3 Pests That Might Eat Your Stockpile Before You Do

3 Pests That Might Eat Your Stockpile Before You Do Read more on: http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

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What can be worse than to open up your stockpile, only to find that all of your food supplies have been eaten by something else?

Stockpiling supplies isn’t enough. You need to protect all of them from the pests that could leave your family hungry in a time when food will be scarce.

Venezuelans were eating dogs, cats and pigeons in 2016 because they couldn’t find any food. The Spanish and the Portuguese had to resort to food banks after the economic collapse of 2008. Incredibly, 1 in 7 Americans is on food stamps.

Unless you want to throw money away on food, I recommend you know what the biggest enemies of your stockpile are, and then take these easy steps to protect your food from all of them.

1. Rats and mice

The first things everyone thinks of when they hear the word “pests” are mice and rats. They can wreak havoc in your pantry, particularly if the only thing protecting your Mylar bags is 5-gallon plastic buckets. They will chew away plastic without a problem.

Now, there are various types of mice traps out there, including a few that are really, really cheap. But that doesn’t guarantee that your stockpile will be safe. The first thing you should do is put those plastic buckets into larger, metal buckets.

The only thing about metal buckets is that they’re pretty pricey. A 6-gallon metal bucket with a lid is more than $20 on Amazon … so you’ll probably only put some of your foods in them at first, while you also focus on the other ways to keep mice out of your pantry. (Figuring out the entry point and isolating the room, setting up mice traps, etc.)

Report: 9 Out Of 10 Americans Dead Within A Year …

A better solution is to get one or more of those galvanized trash cans. They’re about $35 each, but they can fit more buckets. Keep in mind that metal containers are more fire-resistant than plastic ones, meaning that in case of a house fire, your stockpile could get away unharmed.

Tip: don’t forget to keep pet food the same way you keep your own. Pests will be drawn to it if you leave dry pet food in original packaging.

2. Pantry moths

The good news is that moths have a harder time getting inside containers than do mice. So, if you have #10 cans or glass jars, so long as they are properly sealed, they should be enough.

Nevertheless, having them in your pantry requires to always be careful not to keep containers open. There are plenty of tricks known by pest control folks on how to take care of them. For example, one gentleman I read on a survivalist board suggested using pheromone traps and a portable steamer to make sure not only the moths but also their eggs are removed from your pantry. Sounds like good advice.

3. Ants

Out of all the pests we talk about in this article, you’re probably going to hate the sugar ant the most. That’s because it’s attracted to comfort foods (such as honey) as well as sugar. Some of the things you can do to get rid of ants include:

• Block as many entryways as you can. Yes, I realize they are really small and can come in through many different places, but this will decrease the chances of them being successful.
• Ants hate vinegar and lemon juice, so mix a 50-50 solution with water when you clean your pantry. They help clear those trails that they leave to attract other ants.
• Sprinkle cinnamon, mint or black pepper throughout your pantry; ants do not like them.

Of course, it isn’t just comfort foods that ants like. Pretty much any type of food will attract them. I realize you know how to keep your 5-gallon plastic buckets safe but don’t forget the extra items you bring to your pantry, such as pemmican or seeds. Literally everything should be kept in airtight containers.

Spending a few extra dollars on ways to keep pests at bay could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the long run.

What advice would you add? Share it in the section below:

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Emergency Power Options for Your Home – Gas Generators and More

The following blog post Emergency Power Options for Your Home – Gas Generators and More Read more on: http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

most any home or homestead if you are stuck with a prolonged power outage. When hit with a natural or man made disaster (small or large) that takes out the grid, it's not long before lack of electricity affects us. How do I keep the food cold and the house warm? When will the power come back on? How do I keep the phone charged so I can maintain contact with the outside world?

When a major storm hits, it can take weeks to get the power grid back in operation. The bigger the outage, the longer repairs are likely to take. See “When the Power Grid Fails – 10 Things You Need to Prepare” for more info on preps for a grid down situation.

There are many ways to have emergency power when the rest of the neighborhood is dark.

Emergency Power Option #1 – Gas Generator

The simplest emergency power option is to get a small gas generator and a large can of gasoline. Long extension cords can be run to vital items like refrigerator, freezer and microwave. Appliances are easy to power from a generator – they have cords attached. Powering something like your furnace is more difficult. You would have to open the wiring junction box and splice in a cord end. This is easy for an electrician to “jerry-rig” it but not for the average homeowner.

If you plan ahead, you can have a transfer switch installed next to your existing electrical panel. With this transfer switch installed, you can run a larger cord from the generator to a dedicated receptacle that feeds a small “critical loads” sub-panel. For the most part, a generator doesn’t need to back-up your entire house, just vital items. The transfer switch prevents you from back-feeding the utility grid (see “Solar Electric Basics” for more information on this danger) by isolating your generator from the main panel. (Editor's note: Top photo in the post is our generator “dog house”, which is hard wired into our home power system. Photos below show primary and secondary breaker boxes in our home.)

