Barn Owls, and building a habitat for them, a little on how to get along with the wild ones,

I wrote the first draft of this blog over a year ago, I decided to update it and re-post it. Outdoor blogs are fun to write, the interaction of wild animals and humans are especially interesting. I live around them, the Racoons, Otters, and Skunks are just a few. Many of them perform services for us unintentionally while they are going about their everyday lives of searching for food. Bats consume thousands of bugs nightly, including a lot of mosquitoes. When living around Racoons we are trained quickly to conform to what their idea of living grand is, we learn what keeps them out of the trash cans. Avoiding Skunks we soon learn to accept them, there is a reason they do not run, the same reason Porcupines can't, they both have an excellent defense system. Coyotes, Puma's, and Fox have their place as well, we soon accept each other and learn to survive by staying out of each other's way. My Dad told me when I was young the best way to understand people is to watch the wild animals, he was correct. The animal I am writing about today is the noble Barn Owl, we have a substantial population on our island, this pair has been with us now for many years, they are all members of our community. Let us get started.

Photo of an Adult Barn Owl.

Five years ago my neighbor came across a fledgling Barn Owl, a very small female, very healthy it fell out of a nest and started walking somewhere. He had a huge wire cage and placed the little guy in it and nursed it to full size and released it. It flew to the eave under his house and stayed there, so he did what every blue-blooded American boy would do, he built a nesting box. The owl did occupy the box and went on to have two broods of young ones over the next two years. The nesting box was well worn and the barn owl habitat needed to be revisited. I volunteered to build an owl box, I had been thinking about building a few for some time along with wood duck boxes and bat habitats.

I follow these instructions when building Owl boxes. Link

Barn owls hunt at night, they are nocturnal, the owl occupying our nesting box flies past my sliding glass door every night at 8-8:30 pm during the winter and an hour later during summer. This one at least is a creature of habit, most animals develop a behavior pattern and stick with it. Owls roost during the day in secluded spots that are hidden, under the eaves of houses, in hollowed-out holes in trees, high in barn rafters and of course in their nest. They don't hoot like other owls they have a raspy, slightly eerie call, in fact not a screech or a scream. When the little ones get hungry they also get noisy hollering out the hole of the owl box. They are silent, strong, flyers hunting over open fields and meadows spreading their large graceful wings silently. The barn owl wingspan is an impressive 39 1/2"-49 1/4" (100-125 cm), with a body length of 12 1/2"-15 3/4" (32040 cm) and weighing in at 14-25 ounces, a large bird but lightweight.

They swallow their food whole, skin, bones all of it down the old hatch, but they do not pass all of it, a couple of times a day (normally 2, sometimes more) they will cough out a ball of tightly wound remains which land on the ground. Researchers inspect these "pellets" to learn more about the owl nesting habits. There are 46 different species of barn owls worldwide, the North American species is larger than twice the size of the smallest species, which reside in the Galapagos Islands. They have excellent vision which aids them in hunting from dusk until morning light and has the best hearing of any animal ever tested. With such great hearing, they are able to capture small rodents and field mice hidden by snow or ground cover. Because squirrels and chipmunks are daytime creatures owls normally do not hunt them. I observed the owl in our nesting box perching on a limb 10 feet from the entrance of the nest staring down a red squirrel. The squirrels live upstairs of the owls, they have 5-6 nest normally, they have been nesting there for years. It's a pecan tree, crows love that tree as well, I wrote a blog about the crows earlier this year about how they were flying around with pecans in their beaks. The Barn Owls so not eat the pecans, I use the leaves for worm bedding and make walking canes from the limbs. The owls live to a ripe old age of 15 1/2 years at the most, 13 years being about the average age.

The entire family is here.

Barn owl habitats extend in all 48 lower United States into Canada, deserts, marshes, wheat fields, forest, wooded areas as well as in cities. They are very versatile, however, they are in declining numbers in some habitats, they live in hollowed out tree trunks, tunnels, stadiums, and live as high as 13,000 feet in the Andes. They roost in their nest year round, they sometimes have numerous nest with young owls at varying ages. Using the same nest year after year, but often other mating owls take up residence. Barn Owls mate for life, as many wild animals do. I'm going to write a blog on that because it is so impressive and romantically sad at times. The male courts the female by hovering in front of the female for a few seconds referred to as a "moth flight", he will display the nest by calling inside and flying in and out of it. After they become a pair the male will bring prey to her, much more than she can consume, beginning a month prior to her laying the eggs. Maybe it's a showing of plentiful food to encourage more eggs, the eggs are not large grade A, they measure up to 1 3/4" long. The birds protect the area around the barn owl habitat, but they are not territorial in the open fields, more than one pair normally hunts the same locations.

 Barn Owls were affected when DDT used in agriculture and when rodent poisons were widely used they affected the bird's source of food. Cars kill and injure a number of them due to flying low over the fields while hunting; hedgerows have been found to help in saving some of them from that fate. Building an owl box is not really difficult, plans are available here, I made mine from marine plywood I had left over from a project (I forget what that one was). I try to use "reclaimed" material in whatever I build, the next boxes I build will be made from an old (30 years) redwood fence, it makes good barn owl habitat. Barn owl nest box placement must be as close to their natural habitat as possible, protected in a hidden spot is the most important thing to remember.

There are various configurations of Owl habitats, I like this one.

Great Horned Owls are the Barn Owls natural wild predator, raccoons and snakes are lesser predators but they are still an extreme danger to them. I found a young owl dead at the base of a power pole in my yard, we had a wind storm during the night. The young one appeared to get caught in the wind somehow and was blown about 75 yards away from the nest.

I was on a construction site building an electric generating plant when a worker found a dead Barn Owl, well the job was shut down and the death was investigated. After 2 weeks it was found to have passed naturally, and we went back to work. At another site, we were shut down due to a Great Horned Owl that was nesting at the top of the structure

A photo of a Great Horned Owl, the Barn Owls
#1 enemy, this guy is 3-4 tall. 

near the smokestack, it was nesting, we were allowed to work after a few days with directions to stay away from that structure. It was determined we could work but not within a defined distance of the nest, the bird most likely nests there every year.

