by Vago Damitio
Tin can stoves.
Tin can alcohol stoves are great. They are smokeless and boil water in about 7 minutes.
Cut the bottoms off two soda cans about one inch high. Use a nail to poke holes in the bottom of one. Use a small nail and poke a bunch of holes. Fill the holeless can with cotton balls, strips of t-shirt or whatever cotton material you have. Nest one can inside the other so you’ve got a sort of hockey puck. Set it with the hole can facing up. Pour in a little kerosene, or alcohol and light it up. Not recommended with gasoline or other highly combustible fuels.
Here are a couple of sites that show how to make tin can stoves
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SekjzXDa52w
www.instructables.com/id/Alcohol-Stove-4
Camp and Food Storage.
Scrounge around some restaurants and see if you can get some of the big gallon cans or glass jars with lids. Clean them out and then fill em up with flour, rice, dried beans, and other staples. If you don’t know how to cook with these get yourself an old cookbook and start practicing.
Sleeping Bag
If you have a decent sleeping bag use it, if not old curtains and blankets etc can be made into a nice bag with a little bit of sewing. A sleeping bag is just two bags, one inside the other, with the space in between them stuffed with insulation. So, really, any insulation will work. One good thing if you’re caught out in the weather and you don’t have enough insulation is to simply use the junk you find under trees like pine needles or something. Don’t laugh but newspapers are very warm. Cardboard is too. And who would steal a camp full of cardboard? No one. You can supplement a lighter sleeping bag that you take with you with cardboard and crumpled newspapers. Just be sure to keep the stuff dry. Plastic will do that.
Groundcloth
Plastic or burlap makes a decent groundcloth, pad, or tarp. the ground will get cold and uncomfortable without it. Heavy-duty 33-gallon garbage bags can be used to make a ground cloth, a poncho, or a small tent.
Get a Rope.
Spend the money to get a nice 50-foot nylon rope. I like the parachute cord, you’ll find a million uses for it. If you don’t want to spend do some dumpster diving and tie together a bunch of shoelaces and reel em on a stick. It will come in handy, I promise.
Finding Gear
Apartments usually have people that throw tons of stuff away, also keep an eye out for garage sales and scour the free boxes after the sale ends. Books can usually be sold at used bookstores, a lot of vintage clothing can be sold, and other stuff can be sold at garage sales, on Ebay, or on craigslist.
There is no limit to what you can make from the garbage of other people except your own ability to figure it out.Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Old curtains or material can easily be made into a blanket. The ideal size is at least 60” wide by 2 yards.
There is no shortage of old shoes in the trash and shoestrings can be used to make all kinds of rope and cordage simply by tying them together and spooling them on a stick.
Beat up sandals usually have useful leather straps attached to them.
Old mesh orange sacks work well as a carryall bag or a pot scrubber.
Empty soda bottles work great as canteens. Wash them out with a little bleach first.
Filling egg carton cups with sawdust or lint and pouring old wax over the top can make fire starters.
The list goes on and on. Use your imagination and you will find that you rarely need to buy anything. Especially expensive gear.
Finding Fresh Veggies and Fruits
Abandoned houses often have old gardens that still have edibles growing in them, feel free to harvest, but I always like to leave things better than I found ’em so think about throwing some beans or corn seed in the ground…it’ll help you or someone else. If there’s a hose, water the garden, if not, piss on it. Cultivating a community garden is another good idea…
If there are farmers markets in your area go there early and late and offer to help load or unload boxes and grateful farmers will usually hook you up with what they don’t sell at the market or sometimes with grade a produce.
Get a book from the library or read it in a bookstore or online to familiarize yourself with the edible wild plants in your area.
Volounteer at the foodbank and you usually get prime stuff… they appreciate your help and you get to help other folks out which feels good by itself.
Leaving a Camp. I always like outfitting my camps with stuff I find in dumpsters or the woods (abandoned camps) that way if it gets ruined or lost it’s no big deal. At one point I had five camps all stocked and left in tact.
APPENDIX 4: MORE RESOURCES
The truth is I can only show you so much. Happiness is in your hands. Find you passion. Find your freedom and find a passion income. All there is to it, is to do it. Here are a few places you can find freelance work and more resources.
Freelance Switch — A community of freelance professionals from around the world, spanning all manner of fields. www.freelanceswitch.com
Freelance Folder — Freelance Tools, Advice and Resources
www.freelancefolder.com
Elance — Freelance listings where you can bid to get jobs against other workers www.elance.com
The forums at Digital Point — More than just how to blog. Search ‘WTB’ to find what jobs people need done. Forums.digitalpoint.com
Problogger.net Jobboards — Freelance jobs for blogger and writers
Small Business and Education Resources:
IttyBiz — small business blog (focusing on marketing)
www.ittybiz.com
Entrepreneur’s Journey — online business blog by Yaro Stark
www.entrepreneursjourney.com
Coursera — Free courses in everything you can imagine
www.coursera.org
Motivational Resources:
Steve Pavlina — Personal development resources
www.stevepavlina.com
Lifehacker — How to make things and change your life
www.lifehacker.com
Seth Godin — Pure genius motivational stuff
www.sethgodin.com
Zen Habits — Ways to make yourself better, faster, stronger, richer
www.zenhabits.com
Blogger Resources:
ProBlogger — the must‐read blog for anyone wanting to make money blogging. Darren’s enthusiasm and gentle spirit shines through his writing, and there’s a huge amount of in‐depth free content.
