NUTS
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
“NUTS for the food gardener - growing quick, nutritious crops anywhere” by Louise Riotte (Garden Way Publishing, 1975, 6” x 9 1/8”. 179 pages) is a good little book, but one I could not get really worked up over. If you want to grow nut trees, this is your book, but it still lacks that something that makes it sing. The “growing quick crops” in the title is a little misleading as well, the book states that depending on what tree and where it is grown, how well it grows. etc., your first crop is anywhere from five years to eighteen years away.
The chapters here are: Why nuts are so important, What goes on in the ground, Grafting and budding, Peerless Pecan. Black Walnut-Butternut & Heartnut Other Walnuts, Chestnuts and Chikapins. Alluring Almond, Hard-shell Hickories. Versatile Peanut. Pinyon Nut Trees, Special nut Information, Foil those predators.
If you are growing or thinking of growing nut trees, then this is your book, so look for it at your local library or used book store.
Economy for Women
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
“Economy for Women - the complete guide to saving time and money” by Diana Hunter (Women’s Publications, Inc., 14795 Southwest 24th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33325-4918, 1992, 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”, 72 pages) would be a good book for anyone interested in saving time, money, aggravation, and getting things done with the minimum of fuss and muss.
The chapters here, Has Your Spare Time Become Extinct?, On The Home Front, Saving On The Road, The Super Marketer, Taking The Beast Out Of Being A Beauty, Baby Days, The Family & Career Game, Banking It, Superwoman Behind The Scenes, can apply to most people, although I admit that “Baby Days” would and could be ignored by most men, unless that special lady in your life is going to have a baby, and then you should at least have an idea what’s going on.
I liked this book and recommend it highly. The chapters were short, to the point and not filled with “fluff” to extend it. The advice was good, accurate and easy to follow. What else can you ask for?
Christmas Trees
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
Since many survivalists have told me they want to grow Christmas trees to bring in a little extra money, I thought a book on the subject might be in order. “Christmas Trees - growing and selling trees, wreaths, and greens”, by Lewis Hill (Garden Way, 1989, 6” x 9”, 152 pages) will give you all the information you will want to know about growing and selling trees and greens.
Unfortunately, there is more to it than planting the trees, waiting six to ten years for it to get to the right size, cutting it, selling it and pocketing the money. You will need a supply of trees, either wild or store bought, land to plant them on and equipment to trim, cut, and ship them in to the market. You will have to water, trim and fertilize them. You will need to mow weeds, as well as protect the trees from bugs, animals, and disease, as well as tree robbers. Then when they are ready to cut, it is around the clock work to cut, bundle and ship them, on top of which you will need to be at the tree farm or sales lot 24 hours a day to keep people from stealing them, including the shippers or wholesalers if you go that route.
This can be a profitable way to make a few extra dollars or even to go into business for yourself, as a cousin of mine did, but it isn’t all easy money or short term. Expect the first trees to be ready in six to ten years, and then only the best trees are going to be worth more than fire wood, so you are going to be spending a lot of time and money on them, and even then you might lose them to forces out of your control, such as winter storms, fire, or even a disease that turns the leaves yellow just when it is time to cut. If interested in Christmas tree farming, this is your book.
Make Your Own Fuel
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
“Make Your Own Fuel” by Jerry Wilkerson (Young Pub,., 1979, 5 1/4” x 8 3/4”, 101 pages) is not a big book or thick book, it is not a complicated book (except for the reprints of the government regs), but it is a book you may like to have around the house, “just in case”.
The chapters here are Intro, Fuel Uses, Getting Permission, Fermentation,
Distillation, Alcohol From Wood, Alcohol From Potatoes, By-Products, Safety
Precautions, reprint of Federal Pamphlet “Ethyl Alcohol for Fuel Use" and
Profile of author.
Basically this is a “how I did it” home alcohol fuel book. The author tells you what he did, what happened, and why. The writing is down home and simple enough for even people like me to understand, plus the drawings are first rate. With a little planning and forethought, plus this book, I see no reason why a survivalist couldn’t be set up and producing their own fuel within days should anything happen. A recommended book.
Indian Harvests
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
“Indian Harvests” by William C. Grimm (McGraw-Hill, 1973, 6 1/2” x 9 1/4”, 128 pages) is a fine little book for both those who want to learn more about the America Indians diet and how to harvest wild foods. The book covers each type of plant family, such as fern, cycad, pine, cattail, grass, sedge, palm, etc. and tells what part of the plant is used, as well as how the plant was used. The excellent line drawings also add to the value of the book. A must have for wild plant foragers.
