M.D. CREEKMORE

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Archives for April 2018

K-Tor hand crank generator (pocket socket 1 amp usb) : Weekly Product Review

K-Tor hand crank generatorLegally I have to tell you if I have received the product or any compensation for writing this review. I bartered for a K-Tor hand crank charger in 2014 from an individual who is not affiliated with this website, Amazon or K-Tor (you all know I enjoy Amazon for shopping ease). I recently contacted K-Tor to get some information to write a review; they saw fit to send me a K-Tor Pocket Socket 1 amp charger. I can honestly say that this is one of the few products for which I have no real reservations in recommending fully to all of you!

Modern electronic devices have come quite a long way in a few decades, from filling a room to literally size of a wristwatch. This means that while we oldsters still have our books and writing implements, the reality is that not only is written information more easily available via the internet it is being replaced by it.

I have hundreds of books, actual written books. I also have over 200,000 digital books that easily fit in the palm of my hand. The K-Tor Pocket Socket 1 amp hand-cranked charger allows me to ensure charging even when my solar panels cannot!

While it does need a minimum of 3 minutes of solid rotation to push a charge, it is something that works regardless the weather or time of day! It is made very well, and charges electronic readers, cell phones, radios, GPS units, flashlights and much more; virtually anything that can be charged with a USB outlet is able to be charged with this device!

While many of my flashlights are still battery powered I have recently been investing in USB rechargeable ones as the technology really is getting much better. I will have a review for some of these shortly as well.

Dimensionally it is well within needed requirements for my personal uses. It is approximately the same size and half the weight of a half liter bottle of water, which makes it an easy fit and addition to my typical vehicle kits and of course when camping. Additional benefits can be seen in the construction which is robust, to say the least, it is easy to grip comes with a strap to attach the unit to your hand and more importantly is designed to be cranked!

The downside to this charger is the noise, while not unpleasant it is not quiet. Additionally, the rotation of the crank can quickly become tiring as it is essential to rotate the crank two full turns every second for at least 3 minutes to see overall results. This being said, the design and function of the unit allows for ease of use and can spell the difference between no light, phone or GPS and having one when needed!

K-Tor hand crank generatorI added this to my power kit, with the understanding that solar panels have at best a 15-year lifespan while this could easily outlast you! Better yet they make a serious unit that is pedal power! This is the one I want to have in my house for long-term needs. The Power Box pedal power cost quite a bit more at $195 versus the $69-75 for the smaller power setup. Given the benefits from using your legs and keeping your cardio up, added into the ability to generate power as needed for Ham Radio, GPS units and other items this is a small price to pay.

I am aware that there are multiple approaches to generating power this way, however, all of those approaches require careful building to avoid surges and promote best power results. This is a setup that has already taken all of that into account. These are built specifically to provide energy without surges and at rates that are equal to wall outlets and standard plugins.

If you have the chance pick one or more up! The pocket socket may not be the easiest unit to use when compared to solar panels and the like, it does, however, provide a mechanical approach to generating energy.

As with all reviews, ask any questions you want and be sure to let me know what your results are if you have one!

Check the current price on Amazon.com

Free the mind and the body will follow…

Homesteading Progress and Preps For The Week

Hello everyone, I hope that you’ve all had a good week and managed to get some stuff done this week… we’ll get into homesteading progress and prep in a moment but first I want to ask you all a couple of questions…

First, what type of content and subjects would you like to see more of here at MDCreekmore.com? As you’ve probably noticed I’ve been writing and posting a lot of different ways to make extra money and or become totally self-employed.

I’ve been doing this because “a lack of money” has always been the number one response to the question “what is your biggest obstacle to prepping or setting up a homestead” so I’ve been doing everything that I can to give you ideas and ways to solve the problem that you told me that you had.

However, from the lack of responses, it doesn’t seem like readers are very interested in the subject of making extra money and being self-employed… Have I not been covering the topic correctly, or in a way that’s actually helpful to you? If not, then what can I do differently to help you more?

