The Survival Podcast

TweetMuk Jong Dummies are Expensive but you can Build Your Own. Young Smith has studied and taught Martial Arts for 35 years.  He has also served as a Prison Chaplain, Massage Therapist,  Youth Minister and trained Multi-handicap persons to work regular jobs. Young  holds multiple Black Belt rankings but says of himself, “I’m not a ‘famous’ martial artist, or probably even that skilled – I have just been ‘beat up’ by some pretty incredible highly respected martial artists”. His is also CERT and CPR certified and has been a  TSP listener for about a year now. Today we discuss concepts like what does martial arts have to do with prepping, why not just own and know how to use a gun.   Why you should consider some martial arts even if you have a gun, a backup gun, a Tazer, a knife, a boot knife a wallet and a throw away wallet. How to determine the best martial art for yourself and what to look for in an instructor.  The often overlooked components at the student level, such as body type, age, phyical conditioning and the individual students true goals in life. How you can train without going to a martial arts class including some unique and somewhat seemingly unrelated options.  Thoughts on the value of “soft styles” such as Tai Chi and how they are often mistaught or misunderstood and why training “slow” can be just as effective as training fast. Thoughts on some useful homemade training tools like duffle bag punching bags, Makiwara-striking posts, Muk Jong-wooden dummies, swinging targets, juggling, balance posts and gardening-swinging a “weapon”/garden tool.  We finish up on thoughts of some non projectile weapons such as knives, rope darts and other improvised weapons. Additional Resources for Today’s Show Members Support Brigade TSP Gear Shop TSP Mint.com 13Skills.com Join Our Forum The Berkey Guy  – (sponsor of the day) Free State Project – (sponsor of the day) Walking to Freedom Young Smith’s Personal Blog Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetThere are two schools of thought that seem to exist about our economy right now.  The first seems to be we are screwed and very soon.  The second seems to be there is nothing to worry about, the economy will have ups and downs just like always but long term we will continue to grow and move forward. Both of these are short sighted.  The first view is like being told you have a treatable but eventually fatal cancer and assuming that means you will be dead by next week.  So you blow all your money on a big party and a trip around the world.  The second view is like just ignoring the cancer since it is slow moving and likely won’t kill you for a couple years, who knows you might survive 5 years or more so don’t worry about it. In both these scenarios the patient is harmed more then they should be.  The smart decision would be to evaluate and pursue the most common sense and reasonable treatment available while attempting to continuing living your life, hopefully valuing each day more and doing what you can to beat the odds and become an odds breaking survivor.  Well, in the case of our economy it isn’t you that has cancer, it is someone you care about.  Put into this context we understand why we need to take a sobering look at out economic future. Join Me Today As We Discuss… The Cancer The real lesson of “Walmart’s February Sales Disaster” The demographic bomb just around the corner replacement rate is 2.1 The cost of Social Security by 2017 – 1 Trillion Plus Annually (source DebtClock.org) Cost of Medicare/Medicaid by 2017 – 1 Trillion Plus Annually (source DebtClock.org) Interest Payments on Debt by 2020 – 800 Billion (source CBO) National Debt by 2017 – 22.6 Trillion (source DebtClock.org) How the hype around the sequester shows our pending doom Economic expert trump card?  It doesn’t mater because we print our own money! The Pre Cancer Party Printing money will work as long as your currency is exchangeable The natural gas boom is real, nothing creates prosperity like cheap energy The coming medical care disaster will have its on pre disaster boom The US will gain a large influx of international money Some sort of “amnesty” will pass and bring in a lot of tax dollars The Cancer Metastasizes and the Patient Goes Critical The boom creates steady inflation, said inflation gains steam Rates must be raised to quell inflation but it is a trap on existing debt Cheap energy isn’t so cheap as inflation eats away at affordability The tea cup and entitlement generations are becoming our main workforce Boomer retirement hits critical mass, most are working past 65 The real cost of Obamacare is realized in 2016-2020 Rising economies are better able to compete for investor confidence Many crises around the globe are not wasted and the dollar looses reserve status China becomes the largest economy in the world Commodities become the backer of currency, the US is bankrupt Resources for Today’s Show… Members Support Brigade Join Our Forum Members Support Brigade 13Skills.com