www.problogger.net
Daily Blog Tips — more focus on the technology of blogging. High‐quality information from Daniel Scocco, who runs a number of online businesses. www.dailyblogtips.com
JohnChow.com — John Chow is one of the most successful bloggers in the world and he doesn’t mind sharing what he does or trying to sell you his products www.johnchow.com
Book Resources:
4 Hour Workweek — Timothy Ferriss
How to work for just four hours a week and live your life the rest of the time.
Career Renegade — Jonathan Fields
How to find your passion and make a living from it.
No More Mondays — Dan Miller
If you want to find your true calling, this book will help you. Inspiring and encouraging with great cartoons too.
How to Make Your Dreams Come True — Mark Forster
To-do lists and how to pull instead of push
The Success Principles — Jack Canfield 25 principles to make you succeed. Very motivational. Canfield became a millionaire with Chicken Soup for the ___ Soul.
Personal Development for Smart People — Steve Pavlina
Sometimes profound, sometimes maddening. Well worth the time it takes to read it
Get Everything Done (And Still Have Time to Play) — Mark Forster
How to cut commitments, stay focused, and get everything done.
APPENDIX 5: MY 2000 ANARCHIST MANIFESTO
I wrote this anarchist manifesto August 6, 2000. It was shortly be
fore I bought the bus and moved into it. Shortly before my world changed by embracing Rough Living. I thought it might be interesting for you to read.
The following is an approximate summation of my beliefs as an anarchist and a human being. My system of beliefs is constantly evolving and so it is impossible for me to put down on paper anything more than the basic premises that define my overall worldview. I do not write this to have anyone agree with me. Chances are that at some future point, I will not agree with everything contained herein.
This is not a picture of a future anarchist society. There are no examples of ways individuals or collectives can solve problems. There are no guidelines for bringing the revolution to a head. This document simply defines the way that I have chosen to structure my life as an anarchist. I encourage you to read what I have to say, adapt the parts you like to your own worldview and to e-mail me with comments and ideas so that I can continue to evolve as a human being.
I heartily discourage you from adopting my (or anyone else’s) ideas in whole without spending sufficient time thinking, researching, questioning, discussing, and changing them to fit with the definition of what you believe.
I. Background
There are plenty of historical, scholarly, and scientific definitions of anarchism. Enough so that I feel comfortable jumping straight to my personal definition:
Anarchism — a political system composed of non-system wherein the adherents are enabled to be complete human beings and exercise free will to the extent that other human beings are not restricted in their own exercise of free will, a non-system where individuals are allowed to work out their own destiny (karma) and organize individual and community ideals of living both alone and together.
There are of contradictions in this definition i.e. a system which is a non system. The truth is that contradictions are normal. Look for them and they exist everywhere.
II. My Personal System
I believe that each person is responsible for creating his or her own set of rules to live by (10 commandments, code of conduct, etc.) As stated above, I also believe that each individual is responsible to personalize their rules…i.e. take the 10 commandments and make them your own. (Thanks to Robert Heinlein for introducing this concept in Time Enough for Love )
The following are my 10 commandments, they form the basis of who I am (right now.)
1. You’re not the boss of me, I’m not the boss of you. — this rule goes back to childhood when we were all equal. Remember when one kid would start acting like the boss, we’d always say “You’re not the boss of me,” kids are born anarchists and it takes years of conditioning to create whatever it is our society turns them into. I’ve added the second part to remind me that I too am conditioned to “take charge” and I am not the boss of anyone else either. The truth is no one is the boss of anyone. Leadership is derived from either consent or coercion. Consensual leadership is a giving process that utilizes compassion. Coercive leadership is a taking process that utilizes fear.
2. NO-thing is SOME-thing. This rule is to remind me that a lack of anything is still something. If you create a vacuum in a bottle there is nothing in the bottle except a vacuum -that is something. If you eliminate all hierarchical systems in day to day activities there will be a vacuum of order. The vacuum of order (anarchy) is not non-existant simply because NO thing defines it.
3. Over esteem leaders and the people lose their power. Over value possessions and people begin to steal. This one is straight from the Tao Te Ching. It says to me people are people and stuff is stuff but there is something else more important so don’t put too much value on what any person (including yourself) says or has.
4. What isn’t worth saying or doing isn’t worth thinking about. If you are thinking about saying or doing something either do it and accept the consequences (good or bad) or quit thinking about it. Take a stand or shut up.
