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Made of ancient diatom skeletons, diatomaceous earth is edible to mammals but deadly to insects. De scratches through a bug's waxy exoskeleton coating turning their innards to teeny tiny bug jerky.

"Pooless," a term frequently used within the permaculture community, refers to the practice of eliminating commercial shampoos and soaps in favor of natural alternatives or simply water. While the concept might seem daunting at first, user feedback and shared tips highlight its practical usability and positive outcomes. The transition to "poolessness" often involves an adjustment period, during which the scalp rebalances its sebum production, leading to potential temporary waxiness or static. However, this phase is manageable with practical tips shared within the community. Sources suggest using readily available ingredients like baking soda and apple cider vinegar as a gentle cleansing and conditioning routine. Additionally, regular brushing helps distribute natural oils and maintain a clean and healthy scalp. For those with longer hair, a flea comb and soapy water can be utilized for more thorough cleaning. The sources emphasize the importance of patience during the initial transition, reassuring that hair eventually reaches a natural balance, becoming less oily and requiring less frequent washing. With readily available ingredients, simple techniques, and supportive online communities, "poolessness" proves to be a user-friendly and sustainable approach to personal care, aligning with permaculture's principles of simplicity and self-sufficiency.

The SKIP (Skills to Inherit Property) program, hosted on permies.com, utilizes a badge system based on the completion of practical projects called "Badge Bits" (BBs). These BBs, categorized under 22 different aspects, encompass a diverse array of skills crucial for sustainable living and homesteading, aligning with the principles of permaculture. To earn a badge, Skippers must complete a predetermined set of BBs within a specific aspect, demonstrating their competency in that area. Badges are tiered, starting with the Sand badge, which signifies basic proficiency and requires approximately 5 hours of work. The next levels are Straw, Wood, and Iron badges, representing increasingly advanced skill levels and significantly greater time commitments. Examples of BBs include carving a wooden spoon (Roundwood Woodworking), building a hugelkultur garden bed (Gardening), installing a light fixture (Electricity), and mending a hole in clothing (Textiles). By completing BBs and earning badges, Skippers showcase their practical skills and dedication to sustainable living to potential "Otisies" (landowners) looking for suitable successors for their properties. Moreover, the completion of BBs contributes to the overall goal of "skipping the rat race," empowering individuals to acquire the skills and experience needed for self-sufficient living.

Hugelkultur, meaning "hill culture" in German, is a sustainable gardening method that involves creating raised garden beds by burying wood under soil. This technique, described as "soil on wood," uses logs, branches, twigs, and even whole trees, which decompose and act as "a sponge to hold water". The decomposition process attracts beneficial microorganisms, creates air pockets, and releases nutrients, resulting in fertile soil that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation and fertilization. Hugelkultur is a versatile technique that can be implemented on a small scale or on a large scale, even spanning nearly a kilometer. By utilizing wood that would otherwise be discarded, hugelkultur promotes environmental sustainability and aligns with permaculture principles, allowing gardeners to "grow a typical garden without irrigation or fertilization"