Posted on 07/24/2009 3:37:21 AM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition Category: Roundups | Comments(15)
Did you hear about the guy that lives on nothing? No seriously, he lives on zero dollars a day. Meet Daniel Suelo, who lives in a cave outside Moab, Utah. Suelo has no mortgage, no car payment, no debt of any kind. He also has no home, no car, no television, and absolutely no “creature comforts.” But he does have a lot of creatures, as in the mice and bugs that scurry about the cave floor he’s called home for the last three years.
To us, Suelo probably sounds a little extreme. Actually, he probably sounds very extreme. After all, I suspect most of you reading this are doing so under the protection of some sort of man-made shelter, and with some amount of money on your person, and probably a few needs for money, too. And who doesn’t need money unless they have completely unplugged from the grid? Still, it’s an amusing story about a guy who rejects all forms of consumerism as we know it.
The Frugal Roundup
How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Save Some Money. A fantastic introduction to home brewing, something I’ve never done myself, but always been interested in trying. (@Generation X Finance)
Contentment: A Great Financial Principle. If I had to name one required emotion for living a frugal lifestyle it would be contentment. Once you are content with your belongings and your lot in life you can ignore forces attempting to separate you from your money. (@Personal Finance by the Book)
Use Energy Star Appliances to Save On Utility Costs. I enjoyed this post because it included actual numbers, and actual total savings, from someone who upgraded to new, energy star appliances. (@The Digerati Life)
Over-Saving for Retirement? Is it possible to “over-save” for retirement? Yes, I think so. At some point I like the idea of putting some money aside in taxable investments outside of retirement funds, to be accessed prior to traditional retirement age. (@The Simple Dollar)
40 Things to Teach My Kids Before They Leave Home. A great list of both practical and philosophical lessons to teach your kids before they reach the age where they know everything. I think that now happens around 13 years-old. (@My Supercharged Life)
Index Fund Investing Overview. If you are looking for a place to invest with high diversification and relatively low fees (for broader index funds with low turnover), index funds are a great place to start. (@Money Smart Life)
5 Reasons To Line Dry Your Laundry. My wife and I may soon be installing a clothesline in our backyard. In many neighborhoods they are frowned upon - one of the reasons I don’t like living in a neighborhood. I digress. One of our neighbors recently put up a clothesline, and we might just follow his lead. (@Simple Mom)
A Few Others I Enjoyed
* 4 Quick Tips for Getting Out of a Rut * Young and Cash Rich * Embracing Simple Style * First Trading Experience With OptionsHouse * The Exponential Power of Delayed Consumption * How Much Emergency Fund is Enough? * 50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind * Save Money On Car Insurance
Dutch group looks at metropolitan agriculture
Many farmers perceive the city as a threat to agriculture. The encroachment of urbanization
places pressure on farmland, while the great concentration of people in activities
leads to stiff competition for water, nutrients and energy. In addition large groups
of urban consumers are becoming ever more demanding about their food and the way
in which it is produced. Equally, many urban dwellers have a romanticized idea
of agriculture that no longer squares with present-day reality. The concern over
animal diseases and environmentally-polluting activities means that many urban
dwellers would prefer to see the exclusion of agricultural activities from their
metropolitan environment.
Garden plots built on old factory land in Belgium
“Bruggen naar Rabot” is the name used to designate several rehabilitation projects
in Gent (Belgium), opening up the development of a district considered the poorest
in Flanders. In 2008-2009 a re-development of an abandoned neighbourhood, “Rabot-Blaisantvest”,
was begun behind the courthouse. A large urban agriculture community garden was
established which comprised of micro-plots raised above the ground on concrete slabs
that had once supported the now destroyed Alcatel factory.
There’s a growing city appetite for what we once had down on the farm (Australia)
When I was growing up, in the 1960s, the supply of food we ate was tangible - outside
the dining room window. We had cows for milk; sheep that grew from suckling lambs
to Sunday lunch; chooks whose eggs we ate, and whose feathers we plucked, when their
recently headless bodies stopped the mad dervish dance; vegetables that still had
clods of dirt on them.
New York’s first citywide plan for urban agriculture
The Design Trust is currently seeking two fellows for Five Borough Farm, a project
to create New York’s first citywide plan for urban agriculture.