The owls are important in our quest to be as self-reliant as we can be, without them we could be overwhelmed by small rodents which in turn would attract larger predators. In outdoor camping, hiking, or on a day at the park we don't need rodents climbing all over our food and equipment which in turn would invite disease. A healthy barn owl habitat is instrumental to our health and well being when coupled with a bat habitat the pest population is manageable. Owls take care of the rodents and small animals the bats take care of the mosquitos. (thousands a night) The red squirrels, well they shall remain my dog's nemesis, which is entertaining as all get out.

Thanks for reading and sharing my blog, leave a comment, question, or an Owl story you would like to share.

jacquesandkate  emergencykitsplus.com

Dehydration is the companion of hot western days, stay hydrated is the battle cry, how do we know if we aren't.

How much water is enough?

Summer is about 1/2 way through, and what a summer it is, high heat, drought conditions, and high winds. Not only are those the perfect conditions for the starting of fires, it is also prime conditions for dehydration. It would be nice if we could actually come up with a routine for staying hydrated, unfortunately, that is not possible; we are all different. Isn't that what some Government entities do, they attempt to formulate it, you know what I'm saying. There is no safety catch all when it comes to drinking plenty of water. How do we know when we are drinking enough? How do we know when we need to drink more? One thing is certain if we wait until we are thirsty we have waited too long, it is then a task of "catching up", that's not a good place to be. Complicating matters is that it is possible to drink too much water, maybe you read the news stories about the two High School football players that recently drank too much and met an untimely end to their lives. Conversely, it is possible to drink too little and meet the identical fate, sometimes a rest and a drink of water is the best solution. I worked in the California Desert for a short while, three years to be exact, my wife and I decided to leave and return to the North. I'm not talking about the North North, the place where my wife and I were raised, I mean Northern California, West and a bit North of San Francisco. It was 126 degrees F. (52.22 C.) when we decided to leave. Flies die at 120 degrees F, prior to that all they want is water, every living creature in the desert wants it as well. Lukewarm water with the hot sun beating down creates the need for a lot of issues to be resolved, clothing, food, and rest are a few, all just to stay hydrated. What does it actually mean to be "Hydrated"?

Staying Hydrated is the theme of today's blog, a definition is clearly in order. "Stay Hydrated", has become a greeting, a farewell, and a topic of conversation in most of the places that I have lived and worked in this state. I worked outside my entire career, and ironically when I was interviewing for the position in the Desert I made an observation. Driving down the road from Palm Springs to Indio there was a lot of road work being done, the temperature was about 110 degrees, not really hot for that area. While passing the crews I turned to my wife and said, "how in the world can they stand to work in this heat?" Her reply was "I don't know, but if you accept the job you better figure it out because that's where you will be." She was correct, it never did dawn on me, before then I did not think about my working conditions. Moving from Fresno I thought I had this Hydration situation thing figured out, I soon found out that the Central Valley was triple-A baseball, the Desert is the big leagues. Let's get on with what it means to stay Hydrated.

Joshua Tree National Monument, miles, and miles of nothing
but miles and miles. Drive down this road and I bet we would
meet up with someone walking.

There are several indicators of being dehydrated it is not merely being thirsty. Waiting to drink water until we have a thirst is not the correct path to follow, there are other indicators. Noticing the stains our perspiration leaves behind is one tell-tale, the white streaks around our underarms, collar, and back is indication minerals are being leached out of our system. Our bodies are searching for water to keep us cool, in the process, it is removing the salts and minerals from us. Salt pills at one time were the proper course of action to take to assist us in retaining water, and the essential minerals we need to survive, followed with copious amounts of water was the cure-all. Well it did work, kind of, but we were still missing some things, we can't "catch up" to become Hydrated, we need to get there and stay that way. It is common not to sweat, or expel water in normal bodily functions when we are dehydrated, however, I have not on some very hot days after drinking a gallon or more. 

Our urine tells us a lot about our water needs, if it is dark yellow, we need to start drinking water; that means we are dehydrated. It is not an indication we are near death, that takes a few days, I can't imagine how thirsty a person is during that nightmare. It simply means drink water and take a break; a cool place to rest,  room temperature water, and a bit of electrolyte is the rule to cure that situation.

The proper color is straw to clear, once that is accomplished we are headed in the correct direction. Merely monitoring our bodily functions, however, is not quite enough, we should, and we can get ahead of it and it's not as difficult as it may seem. 

First thing in the morning, I have the habit of drinking a pint of water before I do anything else, I do wake up thirsty. The pint of water replenishes my body with much-needed liquids, I can tell the difference when I do not. Temperatures during the latter part of July, through the middle of September, hovering around the 100 degrees F. range, Fresno has been experiencing those temperatures for over a month, it's not a rare situation. A pint of water first thing in the morning sets me up in a good spot to deal with a day of extreme temperatures.

This Link leads to OSHA's directives on water consumption.

Companies in the Desert regions are concerned about dehydration and typically have extensive programs set up to instruct employees about the dangers and how to avoid disaster. The company I worked for had a doctor come to the plant once a month to conduct a conversation on just this subject. During one of the talks the doctor advised us on the proper use of electrolytes, there are many products available but one of the most recognizable is "Gator-aid". Replenishing our systems with the needed minerals, and electrolytes are necessary, but we do need to exercise caution. To simply drink nothing but an electrolyte is not a good idea, we need more water than mineral laden liquids. The doctors recommended to us to dilute our water in a ration of 1/4 of a pint of Gatorade to a quart of water, we will still get the required amount of minerals that we need. Electrolytes can be hazardous as well.

I worked at a facility in the Central Valley Desert, that is the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, it is almost as hot as the desert, and just as desolate. Our water was in a "bubbler", supplied with a five-gallon bottle. We had been in a prolonged stretch of heat, it seemed to be hot always there. The standard among our supplies was powdered electrolyte to mix with plain water, I thought it would be a good idea to mix an entire bottle with the stuff and let it chill in the bubbler. I did that, the first person to take a drink from it the following morning instantly vomited, I had turned the water into an undrinkable stew of nastiness, I was fortunate the man did not get seriously ill. The consensus was that the apparatus should have been completely cleaned with bleach, there were some unidentifiable "things" in the basin, I should have known better.

