WHEN TECHNOLOGY FAILS WHEN TECHNOLOGY FAILS A Manual for Self-Reliance & Planetary Survival M A T T H EW S T E IN #% Clear Light Publishers <j>u¿> Santa Fe, New Mexico Copyright © 2000 Matthew Stein All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system ,without permission in writing from the publisher. This book is designed to present current general information on a wide variety of topics as a starting point to further study in specified areas of interest. As such, neither the author nor the publisher is to be held liable for any possible negative situation arising as a result of its use. Clear Light Publishers 823 Don Diego, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 Web: www.clearlightbooks.com First Edition 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21 4~* Printed on Recycled Paper ** ** Printed in Canada Cover photograph "A View of North America from Apollo 16" (NASA photo number: AS16-118-18873) and back cover photograph "A View of'Africa and Saudi Arabia from Apollo 17" (NASA photo number: AS 17-148-22727) from the NSSDC Photo Gallery: Earth (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/photogallery-earth.html) Cover design by Marcia Keegan and Carol O'Shea Interior design and typography by Carol O'Shea Interior illustrations by Merri Mckee, Karen Frances, and Kristen Schwartz Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Stein, Matthew I. When technology fails : the low-tech guide to self-reliance & planetary survival / Matthew Stein. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-57416-046-X (cloth)-ISBN 1-57416-047-8 (pbk.) 1. Survival skills. I. Title. GF86 .S75 2000 640'.49-dc21 00-024031 Permission to reprint copyrighted material has been granted from the following publishers: The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, by Thom Hartmann, Copyright © 1998, 1999 by Mythical Intelligence, Inc., Reprinted by permission of Harmony Books, a division of Random House, Inc. The Prophet's Way, by Thom Hartmann, Copyright © 1997 by Mythical Intelligence, Inc., Reprinted by permission of Harmony Books, a division of Random House, Inc. The Indian Tipi: Its History, Construction, and Use, by Reginald and Gladys Laubin, Copyright © 1957, 1977 by the University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Publishing Division of the University. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the U.S.A. First edition, 1957. Second, revised edition, 1977. First Paperback print ing, 1989. For information contact web site www.ou.edu/oupress. The Straw Bale House, Copyright © 1994 by Athena Swentzell Steen, Bill Steen, and David Bainbridge, with permission from Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, Vermont. 800-639-4099. www.chelseagreen.com. The Rammed Earth House, Copyright © 1996 by David Easton, Photographs copyright © 1996 Cynthia Wright and illustrations © 1996 Jeff Reed, with permission from Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, Vermont. 800-639-4099. www.chelseagreen.com. The Passive Solar House: Using Solar Design to Heat & Cool Your Home, Copyright © 1997 by James Kachadorian, Illustrations copyright © 1997 Michael Middleton, with permission from Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, Vermont. 800- 639-4099. www.chelseagreen.com. How to Grow More Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine, by John Jeavons, Copyright © 1974, 1979, 1982, 1990, 1991, 1995 by Ecology Action of the Midpeninsula, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. Available from your local bookseller, by calling Ten Speed Press at 800-841-2665, or by visiting us online at www.tenspeed.com. The Complete Modern Blacksmith, by Alexander G. Weygers, Copyright © 1997 by Peter Parch, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. Available from your local bookseller, by calling Ten Speed Press at 800-841-2665, or by visiting us online at www.tenspeed.com. Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual, by Michael R. Lindeburg, with permission from the publisher, Professional Publications, Inc., Belmont, CA (650) 593-9119, Copyright © 1998. This book is dedicated to my wife Josie, whose deep insight and awesome healing abilities have been a constant source of wonder and inspiration. Acknowledgments It is quite a large undertaking to write a book with a huge To John Jeavons and the rest of the Ecology Action crew scope, such as When Technology Fails. I would be dishonest for their assistance and support. if I said that I was an expert on all the varied topics I am very grateful for the assistance of Harmon covered by this book. I owe quite a debt of gratitude to the Houghton, Barbara Kohl, Sara Held, and Carol O'Shea of many different experts who reviewed chapters, corrected, Clear Light Publishers. Without them, this book would still suggested, and otherwise contributed their years of experi be just a dream. Thanks to Howard Rheingold and Michael ence toward making this book a practical and useful guide Larsen for giving me the professional encouragement and for the reader. guidance to keep me going in the early stages of this project. First, I would like to thank God, a higher power, the Much credit must go to Merri Mckee (line art technical illus Christ, my spirit guides, or whatever you may wish to call trations), Karen Frances (shaded drawings with people and it, for the inspiration to write this book. Shortly before landscape), and Kristen Schwartz (edible plants) for Thanksgiving in 1997, during my daily session of medita contributing their artistic talents to the illustrations. tion and prayer, I "received" the inspiration for this book in Others who contributed measurably to this project an instantaneous flash. Ideas usually tend to grow slowly, include Dave Ward, Keith Robertson, James T .West, changing and evolving with time. This idea was completely Joseph Nuuanu, Shelly and Phil Rodgers; Andreas Kaupert different. From the moment that I received it, the concept (emergency preparedness); Dan Vorhis and Howard and scope have remained unchanged. It is only my execu Backer, M.D. (water); Fred Walters, Richard Nielsen and tion that has changed, and will continue to change, as I Amigo Cantisano (food); Glen Nadar (animals); Joe make additions, corrections, and improvements. Tibbets, Rick Heede, Will Beemer, Fred Webster, Ph.D., Second, I would like to thank my wonderful wife, P.E., Michael Frerking, Harris Lowenhaupt, and Joaquim Josie, for her editing help, clarity, suggestions, and Karcher (green building); Jennifer Lawler, Kimbal patience putting up with me while I tackled this massive Chatfield, O.M.D., L.Ac., and James Duke, Ph.D. (herbs); project. Special thanks to my father, Ben, who has given us Huida Regehr Clark, Ph.D., N.D. (naturopathy and herbs); tremendous support while I focused on this book and let David Edwards, M.D. (healing and homeopathy); Diane my engineering design business slide. To my sister Jennifer Soucy, Allison Judge, and Carrol Collins (fiber arts); Matt Barker, who has lived a mostly self-sufficient lifestyle for Richards, John McPherson, and Worth Jackson (tanning the past fifteen years, and helped me with advice, informa and leather); Jon Hill, Richard Perez, Windy Dankoff, Don tion, and contacts for several chapters. To my son Joshua, Harris, Paul Cunningham, Chuck Marken, Glenn for library research and assistance. To Rick Sylvester whose Rambach, Kevin Cook, Skip Goebel, Ray Darby, Zac encouragement and faith in my ability to write helped get Pierce, and Chris Worchester (renewable energy); Hans this project going. To Carla Emery for her wonderful book Standteiner, John Septien, and Stewart Marshall (metals); that is a great source of information and is recommended Pamela Vandiver, Ph.D., and Dan Martinez (ceramics). To in several of my chapters. To Thorn Hartman, Lester the rest of you who contributed measurably, but whose Brown, Amory Lovins, Richard Heede, and other folks at names I neglected to list, thank you for your help and The Worldwatch Institute and the Rocky Mountain please forgive my oversight. Institute for their inspirational writings and information. Table of Contents I An Introduction to Self-Reliance I Flint and Steel • Starting a Fire with Bow and Drill • Starting a Fire with a Hand Drill • An Uncertain Future I Starting a Fire with a Fire Plough Why This Book 2 Food 57 Preindustrial