How To Make A Super-Durable Chick Brooder That Will Last For Years

The following article How To Make A Super-Durable Chick Brooder That Will Last For Years was first published to Total Survival

Image source: Pixabay.com

The ancient Egyptians and Chinese are credited with inventing the first egg incubators, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that the first commercial incubators were used.

Thus began the earnest attempt by poultry breeders to reduce the hen’s instinct to hatch her eggs.

Today, many laying breeds of poultry have almost no instinct to set on, and then hatch their eggs. So for the most part, you’ll have to resort to purchasing day-old chicks from a hatchery, or incubating the eggs and hatching them yourself.

The first thing you’ll need when your chicks hatch or arrive from the hatchery is a brooder to keep them in until they are old enough to regulate their own body heat without an outside source.

For a small number of chicks, brooders can be made from just about type of container. I’ve seen everything from cardboard boxes and baby pools, to large watering troughs.

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What I’ll show you can easily be used to brood up to 50 chicks until they are ready for the coop or pasture pen. Plus, it’s durable.

The materials you will need to make the brooder hover are:

• 1 – 4×8 sheet of plywood
• 4 – 2x4x8
• A box of 1 1/2 inch screws

Start with placing two of the 2x4s about four feet apart and laying the sheet of plywood on top of them. Slide the 2x4s out to the edge of the plywood and screw them tight. Flip the plywood over and get a measurement for the ends. Cut two pieces for the ends and screw them on. At this point, you will have a sheet of plywood that is framed around the edges with a 2×4.

Image source: Pixabay.com

Next, take the remaining 2×4 and cut it into two-foot pieces. These will be the four legs of the brooder. Screw the four legs on each corner. You now have basically a two-foot-high plywood table. You will brood the chicks under the table. The heat is regulated by moving the lamps up or down and covering the sides with fabric.

Measure approximately 12 inches from the end and 24 inches from the side on each end. Drill or saw a hole at these locations big enough for an electric cord. This will be for using two heat lamps to regulate the temperature.

You can use any type of fabric to hang from the sides of the brooder to hold in the heat. I’ve used everything from feed sacks to old T-shirts. If you place the brooder in a corner, you’ll only need to cover the two sides that are open.

All The Answers To Every Chicken Question And Quandary …

Once you have the brooder in place where you want it, simply pull the heat lamp cords up through the holes you drilled and place the lamps as high as they will go. You can adjust them later once you check the temperature.

Place a thermometer on the floor under the heat lamps and turn on the lamps. You will want the temperature to be around 95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first few days. Adjust the height of the lamps to obtain the right temperature.

If your brooder is in the barn or other unheated area, be aware of temperature changes. A 30-degree night might need the lamps adjusted compared to a 60-degree day. The key is to watch the chicks. If they are huddled under the lamps, it’s too cold. If they are wandering around throughout the brooder, it is a good sign.

Once the birds are feathered out, they are ready to move to another location.

This is a simple and easy brooder to make, and when you’re done you can store it easily for the next batch of chicks.

What advice would add for making a brooder? Share your tips in the section below:

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Another American Sheriff Warns: ‘If You Are Fearful, Arm Yourself’

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Citizens should arm themselves for protection, says the sheriff of a county where a baffling mass murder took place.

“I can tell you if you are fearful, arm yourself,” Sheriff Charles Reader told The Columbus Dispatch. “If you feel you need to protect yourself or your family, do so and contact the local law enforcement to come and respond to it.”

Reader is the sheriff of Pike County, Ohio, where eight members of the Rhoden family were the victims of execution-style killings. Authorities have no suspects and have not mentioned any motives for the killings. The murders occurred at four different locations.

Extensive marijuana growing operations were found at a number of the Rhoden homes, and investigators have not said whether drugs had anything to do with the killings. Officials did tell CNN that they think the marijuana growing was a complex commercial operation run purely for profit.

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The killings could have been part of home-invasion robberies, because the victims were shot in the head April 22 while they slept. A three-year old and two babies survived the massacre.

“It was a sophisticated operation and those who carried it out were trying to do everything they could do to hinder the investigation and their prosecution,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said of the murders.

The sheriff thinks the rest of the family could still be targets and told them they should be armed. Some local residents agreed with their sheriff.

“This is a different animal, what’s going on here right now,” Pike County resident Dave Brodess told The Dispatch. “A whole family wiped out and not even a trace of evidence left behind.”

The local superintendent of schools, Todd Burkitt, said the incident has shaken the community. He understands the desire to be armed.

“It’s a perfectly rational and logical thing to say, it’s just something you don’t usually have to say,” Burkitt said. “Something tragic and scary has happened in our community, and people do have a right to protect themselves, their homes and their families.”

What is your reaction to the sheriff’s comments? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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Pucker Up for This Surprisingly Useful Survival Tool

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Pucker Up for This Surprisingly Useful Survival Tool

Why You Should Be Carrying Lip Balm in Your B.O.B.

Picture this. You’re going through your bug-out bag (for the millionth time, if you’re anything like me), making sure you’ve got all the necessary supplies and that they’re all accounted for and in working order.

