Kerosene heaters have caused more fires than CO deaths of course. Kerosene heaters were not that much of a threat in older homes that only had caulk in places to keep water out. Most people who used kerosene heaters when they were popular for home heating were used to alternative heating sources and made sure there was ventilation of some sort. You seem to want to go back to old days when things were more forgiving. Houses were not sealed up near like they are now. I am sure that ventless fireplaces are manufactured to compensate for tighter homes than back in the 80's but there are many different sealing techniques out there. The ventless fireplace you purchase might be fine in your home if all of the warnings and everything are followed. If you helped your friend put one in his home that has Tyvek and spray foam insulation with no CO detector he might be dead in a week. The warnings are out there.. homes are not the same now as they were back in the days before the big sealing and insulating push. Take an 80's kerosene heater and put it in a better sealed and insulated home and watch the CO detector go off. You know what I have had it with trying to tiptoe. I am sure the majority of ventless fireplaces are still designed for 'vented' homes. I am also sure there are some that are designed for very well sealed homes, you might have to add a power vent to change some of the air in the home. I know someone who has one in a newer home and I can smell it as soon as the door opens even if it hasn't been running for a couple hours. They are 'used to it'.. it feels nice, but it smells and does leave a smell. They are not totally happy with it and it will set off the CO detector if you sit the detector on the floor instead of 2' off the floor or whatever it is supposed to be at. Oh and this is an electric home other than the propane fireplace they had added, oh and no they do NOT sleep with it on as they do not trust it. I say go buy one, you will love it I am sure! I am sure it is all BS, I am sure it all is a bunch of people trying to naysay and scam others. They are so great that the only reason companies build vented models is for something to write off on taxes. Everyone in here is full of BS too. BTW I know of stories where there have been power outages due to storms with newer homes where people used a kerosene heater to keep warm and died from it and the heater was inspected and had no failure. The only failure was the house was TOO sealed up. OH this person I know is an assistant fire chief. Like anything else you will get what you pay for.. be it vented or unvented.. but with unvented you might 'pay for' what you get eternally. What am I talking about... I am full of BS. I wish you luck and hope you realize its not all a conspiracy theory.

Ooo I like the FB tallow quite a bit, a little creamier. But i couldnt really judtify the price, let alone have the patience fir delivery, but Home Depot had a formula for imitating that I will get a sample of. Here is an old picture of the place before we added anything and even finished the siding. As you can see it looks more like a hunting shack than a romantic candlelit cabin, and Very small! It has come along way from here but I've just sealed the knots in the pine so it looks a little silly or I would take new pic.

A lot depends on for what events/contingencies you're preparing. Some of the list is humorous. "Big dogs"? Kind of goes with goats & chickens? Liquor for bribes! And seeds? Probably should include an alternate mate to repopulate the world! LOL Ease up folks, some of it clearly was for entertainment purposes. But there are basic items I can't excuse people for not having in stock. If you don't have a supply of batteries in your refrigerator drawer, purchased when free or cheap, you deserve to suffer during a power outage. Again I endorse the crank flashlights/radios (until analog radio is turned off of course). I would suggest going with propane for lantern and stove fuel rather than the white gas ("Coleman" type) fuels. That stuff is explosive. If you doubt it, take a tablespoon and throw it on a campfire sometime. But be back a ways when you do it. A 20# propane tank can have splitters on it to run multiple lanterns and a stove, even a heater, much more safely than the white gas. Heavy garbage bags make excellent makeshift raingear. And don't forget about firestarters. If you're talking emergency situations, I'd suggest waterproof matches. Make your own by dipping the wooden matches in paraffin wax. Firestarters are many different kinds. Save some dryer lint. Works great. Keep it in a coffee can. Dip some cotton string in paraffin wax. Some books of matches waterproofed (with? yes, paraffin) works too and even the end pieces from candles you use in the house at holidays. A hatchet is a good idea to keep handy too. Essentially, camping fans will do fine in a lot of emergencies. Other cooking sources are your propane grill, kettle grill if you have charcoal and starters. A good alternative to thermal underwear is sweatpants and shirts. Even southerners often have these. Depending on the clothes sizes you can put a pair under and over a pair of jeans. Or the flannel lounging pants under and sweats over them. A few cans of waterproofing spray like Scotchguard will help keep them and you dry. Another little camping tip. Oh, and instead of a dedicated toilet, a portable toilet is made easily from a 5 gal pail, seat if you want to get fancy or even a folding camp stool or a lawn chair! A camp shovel and squat will work too. And if truly an emergency, modesty goes out the window. Fasten the toilet seat to the 5 gal pail and you won't have to argue about who left the seat up! :) Wire clothes hangers can be versitile tools. Use them to make your own lantern hangers, repairs, tie things together, and you can even hang clothes! (To dry and more.) Can also be used as a weapon to beat off people trying to steal your rats, chickens, goats and big dogs! ;) Personally, I think I would use duct tape instead of stockpiling screen patching but the idea of all of these suggestions is to get you thinking. I really think that doing some research on camping tips and tricks would be of great benefit to a lot of people. I live a rather modest life, austere to the view of many. But when the power was out for a week here the last time, I survived quite well. Comfortably under the circumstances and even had some luxuries that many others didn't. I had tv, radio, light, food, water, telephone... Not a huge disaster compared to some, but being prepared not just with supplies, but also in a state of mind. My last suggestion. On these ideas, why not put together a 3 ring binder or something with lists of what to do in certain situations? For instance, power outage, turn off as many breakers as you can, the crank flashlights are located in the hall closet, 1st aid tips, important phone numbers, insurance info, etc. Even ideas for food, crackers & PB (sans-salmonella, eat first from the frig, etc.) and how about including notes like check on the handicapped neighbor, your elderly relatives, etc. Could be helpful. Even though I disagree with some of the ideas, I do like these lists minnie_tx. Keep 'em coming. I like going through them and see how they compare to my checklists and I get ideas from most all of them. I appreciate your efforts.

I love the bright color. Makes a really nice plant stand. I agree with nonacook, I used to frequent often and I DON"T like the change so I just don't drop in any more Not just the bland it's harder to navigate. I haven't figured out how to stay logged in like I did on garden web so you have to start that song and dance all over every time and I'm not liking that!!!