Okay, now on to the next question for you…

I’ve been playing with the header subtext and would like to know what you think… take a look at the samples below and let me know which one that you think fits the blog best and that I should use via the poll below…

Header 1
Header 2
Header 3
Header 4
Header 5
homesteading and self-reliance
Header 6

[poll id=”2″]

Okay, not that we have that out-of-the-way let’s get on with Homesteading Progress and Preps For The Week…

This week I…

I filled with survival gear and buried this waterproof cache tube in a secret location. If you want to buy one of these then you can get one here.
Planted blueberries…
I got my garden tiller fixed and now I’m ready to till my garden area for planting…
Planted Roses…

Okay, that’s it for me this week… What about you?

Homestead Income: The Wonderful, Chaotic, World of Freelance Writing

by Sawyer S

freelance writingWhether you’re looking for a full-time career or a side hustle to make ends meet, freelance writing can offer anyone with a unique voice and strong work ethic a flexible, diverse, and engaging way to make money. Being a freelance writer means making your own hours, choosing your own projects, and working from anywhere. It can provide creatives with more financial freedom and can help aspiring writers cultivate a portfolio and platform for their future careers. That being said, being a freelance writer isn’t easy, and getting started often proves more difficult than people realize.

I have been working as a freelance writer for over a year, and while I now find the job to be fulfilling and financially stable, I didn’t always. It took a lot of time and resilience for me to find my footing along the rocky road of freelancing, but now that I have, I can share some of the important lessons I learned and tricks I picked up along the way.

The first thing you have to consider before you even begin working as a freelancer is whether or not you’re going to use a platform. There exists a multitude of online forums which help connect freelancers with possible clients. There are free platforms, like Upwork and Blogmutt, and there are ones with membership fees like Contena.

These websites can be incredibly helpful for freelancers who are just starting out, and my not have any connections or experience. That being said, some of these platforms take a substantial cut of your earnings, and some make it near impossible to get jobs without paying for a premium account. Upwork, for instances, takes a hefty 20% of all your earnings, and BlogMutt’s free account option is really limited.


If none of those platforms sound appealing to you, maybe you need to carve your own path. While creating your own website can also be costly, and very time consuming, at least you have complete control and will get to keep 100% of the money you make. A few tips for starting your own website – make sure you know how to use social media (or hire someone who does), this will be your most effective outlet for reaching potential clients.

Also, ask around. Chances are you have friends who own business, or who are in need of some writing assistance. Let everyone know that you’ve become a freelance writer so that they think of you next time they need a new press-release, grant proposal, or are maybe just looking to spice up their LinkedIn bios.

Once you’ve decided how you’re going to approach freelancing, you have to learn how to promote yourself as a freelancer. Whether you chose to join a freelance platform, or want to create your own website, you’re profile/bio needs to be eye-catching and engaging. This is how potential employers are going to get to know you, so let them! Don’t suppress your personality for the sake of sounding professional.

Trust me, these employers have read thousands of professional sounding bios, and yours will not stand out. When you’re competing against the entire internet’s worth of freelancers, you have to take every chance you get to separate yourself from the herd. Don’t be afraid to start out your bio with a funny tagline, or your favorite quote – draw your reader in, and then outline your skills and experience.

Promoting yourself doesn’t end with your bio, however. You also need to know how to promote yourself when you’re applying for jobs – especially in the beginning. If you’re just starting out, chances are, you don’t have much of a portfolio to pull from when applying, which can be frustrating when every job you look at asks you to “send links to previously published work”. You’re going to run into that request a lot, but don’t let it discourage you. There are ways to get around it.

When applying for jobs for which you have no previous experience, you should start out by humbly admitting it. I have found that not only do employers respond well to honesty, but also lying and/or stretching the truth when it comes to getting freelance jobs can quickly land you in hot water. On most freelance platforms, there is a rating system, which is used by both freelancer and employer to evaluate each other after a job is complete. When you’re just starting out, one bad rating or comment can plague your entire profile, and make it very difficult to get any future jobs.


After you’ve admitted that you may be a bit underqualified for the job, you should always offer to send either inapplicable samples of your writing, that way they can at least gauge your raw talent, or, if you’re comfortable doing work for free, you can offer to send them a spec piece. A spec piece is something you write specifically for the project you’re applying to, but without any expectation of payment or compensation.

Unfortunately, not every employer is going to give you the benefit of the doubt. A lot of them will see that you don’t have any experience and immediately delete your application. It took me over a month to get hired for my first job, but once I did everything changed. With one good review and some well-needed experience on my resume, suddenly almost all my applications were being considered, and I was even sent unsolicited job offers!

