Thursday, June 30, 2011
Countries Around The World Want To Rein In Commodity Traders
Anything with the words "central database" scares me. This time it is in relation to nations around the world calling for more food regulation. They say they want to improve self sustainability, which is a good thing, again, you get those dreaded words... Read more...
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Paracord cross knot key fob
Monday, June 20, 2011
Small Town With BIG Dreams
Just a few miles to the north of us we are taking care of the homestead of a friend of ours that has gone out of town fo a week. To get to their place, we have to drive through a little blurb of a town, it's one of those towns that if you blink you'll miss it. I will spare the name of this town to protect the innocent, but my wife and I have discovered something about this little town that may be a shock to some, something that would not be expected.
You have to understand that this place has as many buildings as I have fingers on one hand. I would estimate that 99% of them are residential, farms and one HUGE junk yard-right next to the road. It is not a ghost town, but it is awfully close. It once was home to a post office, many years ago-like say the 1400's or something. But other than a few homes, there is nothing there.
But here is the part that we discovered; the highway (if you can call it that, it is paved after all), has been adopted.
That's not so strange or unusual, you say? True, it is not. Adopt a highway programs have become quite popular in recent years and are a very good thing. These programs and the volunteers go to great lengths to help keep the road ways free of trash and debris, for that they are to be commended. No, that is not the interesting discovery. What is interesting is the organization that adopted this particular stretch of highway. It was adopted by the teeny, tiny, miniscule, little town's CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. If you do not find this in the least bit humorous, I refer you to the brief description of the teeny, tiny, little town above. They have a Chamber of Commerce!
We chuckled at the sign that stated, "This road has been adopted by the (blank) Chamber of Commerce" and asked just what "commerce" actually takes place in this teeny, tiny, little town with NO businesses? Obviously, the few people (say no more than 20) that live there are VERY optomistic. God bless them, I hope they reach their goal. Surely they are trying to attract businesses to the area, or something. However, there is nothing around for many miles. I am not even sure that the Chamber has a chamber, if you know what I mean.
You have to understand that this place has as many buildings as I have fingers on one hand. I would estimate that 99% of them are residential, farms and one HUGE junk yard-right next to the road. It is not a ghost town, but it is awfully close. It once was home to a post office, many years ago-like say the 1400's or something. But other than a few homes, there is nothing there.
But here is the part that we discovered; the highway (if you can call it that, it is paved after all), has been adopted.
That's not so strange or unusual, you say? True, it is not. Adopt a highway programs have become quite popular in recent years and are a very good thing. These programs and the volunteers go to great lengths to help keep the road ways free of trash and debris, for that they are to be commended. No, that is not the interesting discovery. What is interesting is the organization that adopted this particular stretch of highway. It was adopted by the teeny, tiny, miniscule, little town's CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. If you do not find this in the least bit humorous, I refer you to the brief description of the teeny, tiny, little town above. They have a Chamber of Commerce!
We chuckled at the sign that stated, "This road has been adopted by the (blank) Chamber of Commerce" and asked just what "commerce" actually takes place in this teeny, tiny, little town with NO businesses? Obviously, the few people (say no more than 20) that live there are VERY optomistic. God bless them, I hope they reach their goal. Surely they are trying to attract businesses to the area, or something. However, there is nothing around for many miles. I am not even sure that the Chamber has a chamber, if you know what I mean.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Farming And The Art Of Whinning
It would seem that a farmer is never satisfied. No, let me rephrase that, a farmer is never satisfied. All you have to do is spend some time sitting at the "liars table" at the local greasy spoon to learn this phenomonon. Don't talk, just listen to what they have to say.
Case in point: just a month ago you heard us crying that there was too much rain. In fact there was too much rain, we had close to 40 inches in the span of a month and a half. It was enough to make my feet grow webs and make me walk like a duck. I think I may have heard our youngest daughter quack once. The lakes and streams and rivers are all still overflowing. That was a month ago.
Since then we have had zero rain. There is an old saying in the Ozarks that we are never more than two weeks from a drought. Brother, ain't that the truth! Things around here have gotten so dry that the rocks are thirsty. The morning dew has become the morning don't. The sun has baked everything but the pie in the oven.
Now I'm not one to whine-OK, yes I am. But you have to understand that without rain the grass doesn't grow. Without grass the cows will starve-have you ever noticed that the weeds seem to find a way to grow in dry weather? They are always there and green t'boot. I'm thinking the grass could learn a thing or two from their neighbors and show a little more gumption.
I don't even want to get into the garden, I mean we could starve. Life won't be much fun if we have to go hungry, now would it? OK, maybe things aren't quite that bad, but you get my point. The main thing is that we need rain. We went from way too much to way too little in too short of a time. So, no, we homesteading types are never satisfied. There is always too much of this and too little of that, or the market is low, or the economy stinks etc...
The thing to do is to quit whinning and get on with life, right? But whinning brings a temporary relief for many, yes, me too. God says to trust in Him, HE makes it rain. So I need to look to Him for daily sustenance, which goes beyond food and grass and into the spiritual. With the Spiritual self in line, whinning becaomes a non-issue. "If a man lacks anything, let him ask in wisdom..." You knew there had to be a spiritual lesson in this, right? So, I'm going to shower the sweat from my body and gaze into the face of God and know that He is, then I will TRY not to whine tomorrow, or in ten minutes for that matter. Ugh.