Gas Generator Pros:

• Power when you need it
• Portability
• Relatively inexpensive

Gas Generator Cons:

• Noisy
• Need refueling
• Smelly exhaust
• Fixed power capacity

A generator has a rated power output listen in watts or kilowatts. They can also produce small bursts of power needed for motors starting, but then go back to their rated amount. If you aren’t using much power, the generator still is running, wasting energy. A small generator can cost a few hundred dollars to upwards of two thousand.

Top Reviewed Gas Generators

Sportsman GEN4000DF, 3500 Running Watts/4000 Starting Watts, Dual Fuel Powered Portable Generator

Sportsman GEN2000, 1400 Running Watts/2000 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Generator

DuroStar DS4000S, 3300 Running Watts/4000 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Generator

Champion Power Equipment 100165 7500 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator with Electric Start

DuroMax XP12000E 12000W Portable Gas Electric Start Generator

Editor's note: We're currently housing our generator in a modified Suncast BMS4700 The Stow-Away Horizontal Storage Shed. The guys put louvers in the ends for air flow, and cut a hole through on of the doors for the exhaust pipe. Small holes were punched in back of the unit so the plugs could reach the tie in on the side of the garage.

Emergency Power Option #2 – Battery Backed-Up Systems

Next rung up on the emergency electrical power food chain are Battery Backed-Up Systems. These are not car batteries, but deep cycle ones. They are heavier, more expensive, and designed differently.

Battery Backed-up systems have a battery bank that is connected to an inverter. The inverter changes the 12v or 24v DC voltage to a usable 120/240v AC voltage used in your house. Then the inverter is connected to the critical load panel through the transfer switch. Some hybrid inverters already incorporate the transfer switch internally, connecting automatically – fast enough that your electronic items won’t know that there is an outage.

Examples of Deep Cycle Batteries

• Mighty Max ML35-12 – 12V 35AH U1 Deep Cycle AGM Solar Battery
• VMAX Solar Vmaxtanks Vmaxslr125 AGM Deep Cycle 12v 125ah SLA rechargeable Battery for Use with Pv Solar Panels,Smart chargers wind Turbine and Inverters
• WindyNation 12V 100 Amp-Hour (240 Minute Reserve Capacity) AGM SLA Deep Cycle VRLA Battery RV, Solar, Wind, Marine, Off – Grid

Battery Backed-Up System Pros:

• Quiet operation
• No gas exhaust
• Cordless
• No refilling a gas tank

Battery Backed-Up System Cons:

• Limited amount of power available before they need to be recharged
• May require a small generator to recharge them during prolonged outages

However, one hour of generator run time can keep the batteries charged for hours. For short interruptions lasting only a couple hours, the batteries can keep things going and then recharge when the power returns.

Moving up on the list is to have solar panels recharging the batteries, but that is the most expensive system and is an article all to itself. See “Surviving Without the Grid – Emergency Backup Power” for more information.

Emergency Power Option #3 – Spot Chargers

Section added by Laurie, because we've ended up with more short term than long term outages – thankfully!

To provide lighting and power for small electric devices, consider solar or crank powered lamps and chargers. We've added a several solar and crank products to our emergency preparedness supplies, including:

A lantern with a solar panel and hand crank for charging that also has a USB charger built in for charging cell phones and other small electronics, LED Crank flashlights and Emergency radio with solar panel, crank power, flashlight and cellphone charger.

<br /><br /><br /><br />

For short outages, having a little light and contact with the outside world can make the time fly much faster. The new LED products provide a lot more light at a fraction of the power requirements of older flashlights (see our favorite basic emergency flashlight). Lamps often come with different lighting levels (like the one above), so you can set it bright enough for reading or turn it down to night light level to conserve power. These three options are all light and portable, and would also be handy for camping.

Biolite now offers products that provide power directly from a small camp stove, so you can do double (or triple) duty with one piece of equipment – cook or heat water, charge a phone, and provide lighting.

More Information on Emergency Preparedness

• Winter Storm Survival – Keeping You and Your Home Warm When the Power Goes Out
• Emergency Cooking – 10 Ways to Have a Hot Meal When the Power Goes Out
• Top 10 Real Foods to Store Without Electricity

This is a guest post by Jerry Noel. Jerry is a Wisconsin Master Electrician and a NABCEP Certified solar installer. NABCEP stands for North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Currently, Jerry is the City of Madison Electrical Inspector. In the past, he has taught solar electric theory and installation for the IBEW, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and Solar Energy International.

View other Solar Electric posts by Jerry Noel.

Originally published in 2013, updated in 2017.

The post Emergency Power Options for Your Home – Gas Generators and More appeared first on Common Sense Homesteading.