After you’ve successfully completed a few writing assignments, and have padded your resume a bit, you can start being more discerning when it comes to applying and accepting jobs. The freelance writing world is notorious for being financially insecure, and as you will probably notice once you start looking for jobs, most clients pay astonishingly little. That’s why it’s imperative that you understand what kind of writer you are.

If you’re a quick creative writer who can pump out prose for hours on end then it might be worth it to you to get paid $300 for 30,000 words. But, if you’re a slower, more methodical writer, you should consider applying to long-form article jobs, possibly in the academic field. If you know how you write, and more importantly, know your worth, it will make sifting through the thousands of daily job proposals much easier.

Working as a freelance writer will be difficult, unstable, and frustrating at times, but you can rest assured, it will never be boring. There are countless job opportunities available for those willing to put in the effort, so stay committed and keep applying. Remember, even the most qualified writers once started out experience-less, portfolio-less, and begging for a chance. But they made it, and so can you.

Using Coupons To Save Money When Stockpiling Your Homestead Pantry

Extreme Couponing: Learn How to Be a Savvy Shopper and Save Money

Using coupons offers an opportunity for huge saving on food that you should take advantage of.

According to Wikipedia.com, a coupon is “A ticket or document that can be exchanged for a financial discount or rebate when purchasing a product. Coupons first saw widespread use in the United States in 1909 when Post conceived the idea to help sell their breakfast cereals”. So the concept is nothing new.

When I was in my early teens, I remember my mother clipping coupons from the Sunday paper; she would organize them in a small purse that she kept just for the purpose. She would wait for double or triple coupon deals to be advertised, and then she would go shopping.

I remember one time she managed to get over $260 worth of stuff for less than $10 – I was impressed.

I’ve used coupons to save money and stock up on survival supplies and food for several years and the saving can really add up fast. I’ve used coupons to save when buying everything from canned foods, tissue paper and toothpaste to dog food.

Now with the age of the internet, there is no need to clip coupons from the Sunday paper (but you still can). Now you can easily find discounts for virtually any product by simply going online and printing them off with your home printer – two of my favorite places for this is Coupons.com and MyPoints.com.

No, using coupons doesn’t emit the typical perceived image of a survivalist, but it sure makes a lot of sense from a financial stand point.

I think the main reason a lot of people avoid using coupons is that they are afraid of looking poor (even if they are). This is nonsense, and really, who gives a rat’s behind what the person waiting in line behind you thinks. I don’t. If they don’t like it they’re free to move over to the next checkout lane.

Stop worrying about what other people think – trust me your life will be better when you do.

Before you can start using coupons to save on your survival supplies, you’ll obviously need coupons. Coupons are all over the place you just have to know where to look.

The bulk of mine are printed off from the web or clipped from the Sunday newspaper. I’ve worked out a deal with a local store owner, where I get the papers they don’t sell for free. I often get ten or more all loaded with coupon inserts.

The vendor only has to send the header of the papers that didn’t sell to the publisher to get credit for unsold papers because the newspaper doesn’t want the old papers back and could not care less what the vendor does with them.

If you don’t want to buy the paper and getting a local vendor to give you the leftover papers isn’t an option, you can often get the paper and the coupons for free by asking friends, neighbors and relatives who buy the paper to pass it on to you when they are done reading it.

It’s common knowledge among couponers that some of the best coupons are found in print magazines, coupon mailers, food packaging inserts, and grocery store receipts.

Once start clipping and using coupons you’ll need to a way to stay organized. You’ll need to be able to find what you’re looking, when you need it, and to know what you have so you can avoid letting your coupons expire without using them.


I use a recipe box with dividers and sort by date and coupon type. For example; canned foods, deserts, over the counter meds, staples such as beans, rice, and oats, dog food, kitchen supplies such as dish soap, bath supplies, such as soap and toothpaste etc.

Working out a system to stay organized isn’t difficult, but it will go a long way toward maximizing savings and lessening your frustration. You can buy ready-made coupon organizers but I prefer my box because it was free. I go through my coupons once a month and weed out coupons that have expired or that I no longer want to use.

When using coupons you’ll be tempted to buy stuff that you really don’t need or never intended to buy, just because you have a coupon for it. Don’t do it. Unless of course, you can get it free. If you start buying stuff you don’t need just because you have a coupon for it, you’ll end up losing money.

