---

Them What's Doin' It.

February 2, 2004

Thanks for your website and your attitude toward life.
I am a combat-wounded VietNam Vet who agrees with
your banner, "Peace is Patriotic"...And to me, peace
means more than just the absence of war. It means
social justice, availability of health care, and
everyone sharing in the responsibilities we have to
each other as a community.

We have been living on our homestead for over two
decades now. Still powered by the sun...though we've
added panels and appliances over the years. Still in
our underground house with an outhouse, hand-pump and wood heat.

We love the way we live. Large gardens, orchards, vineyard...surrounded by the love of the animals and plants of the woods.

What I would like to mention to folks starting out is
this: When you build, remember that someday you will be much older than you are today...take that into
consideration. Stay with one level, wide doors, open
space. Someday you may be in a wheelchair, or have
difficulty seeing. Build your gardens with raised
beds to make bending over less necessary. Learn to
use tools that keep you in comfortable positions.

Build community where you are. All politics are
local. The best political statement you can make is
how you live your life.

Thanks again for your site and the connection.


Bruce balancing_stones@yahoo.com

http://www.potkettleblack.com/natbild/lilacfarm.html

---

Fan Letter

January 27, 2004

I LOVE YOU. Not you, but your new web site.
I read your letters and agree with your come-back answers to small-minded people.
To me, religion and spirituality is a personal thing.
No one man can tell another what to believe or how to live.
We know that most of these preachers on TV these days are about one thing ( money, money and more money. ).
I watched them for years bleed my mother out of what little social security money that she had.
"Send me your money and God will work a miracle in your life."
"Of course, also He will send me a five million dollar home and a stable of horses and when no one is looking a stable of women."
There is only one preacher in this country that I have any respect for and that is Rev. Larry Rice of Missouri.
He walks the talk and trys every thing possible to help the poor, homeless and down-trodden.
He is trying to educate people on sustainable living and alternative energy.
Trying to get net metering in Missouri and he needs everyone's help in the state.
He is more saint then preacher in my eyes.

BE WELL AND PROSPER
LARRY C. WITTE  LARRYCW2@webtv.net

---

The Virtues of 12 Volts

January 14, 2004

Last night while surfing the web, I came across your web site. It is, to say the least, very interesting.

 Well, as you can tell by now, I'm not a writer. However I do have something to give all your readers.

 I call it “the virtues of 12 volts”. What does that mean? Well let me add a few comments first.

 All that you read on the web, in books, and everywhere, has to do with a meager, or primitive way to survive a disaster.  Through my own experiences in survival mode, I have learned to use my talents, imagination, and skills to be quite comfortable when the a/c goes out through the use of 12 volt technology.

 Let’s face it, 12 volts is obtainable just about everywhere, cars, boats, etc.

 Did you know that you can buy or build a lot of everyday 12-volt appliances these days for really low cost, (not much more than a/c appliances)? I have a pizza oven, portable stove, toaster, frying pan, fans, hair dryer, coffee maker, wet/dry vacuum cleaner, soldering iron, and a lot more. I have seen ceiling fans, heaters, electric blankets, and other items.  Compact, or full size, they all run on 12 volts.

 Whether it’s for your cabin in the woods, your camper, or to keep at your residence, no grid or ac generator is needed. To recharge, just plug in a solar cell or generator, or take the battery for a ride to town when you have to go. Bam!

 For instance to convert an ordinary A/c 110 volt lamp,  12 volts DC, you just cut the cord (the A/C two or three prong plug), then add a 12 volt cigarette lighter type plug.  Polarity doesn't matter, because it is a heating element, and doesn't care which is + or -. Then go to almost any store, with an outdoor department, and buy a 50-watt 12-volt DC bulb. Wham! You’re in business. The cost, depending on where you buy these two items is about $1.50 for the bulb, and $1.00 for the plug. Now pug this into any 12 volt source, and you have instant light. . See, there’s nothing to it!  I use one of those self-contained battery boosters. This will last about 8 to 10 hours with no risk of fire, as in a lantern or candles. Let me add, that you could buy a lamp to start with, but I'm sure most of us have one around the house they could convert. That's cheaper than you could buy one at the sporting goods store and it’s a lot brighter - the same as an AC 50-watt bulb, but don’t use an ordinary AC bulb.  It must be a 12 volt bulb.

  Well, I hope you can see the value of this idea. If I can be of any help to your readers as to the merits of 12 volts, or if they should want more information, You can e-mail me at this address.

 Thanks for taking the time to read this. Good luck with Homestead.org.

 Dave  rstco@msn.com