Join Our Forum Walking To Freedom JM Bullion – (sponsor of the day) Fortress Defense Consultants – (sponsor of the day) Simple Sequester Math A-Z Index of Government Departments US Debt Clock CBO Projections of US Debt Interest Payments by 2020 Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetJoin Me Today as I Answer Your Calls Today on The Survival Podcast I take your calls on the ammo shortage, sports, permaculture, the Survival Podcast vision and more . Remember to be on a show like this one just pick up your phone and call 866-65-THINK. The best way to improve your chances of being on the air is ask your question or make your point up front, then provide details. Also please do your best to call from a quite area with a good connection and speak up so you can be well heard. I can’t put all calls on the air but I do my best to get most of them on. Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Calls and Discuss… How long before the gun and ammo shortage abates Why am I a Steelers fan, nothing to do with prepping, well sort of Thoughts and concerns with large scale swales in semi established forests What is the larger vision of TSP Why Steven Harris and I disagree on products like the PowerDome EX Identifying weeds and what they tell you about your property Ducks, the good, the bad, the ugly and the great Is there a perfect “first” small livestock animal Dealing with compacted soil the permaculture way Is there any benefit in tilling long term, no Dealing with cross pollination Resources for today’s show… Members Support Brigade Join Our Forum Members Support Brigade 13Skills.com Join Our Forum Walking To Freedom TSP Mint TSP Gear Back Yard Food Production – (sponsor of the day) Survival Gear Bags  – (sponsor of the day) Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.  

TweetBook 4 in the 299 Days Series Glen Tate is the author of the ten-book prepper novel series “299 Days” published by Prepper Press. The books describe an average guy who prepares for, and lives through, a partial collapse of the United States. Glen joins us today to discuss a bit of the plot line for book five in the 299 Days book series. Today we discuss how and ongoing collapse will play out, how it will both divide and unite citizens and human nature during the worst of times.  We also discuss the problems creating the collapse at their core, some solutions, and why some components of the “union” may ball apart. Glen is a moderator on the TSP forum under the name “Heavy G.” He lives and works in Olympia, Washington where he has a front row seat to the corruption in government. Much like the main character in the series, the author is a forty-something resident of the capitol of Washington State, Olympia, and is a very active prepper. He grew up in the remote logging town of Forks, Washington. “Glen” keeps his identity a secret so he won’t lose his job because, in his line of work, being a prepper and questioning the motives of government is not appreciated. The story line of 299 Days is as follows, In it, the main character, Grant Matson, has a job that allows him to see what’s wrong with government. He realizes he needs to prepare for what’s coming and he does so. His wife, Lisa, is reluctant to prepare because she thinks things are just fine. When the civil unrest and political collapse hit in a dramatic way, it is undeniable that they need to leave their Olympia, Washington home and head to their cabin. But, Lisa is still reluctant; she desperately wants things to remain “normal.” Out at the cabin, a collection of amazing–yet real–people assemble. They create their own community because the government isn’t functioning in their area. They have to work together and, as a community, they manage to achieve some impressive results. Unlike most prepper stories, in 299 Days America suffers a partial collapse. The utilities stay one (due to a spell-binding plot twist) and the government functions in larger cities. People in rural areas still get some food and services from the government, but must increasingly rely on themselves. There are no zombies or cannibalism; 299 Days describes a much more likely partial collapse scenario. Grant’s friends, who work in government, describe how things continue to go down hill in the city and how the government is trying to maintain control. They describe exactly why the government, as big and powerful as it once was, cannot control things. Many in the military and law enforcement step in to stop the bad things; others in the military and law enforcement perpetuate the bad things. After a while out at the cabin, some important visitors arrive and present Grant with a difficult choice. Eventually, the Patriots–the side Grant is on–are forced to take on what’s left of the former government. There is a huge battle. In the end, Grant has an important job at the beginning of the rebuilding.   Additional Resources for Today’s Show Members Support Brigade TSP Mint TSP Gear 13 Skills Walking to Freedom Join Our Forum Bulk Ammo – (sponsor of the day) Safe Castle Royal – (sponsor of the day) 299Days.com 299 Days on Facebook 299 Days on Twitter 299 Days on Amazon    