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13 Brutal Tips,Tricks, And Myths from a Filipino Knife Fighter

The following blog post 13 Brutal Tips,Tricks, And Myths from a Filipino Knife Fighter was first published on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

[Editors Note] A friend of mine over in Manila is an avid practicer of Filipino Knife Fighting wrote this article and asked me if I’d share it with our community (Keep in mind that these aren’t my views and I am definitely not a trained knife fighter). It’s definitely got some interesting points and I thought you guys and gals might enjoy it. Let me know what you think about this fighting style in the comments below:

I’ve been practicing knife fighting for over a year now. While my dreams of being a professional knife fighter like The Winter Soldier have crumbled away (*tears*) it has brought me some serious and lethal realizations about using knives for combat. Here just a taste of what I’ve learned:

13 Lessons from a Filipino Knife Fighter

1. The Knife is Lethal

Once you’ve become involved in an altercation that has caused you to expose your knife, you need to remember that you are holding a lethal weapon. There is no other way to use a knife in a fight than to strike with fierce lethality. If you intend to use it simply to scare an opponent, you are an idiot. Once a skilled opponent has seen you pull out your knife, the first thing he does is study its length and build. Then he will strategize how to kill you.

Tip: Don’t give your opponent that chance. Pull out your knife only when you’re in a position to lethally strike your opponent.

2. It’s ‘Always On’

Strictly speaking, there is no ‘on and off’ button with a knife. Sure you can argue that an automatic folding knife has a safety lock, but once the blade is out, it’s out. There’s no reloading time, there’s no concept of ammunition with a knife. It’s always ready to draw blood.

Tip: Bring a knife that is easy to deploy in times-of-need. A folding knife is great but a fixed blade is even better. Make sure that you carry it in such a way that it’s easy to pull out if you’re carrying it inside waistband (IWB) style.

3. The Biggest Myth About A Knife Fight…

Disarming a person with a knife is deadly – for the one doing the disarming. We regularly spar with dull wooden blades here and 100% of the time, disarms don’t work. If you are about to try to lock the hand or arm of an attacker, you can expect to get stabbed 5 – 10 times before actually being able to do so.

On top of that, the only reason that you are able to lock your opponent’s hand or arm is your opponent’s fatigue. If your opponent is well conditioned, you will never be able to disarm your opponent through locks.

Tip: Hitting the face of your attacker with a blunt weapon or a head-butt or your fist or your palm for disorientation is a much better way to approach a disarm. Even so, prepare to get stabbed before being able to disarm your opponent.

4. The 21′ Rule

If you are educated in the way of the knife, you have a 21 feet allowance from anyone wielding a gun to be able to close the gap and turn the fight to a hand-to-hand combat.

Tip: The trick is to keep your eyes open and always be alert to your surroundings.

5. Don’t Overestimate Your Knife

I’ve had some organic medium training in the past and I found that there were some times where my knife would not cut the flesh deep enough or would not puncture the flesh easy enough. During those sobering moments, I realized that it was hard enough to stab, puncture and cut where you want to, it was even harder to make sure that the damage is deep enough.

Tip: Always make sure that the knife is razor sharp. A dull knife can set you up for missed opportunities in damaging or critically wounding your opponent.

6. Cuts are Overrated

While slashing moves are instinctive and natural for us – especially for those who aren’t so used to wielding a knife for combat, it’s the stabbing that does the real damage. Slitting someone’s throat records a higher survival rate than we are set to believe. That’s because usually the damage is not deep enough.

Tip: Stabbing someone in the femoral artery, brachial area, neck, lungs, groin or anus, however – that ensures death for your opponent. Plus it’s easier to stab someone than to cut someone deep enough to kill.

7. Human Anatomy Is The Key To Victory

There are only a handful of places where you can stab someone and make sure that the person ends up dead or permanently incapacitated. The brain stem and other areas I mentioned in the previous tip is a good example. Femoral artery, for one, ensures immediate excessive bleeding. Stabbing someone in the stomach can mean a long way off from death and he or she has a high chance of stabbing you back.

Tip: Better to strike once and strike lethally than to do ten stabs in non-critical areas and risk the person fighting back and wounding you.

8. Hitting Them Between The Eyes Is Almost Never An Option

That said, the eyes are extremely hard to hit. Even if hitting the eyes will cause the fight to immediately end, it’s not worth trying to hit the eyes and risk getting stabbed yourself. Human beings have the ultimate instinct to defend the eyes ferociously.

Tip: If you can make your opponent blink by faking an eye attack, that is a thousand times better than actually trying to hit the eyes.

9. Deception is Everything

But you can only use it once. In my opinion, the best way to use deception is to try to make an exit. Whether you drop lines about not knowing the problem, not knowing the person or not wanting to fight – use whatever means necessary for you to get out of the situation.

Tip: Some people even go so far as to say that they are blood related in some way with the opponent. While it may sound funny, in a dire situation, it may just give you a few critical seconds to land a lethal blow or to run away.

10. You’re Going To Get Cut…Deal With It

The sooner you accept this fact, the better. There is almost no way for you to walk away from a knife fight without a scratch. If you condition yourself to take in damage, the more you will be able to handle it. That said, make sure that you have the skills and ability to manage and treat your wounds immediately after a fight.

Tip: Learn about wound management even as you’re learning about knife fighting.