Flashlight? Check. Emergency rations? Check. Firestarter? Check. First aid kit? Check. Lip balm?…

What’s that? You don’t have lip balm in your bug out bag?

Maybe you should.

Lip Balm as a Survival Tool

#Chapstick is one of our favorite “surprising” survival items. What are yours? Share them with us! #preppertalk http://pic.twitter.com/HPI7GKtyKS

— Survival Life (@SurvivalLF) April 29, 2016

Surprisingly enough, lip balm can come in handy in a variety of survival situations — and not for the reasons you might think. Here are just a few of the many reasons you should consider keeping some on hand. 1. It’s flammable. In a pinch, lip balm can be used as an emergency firestarter. Smear a little of it on gauze, cotton, lint or other tinder, and it will ignite quickly and burn slowly, saving you precious fuel and matches. You can also use a tube of chapstick to construct and emergency candle — check out the video below to learn how. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAHEg7URa-I 2. Medical uses. Not only will lip balm be a lifesaver for your lips in dry climates, it can also protect other exposed body parts like your fingertips and tip of your nose. In addition, it can be used to seal minor cuts and scrapes, and be rubbed on heels and soles of feet to keep them from blistering when walking long distances. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuMDbth56eA 3. Fix your zippers. Sometimes, especially after long periods of use, the zippers on backpacks, sleeping bags, etc. can get worn out and stop working like they should. Running a little bit of lip balm along the zipper can make it much smoother. Click here to learn more about fixing zippers on the go.

Learn how to fix backpack straps and zippers on the go. #survivaltips https://t.co/ilFF5WpAtk http://pic.twitter.com/62XlJu6qF3 — Survival Life (@SurvivalLF) April 29, 2016

4. Keep knives from rusting.

Lip balm is a great waterproofing agent. Rub a little on your finger and (carefully!) run it along the blade of the knife. This will protect your knife from water and keep it from rusting, so it stays smooth and sharp.

5. Waterproof Ziploc bags and lids.

Spreading a little chapstick along the zipper of a Ziploc bag or the edge of a lid will add an extra layer of protection from the elements.

These are just a few of the reasons you should be carrying lip balm/chapstick in your B.O.B. Can you think of more? Share them with us in the comments!

And if you live in a dry climate (or plan on visiting one) and want to know how to keep your lips from getting dry and cracked, check out these tips from our friends at Makeup Tutorials.

Hat tip to Off the Grid News and Grandview Outdoors.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

Originally Published Here: Pucker Up for This Surprisingly Useful Survival Tool

15 Ways a Knife Can Save Your Life in a Survival Situation

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Home Self Sufficiency Emergency Prep 15 Ways a Knife Can Save Your Life in a Survival Situation

Want to know how a knife can save your life in a survival situation? If all you have in the wilderness is a knife, if you know what to do, you’ll live!

Ways a Knife Can Save Your Life in a Survival Situation

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re in the wilderness and all you have is a knife to survive? I hope not but just in case you do, it’s very important that you know what to do to survive. As a farm girl, I see to it that I always have a knife at hand. So to take it a notch higher, why not find out what you can do with your knife for any survival situation? If you need a guide, here’s a list that can help.

Before we get started, it’s always best to have the best knife handy as much as possible. So why not check out these tips first on how to choose your survival knife.

1. Self-Defense

You may not want to but you have to consider, a knife was invented primarily as a weapon. You should know how to use it to defend yourself from animals and people alike. You can find pointers on choosing a self defense knife here.

Click here to own the best selling knife on Earth. The Hoffman-Richter HR-30 Tactical Folding Knife is the #1 knife chosen among homesteaders and preppers, here’s why.

2. Hunting

image source

When you’re out in the wild in a survival situation, getting food is one of your top priorities. You can use your knife as a hunting tool by attaching it to a pole or long stick to use it as a spear.

You may also like: Knife Attack Self Defense Myths

3. Dressing

image source

After you successful hunt, the next step is to skin or gut your catch. What better tool to use than your knife!

4. Clear a Path

image source

The wilderness doesn’t always have a ready-made trail for you. Knives can be really handy to clear a path and make sure you get across safely. Even better if you have a machate.

5. Splitting (Batoning) Wood

image via Instructables

Ever heard of batoning? It’s a technique you can use for cutting or splitting wood that you can do when you have a knife. Get the instructions here.

5. Make a Feather Stick To Start A Fire

image via

Now that you have wood, the next step for your survival is to make fire. In case you don’t have any fire starters, your knife can work wonders in this area too. See how you can do it here at smartbushcraft.

6. Can Opener

Okay, so you were able to bring some canned goods but you forgot the can opener. Don’t fret, a knife can be your substitute!

7. Digging Tool

image source

If you have a sturdy knife, you can definitely use it as a diffing tool. You can use to dig small holes to dispose waste, build a fire bit or even make a distress signal.

8. Hammer

image source

Can’t find a rock that’s solid enough? Use the butt end of your knife as a hammer.

9. Emergency Modification Tool

image source

You can use your knife on just about anything, given that it’s sharp enough. If you need to cut rope, clothing or pry something open, it will surely come in handy.