Be sure to check prices before you buy – keep in mind that even with coupons, some brand named products can cost more than generics with coupons. Never buy a more expensive product because it has a brand name on it, many of these are from the same companies as their generic counterparts.

Watch for sells and stock up on items that you use that are on sale, especially when you have coupons for those items. Remember; some stores offer “Double Coupon Sales” or even “Triple Coupon Sales” that actually doubles the value of the coupons you have, such offers can lead to huge savings on the items you need.

And don’t overlook rebates and refund opportunities that are sometimes offered by-product manufactures – most manufacturers require you buy the product then mail in the cash register receipt along with the UPC barcode from the product. Keep these organized and send for the rebate or refund asap so you don’t forget and possibly let the offer expiration date pass.

Herbal Medicine: Trends and Traditions, Et Al: weekly product review

Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest (Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest)Legally I have to write a disclosure here, I PURCHASED THE BOOKS BEING REVIEWED HERE WITH MY MONEY and did not receive anything in exchange for a review of any type. Additionally, I am not a doctor any advice given is done so as part of a review and any questions or issues should be addressed to a medical professional. I did attempt to clarify some minor points such as his background and biography, however, he was unavailable for comment at the time of submission.

Books are among the most important tools that I can invest in when it comes to my children and the future through them. Specifically, literature that allows them to be better prepared where they live and outside these areas as well. One of the most important books I have in my extensive collection is, Herbal Medicine: Trends and Traditions. Additional works from this author include but are not limited too, Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest by Charles W. Kane as well as several others.

It is my opinion that some people make good teachers, others make great doers and lastly, there are a few who are both great doers and great teachers. I strive to simply do most days, this being said Charles W. Kane is someone who easily fills the role of teacher and doer. He is quite the opposite of what most people would expect, maintaining a low key life and attempting to stay out of the spotlight whenever possible. I believe, however, that his work is easily among the most important of the modern herbalists available.

His in-depth, well researched and proven methodologies allow for little argument from informed individuals who want to bolster their knowledge base or further increase it, to their great benefit. Additionally, his experience in the military, specifically in Afghanistan is something that does come into play with Herbal Medicine: Trends and Traditions.² Overall, I highly recommend his work regardless your place of residence, and especially if you live in the American Southwest and Northern Mexico.

I personally have lived in and around the American Southwest and other minor areas for over 3 decades now. Having moved to Cochise County, Sulfur Springs Valley specifically as a child in the 1980s the high desert is very much in my blood. In the 30+ years, I have spent in and around the Southwest easily 30% or more of that time has been spent quite literally living with the land. I know the plants, animals and even environmental habits of this arid land I love so very much. So the review of Charles W. Kane and his amazing masterpiece Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest is easily accomplished. My personal knowledge and experience in herbal medicine are not as in-depth as many here on this site.

Pros –

  • The work is concise and informative without being overbearing or discombobulated like so many tend to be.
  • Easy to read descriptions and step by step approaches allow for the well-read individual to easily navigate and utilize the information included.
  • Mr. Kane treats the reader as an adult, his approach is educated without being preachy, an important and very nice difference compared to many authors.
  • Pictures and descriptions are included with English, Spanish and even Latin names of plants included.
  • He also includes information with citations of that information if is based in medical journals and guide books.
  • My favorite information included is the techniques used for collection of EACH included plant as well as preparation techniques per medical information prior to the modern medicine approach.
  • He disabuses the notion that herbalism alone or western medicine alone are enough, quite in line with the simple approach of balance in all things.

Cons –

  • Pictures are included with blooming plants, however, in the Southwest, we have far more time spent with plants not in bloom, I understand the depth of work he put in so this is not a true problem though it may be something to consider for the future.