It all seems so innocent, just don't load it with Electrolytes.

Each of the members of the crew, while I was in the Desert, drank no less than one gallon of water every day, but that is only part of the story. The company established a rule that we could work in the heat when it exceeded 110 degrees F, for 1/2 hour then go to the air-conditioned shop for 3/4 of an hour. Sometimes we still suffered from dehydration, even though we were acclimated to the climate, knew the precautions for drinking water, and adhered to the rules of the workplace. One man I worked with was from West Texas, I worked with guy's from all over the Southwest, of all the people who would be suspect of heat stroke, he was the last one. One day we were tasked with rebuilding a huge piece of equipment, a drag claw that was about 150' long and had a huge chain running around it, 600 feet of heavy chain. Situated on a stack of wood approximately 50 feet high and hundreds of yards in diameter it was a hard job for a hot 120 degree F. summer day. After one of our breaks in the shop we climbed back up on the pile, after working for a very short time, 5 minutes, he passed out. We were all trained as first responders, confined space rescue, and how to deal with situations just like this, so we carried him off the pile. He was unconscious until we got to the shop, we had a spot for people to lay down, it was set up for this situation. We were in the middle of nowhere looking on google maps at the Salton Sea, we were five miles North, about two miles outside of Mecca, California; it took 1/2 hour for the paramedic's arrival to transport him to the hospital which was an hour away. Those distances themselves are dangerous, I knew a man in Fresno that died of a broken leg on the way to the hospital in an ambulance, it was 1/2 hour away, but I digress.

How thirsty are these firefighters?

Wildfires are heavy on my mind, as they are for most of us, and I began to wonder how in the world the firefighters stay hydrated in the 110-degree heat, towering flames, and high dry winds. From my experiences it is much more than difficult, some of them are in extremely isolated areas of mountain valleys' and steep slopes. My past challenges pale compared to what they are experiencing, as I write this in the comfort of my home. Thanks for reading and sharing my blog, and stay Hydrated.

jacquesandkate  emergencykitsplus.com

Wildfire intensity and damage are rising, are we sure they are natural occurring, are humans contributing to them?

The 2017 wildfire season was one of the most destructive in history, as well as the most expensive, damage topped $10 billion. The largest fire in California state history was the Thomas fire in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, they burned into late January 2018. It was the largest fire in history that is until the Mendocino Complex Fire (August 2018) captured that distinction. this year's fires have not caught up to last years in the amount of area, but they are 30% larger than the average of 2017's firestorm. This year is worse than any other season in memory, and the fire season has just begun. The fires are more intense, bigger, and more destructive. That is the subject of this blog.

A wildfire in New Mexico, it is so intense it looks like an outdoor
grill, it's actually a mountainside on fire.

Wildfires are naturally occurring disastrous events, not isolated to the United States, they are burning all around the world. Burning as far North as the Arctic Circle and as far South as the Mediterranean Coast. Wildfires are needed to restore nutrients to the soil, clearing years of undergrowth, and helping trees like the Giant Sequoias reproduce.

The increase in damage and intensity makes one wonder how much human activity has added to the highly destructive conflagrations that are occurring as of late. How much has our activity added to the risks, damage, and intensity of the fires?

The droughts definitely contribute greatly to the availability of fuel, high winds, and hot temperatures team together to increase the intensity of the flames. Creation of their own weather systems due in part to their immense size, causing fire tornadoes with winds as high as 145 miles per hour, a Catagory 1 Hurricane wind speed begins at 74 miles per hour. They form a funnel, referring to them as "tornadoes" is proper, however, fire hurricane would be accurate also. When combined with drought, overgrowth, and high temperatures it's a volatile situation.

Fires need a co-operating venue, and they have it in the Western United States, and one of the major hot spots being California. It is a naturally dry, hot, mountainous and wooded state. Much of the state is unoccupied, such an area is the Sierra Nevada's, and all of the Northern State. Being unpopulated there are not as many eyes to see and report fires that start in these remote areas. But they are not staying remote, we are expecting an increase in population, it is estimated 650,000 homes will be constructed in "Very High" wildfire-prone areas by the year 2050. We are drawn to beautiful vistas', mountaintop lots, and wooded secluded areas.

An area such as this in the Santa Monica Mountains is what is burning
now in the Los Angelos area, it is very secluded as is most of the state.

Construction in Wildfire prone areas is on the increase, 95% of the residents of the state live on a mere 6% of the land. Napa, Sonoma, Oakhurst, and Grass Valley are a few of the desirable spots for relocation. they are also some of the areas most at risk from over development and wildfires. The fires don't differentiate between who lives where, they don't discriminate between rich and poor areas, scenic vacation spots, or beautiful scenic views.

The development of these areas is basically just adding fuel to the fires, increasing the amount of valuable property damage, destroyed infrastructure, and human casualties. Adding so much fuel to the flames our activities are actually increasing the intensity of the fires. During years past smaller fires would burn away the undergrowth and be contained before they ran savagely out of control, there were no structures to add to the infernal. Building in these highly combustible areas led to fire prevention management Increasing the fire risk, in some instances adding to the accumulation of dry undergrowth.

We start the fires, yes us, humans are responsible for the ignition of 85-90% of all wildfires, including failed utility equipment, vehicle breakdowns, and arson. Lightning starts its fair share of them, but humans start 7 times as many, and far more than landslides or other natural causes. Although the majority of wildfires during the 2017 season are blamed on the state's utilities, in Northern California it is Pacific Gas and Electric, I question it. Twelve fires started in a short amount of time in twelve different locations, failed electrical gear most likely accounted for some. I worked in the electrical generation industry, during my 20 years as a millwright repairing large machinery I rarely witnessed more than one catastrophic failure at a time. The utility may end up paying the bill in the tune of billions of dollars, actually, it is the ratepayers that foot the bill.

Power lines in a remote area have the potential for failure and starting
wildfires, but I wonder how many they actually do start.