For the project’s
first phase, the Design Trust will select two fellows in the fields of metrics/evaluation
and policy/sustainable development. Deadline to apply is February 3, 2010.
Mudchute City Farm, London - Biggest urban farm in Europe
Just 10 minutes from Canary Wharf (London’s second financial district and home of
the UK’s three tallest buildings) on the Isle of Dogs, is a wonderful city farm
- Mudchute Farm. On 32 acres of fertile land (nutrient-rich as it is just next to
the Thames) live 200 animals, mostly rare breeds. Mudchute Farm is also home to
70 community allotments, a farm kitchen and restaurant, horse stables, and smokehouse.
Wood from the farm is used in the smokehouse where butter, geese, and cheese are
often smoked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More on these stories here:
City Farmer News [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102961411412&s=1304&e=001ioy_HDD30i37iFUOcFovSf3kNZPHG8XfXgUkNzMvLcTEUyjomXUw4vwhiStFjA-6aX7rGkJJnw4RUKD26CDkmZtO8opBHd7juSrIu0hYUCmZLmu645VZdw==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael Levenston
City Farmer - Canada’s Office of Urban Agriculture
32 Years! 1978-2010
It’s great to hear you got your deer. I’m a bit jealous. I managed to can up 19 pint jars of chicken last week. I cubed it up as you suggested. I made a big pot of soup with the leftover breast bones.
There was a hamfest in the area today that we drove past on the way home from church. My husband used to go to them all the time in the past, mostly to get computer parts and stuff. He was talking about maybe getting into the ham radio area as a new hobby (like he needs another one, lol), but at least it would have some very practical applications and benefits. Do keep us posted on the news you get from Haiti. What a terribly difficult situation, nightmare, those folks are going through.
You are welcome, your gardening thread is a good one for all of us to read.
Wonderful that your yogurt worked as you planned.
If it works for cheese, then you are indeed on a roll, for getting the temp right is so important.
The Rennet tablets always lasted /worked a long time for me.
Actually, while my wife was dipping the yogurt and mixing the strawberries in, I was finishing adding the spices to my sausage. Of course you have to test some to see if it is tweaked about right, so we had some of that along with fresh from the hen eggs and whole wheat, blackstrap molasses and cinnamon pancakes, covered with homemade peach syrup. Since the spice was about right, I then stuffed it all in casings, packaged and froze it.<<<
Heaven made food.
Try cooking some of your sausage in a pot of lima beans, instead of hocks.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2436113/posts?page=79
Store or Starve A beginner’s guide to food storage
nationalexpositor.com ^ | 1/21/10 | Ron Shirtz
Posted on Sunday, January 24, 2010 8:51:38 AM by Kartographer
Store or Starve A beginner’s guide to food storage
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
>>>Try cooking some of your sausage in a pot of lima beans, instead of hocks.<<<
Oh boy....
You just hit on one of my favorites!
Actually, this area is one of the major lima bean producing areas.
LOL, dried lima soup, with sausage and onion along with homemade bread - heavenly - particularly on a really cold day.
December Home Sales Down Nearly 17%
Sales of previously occupied homes took the largest monthly drop in more than 40
years in December, plunging far deeper than expected after lawmakers gave
buyers extended time to use a tax credit.
MORE DETAILS:
http://www.fox5vegas.com/tu/5N32O8fQe.html
Title: Grateful prey: Rock Cree human-animal relationships online access is available to everyone
Author: Brightman, Robert Alain 1950-
Published: University of California Press, 1993
Subjects: Anthropology | Anthropology | United States History | Religion
Publisher’s Description: The interaction between religious beliefs and hunting practices among the Asiniskawidiniwak or Rock Crees of northern Manitoba is the focus of Robert Brightman’s detailed study. This foraging society, he says, bases aspects of its hunting and trapping largely on what we call “religious” conceptions. . . . [more]
Similar Items
http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=ft0f59n6tb;query=;brand=ucpress
Title: Plant migration: the dynamics of geographic patterning in seed plant species online access is available to everyone
Author: Sauer, Jonathan D
Published: University of California Press, 1988
Subjects: Environmental Studies | Geography | Ecology | Botany
Publisher’s Description: Using cases of plant migration documented by both historical and fossil evidence, Jonathan D. Sauer provides a landmark assessment of what is presently known, and not merely assumed, about the process.