11. The Best Fight Is The One You Avoid

Only fight when you really have to. When that situation is, you have to be discerning enough to know. If you ask me, if you’re being held up for valuables or possessions, just give it up. It’s not worth risking a stab in the kidney or gut for. However, if your life or a family member is threatened, it’s high-time to pull out that knife and act quickly.

Tip: Run. Running away is the best thing to do in most unfortunate situations. Condition your body in such a way that you can run fast, run quickly and run for miles.

12. Always Carry A Knife…Always

Considering all the things I’ve mentioned here, I will always advise you to bring a knife – whether it’s for work purposes, for utility purposes or for self-defense purposes. A knife is a useful tool to always bring with you. As to how many you prefer to bring, that’s up to you. Make sure that you comply with the laws of your state or country in terms of knife carry length, style, etc.

Tip: Make sure your knives are well-maintained, preferably oiled, razor sharp and always ready to pull out in times of need.

13. Myth: Taking a cut is okay

Unless you are wearing an iron man suit, never ever try to take a cut – even one cut – with your arm. Once you do that, your chances of winning a fight essentially drops to zero. No one can fight with blood gushing out from a cut or a chunk of flesh dangling from their arm. Once you think of taking a cut with your arm, the fight is essentially over. Tip: put a lot of practice and thought in your footwork. If you hold the knife on your right, your right foot should always be forward. Know how to dodge and check the knife hand of your opponent.

Are You A Trained Knife Fighter? Do have any vital tips to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Up Next: How to Find Edible Plants in the Wild

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Homemade Mini Pies In Your Homestead

The blog post Homemade Mini Pies In Your Homestead Find more on: http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

I love a nice fresh homemade pie! I also love finger foods, which brings me to sharing some mini pies recipes. Finger food, meet your favorite slice of pie. Not only are mini pies an awesome way to eat pie on the go, but they’re also super cute.

Mini Pies: Quick and Easy Homemade Recipes

There’s so much to be done on a homestead, even the small ones, so on my baking days, I like to make a couple of batches of miniature pies and store some for later. You can freeze the pies after they’ve been cooked, or you can prep them all the way to the point of baking and freeze them until you’re ready to bake them. Either way, mixed with the right ingredients – and a little love – they’re big winners around the house or at this summer’s BBQ.

Next, not only will I go over the basics of the recipe for mini pies, but I will also include my personal Mixed Fruit Pie Filling Recipe and one of my favorite Pecan Pie filling recipes as well.

Recipe Yields 12 Pies. Prep Time 20 – 30 Minutes. Total Time about 1 1/2 Hours

The Basics

• 2 packs of 2 count ready-made pie crust – I make my own crust, but it’s optional
• 4 cups of desired pie filling or 2 21-ounce cans
• 1 large whisked egg
• Greased muffin pan
• 4-inch cookie cutter / lid / cup
• Pastry brush

1. Preheat your oven for 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Roll out the crusts you will be using for your bottoms. Using your cookie cutter, cut your pie bottoms into 4-inch circles. This size works well for muffin pans, but if you are using a smaller or larger pan just adjust the size of your circle.

3. Press the bottoms into the greased muffin pan. Be sure to leave enough crust over the lip of the rim for the tops.

4. Now it’s time to work on your tops. You can do a lattice top or a simple circle. For the circle tops, just use the same cookie cutter to cut out the tops. If you’re going for the lattice, cut about 6 thin strips and lace them together. When you choose the round top, be sure to cut a couple of air slits into it, so that it can release some steam without busting the seams.

5. Use your pastry brush and brush the tops of your pies with the whisked egg. Bake the mini pies in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the crust is a light golden color and the filling is bubbling.

6. Allow the pies to cool for 20-25 minutes. Using a butter knife, gently loosen the pies from the pans and remove!

The Dough

If you’d rather not buy pre-made pie crust, you can easily whip up some homemade dough for your pies.

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of butter
• 6 tablespoons of ice water

1. Mix the flour, sugar, and salt together. Add the butter, and mix it until your mixture looks like coarse meal.

2. Blend in the ice water one tablespoon at a time. When the mixture starts to clump, it’s ready to be rolled into a ball. Once you have the dough rolled into a ball, divide it in half and flatten them into pie discs. One disc is for the tops, and the other for the bottoms.

3. Wrap the pie discs in plastic and allow them to chill for about an hour or two before using them.

The Filling

This recipe can be used to take just about any fruit and turn it into pie filling.

• 4 cups of desired fruit
• 1/4 teaspoon of cornstarch
• 1 cup of sugar
• Spices (like nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, etc.) – to taste

1. Cut your fruit to the desired size and cook on a low-medium heat, bringing it to a low simmer. This allows the fruit juices to cook out, allowing it to add flavor. This only takes about 10 minutes, but you have to constantly stir the mix while it cooks.

2. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand. In a small mixing bowl, whisk in the sugar, cornstarch, and spices until it’s blended and smooth.

3. Add your dry mix to the fruit blend and mix together really well. The sugar granules should be completely dissolved.

4. Put the pan back on a low simmer until the pie filling thickens, allow it to cool, and make your pie or can it for later.