TweetJim Navarro is a founder and Director of the board of Bridgewire Makerspace in Reno/Sparks NV.   His group is a community workshop that is member driven and is a non profit.  They have been around for 18 months and are growing daily. He joins us to explain the fundamental of the process they used in setting up their workshop and the hurdles along the way.  Plus how they run it during day to day ongoing operations. Professionally Jim is the Director of Security for one of the Forbes 400 and an NFA consultant and Armorer for a title 2 manufacturer in Reno.  Which Jim calls his “fun hobby job”. Today we discuss how to start a makerspace/hackerspace/community workshop.   The hurdles the problems and the positive results.   Then after how to run them and handle problems including why anyone should do this in the first place. We also discuss the entrepreneual spirit within the Makerspace community and how combined with systems like Kickstarter it is chaining the playing field for small businesses in America today.  Why be in hock to a venture capitalists (I call them vulture capitalists) when you can be privately funded by people that support your mission?  Why spend a fortune on prototyping when you can join a community, spend a few hundred dollars on some classes and dues and produce it yourself?  Heck why spend a fortune in bank loans for initial production equipment when you can ramp up using community based equipment? Resources for today’s show… Members Support Brigade TSPMint.com 13Skills.com Join Our Forum TSP Gear Shop Sawtooth Tactical – (sponsor of the day) Ready Made Resources – (sponsor of the day) Jim’s Maker Space Facebook Page Jim’s Maker Space Website News Story on Jim’s Maker Space The Pinoccio – Too technical for me but many of you will love it The New Walking to Freedom Forum Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetJoin Me Today as I Answer Your eMails Today on The Survival Podcast we discuss, voting with our feet, a great greenhouse, silver and gold, state sovereignty, nullification  and more. Yes this is the type of show generally reserved for a Monday but at times the pure volume of listener questions and comments makes me feel compelled to do an extra feedback show.  Today we have some amazing content and a very cool announcement. Make sure if you submit content for a feedback show that you put something like “comment for jack”, “question for jack” or “article for jack” in the subject line to assure proper identification for my screening process. Please understand I receive several hundred emails a day and can’t get them all on the air.  I do generally at least skim 100% of emails sent in this format.  If the question is simple I often answer it directly, though this can’t always be done. I also do put out a lot of information on Facebook from emails that I can’t fit on the program though so keep em coming. Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Emails On A new site is about to launch – walkingtofreedom.com Build an awesome greenhouse for only 150 dollars or less States are moving more toward creating silver and gold currency, the untold story Why China will never use military force to invade us, they won’t have to The most compelling case I can give you for self sufficiency Why working at the state level is our only choice right now The bleak economic future of the US and how to get into a lifeboat now Resources for Today’s Show… Members Support Brigade 13Skills.com Join Our Forum TSP Mint TSP Gear Knife Kits – (sponsor of the day) Backwoods Home Magazine – (sponsor of the day) Homestead Advisers Greenhouse Arizona Moves to Monetize Silver and Gold China Buying Up US Real Estate Hazard 4 Messenger Bag Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetJoin Me Today as I Answer Your eMails Today on The Survival Podcast we discuss rocket mass heaters, cordage, composting, gardening, more GMO idiocy, investing, voting with your feet and more. Yes it’s Monday so it is time for another round of your feedback, questions and commentary sent to jack at thesurvivalpodcast.com. Make sure if you submit content for a feedback show that you put something like “comment for jack”, “question for jack” or “article for jack” in the subject line to assure proper identification for my screening process. Please understand I receive several hundred emails a day and can’t get them all on the air. I also do put out a lot of information on Facebook from emails that I can’t fit on the program though so keep em coming. Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Emails On Paul Wheaton’s Kick Starter Update Why I recommend tarred twine over parachute cord for kits and bobs, etc. Turning mosquitoes into a “flying vaccine syringe” you can’t make this up More gun makers, resellers etc. join in a unique fight for the 2nd amendment An open letter to the State of New York from a military vet you need to hear Dealing with a garden that has become a dog poop mine field In composting what exactly is a green and what is a brown A new supply of GMO free feed for tilapia in aquaponics systems Cooking in a crock pot while driving down the road, simple and easy use of a prep Resources for Today’s Show… Members Support Brigade 13Skills.com Join Our Forum TSP Mint TSP Gear Western Botanicals – (sponsor of the day) Harvest Eating – (sponsor of the day) Paul Wheaton’s Rocket Stove Kickstarter Backyard Permaculture Video – (only 240p quality but at least I found it) High School Kid Working a Flying Syringe The Police Loophole – Website Listing Companies That Refuse Sales to State Governments that do not respect their citizens second amendment rights. Info on GMO Free Tilapia Feed Top Kone’s Letter to the State of New York Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetConstruction Begins on a New Hybrid Earthship Mark Kirkwood is the cofounder of Biotecture Training and a self proclaimed life long survivalist. He teaches aquaponics, earthship construction, sustainable living and survival through community development. He is 36 years old and his past careers have included working as a banker, health insurance professional, pest control specialist and as a construction worker. Mark is currently married with 3 children. He and his business partner have invested a year and a half and several tens of thousands of dollars to build a foundation for people to come and learn how to live free of “the systems of man”. Mark joins us today for a brief follow up to his first interview.  Today we discuss that trials of building alternative housing, avoiding POAs and HOAs like the plague, air wells, trombes and aquaponics systems using in ground ponds. Additional Resources for Today’s Show Members Support Brigade TSP Gear Shop TSP Mint.com 13Skills.com Join Our Forum The Berkey Guy  – (sponsor of the day) Free State Project – (sponsor of the day) Biotecture Training – (Mark’s website) Trombe Technology We Discussed Air Well Technology Described Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetJim Phillips Joins us to Discuss Cold Weather Survival. Jim Phillips is a nationally known speaker and teacher who has professionally taught thousands of classes all across the United States for 40 years. For a number of years prior to this career, his hobby was teaching cold weather safety & survival. Jim is a strong advocate of self-reliant living and family preparedness.  He developed an entire preparedness curriculum by asking himself the question “What if?” and then setting out to discover what actually does and does not work. The answers he seeks (and then teaches) must be based on true principles derived from firsthand experience.  Above all else, Jim believes that attitude and practical knowledge are more critical to survival than having a bunch of “stuff.” He is known for saying… “Who you are and what you know are far more important than what you have.” He encourages his students to develop a powerful positive purpose and mission to focus on in order to carry them through the serious challenges of life.  He was also referred to me by expert council member and friend of TSP Steven Harris. Join Us Today As We Discuss… Why cold weather survival requires more then coats and typical cold weather clothing Why layering can actually be a bad idea in spite of conventional wisdom Why Jim is not a fan of wool again contrary to conventional wisdom Jim’s “cold weather doctrine system” How people can survive at sub zero temps with no shelter or heating Can waterproofing kill you in the cold Why so called water proof  and breathable clothing is in Jim’s view a myth Jim’s unique approach to cold weather survival in summary Resources for Today’s Show… Members Support Brigade 13Skills.com Join Our Forum TSP Mint TSP Gear Back Yard Food Production – (sponsor of the day) Fortress Defense Consultants – (sponsor of the day) Jim’s Liinks Jim’s Full Bio ThermalJohns Freezer Test A Winter Without Worries Experience The PALS History Preparedness that Works Get Excited About Preparedness For the Sake of Others Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetAs many of you know I have suggested that we call what most (not all) people are doing in America woody beds vs hugulkultur.  I suggest this for two reasons. 1.  People who don’t know about it already understand “woody bed” but look at you like you have a snake crawling out of your ear when you say hugulkultur. 2.  It is more accurate, hugul in the term hugulkultur pretty much means high as in high bed.  As in 1.5-2 yards high.  This is simply not what we are doing in America in most instances. Since first learning about the entire concept from Paul Wheaton (as practiced by Sepp Holzer) I have worked with it in many different formats, from 6 foot high true huguls to in ground versions that appear like any typical framed in raised bed.  