I by nature check out the back door before going around to the front. When I walk or ride the bike I am constanly on the look out for resources that I can use. When online I always check out the freecycles and the CL for free stuff and barter stuff. It may be why others think I am eccentric.

To me its a way of life.
Hunter , gatherer, forager, providor.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

mobile bug-out

bfast-donuts and coffee, fruit
lunch-toxic hell eat out.
dinner- homemade quesadillas, yogurt, refrieds and water

Lately I have been hearin alot about hunkerin down at a retreat location.. Living in anything from a travel trailer to a well stocked resort home in the middle of no where. Trash has thought about that and by no means belittles it but what if the real SHTF and you have to me mobile for a long period of time. With no definitive residence where you can be be tracked to .. That is why Trash has the mobile retreat that I have mentioned before. It would def be worthwhile in those times where you dont know where you will wind up while the country is in turmoil. A well- stocked and well-maintained mobile retreat options are a necessity. A plan c.
Along with the ability to tow behind or drive along a sep mobile good enough to be used in all weather conditions. That is why Trash has the old dumpie mobile.. Not pretty but reliable.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

snow this morning.. what a change

bfast oatmeal and granola, coffee, fruit
lunch- roast beef and cheese sandies, coup, chips water
dinner- fish sticks, fries, water

from spring back to later winter. 3 inches of snow overnight and 17 degrees outside..
But its expected to melt by afternoon. The sun is coming up by 7 again so waking up at 530 its still dark.. HOW DEPRESSING> oh well.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

spring is in the air and green is in the garden


this one is a borrowed image.. mine has been in the ground for 3 years and is starting to come back again
update:

I was out this morning pickin up the dog turds in the yard and was noticing some green over in the herb beds. The chives are coming back with lots of 2-3 inch spike showing thru the dead stuff from last year and the oregano is showing some green leaves.. it wont be long now before I can start using the fresh chives for lunch.. yumyum.. So i grabbed the scissors and started cleaning out the old stuff and put it up into the compost bin. Dam there is a lot of green and its only the first week in MArch..

Homeopathic useage:The whole plant has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and the blood circulation

The 3 means of transportation

bfast- oatmeal. fruit.coffee and some dumpie donuts
lunch- dumpie french bread sandies with roast, water, apple
dinner-- forgot about dinner since knee was swollen and in pain. tooks some meds (homeopathics)
and went to bed

I have been seeing alot more people talk about innovative means of transporation lately. electric cars, smaller gas cars, scooters, etc. While these are all good, in times like what are coming, you may need to scale back a bit on spending money for these items. In lieu of these let me give you Trash's favorite means of transportation.

1. Walk,, its good for the soul and the heart. This method is good for up to 5 miles round trip without exerting too much energy.. Especially efficient if done after the morning meal..

2. Bicycle-- this method is good for the round trip that goes from 5-25 miles. Again wonderful and cost efficient if done either after the morning or the midday meal.. A little more tricky after the dinner hour when the sun goes down but with innovation ( a light and reflectors do wonders). This means of transportation can be improved upon with the addition of storage devices (ie baskets) attached to the front or rear of the bike and the ability to add a trailer to the bike for passenger and cargo towing. This method is my second favorite.

3. the dumpie-mobile (1985 Jeep Cherokee)-- only necessary for longer trips where the bike would be inappropriate due to the large amount of cargo that would not fit into the trailer of the bike or when I need to carry the whole clan to a predetermined destination. This is my least favorite means and the most stressful.

Now I do use public transport on a daily basis to go to Babylon and back because it is almost 30-40 miles roundtrip. And since I have a pass that I pay for yearly it is an efficient investment..

Friday, March 6, 2009

Living in the barter economy

http://thesurvivalistblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/survival-in-barter-economy.html

thanks for the advice MD


Friday Mental Health Day


bfast- pb and j burritos, coffee fuit
lunch- chips and dip, fruit water
dinner-- roast beef, mashed taters, water

took a mental health day today as I needed to get some work around the house as well as keep an eye on the missus.

