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Cool Tools

Heavy-duty makeshift shelter
Tundra Tarps


Camping beside a windblown lake or a tundra riverbank, where the wind never really stops, is hard on tarps:  grommets blow out, seams pop, and there never seems to be enough spots on the tarp to attach a line. Tundra Tarps are terrifically versatile, stout tarps. Instead of grommets the tarp is ringed with 3/4" nylon ribbon with loops sewn in every two feet on the outer edge and interior seams. The sil-nylon material is stitched together using a single needle lockstitch with double stitched lapped ends -- in other words, the cloth will fail long before the seams. The most delightfully ingenious innovation is a central "quad loop" that captures the end of a pole, staff, stick or paddle and hold it firmly in place so that when the wind lifts, the center support does not fall out.

After three years of canoing, camping and backpacking with the Tundra, the tarp is still one of my favorite pieces of gear. I originally purchased one 10' x 16' tarp for a canoe trip to Canada with a crew of nine Boy Scouts. The tarp has sheltered a crew of nine in violent thunderstorms and been a palatial home for one on backpacking trips. There are cheaper options out there, but from my experience, none matches the true versatility and quality of the Tundra Tarp. Weighing a mere 2 pound 10 ounces, it does not add substantially to the load; there is also a 1 pound 10 ounce version available for an additional $80.00. Each tarp ships with 80 feet of polyester cord, a tube of SilNet sealant and a stuff sack. They are sized from 8' x 10' to 15' x 15'.

The company will also sew your choice of colors, either a single color for the whole tarp or multicolored panels. My tarps are multicolored -- orange, red, blue, and yellow -- which  makes them very easy to spot when canoing back to camp. I purchased a second tarp this summer when we added a second crew to our annual canoe trip. We're going to get three more to outfit our entire Scout Troop this fall.

-- Clarke Green

Tundra Tarps
$80+
Available from Cooke Custom Sewing
http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/tundratarp.htm

Manufactured by Cooke Custom Sewing
http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/

Quad Loop



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Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:


Flea Market Canopy
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000147.php


Tarptents
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001809.php


2-Second Tent
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001304.php


*******
Best US state wall maps
Raven Maps



Raven maps are artwork. They are the most detailed US state maps you can find on one sheet. Printed in exquisite detail on heavy paper, they radiate clarity. Their colored shaded relief highlights the topology of their place with intelligence and precision. Unlike most maps, Raven maps deliver two perspectives at once -- an expansive overview and tiny close-up details  -- a very rare combination you won't find in an atlas or road maps.

These single sheet maps are also huge --  the California map, for instance, is more than 5 feet high. If you have a blank wall, the blend of art and science in these wall maps can't be beat. They act like a doorway or window. I've found that most folks can spend hours studying their home state, reveling in the vast overview and minute discoveries -- "hey, I didn't know about that!" -- of their own turf.

They also make fine gifts. If you get the laminate version you don't need a frame.

-- KK



Raven State Maps
$50 laminated
$30 unlaminated

Available from Raven Maps
http://www.ravenmaps.com/prostores/servlet/StoreFront

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Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:


Free Topo Maps
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002970.php


World Map Wallpaper
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000045.php


Nelles Maps
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001743.php


*******
Skater's pavement paddle
Kahuna Big Stick


 The Kahuna Big Stick is a lightweight wooden shaft with fixed rubber wheels that allows a skater to push and pull while keeping balanced with both feet as opposed to pumping with one foot. On the level, it is way superior to foot-pumping. Even on uphills, I've found if I do a few foot pumps, then follow with a few paddles, it's faster and smoother. On slight downslopes, I can now get a lot more speed by not having to foot pump. It's got me skating a two-block section in town that used to be too slow. Plus, it adds an upper body workout to a sport that, traditionally, challenges your legs mostly. Surfers see me with it and invariably break into a grin; they instantly get it and are charmed. It really is incredible. The day I got my 5' 6" Big Stick, I tried it out in a parking lot while getting gas. Boy! After about five tentative strokes, I started reaching out as far as I could, zooming around. Later that night I decided to skate in the streets (no cars). I got in a bunch of half-mile downhills in an hour. It is insane fun. One disadvantage: you're carrying this stick rather than free skating down hills.