Fruit Medley Pie Filling

Once, I really wanted to make some pie, but to my dismay, I discovered that I only had a little bit of a bunch of different fruits. So I did the only thing I knew how to do, and I combined a little bit of everything to make one amazing mixed fruit pie.

My fruit combination consisted of:

• 2 cups of peeled peaches
• 1/2 cup of apples
• 1/2 cup of pears
• 1/2 cup of cherries
• 1/2 cup of bananas

Cook the filling down just as I explained in the basic filling recipe. I add cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little allspice to my mixture.

Precious Pecan Pie Filling

• 1/2 cup of dark brown sugar (firmly packed)
• 1/2 cup of dark maple syrup
• 1/4 cup of raw honey
• 1/3 cup of cornstarch – give or take
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean extract
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1 1/2 cups of half & half
• 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt

1. Using a heavy saucepan, whisk the brown sugar, honey, syrup, cornstarch, egg, and half & half together. Bring the mixture to a low boil over medium heat, whisking it the whole time it cooks to avoid burning. Boil for about a minute and remove from heat.

2. Now, whisk in the vanilla bean extract and butter. Lay some wax paper right onto the mixture. Covering the filling like this prevents a film from forming on top and makes it easier to handle when it’s time to work with it.

3. Chill for 3 – 4 hours before filling your pie crust with it.

Looking for some meaty and beefy mini pies? Here’s a video to help you out!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these mini pie recipes. Remember your pantry is the limit on this one – whatever your favorite pie may be, it can be made into a mini, trust me. Happy baking!

Have you tried baking mini pies? What’s your favorite filling? Please leave your baking tips in the comment section below!

Fond of baking bread? Check out this Sourdough starter recipe for baking bread on the homestead!

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Student Handed Out Copies Of The Constitution. She Was Arrested.

Student Handed Out Copies Of The Constitution. She Was Arrested. Read more on: Total Survival

A student was arrested and handcuffed for distributing copies of the U.S. Constitution on a college campus, prompting a federal lawsuit.

A video shows officers handcuffing and arresting Michelle Gregorie for trespassing at Kellogg Community College (KCC) in Battle Creek, Mich. A member of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL), Gregoire was handing out pocket-sized copies of the Constitution at the time of the arrest, a lawsuit from the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) alleged.

The college maintains the student was arrested in September 2016 because YAL is not a registered student organization, a KCC press release stated. KCC staff asked the students to register and move their activities to the Student Center. When they refused, they were arrested, which prompted the lawsuit.

“By policy and practice, Kellogg Community College … claims the unchecked right to prohibit students from engaging in practically any constitutionally protected expression anywhere on campus unless they first obtain permission from KCC officials,” the ADF suite states. “When students request permission, the College’s Solicitation Policy … grants KCC officials unbridled discretion to restrict the content and viewpoint of student speech if it does not ‘support the mission of Kellogg Community College (KCC) or the mission of a recognized college entity or activity.’ Thus, students may not speak spontaneously anywhere on campus.”

The college maintains its policy is constitutional.

“This case is not about free speech or viewpoint discrimination,” KCC spokesman Eric Greene said. “We have felt from day one of this unnecessary lawsuit that the plaintiffs’ claims are without merit and that the College’s Solicitation Policy is constitutional and appropriate in its scope.”

The Alliance Defending Freedom charges that the college violated the students’ First Amendment rights.

What do you think? Should colleges be able to restrict this type of speech? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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Originally Published Here: Student Handed Out Copies Of The Constitution. She Was Arrested.

BREAKING: Kim Jong Un vs. U.S. Navy SEALs!

BREAKING: Kim Jong Un vs. U.S. Navy SEALs! was first seen on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Did you know that? Kim Jong Un’s about to be very sorry he threatened us with those long-range missiles… Rumor has it that SEAL Team Six… the same group that took out Osama Bin Laden… is now conducting training missions in South Korea. The dictator and his fellow North Koreans should tread carefully now that the SEALs are within striking distance. If you don’t know… The SEALs are the world’s most elite special operations unit. They have major advantages over their adversaries. Superior training, state of the art weapons and advanced tactics all play a role. But one critical advantage trumps them all. (You can watch a former Navy SEAL Sniper demonstrate it right here.) This former sniper and SEAL Team One Commander wants to give you the same advantage used by SEAL teams to keep you and your family safe in a crisis. Next go here to check out the seal survival guide now

Source Here: BREAKING: Kim Jong Un vs. U.S. Navy SEALs!

Green Screen House

Green Screen House was originally seen on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

The best type of design is that one which is both functional and aesthetically pleasing and the greatest designers manage to implement both of these features. Saitama, Japan based Hideo Kumaki Architect Office designed this amazing house with a green screen and created a harmonious blend of nature with architecture. The green screen was designed in order to protect the rooms from the sun and also to create a cozy outdoor dining area, right under the curtain of leaves. The actual temperature difference measured between the inside and outside is 10 degrees, so the architects managed to create a natural shield between the two areas. Taking a look at the interior, you will see delicate lines and minimalist use colors and materials, giving the impression of a clean and neat space.

