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6 Trees Every Survivalist Should Know & Why –

6 Trees Every Survivalist Should Know & Why –
Now is a good time to go out and flag the following six trees before the leaves drop (except the pine). Revisit them in the winter and learn how to ID them by the bark alone. Then again in the Spring with the buds and new leaves. White birch is easy to identify with its distinctive, white, papery bark. White birch survival uses: Sweet drinkable sap that does not need purificationContainers can be fashioned from the bark (and even canoes – hence the name “canoe birch”)It’s papery bark makes some of the finest fire starting tender on the planet, which will light even when damp because of its resinous qualityA fine tea can be made from the small twigs at the end of a branch or by shaving the bark from new growth. The American basswood (also called American linden) is a very common tree – especially in the Eastern U.S. Basswood survival uses: Delicious edible leaves – especially in spring“Bass” comes from the word “bast,” which is an old word for rope. White pine survival uses: Related:  Do It Yourself Home & Garden

5 Old Foods To Throw In The Garden Instead Of The Garbage About two months ago, we were FINALLY getting our seedlings put into the garden. (It snows in May in Colorado, so we get started later than most folks.) On one of the many trips inside the house to fetch a tool I’d forgotten, I noticed an old potato sporting many eyes in the pantry. Normally this all-seeing potato would probably have ended up in the trash, but since we were in the process of gardening anyway, this time I decided to plant it. I didn’t read any books or how-to guides for growing potatoes from, well, other potatoes. I just cut it into five sections, dug five holes and plopped ‘em in. And now we have 5 healthy potato plants growing away in our garden! This got me thinking about other “spoiled” or “unusable parts” plants that can be re-born in the garden. Love This? Thanks for subscribing! Read on to discover more foods that should be planted, not tossed, when they begin to sprout because of age. 1. Image credit: energyandintensity via Flickr 2. 3. 4. Image credit: slgc via Flickr

DIY Laundry Soap Detergent: Images & Recipes Homemade laundry soap is quick, easy and cheap. What other reasons do you need to make either a laundry powder or soap for your front loader or top loader washing machines? I will teach you how to make laundry detergent and a laundry soap liquid with step-by-step instructions, and you will never want to buy another box of expensive, commercial washing powder again. I don't know about you, but when the children were still at home I had a mountain of washing to do each week. And when they became teenagers the washing pile got bigger still. As a result, one of the most expensive part of my fortnightly shop was buying laundry detergent. If only I knew then what I know now! A country washing day So What is inside Commercial Laundry Soap? Basically 2 Things: A surfactant that removes dirtA builder that softens hard water There are of course a lot more ingredients in commercial washing detergents but a lot of them are just fillers which is basically what you are paying for. 1 bowl 1 wooden spoon

9 Easy Garden Plants For Hardworking People It’s a common dilemma … you love the looks of a flourishing garden, but don’t have a lot of time or energy to put into keeping it up. You’re too busy with the demands of job, caretaking, and just plain living. The good news is that gardening can be a lot simpler than you think. It’s mainly a question of choosing the right type of plants. Here are 9 shrubs, flowers, and vegetables that will require minimal care. Green Plants Image credit: katerha via Flickr Shrubs Busy people tend to be impatient people, so you may wonder why we mention shrubs. Vines Vines are another choice which will provide you with both privacy and beauty. Succulents Love This? Thanks for subscribing! Succulents are beloved of busy indoor gardeners, due to their appealing appearance, low maintenance, and limited need for water. Flowers Image credit: botheredbybees via Flickr Bulbs Plant bulbs in the fall and fugeddabout ‘em. Perennials (Day Lilies) If you’re looking for a hardy perennial, the day lily is for you. Edibles Herbs

Making Homemade Laundry Soap This page is my own personal writings and is copyright protected. NO PART OF THIS PAGE MAY BE COPIED AND PASTED ONTO WEBSITES, BLOGS OR MESSAGE BOARD FORUMS! Making Homemade Laundry Soap By Crystal Miller Making your own laundry soap is very easy! No longer do you need to rely on store bought detergents. ~If after reading through this you have a question PLEASE read the "Questions Answered" at the bottom of this page. What Ingredients Do You Need? You will need 3 basic ingredients; a soap of some sort, washing soda and borax. The Soap: The most typical type of soap to use is Fels Naptha. Washing Soda: This is not to be confused with baking soda. Borax: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral: Sodium Borate. The Recipe Now that you have assembled all the needed ingredients here is the recipe: Homemade Laundry Soap 1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above ½ cup washing soda ½ cup borax powder ~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~ ~The soap is a low sudsing soap.

