NC CZERT GEAR

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NC CZERT GEAR We are here to help you save your own or loved one(s) ass in the event of an apocalyptic event and to create your own homestead. Gotta start somewhere.

Now pay attention and listen up. Red, founder

There is not much inside or outside on the homestead that I can not handle, learn to handle, or figure out how to get i...
09/27/2026

There is not much inside or outside on the homestead that I can not handle, learn to handle, or figure out how to get it done in a weird but successful way.

On the flip side though, when there is a job that I can not, or should not handle by myself, I will defer to someone who can help me get the job done.

Today was a big example of one of those situations where I had to get help: a very old, very large, scrub pine, infested with pine bore beetles, more than half dead, showing visible signs of threatening to fall at any moment.

The tree was dangerous enough that a bucket truck had to be brought in to bring it down as carefully as possible, so it didn't come down on the powerlines on one side, or the neighbors place on the other.

I could not afford to have it taken away, but with it safely down, I can now take my time disposing of the remains.

Stalker

09/21/2026

Day 5.

Lucky, the Royal Palm turkey baby, was the only survivor from our first broody heritage turkey nest.

"She" (we're hoping) has been upgraded from an incubator to a mini brooder, in the brooder.

This is her 2nd day out in the brooder and already she is plotting her escape into the main brooder.

She does get a few, short, highly supervised outings in the run, but with some DNA from Speedy Gonzales in her, I have to be very vigilant.

I have to admit. I am spoiling this one.

Stalker

09/15/2026

After 3 egg loses with our trio of sitting Jennies, we reluctantly rescued the last 2 eggs at the 32 day mark, with very little hope that we were going to see any babies.

To our thrilled surprise, this afternoon, one of the babies broke out of the egg!

It is a baby Royal Palm, and we are hoping the 2nd hatches too, as the first is talking to the other egg.

Stalker

With the extra money I have made with the mandatory overtime, I decided to invest in a step forward in the homesteading...
08/24/2026

With the extra money I have made with the mandatory overtime, I decided to invest in a step forward in the homesteading process.

I came upon the opportunity to purchase this entire hydroponic system for 10% of its cost and couldn't let it pass.

Right now, I am learning how the system works, by practicing with basil, dill, and parsley. But, once I understand how it all works, I will be able to propagate plants I want, through the winter and start plants for the garden early for spring planting.

This system is something I have wanted for years... I guess fate said, now was the time.

Stalker

Been working alot of mandatory overtime shifts, which have now changed to 11hr shifts. With that and the extended 100+ ...
08/23/2026

Been working alot of mandatory overtime shifts, which have now changed to 11hr shifts. With that and the extended 100+ degree temperatures, it has been almost impossible to get outside and get work done.

Today the temperatures cooperated for the morning hours.
A wonderful neighbor let me pick up some old tires from his place for a new project on the homestead.

These tires are now being upcycled for the water bowls in the chicken and turkey runs.

In the tire rings, the birds will no longer be able to accidentally spill their bowl, especially in the hot days we've been having.

The tires will also help insulate the bowls. The water will stay cooler, longer in the heat, and come the winter cold, keep them from freezing as much, and thawing faster if they do freeze.

Win, win.

Oh, and the black widow in one tire was an unexpected šŸ˜² surprise.

Stalker

Haven't been able to get on line to post recently, due to work and mandatory overtime, and a very difficult homestead ...
06/21/2026

Haven't been able to get on line to post recently, due to work and mandatory overtime, and a very difficult homestead project.

For months, I have been putting my egg money aside to be able to purchase a new feed/hay shed. I was finally able to do that last month.

When I ordered it, it said... some assemble required.... that was the biggest understatement that has ever been said.

Picture putting together a a life sized, 5,000 piece puzzle with no written instructions.

3 weeks later and a lot of cussing and screaming later, we now have a new feed shed.

It's a long and hard fight, but slowly, we are moving forward on the homestead. Just have to keep positive and keep pushing.

Stalker

We planted these potatoes in December. With the cold temperatures in the greenhouse, they grew very slow at first.By Fe...
06/14/2026

We planted these potatoes in December. With the cold temperatures in the greenhouse, they grew very slow at first.

By February there was a good bunch of greens growing, which we had buried up to their crowns in fresh soil.

March, we got hit with a rare ice storm, and a week later deep snow that was frighteningly unusual for the south. All the potato greens froze and died.

We didn't give up on them, though. We left the beds alone, and waited.

When the warmer weather finally came back, fresh greens started growing out of the ground once more.

3 months have passed, and the greens have died back once more, signaling it was harvest time for our winter potatoes.

The results, 5 lbs of beautiful potatoes for our dinner table.

Tiny potatoes were replanted for a late fall crop, and 2 other beds growing nicely, for staggered later season harvests.

Stalker

Even with the extreme drought that we are still in here, the hand watering is keeping our garden growing and thriving. ...
06/11/2026

Even with the extreme drought that we are still in here, the hand watering is keeping our garden growing and thriving.

This week, went got to pick some of our first produce.

The surprise, for us, was the pickling cucumbers.

Before now, I had never heard of white cucumbers. They are abundant and early producers that turn yellow when fully ripe. The skins are slightly thinner than the green varieties, the flesh slightly sweeter, but I also find they are easier to digest.

I am definitely going to save some seeds for next year.

We also tried orange and purple peppers this year, for a sweeter variety. The purple are producing along side the green, but the orange seem to be taking longer to mature.

We also have tons of tomatoes on the plants, but sadly none have matured yet.

Stalker

The garden at the hollows is looking great this year and we have just been able to harvest are first vegetables of the y...
05/22/2026

The garden at the hollows is looking great this year and we have just been able to harvest are first vegetables of the year.

With the drought here, we have been having to water it all by hand. For the first couple weeks, hauling the water from our storage tanks was easy enough, but waiting for the rain, we have also had to resort to the hose.

Hurricane season starts in a week, here, so maybe we will see more rainy days to come, though the hurricanes can stay away.

Still more planting, and some replanting to do.

Stalker

Seedlings are finally ready to go into the ground, along with some I picked up from a local farmer. This time we put in...
04/12/2026

Seedlings are finally ready to go into the ground, along with some I picked up from a local farmer.

This time we put in tomatos, peppers, more patta pans, a few cucumbers and eggplant.

This year's experiment is focusing on vertical growth.

Still have to lay down mulch and straw, which is going to be more important this year, while our area is under a severe drought.

Stalker

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Rowena, TX
76875

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