I have also studied the work of Permaculture visionary Geoff Lawton and become a huge fan of his swale based design systems. As I continued both studying the work of others and putting it into actual field level work (I can’t stress how important that is) I have also learned how Geoff takes “swale like design” into raised bed gardening.   I have now found that taking the disciplines of swale style raised beds and adding wood core design to the mix is an incredibly efficient design structure. Today I discuss the primary design structures of this type of system, why they work and what limitations each has.  From there we can see how a proper integration of all of them makes up a great deal for where each has certain weaknesses. Join Me Today As I Discuss… What is a swale and why does it work What is the difference between a “swale like” structure and a true swale How can contour paths act like swales when they are not below grade Does it make sense to cut paths below grade (may be, it depends) What is traditional hugulkultur Why did Sepp Holzer and other actually bury wood in the first place The limits of a “spongy core” based on mathematics as a simply reservior What are mycelium and what role do they play in permaculture How does the internal composting action protect roots in cold weather Why isn’t the heat a danger in hot weather Why deep mulching is a must How you can practice polyculture, clumpy polyculture or even row mono culture How does a contour based wood core system function end to end Info on the upcoming workshop that will teach these techniques Videos Of the Described Project – Direct Links to Youtube in the Resource List Below Resources for today’s show… Members Support Brigade TSPMint.com 13Skills.com Join Our Forum TSP Gear Shop JM Bullion – (sponsor of the day) Survival Gear Bags – (sponsor of the day) Contour Lines and New Hugul Beds (woody beds) – Part One Contour Lines and New Hugul Beds (woody beds) – Part Two Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetJoin Me Today as I Answer Your eMails Today on The Survival Podcast we discuss  rocket mass heaters, maintenance medications, the second amendment, false beliefs on politics, the future of food and more. Yes it’s Monday so it is time for another round of your feedback, questions and commentary sent to jack at thesurvivalpodcast.com. Make sure if you submit content for a feedback show that you put something like “comment for jack”, “question for jack” or “article for jack” in the subject line to assure proper identification for my screening process. Please understand I receive several hundred emails a day and can’t get them all on the air. I do put out a lot of information on Facebook from emails that I can’t fit on the program though so keep em coming. Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Emails On Paul Wheaton launches a kick starter for a rocket stove DVD series A pharmacist weighs in on how to stock pile 90 days of any maintenance medication Gun makers to the government of New York, “no guns for you!” What does it actually take to amend the constition Why no “new system” can fix the corruption in our government Indian farmer grows 22.4 tons of rice on 2.47 acres Thoughts on popular center fire rifle rounds 308 v 30-06 etc. Warren Buffet is buying Heinz, why you should care Resources for Today’s Show… Members Support Brigade 13Sill.com Join Our Forum TSP Mint TSP Gear Bulk Ammo – (sponsor of the day) Safe Castle Royal – (sponsor of the day) Paul Wheaton’s Rocket Stove Kickstarter Gun Companies Refuse Sales to New York State Indian farmer grows 22.4 tons of rice on 2.47 acres Buffet to buy Heinz Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetJoin Me Today as I Answer Your Calls Today on The Survival Podcast I take your calls on low buck prepping,  paleo eating, micro hydro, ammo prices, Texas relocation, pruning trees and more . Remember to be on a show like this one just pick up your phone and call 866-65-THINK. The best way to improve your chances of being on the air is ask your question or make your point up front, then provide details. Also please do your best to call from a quite area with a good connection and speak up so you can be well heard. I can’t put all calls on the air but I do my best to get most of them on. Join Me Today As I Respond to Your Calls and Discuss… If I only had 200 dollars how would I prep A listener weighs in on Paleo eating with a “new” thought Micro hydro for electrical production on the homestead Firearms training when ammo is scarce and/or expensive A new way of seeing “prepper groups” Thought on “Texas terrain” and how it applies to earthships Thoughts on smug attitudes toward the unprepared Strategic relocation to Texas Why you prune so much growth off newly planted young trees Resources for today’s show… Members Support Brigade TSPMint.com 13Skills.com Join Our Forum TSP Gear Shop Sawtooth Tactical – (sponsor of the day) Ready Made Resources – (sponsor of the day) The Earth Sheltered Solar Green House Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.  