10. Tool Making

image source

A knife is a tool in itself but when you need other tools for your survival, you can surely use it to make some: stake or spear, snares, fish hooks and others.

11. Rope Making

image via Survival Manual

Do you know you can make a rope by using your knife? Get the steps here.

12. First Aid

image source

When a medical emergency arise, your knife can be very handy too. It’s perfect for tearing apart bandages or getting foreign objects out of a wound.

13. Rescue Tool

image source

Found yourself aiding someone trapped in a car? You can use your knife to break a window or get the person out of the car by cutting through their seat belt.

Need a knife that you can always have on hand? The Credit Card Knife allows you to alway be prepared, all you need is your wallet.

Click Here To Get Yours!

14. Signaling Device

image via thereadystore

A shiny knife can be used to signal your location. Use it to reflect the sun or light.

Want to sharpen your knife with a mug? Learn how here.

You can also use a knife to build your survival shelter! See how with this video from Kullcraven Bushcraft:

Don’t forget to pick up your HR-30.

Got enough reasons to have a knife handy at all times? Let us know what you think below in the comments!

LIKE this? I’m sure you’ll LOVE:

• How to Make a Knife in a Survival Situation

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Hugelkultur: The Centuries-Old, Weed-Free, German Way To Garden

Hugelkultur: The Centuries-Old, Weed-Free, German Way To Garden was first published to http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

Image source: Screen capture

Hugelkultur, the German word for “hill culture,” is the ideal method for the farmer/grower looking for a unique and practical way to grow a weed-free and healthy garden. This method of planting has been used for centuries in Germany and Eastern Europe and allows for greater biodiversity, moisture-control, convenient harvesting, less maintenance, and saves the need to till.

Conventional farmers may have a really hard time with this growing method because they know rotting wood steals nitrogen until it’s fully decomposed (when it then releases it back to the soil). Well, this is a bit different. The wood itself will slowly decompose; meanwhile, it becomes a hotel for beneficial microbes and amazing fungi.

Microbes are not only extremely important, but they also are extremely interesting little organisms! They can help roots acquire nutrients, such as phosphate. Some microbes can even kill Salmonella, making your food safer. Microbes also help protect plants from the nasty wars going on in your soil. A hugelkultur garden houses all of these microbes, furnishing them with everything they need to be healthy and strong.

Get The Best Deals On Non-GMO Seeds For Your Garden Right Here!

Right up there with microbes, fungi does wonders for the garden! Fungi gives us a natural way to break down organic matter like the wood in a hugel (short for hugelkultur). All that buried wood would otherwise take years to break down, and do so very slowly. Fungi will break down the wood faster and release the nutrients at a much quicker pace in order to make the plants healthier.

The wood in the hugel will become warm from the slow-composting action. Since soil covers the pile of wood, the composting wood will not overheat. Conveniently, this action maintains a warm temperature over the winter months.

Story continues below video

In a test of ability, we performed a small experiment with goji berry plants using a hugel versus a standard bed. The goji berry plants on our hugel produced several more harvests across several weeks compared to goji berry plants growing out of a standard bed.

Image source: Wikipedia

Hugel beds are also fantastic for preserving moisture for a sort of self-watering system. The buried wood receives most of the credit for this action in that it holds the water. This water then feeds the bacteria, fungi, plants and other helpful organisms. Moisture is essential for life in all types of gardens. Hugel beds will hold all the water they need, and you don’t need to water them if built correctly. Many people using hugelkultur employ a swale. A swale is basically a tactic to catch water and hold it at the hugel bed. This can be as simple as a U-shaped bed pointing up your property’s grade. When rain falls, it will run into the U-shape, effectively trapping much of the water. This is not needed, but it helps. I did have a swale in my bed but removed it for space reasons.

This New All-Natural Fertilizer Doubles Garden Production!

Are you ready to build your hugel bed?

Building the Hugel Bed

• Make a trench if you find it convenient; it will help hold water.
• Insert logs (most efficient if you cut the larger logs into sections and face them up like stumps in the ground) or lay them flat.
• Pack in all the open spaces with branches and twigs.
• Add some wood chips if you would like.
• Cover with a minimum of 8 inches of soil.

Digging a trench will also give you some soil to cover the hugel. It saves the time and energy of finding soil without making a huge hole in the lawn. It also may be a good idea to add aged manure directly over the wood before covering. There are so many variations you can do to suit your needs. Some people also inoculate the ends of the bed with mushroom mycelium and then harvest mushrooms from the hugel bed.

Some plants will like your hugel more than others. We had really good success with tomatoes, strawberries, goji berries, cucumbers and beans. The longer you have your hugel, the better the harvest will be. So give it a shot, and you won’t regret it!

Have you ever used a hugel bed? Share your advice in the section below:

Don’t Make The Same Mistake Other Gardeners Make Every Year. Read More Here.

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Learn More Here: Hugelkultur: The Centuries-Old, Weed-Free, German Way To Garden

The Less-Than-Lethal Shotgun: A Safer Way To Stop A Threat?

The Less-Than-Lethal Shotgun: A Safer Way To Stop A Threat? was first seen on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Preparing for a home defense situation is basically an act of arming yourself for a dark, nasty and unfortunate hypothetical scenario. Also, the chances of finding yourself in such a scenario increase in certain areas of the country — and thus, the responsibility of acquiring a suitable defensive weapon increases accordingly.

