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asparagus

One might assume I am a pessimist expecting TEOTWAWKI too soon to do any long-term projects.

That one would be wrong.

While I continue my drive to be prepared for Bilderberg-engineered disasters, I also recognize their schemes continue to be frustrated by events beyond their control.

So I prune fruit trees, plant blueberries and build an asparagus bed as if I might get to enjoy the fruits of that labor two or more years hence.

Yesterday it was blueberries. Today asparagus.

On the north side of our year-round creek I put four roots each in their own discrete beds. […]

machete

I would guess I have had a favorite machete for over 30 years. Since our move that began in August I do not think I have seen it – Not lost, but not found yet either. However, I needed my machete sooner rather than whenever.

Searching the Internet uncovers many choices, a large number of which do not understand the tool … more charitably, their customers have something else in mind. A machete is a brush hacking instrument. It may serve other roles, but first, foremost, primarily, by design, and by function it must be a good brush hacking […]

mushroom leather

I am currently taking a weekly evening class on growing oyster mushrooms. Our instructor, Chase, spent the 6 months following his oil field job layoff studying mushrooms, and experimenting with their production. He is enthusiastically passing on what he learned.

There is SO MUCH about mushrooms that I did not know. Of course the rather meticulous, involved propagation is part of that, but the nature of a mushroom colony is quite different than what I imagined. The part we all see, know and eat is such a tiny element in the being.

Moreover, mushrooms exist in a […]

sugar stupid

We like sweet. Nature did this so we would be attracted to fruit and berries. They are good for us. Where we get into trouble are with modern refining of natural sugars and commonplace availability of fruits rather than seasonal, intermittent access. Since we abandoned our hunter-gatherer existence in exchange for our grocery store cornucopia we either learn about healthy nutrition or suffer negative consequences.

I am comfortable with natural sugars like real maple syrup and evaporated cane juice, but I also have developed a mental dis-attraction to sugary foods. Easy-sneezy with that awful chemically-refined sugar beet junk […]

12-volt lighting

Last month in Studio wired I showed you my breakthrough getting my studio 12-volt emergency lighting operating. I accomplished a couple of refinements recently.

Besides the obvious advantages of having lights regardless of power grid failures, my 12-volt LEDs provide lighting options in addition to, instead of, or in combination with the various 110-volt lights I have installed.

Prior to connecting up my antique meters, I was running on a gut-feeling that I had to be real conservative in my use of the 12-volt to avoid excessive depletion of the batteries, thus shortening their lives. The meters tell […]

Intermittent Fasting, a review

I began intermittent fasting January 2017 eating modest-sized regular late-morning breakfasts and evening dinners with no food intake between. It was very successful in the obvious weight loss that inspired my adoption of the regimen.

I wrote about it here: fasting – by Ted Dunlap, on May 31st, 2017 losing it – by Ted Dunlap, on February 11th, 2017

I think I also enjoy the more subtle changes in mind and body that others have written about. It may well have me feeling stronger, happier, more optimistic and at peace. Those are hard to quantify or pin on any […]

handheld radio recommendation

Tytera MD-390

Progress in two-way radios is similar to that in all other electronics. That is to say this recommendation will not be the optimum choice years from now. Nevertheless, this radio can serve you well for many years.

The other caveat is there are many good choices. This is only one of them. I am making this suggestion to help the novice find a solid handheld transceiver that is well received within the amateur radio community. In a crowded field of feature-rich radios, the MD-390 has most of what you would want while being in the […]