The power lines are penetrating the remote areas deeper and further every year, the more people leaving the highly populated major urban centers to escape the "rat race", the more the chances of failed equipment becomes. Barns, outbuildings, shopping centers, and houses all add highly combustible fuel. Many of the building sites are not fire resistant, we want to live in wild areas and ignore the recommendations of the forestry department, Cal-Fire, and local directives. My friend in Redding who is under an evacuation alert told me that the houses that do not have a Fire-Safe area surrounding their homes suffer a higher rate of complete destruction, in fairness those that do have a zone have lost their homes as well, they do have a better chance of having less damage. Proximity drives the death, and damage toll, we are building more and more in fire-prone areas, and the more people relocating will increase the number of fires stated either intentionally or not. Nine people including firefighters have perished this year so far, the season is not 1/2 over yet.

The good news is there are some things we can do to reduce the risks of wildfires.

* Fire Breaks made with heavy equipment strips the vegetation off of the top of wildland exposing the non-combustible dirt beneath it, a wide strip with a berm protects homes in places the dry brush meets them.

* Utilities have developed a program to predict wildfires, as with other natural disasters, like earthquakes, it is easy to predict, the problem is the when, and where. They (the utilities) have developed a system of prediction including wind, the dryness of the terrain, and the wind when the guidelines are exceeded electrical service is discontinued and alerts sent to firefighting entities.

(Follow this Link to learn more about PG&E's wildfire safety program)

* The person claiming the intensity and size is due to a lack of water due to "diverting" water to the ocean, this person has no idea what he is talking about, I recommend he reads the book "Cadillac Desert" if indeed he has the ability to read.

* Curtailing building in fire-prone areas is a much tougher task, when we are burned out rebuilding on the same spot is the norm, especially when homeowners insurance is involved. The insurance companies write a check to cover damages to the homeowner's lender who in turn controls the rebuild, there are few options available unless the mortgage is paid off.

* Building homes with fire-resistant materials is a good practice, coupled with a fire-safe zone of 50 feet around the buildings will save many homes. When issued an evacuation directive is issued placing a watering sprinkler on the roof, and several around the property has shown to be extremely effective in reducing and many times eliminating damage to the buildings.

We are fortunate in that firefighters learn from every fire that occurs, constantly improving their ability to fight fires, and communicating with other agencies to combine ideas and efforts. Even though the fires are becoming more intense, faster moving, and much larger, deaths caused by them are on the decline.

As temperatures rise, droughts are of long length, and we move into wild areas wildfires will increase, as well as the intensity and size.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog, keeping alert and reporting arson when witnessed, or other conditions that may ignite a forest may go a long way in reducing them. They will never be completely eliminated but we can certainly make a difference by being observant. Thanks again.

jacquesandkate emergencykitsplus.com

What is in that smoke we are breathing, is it toxic? Here are Five symptoms, and how to wear a respirator..

The Carr Fire near Redding California, 4 days ago.

The Northern California wildfires are within 150 miles of our house, not really close but we have the smoke. The air is noticeably smoky, it looks a lot like the summer fog the San Francisco Bay area is known for. Breathing is labored for everyone I have talked with, it is much harder for those with respiratory issues. We have a prevailing wind from the Northwest, it is called the "Delta Breeze". It carries the wind from the North through the central valley all the way down to Tejon pass, the "Grapevine" 300 miles south of us. It is efficient at spreading the smoke throughout the entire state North of that main highway pass. On the other side is Los Angelos, the "Holy" fire is on a rampage there, spewing smoke over Southern California.

The "Holy Fire" near Los Angelos, California, 1 day ago.

Visibility is less than 5 miles here, the Diablo Range of Mountains 15 miles distance cannot be seen. It is so common now the smell of smoke is not evident, I fear we have been conditioned to it. I worry more about what is in the smoke.

What is in the smoke that we are breathing while the monsters up North rage? Waking up every morning I am thankful I no longer work out of doors, this smoke is taxing on every breathing creature in the Western States. Woodsmoke carries a number of hazardous materials along with it on its journey to be dispersed in every direction as it winds through the Mountains, Valleys, and Cities.

Carbon Monoxide is especially toxic to the firefighters and first responders working close to the fires extinguishing them. The residents evacuating the area are affected by the CO2 for a much shorter length of time. It's in the fumes of any combustible fuel, gasoline, coal, and wood fire to name a few, indoors it can build up and poison us. The risk of CO2 poisoning from smoke originating many miles away would be a very remote possibility, close to zero.

PM 10, Particulate Matter smaller than 10 microns is a toxic waste due to its structure. The minute particles are shaped like a spear point with barbs, lodging in the lungs they can not back out of the respiratory system. 2.5 micron and smaller particulates are inhaled as well, entering the deepest parts of the lungs they do not penetrate as far as PM 10 but cause lasting health problems. Coughing, sneezing, and gagging all done to no avail, dust masks are not effective, the best protection is a "full face" respirator. Particles larger than 10 microns cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. PM 10 is small enough to pass through the exterior walls of a house.

(Follow this Link for further advice on protecting yourself from wildfire smoke.)

After breathing the smoke for several weeks, how can we tell if the wildfire smoke is affecting us?

Wildfire smoke even at a distance is able to cause these symptoms:

* Watery or Dry eyes, very common many people I have spoken with are experiencing burning, itching, and watery eyes.

* Wheezing, excessive mucus, irritated sinuses, sore throat, and stuffed up head are all common complaints among the people affected by the smoke.

* Headaches.

* Asthma attacks, shortness of breath, and sore lungs making breathing difficult.

* Chest pain, fatigue, and fluttering heart are all not good signs, call your advice nurse or go to a hospital with prolonged symptoms.

Those with a Heart condition, lung disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are more likely to have severe reactions to the wildfire smoke. As stated above if the symptoms are pronounced and you have a health issue such as one of these, consult medical care immediately.

When suffering from watering, burning, and itchy eyes use over the counter eye drops, and increase your water intake. I have found my normal 3 quarts a day is not enough to keep me hydrated, drinking enough is harder than it sounds. Don't wait until you are thirsty drink water all day long.  A humidifier in the home may help, it will add moisture to the air making breathing easier. Wearing a full face respirator is an inconvenience but it will keep us from not breathing the nastiness and will protect our eyes. A 1/2 face respirator and goggles are just as effective. The N95 filters out about 90% of the particles from the air, but they do nothing for the gaseous fumes. N95 paper masks must be worn properly or their effectiveness suffers. They must fit snugly around the sides, they as most other respirators are even more challenging to fit properly when attempting to fit over a beard. The best advice is to purchase a respirator with the proper filters and learn how to wear it. Breathing is more difficult with a respirator or dust mask, wearing one may increase breathing and heart rates. Those with chronic respiratory and heart conditions are best advised to consult with your doctor on his/her recommendations.