Architects: Hideo Kumaki Architect Office
Location: Saitama, Japan
Design Team: Hideo Kumaki(Dir), Natsuko Mashimo
Area: 130.0 sqm

This Article Was Originally Posted on goodshomedesign.com Read The Original Article here

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New Law To Gun Owners: Turn In Your Magazines By July 1

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California will turn large numbers of gun owners into criminals beginning July 1, when a state law that bans magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition goes into effect.

So far, though, gun owners aren’t showing any willingness to turn in their magazines, as the law demands.

“We see no compliance from gun owners,” UCLA School of Law Professor Adam Winkler told The Sacramento Bee. “As best as we can tell, no gun owners are giving up their high-capacity magazines or selling them out of state.”

Winkler was speaking of Proposition 63, which was passed by voters in November and bans magazines holding more than 10 rounds. It also restricts ammunition sales to licensed vendors.

Gun owners are required to turn in magazines but will not be compensated for them.

Sheriff Refuses to Enforce Gun Control Law

“We’re not going to be knocking on anybody’s door looking for them,” Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko told The Bee. “We’re essentially making law-abiding citizens into criminals with this new law.”

The Self-Defense Weapon That Doesn’t Require A Firearms License!

Persons caught with magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds will be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Yet no one knows how many Californians will be in violation of Proposition 63. Estimates indicate that there may be more than 6.5 million gun owners in the state – and hundreds of thousands of such magazines in California.

Proposition 63 would ban common clips for popular semiautomatic rifles, including the AR-15 and AK-47, and the highly popular Ruger 10/22 hunting and target rifle.

Bosenko noted that no one in his county, which includes the city of Redding, has turned a banned magazine into his office.

The law still could be overturned. A civil rights lawsuit filed by the California Rifle & Pistol Association alleges that the law violates several provisions of the Constitution, including the Second Amendment, the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause, and Guarantee of Due Process.

“The reason for the popularity of these magazines is straightforward: In a confrontation with a violent attacker, having enough ammunition can be the difference between life and death,” C.D. Michel, the attorney who filed the suit, wrote. “Banning magazines over ten rounds is no more likely to reduce criminal abuse of guns than banning high horsepower engines is likely to reduce criminal abuse of automobiles.”

Others disagree. Said Ari Freilich, staff attorney at the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, “There’s just a lot of data that shows that large-capacity magazines are particularly attractive to mass shooters and to individuals committing crimes against law enforcement. They do not have legitimate self-defense value.”

Do you think high-capacity magazines should be banned? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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

Post Source Here: New Law To Gun Owners: Turn In Your Magazines By July 1

Homemade Low Sugar Raspberry Jam Recipe – More Berries, Less Sugar

The following blog post Homemade Low Sugar Raspberry Jam Recipe – More Berries, Less Sugar Find more on: http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

When spoons were passed around with samples of this homemade low sugar raspberry jam from the bottom of the cooking pot, the collective response from the boys and husband was, “mmmmmmmmmm”. The quarter jar that didn't make it in the canner soon disappeared, and a second jar never made it into the canning pantry. My youngest used to be a full sugar jam hound, but even he's been won over to the fruit-loaded flavor of low sugar homemade jams.

To get enough berries for this recipe, we hit a local youpick raspberry place. You can also use frozen raspberries if you don't have fresh available, so watch for sales.

I strain out some of the raspberry seeds but not all of them, so it's not quite seedless raspberry jam. The pulp really adds flavor, so I don't go the straight raspberry jelly route.

Raspberries do have a lot of seeds, and my husband is not a seed fan, so I compromise by running the cooked berries through my food strainer twice. (This is the food strainer I recommend.) Putting them through the strainer just once leaves more pulp behind than I prefer, but if you have more than enough raspberries once is fine. I save my pulp to make chocolate raspberry granola cookies. Don't ask me why, but my husband is fine with the seeds in cookie form, and the raspberry-chocolate flavor combination is pure yumminess.

Picking raspberries. My youngest is in the photo, my eldest behind the camera.

Low Sugar Raspberry Jam Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of raspberry puree or mashed raspberries (will need 3-4 quarts of fresh raspberries or 2 1/2 10oz packages of frozen to start, depending on how many seeds you let through)
• 2 teaspoons calcium water (included with Pomona’s Pectin)
• 1 cup honey or 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons Pomona’s Pectin powder

Directions:

Prepare raspberries by cleaning (if needed) and gently cooking in a heavy bottom pot. I use my 8 quart stock pot. Once softened, run through a food mill or strainer to remove some of the seeds if you like (once for fewer seeds, twice for more seeds) or simply mash berries. Measure out 4 cups of berry puree and return puree to pot. Eat any leftover puree, or use to top ice cream or stir into yogurt.

Sterilize six 8-ounce canning jars, keep hot. Prepare lids and rings. Fill water bath canner and bring to boil.

