craig howard

The 4 batteries are shipped and on their way but I am getting messages that the shipper says I live in a remote village and need to send an extra $30.
Not true and that's the first time I've heard that.
We'll see how it works out.

12 Volt sodium batteries can be charged to a higher voltage.
I think they like 15.6 volts.
I'm not sure what most lead/acid battery chargers go to.
I have an old one that goes to 16 volts.

There was a guy on utube who charged/discharged a sodium motorcycle battery.
Charging it to 14.4 (or something close to that) didn't seem to change the power curve when he discharged, compared to a 15.6volt charge.
A couple fewer AH (amp hours).
The curve isn't as flat as lithium so using voltage as a reference for charge level will probably work well.

I don't think I've ever been ripped off on alliex.

The new sodium ion batteries can handle very cold weather, -40C and still have plenty of power.
They are becoming affordable,.. compared to lead acid car starting batteries.
And sodium beats lead, or even lithium as far as toxic gick.

They are about the same price as LA starting batteries now:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808924809169.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.4.54d31802bpcON7&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
4 of those will get you 12 volts.
That's kind of a kit so you'd have to build the box.
And use a BMS (battery management system) if you don't use it in a car.

Because they are new and expanding.
You could easily watch the price drop substantially after you buy them.

I tapped 5 maple trees this year. Not sure what kind. Got a couple gallons of syrup.
Only one was in my yard.

At one place, I got the lady to drink some of the sap.
The next couple days, she came out with her big cup when I drove up.
So I made sure she got some everytime I stopped to collect the sap.
Her friends loved it too.
So even if I don't do the maple syrup next year, I will have to tap a tree for her.

I tapped a couple walnut trees too.
Got very little sap, or syrup.
But the flavor spectrum (that's all I can think to call it) is very nice.
Broad spectrum flavor.

I had a vegetable oil drip on my woodburner.
Not a rocket stove, just a wood burner.
 It left a layer of carbon on the bottom of the wood burner.
Basically glued all the fire bricks together. I'm not sure that's a bad thing.
It burns hot. Extends the fire.
And doesn't smell bad.
Would probably burn very clean in a rocket stove.

It's not something that can be grown on the farm.
But it can be found during a trip into town.
Lots of free sources,.. you just got to poke around.

Nicky Schauder wrote:Yes, Logan!  I loved watching this video.  Unfortunately, our willow fence has been nibbled by deer to the point that the willow branches are dead!  I tried covering them in garden mesh early on but the deer pulled the garden mesh down and continued to nibble!!!  Grrr. I may try again next spring if my friend will provide me with willow cuttings again.  Thanks for sharing!

I wonder if you could spray them with cayenne pepper water or pepper wax.

Probably can leave this up for a couple days then delete it.

A local farmer is selling duck eggs for the same price as the chicken eggs he supplies.
He gave me a free dozen to try.
I separate the yolks and white with most of my eggs.
Yolks go into the home made ice cream and the whites need to be cooked due to the antinutrients in raw egg whites.

Seems like the duck eggs don't separate as easily.

GOOF Growing your own food

I've noticed more frequent posting on utube. I wonder if that is helping to drive traffic here.
Or maybe they just didn't pop up in my algorithm before..