the Hidden Buffet

1. We have been provided literally a world full of the healthiest, tastiest, most affordable foods known to exist on this planet. Sadly however, there are some people who don't know that they have been invited to live healthier by allowing flavor packed food to be their medicine, and no money required..or insurance.
   
   The types of good food we are talking about here are a.k.a "weeds." i feel like there should be some type deep pause where no one breathes..."did he just say weeds?"
   
   Yes weeds! With a few quick minutes of searching you could find they literal world full of edible plants that have gone by living right under our noises, and under some of our cultivators.
   
   *There are some poisonous plants! Research is advised before consuming any food or plant. *
   
   In addition to "weeds," there are many common landscapes that have plants growing for visual purposes that also have medicinal properties.
   
   Dandelions, greens and root, plantain, lambs quarter "goose foot," nettles, and many many more. Here are some links to help you decide which steps you could take to start your lifelong walk with healthier, tastier, and cheaper foods. Even if wild edibles are not your thing, rest assured that with a little bit of research and "weeding," You could get through life with no money and still eat good.
   
   Enjoy!
   
   http://www.practicalprimitive.com/skillofthemonth/pineneedletea.html
   
   http://m.wikihow.com/Find-Wild-Edible-Plants
   
   http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/food/edibleplants/

DIY Chicken Feeder take: 1

With the time a ticking away and the to-do lists starting to grow more vigorously than the thistle bolting in the fields, I sought after a couple of ways to allow tasks to get done quicker while adding practical ways help keep life balanced at the homestead.

Enter: DIY chicken feeder

This feeder was given to me yesterday by a great couple that really are living the example of healthy living, stewardship, and sacrifice. Thank you!

Made from an old trash container, a five gallon bucket with the bottom cut out, and a few (1) foot 2x4's. The 2x4's have a notch cut out to allow for the bucket to rest on them while holding the bucket level and about 2 inches off the bottom of the trash container.  I cut out some slots for the chickens to get at the food, about 4 in. x 12 in. and raised off bottom about 3 in.

 It was advised to me to keep the slots in the outer container slightly above the bottom of the inner bucket, this sadly was not accomplished when I made my cuts (measure twice..or however many times you need in order to....cut once), this didn't seem to be a project buster since my slot was not too much lower than the bucket, just about level.

This feed is poured into the bucket and empty's into the feed slot as the chicken's eat.

I am working towards a portable feeder that will hold a 50lb. bag of feed, one that perhaps can move around with the chicken tractor.

This will help me to be able to feed a lot of feed to our flock at once, while keeping it dry and pest free. I hope this chicken feeder will help keep our birds friends happy for years to come.

IF anybody has inputs, other ideas or questions please feel free to comment!

Thoughts & Ideas on: Gardens & Schools

With overall population at all time highs we could use gardening as a way to eat healthier and show people that it does not cost a fortune  to have a natural, organic diet. Our local schools could have gardens that supplement their menus while reducing the need for outside resources. 

Can you imagine what our future generations would be able to do if they had 12 years of education about how to grow human fuel, how to properly maintain their bodies with human fuel, how to better take care of their planet while running on real human fuel?

From the time that a generation of students has completed k-12, they could be equipped with habitual knowledge of how to live healthy. Which in turn means less disease, less pollution, a better home for the human race.

We would like to see more of this education in our local schools! If you have thoughts or ideas on this subject please let us know! We’d love to have your input!