How to fit an N95 filter mask, it must be worn correctly.

Can I use a bandana or wet towel across my nose and mouth effectively? It will filter out the large particles but not the small PM 2.5 and below, we aren't better without it, but the effectiveness is questionable.

Close up the house, windows, doors, and vents, then stay indoors especially if you are in an at-risk group with chronic health issues. Do not get overheated, run the air conditioner it will filter out some of the bad stuff. Leaving the area may be the best choice of all, getting out of the smoke may prove difficult however when the entire west is covered with the pall.

I have been staying indoors for the past few days, with the air conditioning on once in a while, it is not really hot here most days. My daughter in Fresno has a severe respiratory infection from the Yosemite fire that is burning near her. The medical clinics are full of people suffering from breathing problems. I see a few people jogging in the mornings next to the river, the temperature is cool, and the wind is low but the smoke still hangs over us all. I am curious if they experience any respiratory problems when the run is over, I'm sure I would run in this gloom.

The Yosemite Fire yesterday.

The firefighters have it much worse than we do, and I am sure we all realize that, but we still have to take care of ourselves. The most help I can offer is a monetary donation, that doesn't help with their physical challenges, but it may buy them a meal or a place to rest. Driving down the I-5 corridor or down Highway 99 caravans of forestry department, local fire departments, and even out of state firefighters can be seen rushing from one end of the state to the other. It is one of those jobs that appear cushy during the rainy season, there are no fires, however, it is sheer hell during our expanding fire season. They have earned my respect.

Thank you for reading and sharing, purchase a respirator, get the highest quality you can afford, don't ever skimp on the purchase of safety equipment. Thanks again.

jacquesandkate  emergiencykitsplus.com

wildfires continue to burn I discuss five causes, some widely recognized others not so much.

Wildfires are burning throughout the western states, floods are prominent on the eastern side of the country, summertime is rapidly becoming known as disaster season, having the ability to bankrupt the entire country. 

The summer sky is now normally filled with smoke from wildfires in the west, it crosses state lines. There are currently 18 of them burning as I write this, the number changes constantly. An issue that stands out to me is the number of fires that start almost at the same time. The conditions at the time generally are the same, after a drought, high winds, and isolated areas. Low population areas do not have as many eyes to notice unusual activities. Fires start in many different ways, in this article I talk about five of them. These are not the most common, but they are known to start some of them.

Humans have not seen some remote areas in many decades.

Lightning strikes are common in the high country shearing off the tops of most of the trees above the snow line. There are two different types of lightning, Cold Lightning, and Hot Lightning, most lightning started fires ignite from Hot Lightning. Cold lighting is the return stroke of short duration but high current, it does not make contact with the ground for a long period of time. Hot lightning, on the other hand, makes contact with the ground for a longer amount of time. They have lower voltage, stay in contact longer with the unusually long-lasting burst igniting the wildfire. The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) conducted a study on fires and lightning strikes. During the time period of 2007-2011, all of the nations fire departments combined answered 22,600 fire calls that were started by lightning strikes, they were not all wildfires.

* Of that outdoor rubbish set on fire accounted for 1%,

* non-rubbish vegetation fires claim 9%,

* it starts vehicle files 1%

* Non-home structures 7%

* Homes set on fire by lightning 7%

* Home structure fires 9%

* Outdoor vegetation fires (wildfires) 63%

Lightning strikes are a major cause of the fires in the United States, the statistics may be different in other areas of the world. Lightning strike, drought conditions, an overabundance of fuel, and high winds are a real recipe for disaster. There are several natural causes, Landslides are common in the State as well.

Landslides cause wildfires, the mountains in this state are young as compared to the East Coast Ranges, but about the same age as the Rockie Mountains. The rock making up the mountains in the East were compacted during the last glacier making them much more dense and stable than those on the other side of the country. Holding a lot of minerals in the stones, boulders, and rubble one of those is a notorious fire starter. Flint occurs naturally in granite which the mountains are mostly composed of, struck against steel flint will spark. When struck against one another the Flint chips off a piece of the steel in the form of a spark. Reaching temperatures of up to 5430 degrees Fahrenheit (3000 C), steel melts at around 2,000 F, there is plenty of heat to start a fire. There is some Iron Ore in the rocks which are capable of starting a spark, there is also steel posts, markers, and debris containing steel, all of which is capable of sparking when struck with Flint. When the Landslide tumbles into the underbrush the sparks are capable of igniting the bone-dry tinder. If the slide crosses a road or highway, warning signs are made of steel also, but on roads,

it is not the only cause of fires.

The potential to start a fire is huge in this environment.

Vehicle breakdowns start a number of wildfires, the Carr fire recently burning near Redding California was ignited when a car suffered a flat tire. It is not hard to envision the sparks flying off of a steel wheel dragging on the surface of the road. Accidents are the cause of some, as are fuel spills, and single car accidents. Catalytic converters start their fair share of them as well, they are extremely hot parts of the vehicle. Situated under the automobile they get close to glowing red hot under normal conditions and the converter is working correctly. They filter nasty stuff from the exhaust burning the unwanted gases at high temperatures, causing the shell to become hot. The temperature is even higher on the exterior of a unit that is clogged up and restricting the air flow. If an automobile or other similarly equipped equipment pull off on the shoulder of the road over dry brush, it will ignite the tinder. Vehicles operate hot, having a fire extinguisher inside the car is a prudent decision to make. There are times when vehicles drive on surfaces other than paved roads, camping is one of those situations.