But then, there are variables to consider. In a home with small children, keeping a fully loaded AR-15 or Glock 17 by the bed is not something that every home defender is comfortable with. However, the eerie possibility of that nightmare scenario occurring still isn’t going to vanish in the presence of children.

So, what now? Are there alternatives to lethal weaponry, which don’t involve a Louisville Slugger or MMA training? Answer: yes. For this particular dilemma, you might consider purchasing a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, such as a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500, but instead of loading it with 00-buck shot …

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How about loading that sucker with “less-than-lethal” beanbag rounds?

The Most Basic Objective of Personal Defense

Here are a few reasons why I find these to be a considerable home defensive option, despite its unconventional nature …

First, let’s clear the air on this one: Killing a human tends to lead to some rather complex, life-altering implications (not including that of the psychological drawbacks of dropping some guy in the place you call home). Throw in a court case, teams of forensic investigators, and lots of paperwork, and this 30-second crisis just got a whole lot longer. So, because your home is not necessarily a military combat zone, let’s iron out what “self-defense” actually means, according to FindLaw.com:

“Self-defense is defined as the right to prevent suffering force or violence through the use of a sufficient level of counteracting force or violence.”

In other words, the point is not to cause death — instead, your objective according to the law is to stop the intruder’s ability to present a lethal threat, if one were presented, that is. In most cases, a home intrusion will happen because the offender is looking for anything they can sell on eBay, so they can purchase tickets to the next Eagles game … or something like that.

With that being said, it could be very difficult to ascertain whether or not the crook is armed and dangerous, or just plain stupid and didn’t realize you’d come back from vacation already. In which case, a 12-gauge beanbag round would do a beautiful job in securing the homefront — and not to mention, there would be a great deal less death going on.

Beanbag Rounds: They’ll Teach Crooks a Valuable Life Lesson

The beautiful side is the fact that this particular home defensive option would afford a less-than-child-hazardous method of keeping the crooks at bay. No, beanbag rounds are not meant to be used as a toy, especially due to the fact that they still maintain the power of being kicked in the (insert body part) by an enraged bronco.

Also, when people say that these rounds are considered “less-than-lethal,” that means they can kill on accident. Obviously, a human fist doesn’t possess the same lead-based killing power as a slug, but the FBI’s findings on the topic are astounding. In fact, more than half of all Americans in the 2011 survey suggest that punching and kicking are responsible for more homicides than shotguns.

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However, the police do implement these less-than-lethal options, especially when things get out of hand but lethal force is simply not needed. From a law enforcement perspective, it’s usually best to have an immobilized crook with a notably bad Charlie horse, then have a guy bleeding on a public sidewalk, as the local news arrives five minutes before the EMS to the scene.

But, Then Again…

Unfortunately, there will be drawbacks to less-than-lethal ammunition. For one, using beanbag rounds is, itself, an $8 box for 5 rounds of tactical compromise. Quite frankly, a hotly debated topic of discussion is the so-called “stopping power” of live ammo, so beanbag rounds will certainly be problematic to that end. Also, it is rumored that less-than-lethal ammunition will provide auto-immunization before a judge in the event that the beanbag round ended up killing the crook; however, there are zero guarantees in such sticky situations, (and, let it be known, I’m no attorney and this is not legal advice).

The point to using beanbag rounds in your 12 gauge is to offer a way to provide a home intruder with a valuable life lesson that they can think about from inside their prison cell. But keep this in mind: According to most manufacturers, all less-than-lethal bets are off, if the target is hit in the head or chest within a range of seven yards. So that, too, should be an item of concern. And, of course, this also brings me back to the most obvious drawback: If proper firearm safety is to always treat the weapon as if it is loaded (with live ammunition), then to point a 12-gauge Remington 870 at an armed intruder should carry more-than-enough lethal meaning, since death is a primary function of a firearm, after all. Yet still, your best judgment and preparation will always be your primary home defense, no matter what.

What do you think? Would you consider using less-than-lethal ammo? Share your thoughts in the section below:

Pump Shotguns Have One BIG Advantage Over Other Shotguns. Read More Here.

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Pawpaw – The Story of a Lost Treasure, Found

Pawpaw – The Story of a Lost Treasure, Found was first published on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

“Pawpaw – In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit” tells a story of a uniquely American treasure that was lost but is being found again. Like many, I had never heard of the pawpaw, North America’s largest native fruit. I discovered it while learning about permaculture plantings, and I wanted to know more. “Pawpaw” takes you on a virtual tour of pawpaw territory, comparing the history of the pawpaw in a region with the state of the pawpaw in that area today. It’s an eye-opening journey that speaks not just to the fate of the pawpaw, but to the fate of local food systems as a whole. It also offers hope for the revival of local food systems under the watchful eyes of a growing number of passionate foodies who want to recapture the way food used to taste.