-- Lloyd Kahn

Kahuna Big Stick
$ 90+
(5' - 6')
Available from Kahuna Creations
http://kahunacreations.com/bigstick.html

NOTE: to see the Big Stick in action, check out this video. --sl

(image via Stand Up Paddle Surfing Magazine)

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Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:


Downhill Skateboarding
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002998.php


Epic Kayak Paddles
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000250.php


Xootr
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002972.php


*******
Ultra-bright lighting for cyclists
Dinotte Bike Lights


I'm of the belief that if cyclists want to be treated as vehicles, they should make every effort to be visible at night. I chose Dinotte because their LED tail lights alone are, by far, brighter than any others I've tried. Although they actually sell a 600L tail light (that's 600 lumens!), the 140L tail light, which I use in combination with a 600L headlight, is bright enough for my purposes. My 19-mile commute is on rural roads that are dark in the fall and winter. More dangerous than dark is dawn and dusk. People can see you if they are looking for you, but a lot of drivers on my route are in a hurry as they rush to and from work, so they cut across the country roads looking for a shortcut, talking on their phones, eating breakfast, etc.

Now that I have my lights, I run them on flash mode when it is dusk -- the bicycle equivalent of daytime running lights. I notice cars pass at a greater distance than bikes with standard blinkers. I have also found I get comments from people. One person actually thought there were police flashers coming from around the bend in the road! The instructions even caution you to mount the tail light to prevent aiming it directly up at the drivers behind you. After years of wondering if the cars coming up behind me actually notice my tail light (and me), I now have confidence they do. With the blinking headlight, I can see speed limit signs 200 meters ahead flashing in the distance.

The big advantage of the 600L over HID and halogen systems is the battery life -- 3.5 hours on high and 7 hours on medium with the rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Since I have two battery packs -- one for the front and one for the rear -- I feel good that should I have any problems in transit, I can always string a cord and tap into the other. Bulb life of an LED is also a big advantage to these lights, obviously. One of the questions I had when ordering the headlight was whether the beam pattern would be wide enough to take a steep downhill S-turn that is part of my route. I considered the wide lens option, but the company's excellent support counseled against it for road use. When I first took that S-turn at 25 mph one night during a new moon, I was impressed. Unless you're a mountain bike rider, the wide lens isn't too necessary.

The biggest downside to these lights is the cost. Cheaper lights are certainly adequate, depending on your situation and usage. I admit these are an awful lot of money, but people spend much more money on cars with power doors, locks, and windows. Add in cruise control and keyless entry. These are all conveniences. By comparison, a reliable and powerful bike light set is very practical. I think of it as insurance. In a few years, these lights will likely come down in price substantially as LED technology improves. If you can wait, you'll be able to save money. I simply didn't want to wait for the market to mature. My lights prevent accidents and they provide a degree of independence, allowing me to bike places I wouldn't otherwise be able to go.

-- Tim Langeman

Dinotte Bike Lights
$160
(rear: 140 lumen - red)
Available from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012LD5OY/ref=nosim/kkorg-20

$400
(headlight: 600 lumen - white)
Available from REI
http://www.rei.com/product/761866

Manufactured by Dinotte Lighting
http://www.dinottelighting.com/

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Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:


Pedalight Bike Pedals
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001734.php


Zipka LED Headlamp
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000693.php


SOLAS Marine Reflective Tape
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002843.php


*******
Guide to edible & useful foliage
Plants for a Future


In the 1970s British bus driver Ken Fern went back to the land. Twenty-five years later he published the first edition of this now-revised compendium, a catalog and guide to a staggering number of mostly-perennial plants that can be harvested for food and other uses. Literally, thousands of seed, root, fruit, flower and leaf crops from a range of bulbs, trees, shrubs, climbers, bamboos, water plants and more. Beyond climatic needs and appearance, plants are described in terms of their taste and, often, highly-specific use (e.g. Asarum canadense. SNAKE ROOT: "a ginger substitute in flavouring cooked foods."). The index is conveniently broken up into edible uses (like condiments and egg and salt substitutes) and non-edible uses (like basketry, disinfectant, and tooth care); for more, check out 100 Other Uses. And actually, the Plants for a Future web site offers a searchable database of 7,000 plants. While much of the info from the book is available online, the printed format can be easier to parse and digest. There are sections on "green manures" and how to mulch with cardboard boxes or newspaper and straw, as well as how to make a pond. Despite all the ideas and potential outlined in the book, the final chapter, "Future Possibilities," truly emphasizes the magical allure of cultivation and experimentation.

-- Steven Leckart

Plants for a Future:
Edible & Useful Plants for a Healthier World
Ken Pern
2000 (2nd edition), 300 pages
$20
Available from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1856230112/ref=nosim/kkorg-20

More info available from Plants for a Future, including lists of the best 143 plants for edibility and 54 for medicinal uses. --sl

Sample Excerpts:

Neleumbo lutea. the AMERICAN WATER LOTUS grows in water up to 2 metres deep in the wild but in cool temperate zones is best in water no more than 60cm deep... The baked root is sweet and mealy, somewhat like a sweet potato, though it is usually cut up and steeped in one or two changes of water beforehand in order to remove any bitterness. the seed can be eaten raw or cooked, when half-ripe it is ground into a flour and used for making bread, thickening soups etc. or eaten dry. It does have a bitter embryo and this is often removed before the seed is eaten . An edible oil can be extracted from the seed whilst the leaves and young stems can be eaten cooked.