In a small bowl, mix together sugar (or honey) and pectin powder. Don’t skip this step, or your pectin will clump. Set aside.

Add calcium water to raspberry puree. Bring to a full boil.

Add sugar-pectin (or honey-pectin) mixture, stir vigorously 1-2 minutes while cooking to dissolve pectin. Return to boil, then remove from heat.

Ladle jam into sterilized jars leaving 1/4″ headspace. Wipe rims clean and screw on the lids. Process for 10 minutes in water bath canner (add 1 minute for every 1,000 feet above sea level). Jam will last about three weeks once opened. Makes around 4-5 cups.

What is calcium water and where do I get it?

The calcium powder for making the calcium water is included in the boxes of Pomona’s Pectin. In each box of Pomona's Pectin, there are two packages of powder. One of them is the pectin, one is calcium powder. The calcium powder allows the pectin to gel without sugar, which means you get reliable gelling for low and no added sugar recipes.

One box of Pomona’s will make several batches of jam/jelly, and it has a shelf life of several years unopened. Last year I bought a case of the pectin and split it with friends. You could use other low/no sugar pectins as well. Just omit the calcium water and follow their instructions.

You can use even less sugar if you like, down to 3/4 cup sugar or 1/2 cup honey.

Print

Low Sugar Raspberry Jam Recipe

This easy Low Sugar Raspberry Jam recipe is bursting with raspberry flavor. It uses less sugar and can be made with fresh or frozen raspberries.

• Author: Laurie Neverman

Ingredients

• 4 cups of raspberry puree or mashed raspberries (will need 3-4 quarts of fresh raspberries or 2 1/2 10oz packages of frozen to start, depending on how many seeds you let through)
• 2 teaspoons calcium water (included with Pomona’s Pectin)
• 2 cups sugar or 1 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons Pomona’s Pectin powder

Instructions

1. Prepare raspberries by cleaning (if needed) and gently cooking in a heavy bottom pot. I use my 8 quart stock pot.
2. Once softened, run through a food mill or strainer to remove some of the seeds if you like (once for fewer seeds, twice for more seeds) or simply mash berries.
3. Measure out 4 cups of berry puree and return puree to pot.
4. Sterilize six 8-ounce canning jars, keep hot. Prepare lids and rings.
5. Fill water bath canner and bring to boil.
6. In a small bowl, mix together sugar (or honey) and pectin powder. Don’t skip this step, or your pectin will clump. Set aside.
7. Add calcium water to raspberry puree. Bring to a full boil.
8. Add sugar-pectin (or honey-pectin) mixture, stir vigorously 1-2 minutes while cooking to dissolve pectin.
9. Return to boil, then remove from heat.
10. Ladle jam into sterilized jars leaving 1/4″ headspace.
11. Wipe rims clean and screw on the lids. Process for 10 minutes in water bath canner (add 1 minute for every 1,000 feet above sea level).
12. Jam will last about three weeks once opened. Makes around 4-5 cups.

Notes

• Eat any leftover puree, or use to top ice cream or stir into yogurt.

I ended up making a batch and a half of homemade jam because I had six cups of puree. One of the things I really like about using Pomona's pectin is that it is okay to double or triple batches if needed. This is not recommended with standard pectin. I do generally stick with smaller batches, because I think that preserves the best flavor since the cooking times are shorter, but I'm glad to be able to adjust when needed.

More Low Sugar Jam Recipes

The book “Preserving with Pomona's Pectin: The Revolutionary Low-Sugar, High-Flavor Method for Crafting and Canning Jams, Jellies, Conserves, and More” has over 70 recipes featuring Pomona's Pectin for easy, low sugar canning. No more jams and jellies with more sugar than fruit.

We have over 20 different jam and jelly recipes listed on the site for you to enjoy. You can view them all in our Jam and Jelly Round Up Post. Some of my personal favorite low sugar jams include:

• Low Sugar Apricot Jam
• Peach Vanilla and Fuzzy Navel – Low Sugar Peach Jam Recipes
• Low Sugar Strawberry Jam and Strawberry Banana Jam

Thanks for reading, and I hope your family enjoy this low sugar raspberry jam recipe as much as we do. Don't forget to Pin or bookmark for later, and check out the other recipes and canning tips on the site.

Originally published in 2014, updated in 2017.

The post Homemade Low Sugar Raspberry Jam Recipe – More Berries, Less Sugar appeared first on Common Sense Homesteading.

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Throwback Thursday’s: Laundry Day

Throwback Thursday’s: Laundry Day is available on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Once upon a time, so very many years ago, laundry day could almost literally be an all-day affair. Things were once very different when it came to washing and drying our clothes. There wasn’t a long list of scented detergents, nor were there settings on washing machines. Heck, at one time we were the washing machines, and the air and sun took care of the drying.

Laundry Day: It Just Keeps Getting Shorter

At one time, clothes were washed down in the river. It was relatively common to see washerwomen along the banks of the river with their homemade washboards, bats, and rocks. The laundry was sometimes soaked in lye back at their homes and then later brought to the river for a good washing. Laundry went on in this fashion until about the 19th century. In some countries like France, there were actual washrooms where you could find people gathered together airing their dirty laundry.