Pawpaw – In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit

The Pawpaw book is divided into three sections:

1. Pawpaws in History
2. Pawpaws to the People
3. Travels in the Pawpaw Belt

Pawpaws in History introduces the reader to the pawpaw fruit, its growth habit, range, and historical mentions. There are discussions at various attempts at improving the wild fruit – some of which failed, some of which succeeded and led to the cultivars available today. From providing sustenance to hungry travelers and country folk in times good and bad, to developing into a premium crop for high end markets, there’s a lot to learn about the pawpaw.

Pawpaws to the People shares the stories of people who’ve had a hand in pawpaw breeding and working to introduce the pawpaw to a larger audience. There is heartbreak and triumph. The festive atmosphere of the world’s biggest pawpaw festival and luscious pawpaw ice cream walks side by side with the story of growers who lost everything due to drought and flooding (pawpaws don’t like either extreme). There are always risks in farming, and developing a new commercial crop are some of the greatest.

Travels in the Pawpaw Belt takes the reader down scenic rivers and hiking though forest trails, to visiting sleepy little townships and historical venues – including Monticello, where Thomas Jefferson is believed to have cultivated pawpaws. You can almost smell the rich forest loam and and fresh fallen rain trickling through the wooded valleys.

Pawpaws for Organic Fruit Production

As a beginning permaculture food forest grower who someday hopes to be able to derive supplementary income, I was particularly interested in the different strategies adopted by the commercial growers. Pawpaws seems to have excellent potential for growing organically, because it is bothered by very few pests in comparison to most fruit trees. It can also be grown in partial shade as an understory tree in a permaculture food forest – although best fruit production occurs in full sun.

The hitch in massive scale pawpaw production is its perishability. Once ripe, pawpaws will hold for less than a week, even with refrigeration. They also bruise easily, which is a problem in a market that demands cosmetically perfect fruit. These are something the home gardener can work with, but are barriers to market entry.

Jim and Donna Davis of Deep Run Orchard in Maryland deal with the problem by pruning their trees to keep the fruit reachable from ground level, and hand picking each fruit at the perfect point of ripeness to ship to specialty markets. Mark Boone of Michigan tackles the problem from a different angle. He heavily mulches under his trees with three to five feet of straw, and picks the dropped fruit out of the its comfy straw bed. Since Mark’s fruit is processed into pulp for ice cream, minor scratches or blemishes are not an issue. The pawpaws natural pest control compounds protect it from voles that would normally be a problem with large amounts of straw in an orchard.

The Future of Pawpaws

Last year we put in our first three pawpaw trees here on the homestead. We’re north of their traditional range, but I’m hoping they’ll survive. They haven’t yet broken dormancy (pawpaws tend to do so later in the season, probably because of their tropical roots), but the wood looks healthy. After reading Michael’s book, I’m tempted to send for a mail order sample of pawpaw pulp from a grower mentioned in the text who freezes it for shipping. I’m too excited to wait several years to taste the fruit! (The book includes mail order sources for trees and cultivar information, too.)

I don’t think we’ll ever see pawpaws year round in every grocery store like apples, but I believe they will make headway as a seasonal specialty item, or become a versatile ingredient in other products like the pomegranate. It’s a very cool thing to learn about the revival of a forgotten fruit whose time may have come to shine again. If you’re interested in local foods and pest free fruit trees, take the time the check out the pawpaw. You’ll be glad you did.

You may also enjoy:

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Is Your Pet Prepared for Disaster?

18 Pound Cake Recipes For Your Next Gathering

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Home Recipes Desserts 18 Pound Cake Recipes For Your Next Gathering

Looking for tasty pound cake recipes? Here’s the most moist and decadent options on the web!

— This post is courtesy of Homemade Recipes (original publish date April 8, 2016) shared with permission —

Pound Cake Recipes

Nothing completes a meal better than a sweet and decadent dessert. When I’m in the mood for something simple and sweet I make pound cake. The name comes from the traditional recipe, made with a pound of four ingredients: flour, butter, eggs, and sugar. Nowadays, pound cakes come in many forms and flavor, but they’re all identifiable by their dense yet light taste. We’ve rounded up 18 incredible pound cake recipes that will make you fall in love!

But before I get started, I had to share this amazing old recipe I found with you! How beautiful is this piece of torn up, scribbled on, taped back together piece of paper? The recipe might have even been typed on a typewriter. While I know the internet is full of many amazing recipes to try and share, there’s something so nostalgic about finding one of these much-loved recipes that you know has been floating around the family cookbooks for years.

image source: pinterest.

Enjoy a taste of nostalgia with a cream cheese pound cake, or make one of the other many delicious pound cake recipes below!

18 Pound Cake Recipes That Are Too Good To Be True

1. Homemade Butter Pound Cake

image via Homemade Recipes

Super rich and creamy butter pound cake. This classic will be a repeat for sure! Get the recipe here.

2. Black Milk Tea And Honey Pound Cake

image via Lady and Pups

Wow! No glazing, no toppings, but still so beautiful! This milk tea and honey pound cake is really a must-try! Recipe here.

3. Orange Dreamsicle Pound Cake

image via Positively Splendid

How about this gorgeous looking pound cake perfectly blended with sweet and tart flavors?! This is a perfect centerpiece for any special occasion. Grab the recipe here.