Campfires, we pitch the tent, and set up camp, clearing an area for chairs, tables, and all of the other camping gear we take along. One of the centerpieces of being in the wild for a vacation or a weekend is the campfire when the sun goes down. Used for warmth, cooking, and aesthetics a campfire is part of the tradition. Improperly extinguished campfires remain hot with red embers in some cases for days, if not weeks. Flashing into flames after camp is broken may occur within hours or weeks after leaving. Flooding the fire pit with water is the proper way to secure a fire pit, turn it into a mud pool still checking for embers. If a fire is secured with water drenching it is still prudent to stick around for a few hours to check the logs, ashes, and remnants of the fire. A man was arrested for Arson in Southern Colorado after it was found his cooking fire was still burning when he left the area. It's a common fire starter, it's not arson, and not really an accident, it's a display of a lack of awareness of the potential of the disaster it could create. Arson is a different story.

Arson, most fires are started by humans, either our equipment, carelessness, or true accidents. It is more common for a structure fire to be started by an Arson than a forest fire. Most structures are covered with insurance making it a tempting source of a windfall if the place were to burn down. Money motivates arson of commercial buildings, restaurants, and buildings under construction. Between the years 2010-2014 intentional fires accounted for in 261,333 as reported to local fire departments, disclosed in a study by the NFPA. Of that total

(Link to the NFPA's study on intentionally started fires.)

* Outside unclassified fires accounted for 198,480 of the total or, 75%. This is the category wildfires are included in.

* Outside trash and rubbish were 120,570 (46%) of the total

* Outside fires that were not trash or rubbish fell in at 75,910 (29%)

* All Structures 49,690 (19%)

* Vehicle fires were arson started 15,160 (6%). (I would suspect monetary reasons).

Arson started fires are on the decline, 327,100 fires were Arson in 2002, in 2014 they reduced to 248,500 fires. Recently most of the wildfires we are going through for the past few years are being blamed on the local utility, PG&E, Pacific Gas, and Electric. I question whether their equipment is in such poor condition that it is capable of starting 10-20 fires in a very short amount of time. I live within sight of the 15KV lines that run through the state, from Oregon to Los Angelos. I have not witnessed a single failure within my view, nor have I heard of a fire started by them, but that doesn't mean it does not happen. It is extremely hard to find the source of a fire, and incredibly hard to prove Arson unless a person steps up to the plate and claims to have started it, the source many times is never found. Eyewitness accounts are often the only source of finding the perpetrators.

Some buildings burn down during construction.

These are a few causes of wildfires, there are more, the most important task we can accomplish is to keep alert noticing everything, and if we do see someone starting a fire, call 911. Do not approach someone, attempt to put the fire out, or fail to report it, just be a good citizen, the bigger a fire grows the more dangerous it becomes placing responders is life and death situations. Thanks for reading and sharing, the fires are ongoing. I am concerned for several friends we have who are affected by the events. The best advice to give when faced with a wildfire is to keep your vehicles with enough gas to get away, and if ordered to evacuate by the authorities don't hesitate, run fast, and run far.

JacquesandKate   Emergencykitsplus.com

Vermiculture another part of being self-reliant, learn what goes into worm farming in this article.

Raising earthworms is a rewarding activity, classified as a hobby, business, or a process. Raising them is ecologically responsible and that is what drives some of us. Farming them for profit is a common goal, disposal of waste, using the castings for fertilizer, and assisting in the composting of organic materials are others. There are many people like me that have a specific reason for raising them. My goal is to achieve zero waste, I'm almost there. I use all my household waste in my garden and my worm farms, I have 13 bins of worms (I explain them below). Raising "Red Wigglers" and "European Nightcrawlers", they co-habitat just fine under the proper conditions. They need an environment they can thrive in, emulating their natural habitat is, in my opinion, the best method to raise them. When the beds are set up correctly with plenty of food, water, and air they react positively. In this article, I discuss what bedding is and what I use to make it.

How many cardboard boxes, newspapers, and waste paper products we collect is astonishing, most of it goes to the landfills. We are disposing of organic material that we are able to use and avoid tossing in the trash. I use most of our household waste in my worm farms, composting bin, and garden. A huge part of raising them involves the making of "bedding", it's the worms' environment. The worms eat their way through the habitat, they will eat almost anything, their diet is our diet with a few exceptions. It consists of an equal amount of "Carbons", and "Proteins", the Carbons being the bedding, the Proteins are what we feed them.

The paper bedding is in the top bin, cardboard, newspaper and egg cartons.
In the bottom bin is my organic material, it also has some cardboard in it but
it is 90% organic vegetation.

The food consists of most of what we toss out during the preparation of meals in the kitchen. Everything organic, lettuce, peelings, black bananas, and coffee grounds are all thrown in the recycle jars on the cabinet countertop. Bones, meat, grease, oil, and anything salty are not included in their menu, freezing or cooking the vegetables breaks down the fibers making it easier for the worms to eat it. As they consume their surroundings they leave a trail of manure, referred to as worm "castings", the reason many people raise them. Loaded with micro-organisms' and usable nitrogen the castings make is an excellent additive to the garden, there are two ways to use it. One is just the way it is, spread it around the base of the plants or mix it in with the compost while planting season is upon us. Worm Tea is the other method, placing the castings in a sock of porous material, tied shut and placed in a five-gallon bucket of aerated water. After percolating for 10 hours a nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer is created, nitrogen that will not burn the plants it is in a state that is ready for the vegetation to use immediately. As the worms work their way through the worm bin the castings are below the bedding, they eat from under the organic material which makes up the bedding.

Bedding is one of the most talked about items pertaining to a worm farm, the methods I use are not cast in stone. There is a lot of trial and error when it comes to what the bed should consist of, and there are plenty of articles on the internet to support any method that is chosen. I spend a lot of time preparing the bedding, I spent several hours this morning in fact. I usually have a supply of materials prepared to enable me to add while I am tending to the bins once a week. I will check on the bins for moisture, bugs, and temperature one day a week, usually Tuesday. I feed them once a week as well, normally Thursday, I will add bedding along with the food.

One bin of materials consists of paper products, shredded newspaper, and cardboard cut into 1-2 inch squares. Uncoated paper plates are cut into leaf size pieces, removal of food debris, if it is oily, spicy, or salty, is advised. The plates that have a slick surface, silkscreen prints, or painted is undesirable for use. I add the paper plates to the paper bin along with cardboard. Like paper plates silkscreened designs on the exterior of the boxes must not be used, the ink will kill the worms. Plain brown cardboard is the best and is a preferred food of the worms. I use the cardboard to cover the bedding also, I cut a piece that fits the interior of the bin leaving an air space along the sides and ends. The cardboard is cut into leaf size pieces for the bedding, I like to keep it all on the scale of leaves. Red Wigglers in their natural habitat live in the layer above the fully composted organic material and below the freshly fallen leaves, the partially composted material is their preference. Cardboard and the other paper products decompose at the same rate as the leaves. Laying eggs in the wet bedding is common with the worms, with cardboard being the main attractor.

