NCPA Outdoors

joel

Modernized homesteading is utilizing self-sufficient skills that our grandparents lived by and combining them with some of todays technology and information to lead a healthy and productive life. Homesteaders are a diverse group of people who could live on a small plot of land or a few hundred acres, anywhere really. Simply put, homesteading is minimizing the reliance on others.

­

­We'll be working to fill out this section of the website with all of the information we can provide to help you along your journey to self-sustenance no matter what level of it you're looking to attain. Simply click on the links to our articles below or watch some of the videos for more information!

Global business solutions

Here's a sneak peak at some of the topics we'll be covering in the coming weeks!

Learn to save seeds.                                                                                    Know how to use non-electric lighting.
 

Learn the benefits of compost and how to make it.                                  Know how to purify water in different ways.
 

Make your own fire starter.                                                                          Know how to properly cut down a tree.
 

Know how to start a fire without a match.                                                  Know how to properly use a chainsaw.
 

Learn how to build a fire with wet wood or in the rain.                             Learn how to properly stack a wood pile.
 

Learn how to bake over an open fire.                                                         Learn to heat with wood.
 

Learn how to cook with cast iron.                                                               Understanding bee keeping and harvesting honey.
 

Learn how to dehydrate foods to preserve them.                                     Learn general sewing.
 

Learn how to plant a tree.                                                                            Learn how to brain tan a deer hide.

Maple Sugaring at the Montour Preserve Part 1

Maple Sugaring time at the Montour Preserve and Jon Beam, Assistant Director of the Montour Area Recreation Commission was happy to have us share the program with you.  He provides some history on maple sugar.

Maple Sugaring at the Montour Preserve Part 2

Maple Sugaring time at the Montour Preserve and Jon Beam, Assistant Director of the Montour Area Recreation Commission was happy to have us share the program with you.  He provides some history on maple sugar.

Sourcing Garden Seeds

Tomorrow is the first day of spring and the forecast is calling for yet another half foot of snow! If walking through the home improvement stores has you fired up for spring and ready to get out in the vegetable and flower garden, here are a few places to order seeds from. There's a wealth of information in some of the catalogs and you'll find a huge selection of items not typically found in the big box stores.

Upgrading a Troy Bilt rototiller with a new Honda engine

The old Tecumseh engine ran hard and true for several decades but eventually grew tired these last few years. Last year it became the cause of frustration so it was time to upgrade the engine to a new Honda 200cc.

 

This video includes a few technical tips to assist anyone who is interested in a "new" tiller for a lot less money. Interested in learning more? Join us at NCPAOutdoors.com
 

Fun with Foil Packs at NCPA Outdoors

Have you ever heard of a foil pack? Join some of the guys at NCPAoutdoors.com as they show you step by step how to put the perfect foil pack together. If you're enjoying the weekend camping, perhaps along the creek fishing, busy in the woods all day or just gathered around the campfire in the backyard, foil packs are a simple, effective and delicious meal that's fun to make and did I mention, delicious!?

They're so versatile, so quick and easy, that I challenge you to try one this weekend and let us know how they turn out!

An Intro To Blacksmithing

 

The art of blacksmithing is a time-honored tradition that Merle Eiffert has been practicing for more than 20 years. Twice a year, during the Apple & Cheese Festival, and again during the Wine & Cheese festival held at the Manley-Bohlayer Heritage Farm just outside of Canton, PA, Merle gives demonstrations and offers some of his custom pieces for sale. In addition,  two classes are available for interested people to learn and create their own blacksmithing piece. The 8 hour class shows you everything you need to know and Merle guides students each step along the way.

In this episode, we'll introduce you to Merle, the heritage farm and the art of blacksmithing. A forthcoming episode will take you along as we attend one of the classes and build our very own, custom plant hanger.

For more information, visit meiffert.com, and paapplecheese.com

Bob Webber Trail - Pine Creek Gorge

Bob Webber (1934 - 2015) spent his life in a small, hand-built cabin, absent electricity and running water, overlooking the Pine Creek gorge outside of Slate Run, PA. Working with the Pennsylvania  Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as a forester, Webber cared for the Valley by carving out hiking trails throughout the region for others to enjoy. He kept a battery powered radio at the cabin to stay up-to-date with things that were going on "in the real world", and would travel by foot to the Slate Run, PA Post Office every so often to gather any letters or messages from people that wanted to visit him. He was also known to communicate via smoke signal with others in the Pine Creek Valley.

Upon his death, one of his favorite trails was named in his honor. The challenging 1.7 mile switchback takes would-be hikers to several hand crafted oak benches and a breathtaking view overlooking the gorge. The trail head begins just across Route 414 approximately 2 miles north of Cammal, PA and is a spectacular sight any time of the year.