5. Autonomy builds community. If you are able to take care of yourself, you are more valuable to your community. Not only are you not a problem, you become a part of the solution. By asking the community (the state) to take care of us, we give up the joy of knowing we can take care of ourselves and (later) of each other. Focus on being the provider of your own needs and you will have better relationships with spouse, children, co-workers, and friends.
6. Don’t preach, live your life and let others ask the secret of your happiness (success). This seems like another contradiction if you take this treatise as a sermon. However, I am not forcing anyone to listen to me. I am simply defining my own existence in the hope that it will encourage others to define their own existence. The essence of this one is twofold 1) don’t try to force your ideas on others 2) be prepared to share your ideas with others when asked to. I assume that your reading this is consent.
7. No one is right, no one is wrong. We are free to form our own ideas. We are free to agree or disagree with anyone. We are not free to make determinations of “right” and “wrong” this way lies totalitarian government. An idea may be appropriate or inappropriate but it may not be right or wrong in my reality. Galileo was “wrong” and the church was “right” etc etc etc. Right and wrong are subjective impressions based on worldview.
8. Walk a mile in the others moccasins before passing judgment. Before condemning someone for their actions try to figure out why they acted that way. A business person may be trying to be less of a burden, a cop may not know how else to improve society than enforcing society’s rules, and a thief may not know another way to live.
9. Respect others as you would be respected. This one is just about being cool. Don’t rip people’s personal shit off unless you want yours to be ripped off. Think how you would feel if you were treated the way you might be considering treating someone else. Don’t stomp on their beliefs or ideas…listen, acknowledge, question, and respect others.
10. What is a good man but a bad man’s teacher, what is a bad man but a good mans job. Another one straight from my Anarchist’s Bible (the Tao Te Ching). Think about it. A “bad” person gives you a chance to teach about true “goodness” by your reaction, your words, or your being.
III. The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease (the role of violence in the revolution)
We are entitled to defend ourselves. We have voices to speak up against the injustices of the world. Sometimes, it takes a little something extra to make the world listen to what we have to say. Violence against private property is an excellent way to make a point. If a company is abusing our right to exist, we ask them to stop, we use our voice, and then we begin to make it expensive for them to operate. This is the worst nightmare of a capitalist. Human life is cheap compared with the cost of operating a business to the capitalist. He (she) would rather you killed employees than destroyed his shop. Violence against property makes the capitalist angry and he (she) will try to provoke you to violence against himself or his employees so that he can feel justified in condemning you and your cause. This is why it is good to smash and run. This leaves the capitalist unable to conduct business and yet uninjured. It also leaves you uninjured if he (she) should have a gun handy. Leave the looting for those who don’t know any better, stuff is a burden we do not need for fulfillment.
IV. How we will do things after and during the revolution (now)
That is up to us and our comrades. Each group (family, collective, cell, affinity group, etc etc.) must come up with their own way to solve problems and to provide necessities for the members of their community. In order to bring about the future, we must act now. Collectivize your business. Buy out your bosses (by grouping with your fellow workers and pooling your resources.) Seek out other anarchists with new ideas and ways of doing things. It is my thought, that if we all act as anarchists how we can, where we are, right now…we will suddenly find ourselves living in an anarchist world based on liberty, equality, and solidarity. Remain open to change, but most of all speak your mind.
ABOUT VAGO DAMITIO
Please feel free to find me at VagoDamitio.co
m. You can email me at [email protected] — I look forward to hearing from you! ~Vago
The Early Years
Vago Damitio was born on a crunchy snow white morning in Tacoma, Washington to a waitress and a musician on December 27, 1971.
He is the fifth generation of Damitio’s born in the Puget Sound Region and descended from the Walkers, Boones, and Mcleods on his mother’s side. There is some talk of royals and Cherokees in his family but one thing is certain, he was born of a family of pioneers. His ancestors were some of the first Americans in the Pacific Northwest, the first Europeans in the Americas, and the first oil men in the Gulf States. Both of his grandfathers worked in the Middle East during the 30′s, 40′s, and 50′s. Their far ranging tales and his grandmother’s collection of National Geographic Magazines led him to a thirst for travel and adventures.
His given name was Christopher and he was variously known as Chris, Christ (rhymes with Twist), and finally Vago. His childhood was spent exploring old ghost towns of the West, hiking in the mountains, and camping in the great National Parks of America. Significant time was spent digging underground forts and building treehouses in the mountains and forests of California and Oregon. An early love of books led to all of these forts being well stocked with books about travel and adventures.
From about the age of ten, Vago set about discovering how to survive in the wilds and create everything he needed. From solar stills to trapping, tanning skins to building bows and arrows from raw materials, to knapping stone tools surviving in the wilds with minimal tools or equipment. He would set out on solo camping trips in which he tested himself in the wilds from about the age of twelve onward. He became an expert with firearms and upon graduating high school opted to join the US Marines because it seemed like the most challenging thing he could put before himself.