This is my Acorn squash plant, I fertilize with worm tea only.

I add a lot of eggshells in with the paper products as they add calcium to the bedding, acting as a neutralizer if the bed goes acidic, and the worms use it in their crops for digestion. It is best to dry the eggshells prior to adding them to rid the shells of any egg residue.  I have a drying table I place all the materials I want to dry in, our humidity is very low, (it's a semi-arid region), so it takes a short time to dry them. Micro-waving, baking, and boiling work equally as well, let the shells cool before adding them to the bedding. Crushing the eggshells into as small of pieces as possible is important, the worms will eat off of a whole egg shell but as they have no teeth it takes them a long time, I try to help them all I am able.

Shredded newspaper, office paper, and flyers are all tossed in the paper bin, again if there is shiny print on it do not use the paper, the ink is toxic to worms. Shredded paper has a tendency to clump together in the bin, I have found mixing cardboard in with it reduces and if enough is included clumping is a non-issue. Paper may be added to control dryness and the control of a wet bed. If the bin is dry the soaking of shredded material will improve it, and should be checked daily until the situation is satisfactory. If the farm is too wet the addition of dry paper products will soak up the excess moisture, eliminating that problem.

Paper egg cartons are one of my favorite products to add to the paper supply, the blown paper variety is my preferred product. I have several uses for the cartons, I make fire starter for the BBQ, and bedding for the worms being just two. They hold moisture well, the worms consume them readily, and they are easy to work with. Cut into leaf size pieces is my goal, I'm not talking about zucchini sized leaves, fruit and nut tree size is best.

(Follow this Link for more input on how to create a worm farm by Cornell Composting)

Vegetation and organic materials that go into the organic bin are much more varied and seasonal. I use almost any organic materials, there are some that are not advised to use. Eucalyptus leaves, Bay Tree leaves, and Pine needles being three. That leaves an abundance of material:

I use mostly dried leaves from trees, Black Walnut grows wild, Pecan, Apple, and Swamp Willow are all readily available. I try to store them over the summer in leaf towers and my outside compost bin, it's the beginning of August and it looks like I may have enough to last until the end of September. There are still some dried leaves in the ditches and open spaces.

I store leaves in the wire tower between the black and blue receptacles. 

My Straw is stored in a wire tower along with other organic material. I use the straw to control weeds in the garden, grow potatoes during the winter and early spring, and worm bedding. I use it as is mostly but will not hesitate to use it partially decomposed. Straw is hard, it takes the worms a long time to eat through it making it fairly undesirable to use, some farmers won't. The reason is for the castings, the worms need to move into the upper feeding box and evacuate the lower box to make the manure available. The use of straw slows the process down. I have used corn cobs also, they are consumed much slower than straw, it seems time stands still. Equal to straw is Tules.

This is one of my indoor bins, I had just finished it a few years ago.

Tules are much the same as cat-tails, without the tail on top, tules have a tuft of seeds much like wheat. The shafts hold water well when dried, I use them to hold water in my garden, I add them to the organic box also. They break down quicker than straw does, after six months the 1/2 inch diameter shafts turn to powder and becomes part of the composting process. Lily pads, water weeds, and safe algae all are added to the bin, as well as succulents.

Ice plant is a good organic material to use in a dry bed, they are like leaves stuffed with water, much like a grape. I will harvest and add some directly to the worm farm in the event the bedding dries out and I wish to add water slower than normal. Cactus without the spines and Aloe leaves serve the same purpose.

I like to use large leaves, Zucchini, Artichoke, Pumpkin, and Squash leaves are some of them. They are all tossed in the organic bin after being torn into small leaf size pieces, left to dry they serve as carbons. I will use the large leaves whole at times to cover the moist bed in the farms.

My Artichoke plant is fed worm tea as well.

Potato peelings are normally fed in with the food, I dry them and use them in the bedding. It takes a while for them to be consumed. Using them as bedding accomplishes two things, food, and the environment in the bed, the worms still eat them.

That is the basic idea, my goal is to paint a picture of the variety of organic materials that are usable for bedding. Commercially developed products are available, Coconut Coir, and Peat Moss are two of them. They work well, but why purchase something when naturally occurring vegetation is available.

As I mentioned above worms have crops, like birds, their food passes through the gullet and is then ground up. A hard material must be consumed for the worms to be able to start the digestion process. It is recommended to add mineral dust to the bedding, I don't. First-year growth has an abundance of silica in it, and is a natural source of grit for the wigglers, along with the egg shells they do get enough. We have an over-supply of sand around here so to toss a handful in a bin is handy. I don't worry too much about a lack of grit, they have enough naturally.

I have four indoor bins and ten outdoor boxes that are much larger. In the outdoor bins, I raise my vegetables, I added 500 worms to each box when I started raised bed gardening years ago. I now have an uncountable number of worms in each bed, Red Wigglers, and European Nightcrawlers. The Red worms occupy the upper layers under my weed controlling straw, leaves, and water plants. The European Night Crawlers occupy the deeper regions of the beds. Coming to the surface to feed they use established tunnels leading to their den as deep as six feet below. The nightcrawlers aerate the soil and move organic material into their dens as they store it in them. In that environment, they co-habitat nicely, but in the indoor farm boxes, the same results are not realized. I believe it is due to the Nightcrawlers needing the verticle space, they have to burrow down six feet.

No not that kind of worm, the good kind!

Such is my idea of a small but important activity on my part to reduce the amount of household trash going to landfills. vermiculture is an efficient way to accomplish that. It's a satisfying feeling knowing I am using 100% of the paper, cardboard, vegetable waste, and organic material our family creates turning it into usable fertilizer, composts, and eventually vegetables. I call it "circle gardening", everything I grow ends up back in the soil to grow more, and the best part is it's free. It's all a part of being self-reliant, self-aware, and being personally responsible, it is a good feeling.