Case in point: just a month ago you heard us crying that there was too much rain. In fact there was too much rain, we had close to 40 inches in the span of a month and a half. It was enough to make my feet grow webs and make me walk like a duck. I think I may have heard our youngest daughter quack once. The lakes and streams and rivers are all still overflowing. That was a month ago.
Since then we have had zero rain. There is an old saying in the Ozarks that we are never more than two weeks from a drought. Brother, ain't that the truth! Things around here have gotten so dry that the rocks are thirsty. The morning dew has become the morning don't. The sun has baked everything but the pie in the oven.
Now I'm not one to whine-OK, yes I am. But you have to understand that without rain the grass doesn't grow. Without grass the cows will starve-have you ever noticed that the weeds seem to find a way to grow in dry weather? They are always there and green t'boot. I'm thinking the grass could learn a thing or two from their neighbors and show a little more gumption.
I don't even want to get into the garden, I mean we could starve. Life won't be much fun if we have to go hungry, now would it? OK, maybe things aren't quite that bad, but you get my point. The main thing is that we need rain. We went from way too much to way too little in too short of a time. So, no, we homesteading types are never satisfied. There is always too much of this and too little of that, or the market is low, or the economy stinks etc...
The thing to do is to quit whinning and get on with life, right? But whinning brings a temporary relief for many, yes, me too. God says to trust in Him, HE makes it rain. So I need to look to Him for daily sustenance, which goes beyond food and grass and into the spiritual. With the Spiritual self in line, whinning becaomes a non-issue. "If a man lacks anything, let him ask in wisdom..." You knew there had to be a spiritual lesson in this, right? So, I'm going to shower the sweat from my body and gaze into the face of God and know that He is, then I will TRY not to whine tomorrow, or in ten minutes for that matter. Ugh.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
What Can You Do With D.E.?
There are several great uses for Diatomaceous Earth but many folks don't really know the "how" part.
One thing you can do is mix 1/4 cup od DE in a gallon of vinegar and pour it on insects and pests, or you can use it as a drench and pour it right down the hole of an ant colony. A great pest barrier is to put petroleum jelly around the trunks of trees and then lightly dust the jelly with DE. Some use DE to control bed bugs and is safe and effective.
A good tip is that less is more with DE, most times all you need is a bit in the palm of your hand and blowing it onto whatever. Use DE on your wood pile, under rocks and any other hiding place you can think of. For a barrier around the house, mix DE with water and spray it around the foundation. When the water evaporates the remaining DE will be effective for a very long time.
In the garden, dust your plants with it, but make sure to mist the plants with water first so the DE will stick and not blow away or get washed off in the first rain. Keep in mind that DE will also kill beneficial insects.
You can find DE in health food stores or at farm feed stores. This has become a must have on our homestead.
One thing you can do is mix 1/4 cup od DE in a gallon of vinegar and pour it on insects and pests, or you can use it as a drench and pour it right down the hole of an ant colony. A great pest barrier is to put petroleum jelly around the trunks of trees and then lightly dust the jelly with DE. Some use DE to control bed bugs and is safe and effective.
A good tip is that less is more with DE, most times all you need is a bit in the palm of your hand and blowing it onto whatever. Use DE on your wood pile, under rocks and any other hiding place you can think of. For a barrier around the house, mix DE with water and spray it around the foundation. When the water evaporates the remaining DE will be effective for a very long time.
In the garden, dust your plants with it, but make sure to mist the plants with water first so the DE will stick and not blow away or get washed off in the first rain. Keep in mind that DE will also kill beneficial insects.
You can find DE in health food stores or at farm feed stores. This has become a must have on our homestead.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
What is Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.)?
Interestingly, Diatomaceaous Earth, or DE is used all over by health conscious and all natural minded people for various reasons. The biggest reasons are for pest control in the garden and on and around livestock. You might ask, what is it, exactly?
DE is a mined substance from fossilized silica shell remains from single-cellular algae, most commonly called diatoms. These diatoms turned the silica they ingested into thei shells and are related to crustaceans.
If you use DE, make sure to find the food grade, or GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) for use around the homestead or business. The DE used in swimming pool applications is not regarded as a good insecticide, and because of its make up, can cause some serious problems if inhaled. So, make sure to use the food grade DE.
Another problem is that DE is abrasive to the eyes, as well as the lungs, so use eye protection when working with it. Come back soon to learn about some great uses for the food grade DE.
DE is a mined substance from fossilized silica shell remains from single-cellular algae, most commonly called diatoms. These diatoms turned the silica they ingested into thei shells and are related to crustaceans.
If you use DE, make sure to find the food grade, or GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) for use around the homestead or business. The DE used in swimming pool applications is not regarded as a good insecticide, and because of its make up, can cause some serious problems if inhaled. So, make sure to use the food grade DE.
Another problem is that DE is abrasive to the eyes, as well as the lungs, so use eye protection when working with it. Come back soon to learn about some great uses for the food grade DE.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
What Does The U.N. Have To Do With Our Guns? Plenty-Apparently
The U.N. has decided that they don't like the idea of private gun ownership-especially in the U.S. Here is a shocker, I don't really care what anyone else in the world thinks about my rights, you shouldn't either. Be on the alert for this.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Joplin Tornado Survivors Get Grass Fed Beef
American Grass Fed Beef served thousands of free grassfed meals to survivors of the Joplin, Missouri, tornado over the Memorial Day weekend. AGA is located in nearby Doniphan, Missouri. The meals consisted of grassfed beef burgers and pulled pastured pork plus sides, fruit and bottled water. Over 5000 meals were served over the three day holiday.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
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