20 Houseplants To Clear Toxins From The Air In Your Home! Bringing a bit of nature into your home does more than brighten the atmosphere. Introducing houseplants into various rooms in the house can help reduce the chance of getting seasonal sicknesses (such as the common cold), remove airborne contaminants (volatile organic compounds, or VOCs), reduce the chance of headaches, lift your mood, decrease your blood pressure, reduce allergies, improve sleep and much more. The 20 plants listed below are specifically known for their air purifying properties. And while an open window may feel like all the fresh air you need, did you know that everything from toilet paper to common household cleaners can contain chemicals and release toxins like formaldehyde? Or that VOCs like benzene can be released into the air by everything from the paint on your walls, to the printed material found in your home? So why not breathe a bit easier and enjoy the beauty of a new houseplant at the same time! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Love This? Thanks for subscribing! 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Haitian Vodou Vodou altar during a celebration for Papa Guédé in Boston. This altar has offerings to three nations (nanchons) of loa: at top right are offerings to Rada spirits; at top left are those for the Petwo family; and those at bottom are for Guédé. Haitian Vodou[3] (/ˈvoʊduː/, French: [vodu], also written as Voodoo /ˈvuːduː/; Vodun,[4] or Vodoun[4] /ˈvoʊduːn/, etc.) is a syncretic religion practiced chiefly in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora. Practitioners are called "vodouists" (French: vodouisants [voduisɑ̃]) or "servants of the spirits" (Haitian Creole: sèvitè). Vodouists believe in a distant and unknowable creator god, Bondye (likely derived from the French language term Bon Dieu, or Good Lord). Vodou originated in the French slave colony of Haiti in the 18th century, when African religious practice was actively suppressed, and enslaved Africans were forced to convert to Christianity. Names and etymology[edit] Beliefs[edit] Deities[edit] Loa[edit] Morality[edit] Soul[edit] Practices[edit]

NASA Has Compiled a List of the Best Air-Cleaning Plants for Your Home Many of us spend most of our time indoors, so it’s important to cultivate a space that’s a healthy one. A simple—and beautiful—way to do this is through houseplants; they add some green to your home while being an effective way to purify the air. NASA hardly seems like the organization that would give us insight into these types of plants, but in the late 1980s, the US government agency collaborated with the Associated Contractors of America (ALCA) to come up with a list of the most beneficial flora for your home. Their informative Clean Air study found that some plants, more than others, could naturally filter harmful chemicals and help mitigate the effects they have on humans. So, what are the best air-cleaning plants? The Florist’s Mum and Peace Lily took the top spot. Love the Garden created a helpful infographic that will tell you which house plants are best and what chemicals they filter: With some help from these plants, your air can be cleaner and healthier:

VODOU RITUALS & CEREMONIES | VODOU RELIGION The Haitian Vodou Religions are full of different types of rituals and ceremonies that are conducted. Some ceremonies or rituals are offered and open to the public Vodou Community. While others are conducted, by Houngans and Mambos, for private clientel. Here you will find information on some of the more common ceremonies performed/administered by a Houngan or Mambo. It is important to note that Houngans or Mambos do not receive a regular salary by an agency, church or organization. However, it is considered apporpriate and correct to bring a donation of some type. This is a public ceremony, where Vodouisants come together to call upon and serve the Lwa. Most of these ceremonies commence with the Priye Ginen. Throughout the ceremony, which will last many hours, each of the Lwa will be sung for ceremonially until they have all been sung for. A Houngan, Mambo, or other Vodouisant will usually conduct or hold these ceremonies several times a year. Wanga for Protection

How to Buy The Right LED | Lightbulb Reviews The guy standing in the lightbulb aisle at the home center was helpful this time. He knew plenty about LEDs, even which dimmers worked with them. But it turns out he didn’t work there. He was an electrical engineer just passing by. That’s too bad, because there are a few things you need to know before you choose an LED. In “How to find an LED lightbulb that fits your fixture” we offered ways to make shopping easier. Don't mix bulb types A combination of bulbs—CFLs, halogen, incandescents, and LEDs—should not be used in a multi-bulb lighting fixture, especially if it’s an enclosed fixture. Pick the right dimmer This is when you might start to miss incandescents, but most were phased out and are no longer available.

SCRIPTS OF AFRICA - Native Writing Systems of Africa A script is not only a technology for writing the spoken word, It is also a cultural symbol of a people and their identity. The mere sign of Arabic script carries the power of Islam and the Arab/Muslim people. Every time we see Amharic written we see the might of Ethiopian culture. A script is powerful political symbol used all over the world to show national identity. It is not accidental that Hebrew was reinstated, from obsoleteness, when Israel was created in 1948. Fact: It was once thought that the origin of Egyptian Hieroglyphs are religious and historical, but recent developments could point to an economical impetus for this script (just like Sumerian script) as well as push back the time depth of this writing system A script is a relatively modern technology for communication [2], it is a visible mark on a flat surface which carries information. Europe has never produced any native script, every script is derivatives—even Ancient Greek. Ge'ez (Ethiopia | Eritrea) Ge'ez Syllabary and

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