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$40 Rocket Stove demo:
http://www.tacticalintelligence.net/blog/rocket-stove.htm
... stove uses very, very little in the way of twigs and small sticks.
Exel/Exelint Huber needles,
Exel/Exelint Huber Infusion Sets
Exel/Exelint “Securetouch+” Safety Huber Infusion Sets
Audience: Hospital Risk Managers, Surgical Service personnel
FDA notified healthcare professionals of a Class I recall of Exel/Exelint Huber needles, Exel/Exelint Huber Infusion Sets and Exel/Exelint “Securetouch+” Safety Huber Infusion Sets, manufactured by Nipro Medical Corporation for Exelint International Corporation due to ‘coring’, the cutting or dislodging of silicone cores or slivers from the ports into which they are inserted. Huber needles are used to access ports implanted under the skin of chronically ill patients for repeated access to veins for the withdrawal of blood and infusion of medication, nutritional solutions, blood products, and imaging solutions.
Inspections conducted in October 2009 of Nipro facilities found that their needles “cored” in 60 to 72 percent of tests. The reason for this coring is related to design and manufacturing processes, which the FDA continues to investigate and will update the public if there are new developments.
Hospitals, clinics and patients who have needles from these lists should immediately stop using these affected products and return any unused products to Exelint International Corporation.
There are more than 2 million units impacted by this recall in distribution nationwide. Recalled needles were manufactured from January 2007 to August 2009. Units subject to recall have a lot number that begins with “07,” “08,” “09,” and one of the product codes or catalog numbers noted in the FDA news release.
Read the complete MedWatch 2010 Safety summary, including a link to the FDA News Release, at:
Radio Show Tonight and Intervew Tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 2:18 PM
From:
“Millers Grain House” donna@millersgrainhouse.com
Greetings!
Just want to remind you of tonight’s show at 7PM Eastern Time.
We will have Melinda Shoaf on as our Special Guest! She will INSPIRE you with her story of starting a fresh milled baking business! Hope you’ll join us or download and listen later.
Also...
TOMORROW NIGHT please join me, Donna, as I am being interviewed on ‘The Family Preparedness Guide Talk Show’ at 8PM Eastern Time.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/james-talmage-stevens/2010/01/28/family-preparednessguide-talk-show
Hope to see and hear some familiar friends tonight and tomorrow!
Best Blessings!
Donna Miller
[Sorry that I did not see this until after the show is over, maybe you can get it on replay....granny]
HOW I SAVED $ 5728 IN 2009 BY DONATING $10 A MONTH TO FREEREPUBLIC!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 5:52:13 PM · by Recovering Ex-hippie · 13 replies
Last night I figured out how much money last year I SAVED by being a Freeper and what I got out of Freerepublic! AMAZING....Here is the breakdown: Money I saved... 1. Not buying the local newspaper--$125. 2. No subscriptions to "News" magazines--$110. 3. Taking my homemade lunches, thanks to Granny's Frugal Cooking Thread--$260. 4. Mercury Light bulb Professional Cleaning ( cause Freeprs warned me!)I didn't need cause I didn't buy those dumb bulbs---$260. 5. Investment Newsletter I didn't have to order cause I get so much info here--$189. 6. Making my own Greeting cards using pics and cartoons on Freep...
This message contains the following:
1. Liebherr Recalls Built-In Refrigerators Due to Injury Hazard; Door Can Detach
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10122.html
2. Regal Lager Announces Recall to Repair CYBEX Strollers; Risk of Fingertip Amputation and Laceration Hazards
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10123.html
3. Zippo Recalls Candle Lighters Due to Burn Hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10124.html
Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - January 27, 2010
Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web site. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online.
Share The Harvest: Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who might be interested in the latest sustainable agriculture news, funding opportunities, and events.
News & Resources
* Video Highlights Thermal-Banking Greenhouse Design
* Guide to Funding and Grant Programs Available
* Website Features Sustainable Food Jobs
* MOSES Annual Report Now Available
* New Website Features Season Extension Information
* Nominate a Farmer for Minnesota’s Sustainable Farmer Award
Funding Opportunities
* Soil and Water Conservation Society Scholarships
* Vermont Farmers’ Market EBT and Debit Cards Project
* Sustainable Agriculture Interdisciplinary Grant Program for
On-Farm Research
Coming Events
* Local Food Connection
* Holistic Sustainable Agriculture from the Soil Up Workshop
* Pollinator Conservation Workshop
News & Resources
Video Highlights Thermal-Banking Greenhouse Design
http://cookingupastory.com/sustainable-energy-thermal-banking-greenhouse-design Extending the growing season to year-round in a Northern climate, and using only renewable energy to do so, Minnesota organic farmer Steven Schwen, explains how his thermal-storage greenhouse works, and how it came into being with the help of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant. This video is intended for all farmers, and those interested in renewable energy practices that may serve as successful models toward a sustainable future.