Self-Sufficiency 3 Basic Guidelines • Plants • Insects, Grubs, and Old-Fashioned Self-Reliance and Modern Worms Sustainable Technology 4 Shelter 59 References 5 Location • Squirrel's Nest • Building on Fallen Trunks and Trees • Scout Pits and Coal Beds • Snow Shelters II Present Trends, Possible Futures 7 Emergency Snow Shoes 61 Current Trends 7 Cordage 62 Sustainability and Limits to Growth Recommended Plant Fibers • Fiber Test • Preparing Oil Reserves 9 Fibers • Spinning Fibers into Cord • Splicing Water and Food IO Simple Tools 64 What about the Weather? IO Discoidal Stone Knives • Bone Tools Systems Modeling and Systems Response References & Resources 66 i8 Earthquakes and Volcanoes 20 Prophecies V Water 7° What Can I Do? 21 Water Requirements 7° Planning for the Future 22 Stocking Up for Emergencies 7° The Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon • Guidelines for Coping with Disaster 71 Effective Action References & Resources 25 Water Pollution 71 Types of Contamination III Supplies & Preparation 31 Disinfecting Your Water 74 Heat Sterilization • Portable Water Filters • My Are You Prepared? 3l Filter Recommendations • Chemical Planning for the Short Term 2 Sterilization 3 Short-Term Preparedness Checklist • 72-Hour Preserving Water by Using Silver 80 Survival Kits • First Aid Kits • Earthquake Using Silver to Preserve Water Precautions • A Short-Term Survival Manual Treating and Finding Water the Low-Tech Way 80 Longer-Term Planning and Storage 35 Treating Water • Finding Water • Wells Basic Supplies and Portable Equipment • Protecting Your Water Source 86 Calculating a Year's Food Supply • Storage Tips • Modern Water Treatment 87 Dry Ice Fumigation • Vacuum Packaging • Chlorine Treatment • Ozone Treatment • Shelf Life Guide Activated Carbon Filtration • Reverse Osmosis • 40 Notes on Camping Gear Distillation Tents • Clothing • Sleeping Bags • Insulating References & Resources 8 9 Sleeping Mats • Backpacks • Stoves • Cookware • Footgear 42 VI Food: Growing, Foraging, Hunting Planning for the Long-Term Future 43 & Storing 91 References & Resources World Population and Food Supply 91 IV Emergency Measures for Survival 46 Agricultural Productivity • Irrigation Gains and Survival Strategies 46 Losses • Soil Health and Soil Losses • Basic Strategies • Compact Survival Kit Sustainable Agriculture Developing a Survivor Personality 50 "Grow Biointensive" 97 Typical Survivor Personality Traits • Intuition: A Double-Dug, Raised Beds • Intensive Planting • Survivor's Powerful Ally Composting • Companion Planting • Whole Water Gardening • Seed Propagation • Pest Control • Requirements • Recommended Emergency Extending the Harvest in Cold Climates Measures • Dehydration • Conserving Water Sprouting: Your Own Minigarden on a Fire 53 Windowsill 105 Starting a Fire with Matches • Starting a Fire with The Sprouting Process Foraging for Food 107 Symptoms • Treatment for Shock Brief Guide to Wild Edible Foods • Poisonous Fractures and Dislocations i8 7 Plants to Avoid General Guidelines for Treating Dislocations and Preserving and Storing Food Fractures • Special Precautions for Fractures • "5 Root Cellars and Other Cold Storage • Reducing Dislocations • Sprains and Strains Drying and Smoking Food • Bites and Stings 191 Preserving Meat Animal Bites • Snake Bites • Spider Bites • Tick Dairy, Tofu, and Tempeh 117 Bites • Stings Making Butter • Ghee • Yogurt • Cheese • Making Eyes 192 Rennet for Cheese First Aid for Foreign Object in Eye Raising Animals 120 Moving Injured People 193 Hunting and Trapping 121 Clothing Drag for Single Rescuer • Multi-Helper Bow and Arrow • Traps • Skinning and Cleaning "Stretcher" Rescue • One- and Two-Person Fishing 125 Carries Angling • Catching Fish by Hand • Spearing Fish • Emergency Childbirth i97 Fishing with Nets Signs of Impending Delivery • Stages of Labor • References & Resources 128 Emergency Childbirth Supplies • Delivery • After Delivery VII Shelter & Buildings i References 31 Green Buildings i31 IX Low-Tech Medicine & Healing Rammed Earth 139 202 The Process • Soils • Moisture Test • The Forms • The Holistic Health Movement 203 Wall Systems • Windows and Doors The Low-Tech Medicine Cabinet 203 Adobe