4. Chocolate Kahlua Coffee Pound Cake

image via Chocolate, Chocolate and More

Infused with Kahlua, a tasty Mexican drink, chocolate and a strongly brewed coffee; this is a boozy, sweet dessert for grown ups. Check it out here.

5. 7-Up Pound Cake

image via The Domestic Rebel

This super dense, moist and flavorful cake with 7-up soda, full of zesty, bright lemon and lime flavors will give you a treat you will never forget. See how you can make it here.

6. Glazed Pumpkin Pound Cake

image via Lana’s Cooking

A delightful, buttery pound cake with pumpkin and warm fall spices drizzled with a ravishing glaze mixture. Get the recipe here.

7. Peach Pound Cake

image via Gonna Want Seconds

A refreshing flavor with fresh summer peaches enriched with sour cream. This recipe brought the classic to a whole new level. Recipe here.

8. Christmas Cranberry Pound Cake

image via Oh My God Chocolate Desserts

This scrumptious pound cake is a perfect end to your Christmas dinner. Get the recipe here.

9. Chocolate Pumpkin Pound Cake

image via Chocolate, Chocolate and More

Research proves that chocolate makes us feel good and gives us a high level of happiness, and so does this pound cake. It’s rich in dark chocolatey goodness with a subtle hint of pumpkin flavor. Check it out here.

10. 5-Flavor Pound Cake

image via Plain Chicken

Vanilla, rum, coconut, butter, and lemon – what more can you ask for?!! If you’re planning to make a nice light pound cake, this should be it! Grab the recipe here.

Want the rest?

Head over to Homemade Recipes to get the full list of 18 Pound Cake Recipes HERE!

Which pound cake recipe are you going to try? Let us know below in the comments!

Next Up: King Cake Recipes

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State Orders Parents: Register Your Unvaccinated Children

The post State Orders Parents: Register Your Unvaccinated Children See more on: Total Survival

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The state of Colorado illegally tried to collect information about unvaccinated children from parents, vaccine critics are charging.

A number of parents received a letter this month from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which said in the document that parents of unvaccinated children in school would be required to register and exempt their child through a state website.

The department later said the letter should not have been released.

The requirement would have been mandated by House Bill 1164, which died in a state legislative committee earlier this week.

Currently, parents tell the local school – and not the state – that their children are not vaccinated.

Learn How To Make Powerful Herbal Medicines, Right in Your Kitchen!

“My biggest issue is that you are trying to take my child’s information – that you have zero legislative authority to do – to track and to possibly come back to me,” parent Missy Frazier said, according to The Gazette newspaper. “Where does this end, and with whom are you going to share this information?”

The letter that some people received said the registration would begin July 1.

“We regret the letter went out and have taken corrective action with our employee regarding the letter,” Mark Salley, spokesman for Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, told the newspaper.

Senator Kevin Lundberg, a Republican, opposed the bill. He also criticized the health department.

“I find it curious that the House has already killed 1164, whereas the health department has already implemented the provisions of 1164 in law on their website stating that by July 1, parents will be required to register online,” Lundberg said. “This online registration system is in complete violation of current statute. They don’t have the authority to require an online registration.”

Theresa Wrangham of the National Vaccine Information Center called the bill a “data grab.”

“They want to populate the vaccine registry and they want to know exactly who’s exempting from which vaccines, where they live and I think it’s a harassment technique,” Wrangham told a Denver TV station.

What do you think about a statewide vaccination database? Share your thoughts in the section below:

Learn The Real Truth About Vaccinations. Read More Here.

This Article Was Originally Posted On offthegridnews.com Read the Original Article here

Article Source Here: State Orders Parents: Register Your Unvaccinated Children

Shock: Police Seize 4 Children Simply Because They Were Spanked

Shock: Police Seize 4 Children Simply Because They Were Spanked was first published on Total Survival

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Just the suspicion of spanking can lead to a police raid and seizure of children by social workers in at least one Western nation.

A couple in Norway had four children and a baby taken away because they spanked the older ones.

“They didn’t find any physical marks or anything like that when they had medical examination. … They were, are, all fine,” the mother, Ruth, told the BBC. “But the law … is very clear until the smallest detail, it’s not allowed of any physical correction, and we have never been aware that it was this strict.”

Corporal punishment is illegal in Norway.

Ruth’s ordeal began last year when social workers and police seized her two daughters from school without her knowledge and then drove to her house and took two sons. The next day four police officers returned and seized her three-month-old baby, too.

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The children are still in foster care, and Ruth and her husband, Marius, are in family counseling. The parents can only see their children through eight-hour visiting sessions. Even worse, the children have been separated and live in different parts of the country, hours from one another.

The baby has been returned, although the parents don’t know what will become of the others.

The couple accused Norway’s children protection service — which is known as Barnevernet — of lying to them at a meeting.

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“We had already engaged ourselves in family counselling, to be prepared to fix whatever needs to be fixed,” Marius told the BBC. “But at that meeting they didn’t even want to look at our plan. Actually, they said they set up the meeting to inform us that they would file a case for permanently removing the kids.”