*
Winter Salads

One other use of a sunny wall is to provide shelter in the winter which will enable plants to continue in growth and thereby extend their harvesting season. In this case the ground should not be too dry, but it must be well drained...The extra protection of the wall is all that the plants will need to encourage earlier growth or to protect established growth. This is far easier than trying to grow lettuces and the like in greenhouses or frames and is also more productive since many of the plants will also provide fresh leaves at other times of the year. Many of the plants are also very attractive and not at all out of place in the flower garden. The ideal place for this garden is near the kitchen door so that on cold wet winter days you do not have to travel far to get your salad.

In addition to a sunny, sheltered site, there are a few other factors to take into account when growing a winter salad garden. The first is that the ground must be free-draining. Excess water at the roots will actually cause more problems for the plants than cold weather.

In order to ensure that the plants produce strong, hardy growth that will stand up to winter cold it is important to ensure that the ground is not too fertile. You do not want to encourage the soft, sappy growth that occurs in very rich soils. On the other hand, you do not want a poor soil since, although the plants will tend to be more cold tolerant, the leaves will be tougher and less freely produced. Therefore it is a matter of striking a balance. Feed the plants, but only in the spring and only with compost. Do not apply fertilizers, especially those rich in nitrogen. If the plant growth does not look vigorous enough in the summer then you can supplement the compost by giving the plants a liquid feed as described in Chapter 1.

When harvesting the leaves, it is especially important to take into account the plant's growth habit. Winter is a time when little new growth is made and so you cannot harvest the plants in the same way that is possible in the warmer months of the year. In general, this means harvesting just a few leaves form a plant at a time and allowing it to recover before picking again...

Allium species. Few salads are complete without an ONION to flavour them. The following species will enable you to harvest fresh leaves all through the winter.

    A. neapolitanum. DAFFODIL GARLIC leaves are sweet with a delicate garlic flavour and are available from November to April. See also page 87.
    A. schoenoprasum. CHIVES come into growth very early in the year and will provide pickings from late winter. See also page 88.
    A. cepa 'Perutile'. The EVERLASTING ONION can be harvested all 12 months of the year. The leaves have a strong onion flavour and are used like spring onions. It is possible to cut off all the leaves of a plant (being careful not to damage the bulbs) at one time. New growth will be slow in the winter, but the plant will grow back satisfactorily. See also page 105.
    A. fistulosum. The WELSH ONION has onion-flavoured leaves which are often available all year round and can be harvested like the verlasting onion above. See also page 106.

*
Most organic gardeners, when confronted by a heavily weed-infested site, will reach immediately for the fork or spade and spend many hours laboriously digging out as many weeds as they can. Not only is this exceedingly hard work, but it is often far less than successful. Many of the weeds, such as couch grass or thistles, will soon regrow with renewed vigour if even small parts of the roots are left in the ground. There will also usually be an explosion of germination from literally millions of seeds that have been given ideal germination conditions. The newly-dug ground will very soon be covered in weeds again.

The alternative, once more, is to mulch. But this time there must be some organic barrier placed below the mulch to prevent all the weeds from growing through. We have found that cardboard boxes are an ideal barrier to use. They are usually freely available in quantity from local shops, etc., will form an excellent barrier for a year or so, in which time most of the persistent weeds will have died, and then will rot down nicely to add their own organic matter to the fertility of the soil. Other materials that can also be used include newspapers (but try to avoid to many with colour printing and do not use colour supplements on land where you intend to grow food) and carpets (but only those made of natural materials such as hessian -- avoid foam-backed carpets).

It is very important to ensure that you apply a sufficient thickness of barrier mulch, otherwise the more vigorous weeds such as thistles and docks will push their way through it. A carpet that is not too worn is usually sufficient, carboard boxes folded flat but not opened out are generally enough, and newspapers about 15 sheets thick are also adequate. make sure that the edges of the boxes or whatever overlap by at least 8 cm, otherwise the weeds will soon find their way to the surface. Autumn and early winter is the ideal time to mulch weed-infested beds, though it can be done at any time of the year so long as as the soil is not dry.

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Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:


Peaceful Valley
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000701.php

HortIdeas
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000489.php


Mother Earth News
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000682.php


*****************************************
Other previously reviewed COOL TOOLS items can be found at http://www.kk.org/cooltools/ -- sl

--
Steven Leckart        
Editor, Cool Tools

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