So I just finished cleansing my house.. of CLF light bulbs.. (compact florescent) You know, those twisty ones.. I have been using them for about 6 years now, and I have to say that I have had enough. Recently another 150w CFL nearly caught fire in my home, there was toxic smoke and internal fire but everything was contained. Over the last 6 years this has happened quite a few times  and my concern grows over their safety..

Audience: What does this have to survival or being prepared..

Me: Hold on, I’m getting to that..

I have three wonderful children and every hazard they could encounter makes my concern grow for the world they are in. I wish it was easier for me to just take them back to pioneer times when all they had to deal with was killer animals and horrible disease & infections; instead of technology, commercialism and GMO foods etc..

I have been researching A LOT recently on the dark side of CFL light bulbs.. Find a list at the bottom of this page.  I have decided that I have really had it.. A recent episode of the survival podcast l Jack had a wonderful guest (Paul Wheaton) on that talked about the REAL cost of creating CFL bulbs along with a array of other factors. But the cost breakdown hit home with me.. I encourage you to listen to it..

Now I am not saying incandescent bulbs are the environmental solution I think there is great hope for LED technology just at this time.. I cannot afford $30.00 light bulbs .

Okay onto the prepping subject..

So in the next few years its going start being VERY hard to get your hands on incandescent light bulbs..  So I say stock up now! Take advantage of retailer discounts and local coupons to stuff your cupboards with healthy light..

Jack sparko and Paul Wheaton’s Podcast.. http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/paul-wheaton-on-cast-iron-cooking-cfls-and-rocket-mass-heating

MSNBC on CFL’s and evnormental waste.. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23694819/ns/us_news-environment/t/shining-light-hazards-fluorescent-bulbs/

Scientific American http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=are-compact-fluorescent-lightbulbs-dangerous

“As effective as it is at enabling white light, however, mercury—sometimes called quicksilver—is also highly toxic. It is especially harmful to the brains of both fetuses and children. That’s why officials have curtailed or banned its use in applications from thermometers to automotive and thermostat switches. (A single thermostat switch, still common in many homes, may contain 3,000 milligrams (0.1 ounce) of mercury, or as much as 600 compact fluorescents.)”

Another Great article http://www.threedonia.com/archives/10595

http://www.wattworks.com/CFL%20Hazards.htm

“Bulb end-of-life hazards: When CFLs burn out they can create acrid plastic smoke and carcinogenic fumes. Those bulbs without an internal fuse will melt or smoke until power is turned off. 90% of these bulbs are currently manufactured in China where quality control is questionable.”

Resilience; what a wonderful word.. it really means the ability to bounce back. Resilience is what I think of when I think of being truly prepared, having a holistic approach to getting ready for anything, for ourselves, for our families and for our community.

We are more resilient when we establish redundancy in our preparations, rather then having just matches you have matches, a metal match, and a lighter, rather then just having food stored and hidden in once place, you have stored your food in a few places like your house and your car, up you also have a prospering garden and maybe some rabbits and chickens. Now you are in control and ensuring that your needs are met.

We are more resilient if we can source water from a few locations—perhaps from an existing well, a small creek, and stored water—instead of just one.  If we throw in a quality water filter, then just about any source of water can become drinkable.

We are more resilient when our home can be more off grid, using a variety of methods means that when one fails you can fall back on another, perhaps wood and solar to by weatherizing our homes we can reduce our need for oil and gas.

Resilience is a community effort, by educating yourself you can then pass on your education to your community. Building the resilience of your community as a whole you can also use resilience as a tool for living your life, but if that’s a little to hippie dippy for you think of it this way. If you look at every decision you make and ask you self how does this prepare me for the future you are asking yourself how does this build on the foundation that is my personal resilience

Homesteading, Homemaking, back to the earth, find a farm settle down.. seems like I am hearing things like this more and more these days.  Everyone I know seems to be returning to the earth from the far right to the super left, this is a change that has not be influenced by one thing or another but by a complete shift in so many things. From food to goods and the way we have been living our lives. People are asking for more, more substance, and I think people are doing that themselves. It seems like here in Portland people are really trying to head out of the city and back into the country the woods etc..

How does this play into being prepared and the survivalist education model. Well all these city folks are learning new talents and new lessons to survive. But This is OLD knowledge that we are going BACK TO. Its almost like the folks from the east moving west on the Oregon Trail seeking change and a better life.. Now we have folks headed back out into the land in search of adventure again. Sure we have some neat new tools we can use, and better weapons to hunt and protect ourselves with but the truth here is that we are using old skills, looking to our ancestors for the answers. How to live off the land. How to preserve our foods how to eat in season.. It seems like it is all coming full circle.. And I for one welcome it.  and look forward to sharing my journey with you all.

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