TweetCoturnix Quail Eggs with a Chicken Egg for Scale. MonvalleyPrepper (aka Brad Davies) is a long time member of the TSP audience and community.  A few months ago he chimed in on a comments thread  here at the TSP Blog about raising quail  When I heard the shear volume of production in such a tiny foot print I knew I had to get him on the air. It got better though!  Next, I heard he lived in the suburbs, had neighbors on either side.  That inspire of that he was able to produce in the range of 20,000 eggs a year and hundreds of meat animals.  Now get this his neighbors didn’t even know they were there! Once I heard all that I knew how important this could be for other preppers.  I also realized it might be a solution for many of our members that want to homestead in the city or the burbs and not call down the wrath of code enforcement officials or blue hairs running the local HOA. Join Us Today As We Discuss… The basic process from start to finish Setting up housing and equipment Getting incubation of your eggs right Inputs and outputs of the system Specific suburban issues to consider Using quail tractors or going large scale Breeding to improve stock and culling to curb undesirable traits Avoiding common getting started/first season mistake Some specific equipment and feed recomendations Additional Resources for Today’s Show Members Support Brigade TSP Gear Shop Join Our Forum Knife Kits – (sponsor of the day) Backwoods Home Magazine – (sponsor of the day) Bird Specific Resources for Today’s Show Photos of Brad’s Operation on Flickr WhiteQuail.com Quail Place Forum Back Yard Chickens Quail Specific Board Micro Livestock Book – Covers Quail Free Online Version Water cups Brad Uses Quail Egg Cutters Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetCraig Rowland, Author of “The Permanent Portfolio”. Craig Rowland is a software entrepreneur who sold his previous company to Cisco Systems, Inc.  He was also an early stage employee with successful acquisitions in 1998 of WheelGroup Corporation to Cisco Systems and early stage consultant to TippingPoint Technologies which sold in 2004 to 3Com Corporation. These companies focused on computer and network security and he holds several patents in the area and has done other interesting research in the field. Craig currently volunteers for a local technology incubator as a start-up coach and help turn ideas into businesses.  He has experience in executive management, venture capital fund raising, public speaking, marketing, sales, engineering management and development. Craig joins us today for a discussion of his new book: The Permanent Portfolio: Harry Browne’s Long-Term Investment Strategy. Today we discuss… What exactly is a permanent portfolio What real diversification of investments looks like Why you should hold government bonds even if you think the dollar is doomed The best ways to hold gold How Americans still have some options to hold assets outside of the US The benefits of adding geographic diversification to your investments Two funds that use this strategy if you don’t wish to do it on your own What the US implementing capital controls says about our future Additional Resources for Today’s Show Members Support Brigade TSP Gear Shop Join Our Forum Western Botanicals – (sponsor of the day) Harvest Eating – (sponsor of the day) Craig’s Website – CrawlingRoad.com The Permanent Portfolio on Amazon.com Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

TweetHedge laying is an ancient practice and at one time many “productive plants” were part of the plant.  Sometimes this was done with fruit tree grafted together, hazelnuts or even old cottage roses that provided thorns and huge hips as a crop.  Other times the “productivity” took on a different bent like using willow and gaining material for weaving or making charcoal (specifically artist charcoal). Hedges were seen as a permanent fence that required only a little maintenance and largely took care of themselves.  In the 1600s one didn’t run down to Home Depot and order delivery of say 25 6 foot tall, 8 food wide cedar fence panels and some posts if they needed two hundred feet of fencing.  They established a hedge.  This hedge would serve their great grandchildren and feed both the family and animals during all those generations. In this modern era a hedge has become a bunch of unproductive “Red Tips”, the grow fast and hide the busy street or block out your neighbors but they tend to just die one day (usually at 6-12 years of age) and then you  have to cut them down and start over.  They provide nothing but a requirement that you trim them and clean up after them.  There has to be a better way!  Today we discuss that. Join me today as we discuss… What is a hedge vs. a fedge Can you put layers into a hedge system Do hedges have to be continuous to be effective Why is a hedge a good idea even if you have a fence How to select plants for your hedge system 14 Forgotten or Unusual Plants for Fedge Systems Chilean and Pineapple Guava Filberts Nanking Cherry Goumi Medlar Mulberry Pomegranate Roses Sea Berries Aronia Currants Elderberries Goji Berry Gooseberries Old standbys that make great fedges Blueberry Blackberry Raspberry Semi Dwarf Fruit Trees Chinese Chestnut Thoughts on some unique ideas Food forests with a fedge as the herbaceous layer A food forest system of multitiered fedges Hugulkulture based fedge systems Managing animals in hedge/fedge systems The fedge based paddock system (padfeging?) Resources for Today’s Show: Members Support Brigade Join Our Forum TSP Mint TSP Gear 13Skills.com The Berkey Guy  – (sponsor of the day) Free State Project – (sponsor of the day) Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.