Home Tanning & Leathercraft
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
“Home Tanning & Leathercraft Simplified” by Kathy Kellogg (Williamson Pub.. 1984, 6” x 9”, 192 pages) is a good book for the beginner and the more experienced home leather worker might pick up a few tips as well, so if you are into leather work now or think that you might be into leather in the future, you might check your library for this book.
The book is divided up into parts that include an intro for each part, such as Part I: Skins, Hides & Pelts which has chapters such as Fur-bearers, and Larger Animals. Part II: Tanning has Intro, Tanning Chemicals Overview, Tanning variables and Tanning for Fur. Tanning fur or Leather, Other Tanning Methods, Troubleshooting. Part III: Leather and Fur Crafting includes Types of Leather, Hand Sewing, Machine Sewing, Elementary Leatherwork, Sewing With Fur and Basic Taxidermy. The Appendix has a glossary that is well worth reading in and of itself if you are into leatherwork as well. An excellent book.
No Nonsense Self Defense
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
“No Nonsense Self Defense - 10 easy to learn techniques” by Neil Kagan (AZZIP Co., 16478 Beach Blvd., 330E, Westminster, CA 92683, 1992, 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”, 31 pages) is just what it said it was, ten simple, easy to learn self defense moves for the person who has no training.
While this booklet won’t turn you in to a street fighter, and doesn’t intend to, it does show you some simple moves that will make your attacker forget all about you or at the very least make an attacker back off long enough to let you escape. As is listed under “What to do” in every case after putting your moves on an attacker, “Get away. Call for help. Call police.” Good advice from an excellent little book!
If your library doesn’t have this book, see if they will buy it, better yet, buy two copies of this book, one for you and one for the public library so everyone can learn these moves and make the streets a safer place for all of us.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Record
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Record is a quarterly journal that you might like to go down to your library to read. The reason being that even if you don’t care or read about gardening, this magazine normally has something for just about every survivalist.
For example, “The Town & City Gardener” is the Vol. 48, No.2, Summer 1992 issue of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Record and has some good information for the urban survival gardener. While most of the magazine is concerned with ornimental plants, there are a few chapters that might appeal to many survivalists.
The first chapter of interest is the “Good Hedges for Good Neighbors and Other Garden Uses” and second chapter is “Try Rose Petals for Dinner”. While the first chapter on hedges is rather short and doesn’t include much you hadn’t already figured out on your own, it does include a list of plants that you might concider for your hedge. The second chapter inclues edible flowers and herbs that you can grow. The point being that you can have a garden that no one else would even look at as they wouldn’t even know that it was edible!
The Vol. 47, No. 1, Spring 1991 issue is “Pruning Techniques”. So why learn pruning? Well for the fixed based survivor the advantages should be obvious, more produce from your trees, vines or shrubs. Even if you aren’t the type to settle in one place, you can prune the fruit trees in the areas you pass through and return at a later time to find a larger or more healthy harvest the next time you are in that area with a minimum of time and effort on your part.
Tracking Animals in Snow
written by Douglas P. Bell
“Field Guide to Tracking Animals in Snow” by Louise R. Forrest (Stackpole, 1988, 5 1/2” x 8 1/4”, 192 pages) is a good book on animals tracks and what to look for.
The book is broken down into the Intro, Opossum, Shrew, Rabbit. Rodent, Carnivore, Even-toed Ungulates, Some Other Tracks Makers, Glossary, References, and Index. The chapters are broken down into the various animals which have a drawing of the animal, it’s scat, range, detail of track and tracks. Also included is a written Description, Habits, Track Pattern and Associated Signs.
An excellent book for the person who wishes to learn more about the tracks they are likely to find most any where in the US.
Antique Weapons and Armour
reviewed by Douglas P. Bell
“Phaidon Guide To Antique Weapons and Armour” by Robert Wilkinson-Latham (Prentice-Hall, 1981. 6” x 8 1/2”, 256 pages) is a very complete and well written book that covers armour and weapons from the Dark Ages up through WW II. While the book does not give detailed descriptions of the various items under discussion, it does give an excellent overview of the various types of gear that was used. Also the beautiful colored drawings are very detailed and cover many varations that the reader might be interested in.
The book is divided up into Armour, Staff Weapons, Swords, Daggers and Bayonets. Bows, and Firearms. Each chapter covers many subjects, such as Armour covering The Dark Ages, Age of Mail, From Mail to Plate, Making of Armour, Italian Armour in the 15th century, German Armour in the 15th Century, Horse Armour in the 15th Century, ‘Early 16th-century Italian and German Armour, Later 16th-century Italian and German Armour, and so on through the centuries until modern times peaking with the WW I steel plate designs.
Anyone with an interest in antique weapons and armour would be well advised to read this book. A must book have for the weapons buff or collector.