H5 The Essence of Healing 207 Modern Adobe Methods • Adobe Blocks • Adobe Genetics and Cellular Growth • Body Energy Walls • Adobe Roofs Colloidal Silver 208 Cast Earth H9 Healing with Herbs Straw Bales H9 Types of Herbal Preparations • Powerful Herbal In-Fill (Non-Load-Bearing) Straw Bale Combinations for Better Health • Caisse's Tea Construction • Load-Bearing Straw Bale (Essiac) • Jason Winters' Herbal Tea • Dr. Construction • Finishing Straw Bale Walls Clark's Herbal Parasite Cleanse • Kidney Building with Insulated Concrete Forms 153 Cleanse • Liver Cleanse Pumice-Crete Detoxification Passive Solar Design Naturopathic Healing • Fasting Passive Solar "Rules of Thumb" • James Supplements and Food 223 Kachadorian's Patented Solar Slab Homeopathy 224 Traditional Low-Tech Structures i58 The Origins of Homeopathy • Homeopathic Log Cabins • Timber Frame Construction • Tipis, "Potencies" • Effectiveness of Homeopathy • Yurts, Wickiups, and Wigwams Homeopathy Practices Earthquake Resistance i6 227 5 Healing with Energy Improving Earthquake Resistance The Power of Prayer 228 References & Resources 167 Shamanic Healing 230 Hypnosis for Pain Control and Healing 231 VIII First Aid 1 j 6 Fractional Relaxation Induction • Hypnotic Initial Evaluation IJ6 Suggestion • Awakening Technique Survey the Scene • Consent and Liability Visualization and Mind-Body Healing 235 ABCs of First Aid 177 General Guidelines • Visualization for Mending a Treatment Priority • Unconscious Victim Broken Bone • Egyptian Healing Visualization 236 CPR 180 Some Notes on Death and Dying References & Resources 257 Survey for Injuries and Control Bleeding 181 Pressure Points • Tourniquets Wounds 183 X Clothing & Textiles 25I Abrasions • Incisions • Puncture Wounds • Fiber Arts 25I Preparing Fibers • Sustainable Fibers • Spinning • Abdominal Wounds • Head Wounds • Chest Wounds Weaving • Knitting and Crocheting Choking Furs and Skins 258 Brain Tanning Overview • Dealing with Furs • Heimlich Maneuver Bark Tanning Leather Bandages and Dressings Patterns and Custom-Tailored Clothing 267 Shock Footwear 269 XIII Utensils & Storage 334 References & Resources 27I Making a Simple Wooden Cup or Bowl 334 Basket Basics 335 XI Energy, Heat & Power 276 Materials • Making a Basket Shifting to Renewable Energy (RE) 277 Gourds 8 33 Why Renewable Energy? • Energy Conservation, Growing Gourds • Curing Gourds • Cleaning "Negawatts," and RE Gourds • Sealing Gourds RE Systems 219 Storing Fluids in Skins and Other Animal Parts 339 Net Metering • AC Versus DC • Alternatives for Primitive Pottery 339 High-Energy-Consuming Appliances • Clay • Pinch Pots • Coil Pottery • Slab Pottery • Photovoltaics Versus Wind Versus Micro- Throwing on the Wheel • Primitive Kilns Hydros Batteries • Backup Generators • References 349 System Sizing Photovoltaics 288 XIV Better Living Through Low-Tech Insolation • Solar Array Sizing • Panel Orientation • Maximum Power Point Trackers Chemistry 350 Wind Power 290 Soap 35° Soapy Plants • Lye Soap • Lye Precautions Wind Energy Tips 291 Candles 356 Micro-Hydropower Wicking • Making Candles Micro-Hydro Considerations 293 Alcohol 351 Solar Hot Water Malt • Mash • Fermentation • Distillation Passive Solar "Batch" Heating • Direct Pump Vinegar 362 Solar Water Heating • Active Solar Hot Water 295 Natural Glues 362 Solar Space Heating 296 Pitch Glue • Hide Glue Solar Water Pumping 2 Vegetable Oils 362 97 Steam Energy 298 References 363 Fuel Cells How Fuel Cells Work • Efficiency and XV Engineering, Machines & Materials 366 Environmental Considerations • Fuel Cells in Engineering 366 the Home 3OI Forces and Statics • Stress and Strength Heating with Wood (Mechanics) Efficient Stove Features 302 Fluids 312 Energy, Power, and Electricity Primer Materials 312 Energy • Power • Electricity • Proper Wire Sizing • Mathematics 312 Battery Voltage: 12 volts versus 24 volts versus Trigonometry • Logarithms 48 volts? • Capacitance • Inductance 208 References & Resources 382 References & Resources XII Metalworking 316 Afterword 386 A Brief Introduction to Metals 316 Casting Metal 318 Bibliography 8 3 7 Sand Casting • Furnace Forging 321 Index 400 Low-Tech Heat Treating 329 References & Resources