Human urine as a safe, inexpensive fertilizer for food crops Researchers in Finland are reporting successful use of an unlikely fertilizer for farm fields that is inexpensive, abundantly available, and undeniably organic -- human urine. Their report on use of urine to fertilize cabbage crops is scheduled for the Oct. 31 issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Despite the 'yuk!' factor, urine from healthy individuals is virtually sterile, free of bacteria or viruses. Naturally rich in nitrogen and other nutrients, urine has been used as fertilizer since ancient times. In the new study, Surendra K. The analysis showed that growth and biomass were slightly higher with urine than with conventional fertilizer. Source: ACS Explore further: Potent, puzzling and (now less) toxic: Team discovers how antifungal drug works
rocketstoves - www.ErnieAndErica.info Ianto Evans, Leslie Jackson, Ernie Wisner, Kirk Mobert, Paul Wheaton, and other friends are among the researchers developing efficient, clean-burning, affordable stoves for a variety of heating and cooking needs. This group developed and published the current editions of Rocket Mass Heater, or Rocket Masonry Stove, designs. The technology combines an innovative clean-burning combustion chamber, with an earthen masonry thermal mass, resulting in extraordinary heat capture and low waste from an incredibly small amount of wood. The goals of Rocket Stove researchers include - meet human needs for food, warmth, comfort, and safety - conserve fuel (over-harvesting of firewood affects droughts, famine, and climate), - clean air, reduce smoke-related health and environmental problems - turn wastes into resources, e.g. find new uses for junk & scrap - encourage resourceful thinking and hands-on problem solving - offer affordable, clean alternatives to conventional technologies
How to Make Pine Pitch I try to collect pine resin deposits that happen naturally, usually caused by a fracture in a limb by a storm, lightning, or animals scratching on the bark. I also gather resin that oozes naturally out of the broken knots in the pine tree. The runny clear resin, the dried up clumps of amber or the flakey white drips, dried from seasons past, are all good resin for making pine pitch. Usually I collect my resin in some sort of metal container, such as a soup can or a little larger can with some pre-punched holes in the bottom of the can. The holes are about the size of a common finish nail and covers the bottom randomly. When I get the can, with the pre-punched holes, filled up almost to the top with resin, I take it home. The resin is very volatile. The resin will start to smoke heavily, but do not be alarmed. Take the tuna can back to the heat source and warm up the resin to a liquid state. Next, add a “filler material” to the tuna can of resin. Light the sharpened end in a fire.
Where to go and what to Avoid When Food has Disappeared off of the Grocery Shelves Today’s non-fiction writing contest entry was written by Randy W It is a normal day and life is throwing the normal junk at you, when all of a sudden a radio or e-blast comes across your smart phone. A volcano / meteorite / hurricane / earth quake / flood has just hit your part of the world and life as we know it may never return to normal. You have your “bug out / get home” bag, lying next to your desk in your “cage” cubicle; the breath has just been knocked out of you like a sucker punch from Hell! You know in your “knower” that things are going to be crazy just trying to get home, in this “Grid down” situation let alone trying to compete with “panic buying” that will hit the supermarket. Your “prepper” research has told you that most all Supermarkets have a 3 day stock of items on hand (under normal conditions) and in a typical, winter storm warning, most all staples will be gone in less than 4 hours after the end of normal business hours. Tips for possible success:
Super Efficient Rocket Mass Heater by Ernie & Erica If you have never heard of a Rocket Mass Heater (or stove) and you heat your home with wood, you’ll find these videos very interesting – I sure did. There is not a lot of people who really understand the concept and able to make it work properly. One couple does… Ernie and Erica have built a great reputation both online and offline, and now have 700+ Rocket Mass Heater builds under their belt. I would say they have more than enough experience to be considered experts when it comes to Rocket Mass Heaters. Pictured in the image above is the Bonny Convection Bench: Rocket Mass Heater, 8 inch ducting, with air channels over hardwood floor. Meet Ernie & Erica In the first video below, you can meet Ernie and Erica as they briefly discuss one of their heaters. Rocket Mass Heater Fire Science In this video, Ernie and Erica explain the what they call “Rocket Stove Fire Science” – Very intersting… Instructional Video on Rocket Mass Heaters by Ernie & Erica
A non-commercial service in support of responsible home heating with wood - Good Firewood The key to successful wood burning Whether you burn wood in a fireplace, stove or furnace, good quality firewood is the key to convenience, efficiency and safety. Wet wood and pieces that are not the right size and shape for your wood burner can be frustrating, burn inefficiently and deposit creosote that can fuel a dangerous chimney fire. Good planning, seasoning and storage of the firewood supply are essential to successful wood burning. Measuring firewood quantity and comparing prices The first challenge in buying firewood is to measure quantity so you can compare prices. As a result, many dealers sell fractions of cords, often called “face cords”, “stove cords” or “furnace cords”, which are piles of wood 4 feet high and 8 feet long and as wide as the length of the individual pieces, usually between 12 and 20 inches. The price of firewood sold in fractions of cords can be compared by calculating the volume of wood sold as a unit and comparing its cost per full cord. Piece Length