Some critics charge that Barnevernet might have been motivated by something other than the children’s welfare. They say the children were taken because their parents are Pentecostals; Norway is a Lutheran country. Others think the action was motivated by the fact that Marius is an immigrant from Romania who married a Norwegian woman.

Asked by the BBC if children can be seized for mild spanking, Norway official Kai-Morten Terning – the undersecretary at the Ministry for Children and Equality – responded, “parents have to know the law and live by it in Norway, regardless of background.”

Story continues below video

The seizing of children has soared in recent years in Norway, particularly after an 8-year-old boy was beaten to death in 2005. The most common reason for taking kids is “lack of parenting skills,” the BBC reported.

In another case, Barnevernet may have taken a baby from her parents because her grandmother was looking after her. Social workers accused the baby’s father of being simple and his wife of lacking parent skills, the BBC reported.

Health professions never examined the baby.

The grandfather, Yngve, has a government-appointed position and has changed his opinion about the country’s child welfare system. He has been unable to get Barnevernet to allow even him to take care of the baby.

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“I grew up believing that Norway was the best system in the world, best for children, the UN are saying this all the time, and then I discovered that this cannot be the case,” he told the BBC.

“At first I thought that this case that we had experienced must be one in a million. There just can’t be more madness than this. And when I showed my face on TV in connection with this, a lot of people have contacted me, and they have showed me other stories that are even worse than the one that I have experienced.

“I am a senior civil servant, and I should really be a defender of Norway, and normally I am, but here it is something extremely wrong.”

Is Norway’s Child Protection System America’s Future?

Norway’s child protection system has been called a role model for other nations. It was the first country to allow an independent ombudsman to represent children.

Around 170 Norwegian experts on child protection, including social workers, lawyers and psychologists, signed a letter to Norway’s children’s minister, expressing concern.

“There is a lack of what I’d call the human factor,” psychologist Einar Salvesen, a critic of Barnevernet, told the BBC. He helped organize the letter. “A lack of empathy, really providing an atmosphere so people can learn… It’s more like police interventions, more like we have to find out what’s wrong with you.”

What is your reaction to this story? Share your thoughts in the section below:

Tired Of Losing Freedoms — And Looking For Another Country? Read More Here.

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See Full Article Here: Shock: Police Seize 4 Children Simply Because They Were Spanked

Survival Uses for a Shemagh

Survival Uses for a Shemagh is available on http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

Survival Uses for a Shemagh

Your Bug Out Bag is Not Complete Without this Multipurpose Item

It’s common practice for every prepper and survivalist to wear the appropriate clothing for the weather. When it’s cold we wear several layers, and when it is warm, cool and lightweight fabrics are the material of choice. There is one item, however, that we sometimes forget to bring, and that is something to cover our heads such as a hat or beanie.

We love stuff that can serve many different purposes. A shemagh can be more than just a cloth to cover your head. It can also be a neck wrap, sling, bag or just about anything you can think of that can be done with a piece of cloth. Plus it’s also cheap.

In this video, one of our favorite Youtubers, Survival Lilly, shows how you can get the most out of a shemagh. This is one important item to keep in your kit.

Looking for more survival tips and tutorials? Check out related articles from our website:

Survival Tip: Clothing and Gear

25 Winter Bug Out Essentials | Survival Tips

Improvised Survival Gear

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54 Dollar Store Crafts For The Homestead

The following article 54 Dollar Store Crafts For The Homestead See more on: http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

Home Projects Crafts 54 Dollar Store Crafts For The Homestead

Looking for some dollar store crafts and ideas? Are you ready to make some excellent decor, accessories, and gifts for your homestead, all for just a few dollars each? Check out our list of 54 dollar store crafts, then head over to your own dollar store and get crafting! I’d love to see what you can come up with.

54 Dollar Store Crafts for the Homestead

Make these crafts for your own homestead, or share them with others as gifts and momentos. They are all easy to make, and will cost under $10! Head to your local craft store or thrift shop and see what you can come up with.

Click through the images for the full tutorials!

54 Dollar Store Crafts for the Homestead

1. Make a Lampshade out of Dollar Store Finds

image via

2. Spray paint your dollar store finds and decorate a mirror

image via
Learn to make this mirror here.

3. Use dollar store stockings as place settings for a DIY dinner party

image via

4. This burlap wreath was made out of Dollar Store Crafts!

image via
Use old photos of the family to show off your family history in a fun and welcoming way. Learn how here.

5. Get dollar store sandals, fabric strips, and glue, and personalize some sandals!

This DIY project is a great party craft for teens. Tutorial here

More dollar store craft projects!

6. Stay Organized with this Dollar Store Craft Wall Calendar

Use paint chips and an old frame to DIY your next calendar – image via

7. Dollar Store Craft to Sell

Make a countdown calendar, paint a dollar store paint with chalk paint, add a stand and a bow, and put them on the market! Click here for instructions found here.
Looking for more ideas on How to Sell What You Make? Check out THIS guidebook brought to you by our sister site, DiyReady.com.