Picked up a used Netbook (latitude x300) real cheap with a screen that needs replacement, but the price was cheap. Weighs less than 2 pounds and had a media base with both a cdrw a dvd burner. I can pick up a new screen real cheap, but until then it works. fine.

So I guess I am not jealous of the rest of you who paid full price for the Atom based machine.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Thursday blahs

bfast-oatmeal, fruit and coffee
lunch- leftover chicken breast sandie, broc/cheddar leftover soup, ( cooked rice added in, fruit, water
dinner- homemade chile and french bread water

Spent the day in Babylon yesterday discussing the bennies of homeschooling with a forum I belong to. How ironic it was this morning when I turned on the news and they are discussing sex ed programs in the school system.. The schools in question are discussing whether the parents should have the right to choose which class the kids go to.. the abstinence class or the real world class.. How nice.. Yeah I think the abstinence class is going to be where the popular kids are heading too.. HAHA
In homeschool we dont have that luxury.
The kids have seen animals give birth so they knew from an early age that sex is not dirty and the miracle of childbirth is wonderful. But with sex comes greater responsibility and not enlarged entitlements.
As I said in the post the school my daughter would go to has an onsite daycare center, pharmacist for the BC pills and condom vending machines in the restroom along with nthe coffee cart and other amenities. Several of both my daughters friends in the neighborhood have already had a kid or two and are on the dole as were their parents before them.
What was that saying about "those who dont learn from history are destine to repeat it.."

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

why do they look at us differently

bfast- oatmeal-fruit coffee
lunch- wedding soup, bread, fruit, water
dinner- chicken breast sandwiches with melted cheese and jalapenos, water

I guess that I have gotten to the point where I just dont pay attention to how others perceive me and the way in which Trash lives. Or maybe its just that I just gave up caring.

I hunt and gather, forage and rescue, recycle and reuse, teach our children, maintain our 'stead and in the words of another, I am not impressed with shiny things. Everything the Trash has acquired serves a purpose and/ or fulfills a necessity.

I have been asked recently why I list my daily nourishment at the head of each post. According to something I read a while back it suggested "That what you eat determines a lot about you". It certainly gives you a glimpse into how I maintain my nourishment needs. As for the rest of the clan at the stead, they eat similar to me but not exactly the same. I prefer water out of the tap much of the time, rather than pop or juice. It is one of those quircky thing that has haunted me for many years but I prefer water..

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

some people will always be grasshoppers

bfast- oatmeal coffee fruit
lunch spoiled my self and went to Subway for th $5 deal
dinner-- soup and bread, water

We have always heard the story of the ant and the grasshopper.. the long run survivor vs the short run exister. More and more I am seeing grasshoppers begin to put the mask of an ant on. Only to turn around and revert to Grasshopper mentality, while giving the impression of an ant.. These people arent true ants and will prob never be.
Dont waste your time with them. They may come around but you can never trust nor believe in them.. GO ON.

As the bible says "dont waste your pearls on swine..

I went out last evening for a constitutional walk back to the RV and again thanked the one upstairs who instilled in the wife and I the necessity to acquire it.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Dont become a refugee

bfast- pb and j burritos
lunch- dumpie salad and water
dinner- smothered frozen burritos, peaches and water

short post with link.

He says all that needs to be said quite eloquently.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

kneel before ZOD




Bfast- pizza and coffee
Lunch- MAc and Cheese, wings, water
Dinner- Roast chicken, mac and cheese chocloate graham crackers water

Remember ZOD the evil alien who came to earth with a sex kitten and an oversized dufus who challenged Superman in the 80s.
That is how I see the annointed one and his VP and Princess Pelosi.

So out of touch with us, the people, and yet they expect divine loyalty and subjogation. BS
Then we have these wunderkinds who say Bring back the Constitution.. They honor its eloquence and verbage as if it was the ONLY word to follow. To Trash that is the same as idoltry.. The Constitution is a dead piece of paper..
Its not your ticket to heaven.

Whether you be Christian or Jew doesnt matter if you live according to the real word, the BIBLE.
Dont answer to ZOD