Guide to Funding and Grant Programs Available
http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/farm-bill-programs-grant/
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has released a new tool that will help farmers with federal programs and grant opportunities. NSAC is introducing an updated ‘quick-guide’ (http://sustainableagriculture.net/publications/grassrootsguide/farm-bill-programs-and-grants/) to federal programs and grants for farmers, ranchers, food entrepreneurs, and the researchers, educators and community groups who serve them. This chart is a one-stop shop for links to the relevant USDA program websites (where they exist), brief descriptions of programs, and important dates and deadlines.
Website Features Sustainable Food Jobs
http://sustainablefoodjobs.wordpress.com/
Most Americans have never heard of the term ‘sustainable food.’ Tell someone its your career focus and be prepared to explain yourself. Rest assured... this site (http://sustainablefoodjobs.wordpress.com/) understands what you mean with no elevator speech required! Typically, job listings are dispersed among environmental conservation and individual non-profit websites. But what if job seekers are new to this and aren’t familiar with all of the non-profits that specialize in sustainable food? That is where this website comes in! It will provide job seekers with the most up-to-date job opportunities available in the domestic sustainable food sector.
MOSES Annual Report Now Available
http://www.mosesorganic.org/annualreports.html
The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) 2009 Annual Report is now available for download on the MOSES website. The Annual Report includes a history of MOSES, a list and description of 2009 projects, a detailed breakdown of MOSES financials, and much more.
New Website Features Season Extension Information
http://midwestseasonextension.org/default.htm
Season Extension in the Midwest was created as a place for farmers to go and learn about the many new and exciting growing opportunities in season extension. At this website find everything from articles by the leading names in organics and high tunnel growers to the latest events, conferences and workshops along with pictures and stories about farmers who are currently using season extension in their growing operation.
Related ATTRA publication: Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners (http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/seasonext.html)
Nominate a Farmer for Minnesota’s Sustainable Farmer Award
http://sfa-mn.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=353
Each year, at the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) State Conference, awards are presented for outstanding Minnesota sustainable farmers. SFA members and supporters nominate folks for these awards, and then a panel of state board directors picks the winners. Two awards will be granted — Sustainable Farmer Emeritus Award and the Sustainable Farming Association Distinguished Service Award. Nominations are due by January 29, 2010.
> More Breaking News (http://attra.ncat.org/news/)
Funding Opportunities
Soil and Water Conservation Society Scholarships
http://www.swcs.org/en/members_only/index.cfm?nodeID=11399&audienceID=1
The Soil and Water Conservation Society has three opportunities at the international level for scholarships. Opportunities for scholarships are as follows:
1. Research Scholarship—made possible by Kenneth E. Grant.
2. Soil Conservation Scholarship—made possible by Donald A. Williams.
3. Student Leader Conservation Scholarship—made possible by Melville
H. Cohee.
Proposals are due February 13, 2010.
Vermont Farmers’ Market EBT and Debit Cards Project
http://www.nofavt.org/market-organic-food/farmers-markets/ebt/2010request-for-proposal
The purpose of the Vermont Farmers’ Market EBT and Debit Cards Project is to enable farmers’ markets to accept bank and EBT (electronic benefits transfer) debit cards, thereby making local products more accessible to low-income Vermonters, encouraging consumers to ‘buy local,’ allowing local producers to capture some of the $115 million in federal program benefits Vermonters are spending annually on food, and increasing overall farmers’ market sales.
Proposals are due February 1, 2010.
Sustainable Agriculture Interdisciplinary Grant Program for On-Farm Research
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/amp/topicview.asp?id=2390
The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Sustainable Agriculture Team and Agroecosystems Management Program (AMP) are offering interdisciplinary grants to promote on-farm research in sustainable agriculture. This program is specifically for on-farm research in sustainable agriculture related to crop (agronomic and horticultural) and animal production systems, that are ultimately intended for human consumption. Proposals must come from OSU CFAES faculty and extension personnel as principal investigators. Interested farmers, graduate students, and members from other agricultural or environmental organizations are strongly encouraged to contact OSU faculty and extension agents in their communities to suggest or initiate collaborative research projects.