8. Shop for your Wedding at the Dollar Store and be happily surprised with the results!

image via

Wedding Guests will have no idea that you crafted more than half the affair with dollar store finds! Click here for ideas

9. Perfect Dollar Store Crafts for Girls

Make wood carved wall hangers from these dollar store favorites! All you have to do is find your items, nail them together, and paint!
image via

10. Make this vintage wooden spoon gift set out of dollar store crafts

Watch how this crafter hand painted, sanded, and prepared this wonderful homey gift – via

11. Dollar Store Crafts for Spring

All you need is some glass, some flowers, and some spray paint! – via

12. Make pinwheels for summer with this Dollar Store Crafts Idea

Get the tutorial here

13. Make a centerpiece out of dollar store crafts

image via

14. Shower Curtain Bathroom Dollar Store Craft

image via

Paint a shower curtain for a fun and cheap kids craft project!

15. Get creative with picture frames for these dollar store crafts

image via

16. Stay organized in the kitchen easily with the dollar store as your friend!

Inspiration found here.

17. Beautiful paper lanterns made from dollar store finds

Fold paper in half, cut slots down the center, careful not to cut to the edges. Unfold and roll. Tape the edges, and hang!

18. Rustic Dollar Store Crafts

It doesn’t get more rustic than this. Image via

19. Fun Dollar Store Crafts for Teachers

This is a learning game teachers can make on the cheap – tutorial via

20. Make a cake stand out of dollar store finds

image via

21. Easy Dollar Store Crafts for the Home

image via
These pillows are made out of dollar store bandanas. What a great idea! Learn more here

22. Outdoor Idea using Dollar Store Crafts

How cool is this? Tutorial here.

23. Dollar Store Crafts for Birthday Party!

Make a fun cupcake flute, fill the base with m&ms!

image via

24. Prism Jar Dollars Store Craft

image via diy here

25. Garden dollar Store Crafts Idea

image via

26. Flowers Dollar Store Crafts

image via

27. Make a Pin Cushion for a Cute Dollar Store Craft Idea

image via

28. Dollar Store Crafts Party Project

This festive party ceiling cost less than 10 dollars – via

29. How to make cool plates from the dollar store

A little paint and right message can make a wonderful gift for the home. Image via

30. Fall Dollar Store Crafts

Make these DIY leaf votives for fall – via

31. Bedroom Dollar Store Project – Mirror Wall Hanging

This dollar store craft was inspired by CB2, but done with dollar store mirrors at home on the cheap! via

32. Easter Dollar Store Crafts

Beautiful wrapped eggs for a rustic easter. (In store these would be $20 a pop!) image via

33. Dollar Store Crafts for Thanksgiving

image via

34. Dollar Store Craft Projects for any age

Write a nice message for a special occasion whit this diy tutorial, and gift this to a loved one. Tutorial Here

35. Country Dollar Store Crafts

Make this fun country wall out of finds from the dollar store. via

36. Wreath Dollar Store Idea

Did you just say 15 minutes and dollar store? This DIY is a must! Learn how here

37. Dollar Store Crafts for Boys

All you need is this magic glow in the dark goo! (it’s made out of HIGHLIGHTESR!!!) Details here

38. You can make fabric wall art for you Apartment with these Dollar Store Crafts

Tutorial via

39. Dollar Store Crafts for Jewelry

Stack cups and glue them together for this topsy turvy jewelry holder. how to Details Here.

40. Pantry Storage from Dollar Store Crafts

image via

41. Mothers Day Gifts from the Dollar Store

What’s not to love when everything is in her favorite color??? Details via

42. Dollar Store Crafts Wall Idea

You can make these awesome lace doily wall hangings on the cheap. Learn how here

43. Dollar Store Crafts for Room Decor

Organize your space with style and decorate the drawers with a shelf liner from the dollar store! All the details here

44. Chandelier fashioned out of Dollar Store Crafts

DIY your own chandelier with dollar store finds. It’s easy – make it here

45. DIY a chessboard out of sewing notions and a quilt

This is too clever! Make it here

46. Dollar Store Craft Vase

image via

47. Dollar Store Craft Ideas For The Office!

You could revamp your entire office with dollar store finds. Check it out

48. Chalkboard Dollar Store Craft

image via

49. Winter Dollar Store Craft Idea

Make this wonderful snowflake garland with dollar store find. Details Here

50. Candlestick Menu Dollar Store Craft

How fun is this? Use a memo pad and candlestick to add some fantastic southern charm to your next dinner party. Details Via

51. Dollar Store Craft To Make For Your Love

All you need is a white board marker, and an empty frame! It’s so easy. Instructions here.

52. Dollar Store Craft Cake Stand

Your cakes will never be the same again. Details here

53. Dollar Store Craft Classroom Project

These fun classroom organizers were made at the dollar store – great idea for the class or the farm! details here

54. Glittered Dollar Store Craft Idea

Because who doesn’t need a little extra glitter in their lives? Make it here

Got time for one more? Check out more dollar store crafts from mycraftingchannelonline:

That was 54 ideas – but it doesn’t end here! There is an endless number of crafts you can make, and things you can do from finds at the dollar store, from the thrift store, and the craft supplies just laying around the homestead! Get creative, and have some fun! A gift made with love is best kind of gift – no matter how much it cost you to make. I’d love to see what you were able to come up with, feel free to share photos in the comments below.

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