“How an herb is prepared is as important as how it is dispensed.” ¹ This is the constant reality that he promotes regularly. He is clear in showing that each individual plant may, in fact, have different approaches best suited to its preparation and the application of said herbs. Per the author, “I have included an extensive glossary, but know it is better to stretch yourself mentally than stay in the confines of “if you have xyz ailment take xyz herb”. Additionally, he states, “The usefulness of this book hinges on two questions: When should I use herbal medicines and how should I use them?” ²

I firmly recommend these books and others in the series for anyone interested in a serious examination of herb-based medicinal approaches. As the author states, “I have attempted to clarify the therapeutic value of the most popular plants currently used in western herbal medicine” and his strident warnings resonate with myself who have been the recipient of misinformed holistic care resulting in further degradation of issues not fixable with herbs. He writes, “Do not use herbal medicines as replacement for ambulatory care. Herbs perform poorly of used for organic problems when an organ or tissue group is broken beyond repair.” ² As a firm believer in a balanced approach, something akin to Taoism in my own life there is a very real need for a balance of physical, spiritual and emotional within our persons. Regardless our definition of spiritual, the idea is that we must, in fact, nourish the aspects of our individual person if we want to see a net benefit overall.

While these amazing books do not outline much in this regards he understands that herbal medicine is not, in fact, a cure-all. A most important distinction that many individuals fail to recognize within their own approach and a failing that I have seen quite often among the independent and individualistic persons that make up the homestead community at large; most especially within myself. We all have approaches that have worked for us over time, and in many cases, we have clung to our fixes and approaches at the potential exclusion of additional valuable information from others. It is my goal as with all of my reviews to present you with information that may assist you in better preparing your life and that of your loved ones for success on the homestead and in our daily prepping journeys.

While I am certain there are many knowledgeable individuals with regards to various herb-based medicines, I am also well aware of far more who have decided to ride the wave of old wives tales and bad information that plagues the internet and this sadly is not a good thing. Knowledge of and ability to use herbal medicine can be a very valuable, valid item to add to anyone’s chest of skills on the homestead; this being said, misinformation can kill you. Follow the precautions laid out by those who know and avoid approaches sold as a “cure all”. I for one have little to no real time or energy for individuals who peddle snake oil. This author and the many valuable books he has written are not snake oil, rather they are extremely beneficial additions to anyone’s chest of tools on the homestead.

Free the mind and the body will follow

¹ Kane, C. W. (2016). Medicinal plants of the American Southwest. Oracle, AZ: Lincoln Town Press.

² Kane, C. W. (2009). Herbal medicine trends and traditions a comprehensive sourcebook on the preparation and use of medicinal plants. Oracle, AZ: Lincoln Town Press.

Related Review:

Ten Amazing Book Related Life Hacks for the Modern Homesteader!

Books learning homesteadingSome of the following hacks will be familiar to many of you. While they will not all work for everyone they are all tested and work amazingly well. Things like these are often a balance of desire, need, and monetary ability.

For myself, I have time while I do not have excess monies which is why these hacks are used in some cases. For legal purposes, this is only an educational article and all hacks have been done by experienced professionals.

Bookshelves – line with plexiglass, this allows for ease of cleaning as well as protecting the books from sap and wood mites, long-term storage requires well thought out approaches!

Book storage – always upright with dust covers on, out of direct sunlight, keep temperatures stable between 65-75 degrees and as close to 40% humidity as possible.

Box storage for books – keep in stable climate controlled area, stack them horizontally with largest books on the bottom and working like a pyramid upwards.

Antique books – do not touch them with bare hands unless no other option is available, use dust free latex or poly gloves, clean hands well and dry well – oils in your skin can speed the deterioration of paper and ink faster, this is a negative thing!

L-Shaped brackets – use these for safe storage of your books, out of direct sunlight.

Cannot sleep after reading with your electronic reader? – on your reading device, the blue light filter allows for reading without overstimulation of the optic nerves and this allows for much easier sleep

Night vision – for the safety conscious use an eye patch on your best eye or keep it closed while reading at night, this will allow that eye to work as your vision if you need to switch from reading to something else at night! (practice shooting and or doing normal tasks with that eye alone!)

Reading powers your mind!– The more you read the more intelligent you become!

Cant read at the moment or know someone who doesn’t read well? Use audio books! – there are several great systems to use from Overdrive through Amazon and audible you can always expand your abilities and or simply get some enjoyment!

Want a reading nook and have no room? – over the ear headphones, your favorite tea or drink, and put a chair where you have air flow and out of direct sunlight…regardless space if you can fit a chair in it you now have your den! Use the headphones to block out sounds or pipe in some Strauss, Beethoven or Vivaldi and just relax!

Free the mind and the body will follow