Proposals are due February 26, 2010.
> More Funding Opportunities (http://attra.ncat.org/funding/)
Coming Events
Local Food Connection
http://cascadepacific.org/lfc.htm
February 1, 2010
Eugene, Oregon
The Local Food Connection brings together local food producers and buyers to make business connections and share information about building and maintaining strong sustainable food networks.
Holistic Sustainable Agriculture from the Soil Up Workshop
http://www.nofamass.org/seminars/winterseminar.php
February 2-3, 2010
Barre, Massachusetts
This two-day seminar presents a holistic approach for integrating soil health with healthy and sustainable animal husbandry. It is applicable to operators of farms with livestock, people considering incorporating livestock into their operations, homesteaders, and gardeners.
Pollinator Conservation Workshop
http://www.ndswcs.org/workshops.htm
February 3-4, 2010
Bismark, North Dakota
There are many natural pollinators out there, but so little is understood about them. What kind of habitat do they need to thrive? Are their numbers holding steady? Can their pollination be increased if local bee colonies are suffering losses to disease? These are all questions and topics to learn about at this upcoming technical workshop.
More Events (http://attra.ncat.org/calendar)
DIY Biodiesel Webinar
To learn about DIY Biodiesel: Keeping It Safe, Keeping It Legal, tune into ATTRA’s latest webinar (https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/303791635), Thursday January 28 at 11AM MST.
New & Updated Publications
Organic System Plans: Livestock Production
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2009/11/30/organic_system_plans_livestock_productio
Aquaculture Enterprises: Considerations and Strategies
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2009/11/18/aquaculture_enterprises_considerations_a_1
Building Sustainable Places
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2009/11/11/building_sustainable_places
Question of the Week
What are some options for controlling wildlife damage to my market garden?
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/question.php/2010/01/25/what_are_some_options_for_controlling_wi
Ask a Sustainable Agriculture Expert
Submit questions to our professional staff online
http://attra.ncat.org/ask.php
ATTRA Spanish Newsletter
Subscribe to Cosecha Mensual (http://attra.ncat.org/espanol/boletin.php)
(Monthly Harvest), ATTRA’s Spanish-language e-newsletter
Subscribe to the Weekly Harvest
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Comments? Questions? Go to http://www.attra.ncat.org/management/contact.html.
Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews Archives Available Online
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Digital versions of recent Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews newsletters are available online. ATTRAnews is the newsletter of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
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ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/index.html). Visit the NCAT Web site (http://www.ncat.org/sarc_current.php) for more information on our sustainable agriculture projects.
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LOL, dried lima soup, with sausage and onion along with homemade bread - heavenly - particularly on a really cold day.<<<
Garden Girl sent me that suggestion.........
Being from Texas, I need cornbread with mine.
Thanks for the link, amazing what can be done with a few twigs.
Years ago, a friend wanted a large parcel of ground and was willing to live under a tree if she could get one.
Sheila managed to find a wooden packing crate, just large enough for a camp cot and a tiny wood stove that a friend made for her out of cast iron scraps.
It was almost a square cube, about 12 inches , with a flat top.
A few twigs, and she was warm and could do a little cooking too.
LOL, behind it she hid her old bathtub, so she could have a bath and did laundry, washed the dog in it .......
She no longer washed the dog, after the day she crawled and put the dog in for her bath, naked, and never expecting to have a low flying helicopter check her out............
She loved her mountain top and it was beautiful, adjoined a State Park in Southern California, so she could go for hikes too.
3. Taking my homemade lunches, thanks to Granny’s Frugal Cooking Thread—$260.<<<<
[Big Smile]
Now we have a value for the thread.
It would be fantastic, to think that many were getting so much use out of it, that was my dream, when I started it.
Guess I had better get back to posting, LOL, a few more days and we will be out of January, as a rule our worst weather month.
More rain today, and all my leaks came back, my nephew was sure he had them all stopped.
Great vignette. Thanks. Guess doggy could just go around dirty after that. Good to hear from you.
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