Search results

  1. rhoda_bruce

    Are we living our dreams?

    Imagine a cold frame being put together for my northern friends to keep their mash warm enough to ferment. Well, it will be a few days before I need to put some grain to soak because the birds are still munching on the unbelievable amount of grain DD8 threw in the coop. I'm picking up a lot...
  2. rhoda_bruce

    Are we living our dreams?

    Neat baymule. I have mini versions of that coop, on a more simplistic model, for ease in moving around the garden. I imagine that would require more than one person to move, but it should be good wherever its located a while. This looks even easier to construct than the trampoline frame...
  3. rhoda_bruce

    Are we living our dreams?

    When I read up on it, I was glad because a friend had told me she soaks for only 12 hours and I knew you can't get it to start breaking down in that time. The site I read from, didn't specify what to use, but said any grain was fine and you can even put in mash or pellets to ferment. When its...
  4. rhoda_bruce

    Are we living our dreams?

    I started one day, but putting 3 gallons of corn, which at the time was the only grain available, in a 5 gallon bucket. I did this with 4 buckets and covered with enough water so I had about 3 inches over the grain. In the days that followed, I might have added more water and it is supposed...
  5. rhoda_bruce

    Getting off the grid?

    She did ask me if I had insulated the attic. I could have taken a chance, but I knew I couldn't produce receipts to prove that one, so I didn't. But bummer because I did pay the insulation that is up there, only didn't get credit for it yet.
  6. rhoda_bruce

    Getting off the grid?

    When I do it, I'm not going whole house and spending 30,000 or so and have to call someone out to climb my roof, every time something bad happens. I'm going to try small sections with all the parts, readily at my disposal. I would rather invest 2,000 in supplies and put a small project to...
  7. rhoda_bruce

    Getting off the grid?

    I would like to take this time to maybe reactivate a thread on alternative, off-grid power sources. Okay, I just got my tax return done by my cousin, who is an accountant and the questions she asked me, have been discussed on the SS forum a lot. Apparently we have a lot of reasons to...
  8. rhoda_bruce

    Solar stove/oven?

    I have not used mine in a while, but in the summer it is very nice, provided you are organized and already know by night, what it is you will be cooking and you get up early enough to put it out. Now if you like me and have more had to plant trees to protect your house from the sun, so you can...
  9. rhoda_bruce

    Are we living our dreams?

    I posted a topic on my Facebook group and one of my rabbit buddies showed me how to make tiny little bales with a crate. They look cute. She even told me if I can get it going, she would buy from me.....well, she frequently posts that she needs to find hay, so I know its an ongoing thing for...
  10. rhoda_bruce

    Are we living our dreams?

    I have been out of grain a few days, except for some hen scratch, I picked up, real quick, with the dog feed to just hold me over, until I could make a trip to the river. So I have put 4 days rations to ferment. It has made a difference. I don't pick up as many eggs without fermenting. So I...
  11. rhoda_bruce

    SO.MANY.GLASS.JARS. HELP!

    I make tinctures in them and vanilla extract. I reuse them for their original purposes, but use as soon as possible and don't keep them for long term.....home canning. If I give away some fig preserves, I rather use a Ragu jar, than one of my precious masons. I also live in a flood zone, so...
  12. rhoda_bruce

    Bamboo

    I have some small rooms I need to deal with the ceilings in.....wonder if I can put something like that together. My family has a patch of bamboo I can harvest from.
  13. rhoda_bruce

    Heating the house with sunlight?

    I have been opening my east windows in the morning and closing everything up by night. If it helps me, its only minimal. I did watch a video on it. The woman was living in a trailer and swore by it. Mind you.....I don't have many windows, and my curtains are not thick and mainly were made to...
  14. rhoda_bruce

    Are we living our dreams?

    My dad would make a hole and insert a hose pipe and inflate the skin and then pull it off. He never saved the skins, but I think that is a waste. I would at least like to try to preserve the skins. My understanding is I can sell a coon skin when the Indians come for their Pow wows, for...
  15. rhoda_bruce

    Are we living our dreams?

    I figured out that it was more likely a close call in a car accident I missed, by slamming my breaks. Funny how that can hurt you so much. But I just needed rest. I'm fine now. Well, I had a lady wanting to come over for my goat and a man who wanted to trade me a gander for some rabbit...
  16. rhoda_bruce

    trapping rats

    It could be squirrels, on my end, but I do know we have rats. And I found a hole, in one of my pilings, toward the bottom of all places. Its not on the corner, but I need to see if its a tunnel. I suppose the best thing to do is poison the hole and apply cement to fill it up.
  17. rhoda_bruce

    trapping rats

    I think I'd rather mice. I think I could maybe even catch a bunch of them alive. Sometimes it sounds like a doberman is running on my roof or in my attic.
  18. rhoda_bruce

    Is plastic-free obtainable?

    Years ago, I'd go to a grocery store and if I used my own bags, I'd get a certain amount off for each bag taken off my bill. Well last night I bought 2 shopping bags at the Dollar Store for the first time. It was easier to load and looked easy for DS to bring inside. I had a bag for my very...
  19. rhoda_bruce

    trapping rats

    I suppose I must admit that I am afraid to climb the ladder, for the most part and usually leave it for DS. I have left it in the middle of the house though....an eye sore, so we can run up whenever we want. It doesn't stink in here. I might have a few dead rats in 3 separate kind of traps up...
  20. rhoda_bruce

    Is plastic-free obtainable?

    I don't like the term necessary evil, because depending on the circumstances, it can raise a lot of arguments, but unless we totally become non-consumers, provide all our own foodstuff, and get our goods, used from garage sales, I think we will have to put up with excessive packaging and...
Top