Laundry In The 19th Century

It wasn’t until the 19th century that people began laundering their wash in a different way. At this time, many people had a wash tub which consisted of a wooden or metal tub that was used just for washing clothes. Not all homes had a wash tub but many did. The tubs would be filled with water that was heated over an open fire or right on top of their wood stoves. The water was poured into the tub along with the laundry, and likely lye or some sort of bar soap was used for scrubbing.

More often than not, there was some sort of washboard used to help wash the clothes. However, washboards weren’t factory made until the late 19th century. Before that, the laundry would soak in the water and wooden paddles, also known as bats, were used to agitate the clothes. Once they were done, the clothes would be wrung out by hand and hung up to dry.

In different regions, though the wash tubs were different, the way people washed their clothes was pretty similar. For the most part, Dolly tubs, also known as Peggy or Maidens, were used. These tubs were a bit taller and instead of using paddles or bats, there was a wooden plunger called a Dolly Stick, with a long handle that was used to agitate, as well as wring out the clothes after the washing.

Late 19th Century & Early 20th Century

Then there came a day when someone finally invented a hand-powered wringer. This helped laundry day move a little faster. The wet clothes would be placed between the rollers of the wringer, and you would use the crank to roll them through. A couple of passes through, and the laundry was ready to be hung out on the line. Sometimes it took two people to operate the wringer, one to hold the clothing and the other to operate the machine. It wasn’t until the late 1850’s that steam-powered washing machines came to be. They used steam rather than electricity, because at this time not many people had access to electricity.

1930’s to Now

Finally, there came the day that you could purchase a washing machine and plug it in. It was called the wringer/mangler washing machine. When my mother was a child, she tried to be helpful and wash my grandfather’s clothing. The wringer/mangler sucked her arm right into the wringer and hurt her arm, hence the title the mangler. The wringer was operated by electricity, and it would pull the clothing through on its own while you held it. Laundry day just kept getting shorter and shorter from here on out.

mttje1999 shows a video of how doing laundry was done in the 1900’s:

By the 40’s and 50’s washing machines became more of what they are today — minus the digital buttons and water saving options. This trip back in time shows us the hard work and dedication it took to air the family’s dirty laundry. What was once back-breaking labor has become a 10-minute task with little to no effort needed.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Throwback Thursday on the Homestead. Next time you think doing laundry is a chore remember those who laundered before! Happy wash day!

Have you ever tried washing the old way or have experienced someone doing so? Please share in the comments below!

Read on how to dry laundry using a drying rack or clothesline for homestead living!

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How To Build A Potting Bench (FREE-plan)

How To Build A Potting Bench (FREE-plan) is republished from Total Survival

In the following you can learn how to create a great place for potting plants and gardening chores by building this tough, good-looking potting bench. This one is built from cedar to hold up to years of use outdoors. It looks so good that you might decide to use it as a serving station on your deck or patio, too.

Materials Required: Materials Required:

Wood Products:

(5) 2×4, 96″, Board
(2) 2×6, 96″, Board
(1) 1×10, 96″, Board
(5) 5/4 (1″ actual thickness), 96″, Decking

Hardware/Supplies:

(75) 1 1/2″ coarse exterior-rated pocket hole screws
(45) 2 1/2″ coarse exterior-rated pocket hole screws

Tools Used:Tools Used:

• Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig Pocket-Hole Jig
• Ridgid Drill (cordless)
• Hitachi Jigsaw
• Ridgid Miter Saw
• Bosch Sander
• Johnson Square
• Stanley Tape Measure

Directions

Follow the steps from the link below to complete this project.

How To Build A Potting Bench (directions)

This Article Was Originally Posted on goodshomedesign.com Read The Original Article here

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Were America’s Origins Truly Christian?

Were America’s Origins Truly Christian? See more on: http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Americans talk a lot about liberty. It’s debated in the halls of Congress, on television and radio talk shows, and even over the water cooler or coffee pot at work.

Rarely, though, do we discuss the definition and source of liberty.

This week on a special Independence Day edition of Off The Grid Radio, we talk to Off The Grid Radio founder Bill Heid, who has produced a new video – called “The Lost Secrets of Liberty” — that addresses the definition of liberty. It also examines a controversial question: Were America’s origins truly Christian?

Bill tells us:

• Why the popular dictionary definition of “liberty” is just plain wrong.
• Why Ethan Allen demanded the surrender of the British at Fort Ticonderoga “in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.”
• Why John Adams said American independence had as much to do with religion as with “taxation without representation.”
• Why Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin wanted a scene out of the book of Exodus as the national seal.

Bill also tells us why atheism can flourish best in a nation that has a Christian foundation. (Bill’s thoughts on this one surprised even us!)

If you enjoy learning about America’s past, then this is one show you don’t want to miss!

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

Read More Here: Were America’s Origins Truly Christian?