Thank you for reading and sharing, it helps to be a little eccentric when raising worms. When two worm farmers meet their introversion is tucked away and the conversation starts, it's an interesting and rewarding activity to partake in. If you're interested I am happy to help you out. Thanks again.

Jacquesandkate  Emergencykitsplus.com

17 Wildfires in California the sky is full of smoke people are dying and my neighbor is mad about being cited to cleanup.

When under the threat of wildfire, the best advice is to "Run," it's too late to talk about what should have been done before it started, now is the time to survive, Run.

Two days ago, the Carr fire 154 square miles burned so far. 

17 wildfires are burning in California as I write this, I know several people affected by them. The human suffering is immense, and that is the real story, as usual, the story of the people. Some of the sufferings defy words, others make me realize I have no real problems in this world, and some inspire sympathy beyond imaginations. A phone call, offers to help with everything, and opening our home to someone that needs refuge, what more can there be?

We have two daughters, a son, and six grandchildren 50 miles south of the Ferguson fire near Yosemite, the smoke is taking a toll on them. We have friends that just bought a house near the fire currently burning near Clear Lake in Northern California, and we have a friend in Redding 15 miles East of the Carr Fire, his grandsons have been under an evacuation alert for three days, his daughter already evacuated. My neighbor lives in San Francisco, he owns the lot next door, he and his wife came to clean the weeds, and eliminate the danger of fire.

All of California is in this condition, even up high in the Mountains.

The weeds and grass are high, standing up to 4 feet bone dry waving in the 9-20 mile per hour winds. Bone dry tinder, ripe to receive a spark, cigarette butt, or heat from a broken down car, it ignites instantly. Over the weekend I saw two fires start in the mountains to the west of the house, I did not have to leave the chair I work out of. Neither of those fires grew into a huge monster, but each one destroyed at least one home. The owners of those homes are every bit as distressed as the people in the mega-fires, they all have lost everything. We can go over lists and plans, evacuation routes, radio stations, and what to grab to take with us. We can talk about what we should do, what we should have done, and what we need to do now, but the reality is we need to leave fast when a fire is approaching.

I write a lot about preparing for the fire season, sometimes during the time the wildfires are burning, but most of the time during the rainy season. Writing about the need to construct a fire-safe zone around our houses, laying in supplies to grab on our way out, and advice on phone calls, water, and being self-reliant when faced with that disaster. I watch the nightly news and attempt to understand the disaster, and the human suffering, being removed from the fires there is no way to be able to relate.

How in the world can a person relate to the Grandfather whose wife and two grandchildren perished in the fire? This man is the same age as I am, I can identify with him to a certain extent. He appears to be a gruff old guy, rough around the edges, tough, self-reliant and dedicated to his family, all traits I claim also. I can't imagine being in his shoes, everything is OK, then one hour later it isn't, his entire life was changed. It makes me realize I don't have a problem in the world in comparison.

It is incredibly bizarre to me when people complain about being cited by the county, building inspector, or fire department, it doesn't matter who cites them. Weekenders, investors, and property owners all get cited alike, every year, I see it as a reminder. When I owned property in the central valley it had to be cleared yearly, I would sometimes be cited as well, even though I kept it cut down all of the time. No one has to call and report anyone in wildfire country, the county comes around on their own, writing citations and sending them to property owners. Most owners receive the notice and take a weekend to clean their lot up, some hire a tractor, gardener, or neighbor kid to plow, run a weed-eater, or mow. Still, others perform the task themselves, it is hard exhausting work, I've done it a lot of times. Then there are those who get angry because they were cited, they begin to blame whoever is handy, it can't be their fault someone had to tell. They could not be further from the truth, I have rarely heard of someone calling the fire department on a neighbor to "report" them, however, some people say it is widespread. Such was the case this weekend, I was accused of calling the county and complaining about my neighbor, then requesting they be cited.

I wonder what his thoughts are.

Why in the world would I do that? Why would I think it was needed? I know the county inspects all year round, they are by the house at least twice a day, I live on a dead end road in the country. We live in wildfire country, the people that own the property are in wildfire country, it seems they would want to protect themselves. I saw the lot, I saw the weeds, and I know all too well the impending dangers, but I knew the notices were coming and it's best to let it happen. For many of these people, their properties are an investment, they buy riverfront property dreaming of the day it is worth a fortune and they can collect a big payday. The reality for other people, like me, is this is my home I don't care what it is worth I want to live here the rest of my life. Everything I have is in this house, everything I will have is in this house, my legacy is this house, I'm here to stay. They, on the other hand, are driven by money, not caring if they ever see the place again, these are the people that should hire someone to care for it. If that lot caught fire it has the potential of starting a major fire. Spreading to my house which is North of the fence, I have a zone of 20 feet between the house and it. catching the house on fire is a possible consequence. To the South is another house, built of Cedar, the owners take impeccable care of it, they also have a safe zone. So where is the problem? The overgrown fire hazard between us, no one called the county, should we have? No, I knew they would be cited and they were, so what was expected of us, the neighbors, to do that would not have irritated the owners of the lot. I suppose I could have called them, That's been done before, typically they still get mad about it, who are we to tell them to clean up their lot. If I were to call anyone it would have been them, I've called them to tell them of prowlers and the potential of squatters, but not clean up. I pay to have their waterfront kept clean, I don't want them to be cited because an emergency vehicle is unable to pass through, that is a big fine and it's important for me to do that. I keep watch on their place to make sure squatters, burglars, and curiosity seekers are kept out also calling the sheriff when there is a problem. We are under the threat of wildfires and all this guy is concerned with is someone ratting him out, that to me is unbelievable.

He was cited because he doesn't keep his firetrap cleaned up, there is no other reason, no one reported him. I would think the guy would lift his head up, and realize the amount of human suffering that is going on around us, but I suppose he sees his "problem" as being much larger than anyone else's, someone reported him.

Thanks for reading and sharing, I'm distressed about the fires causing so much misery for so long to so many innocent people, and I am upset because some people can't or won't see it. Thanks again.

jacquesandkate EmergencyKitsPlus.com