Sam Potter

So we solved the problem and didn't need to go solar. Yet. I think I'm going to try that set up you describe for when we end up needing one. We are using the parmak 5. It shoots about 6 joules for 50 miles. It is way over sized for the 100ft by 100ft paddocks we are currently doing but we wanted to make sure that if we end up expanding itl still work. I talked to a cattle farmer who deals with this stuff and he told us to just run a string of hot wire from the energizer out to where we need it. So I ran it the 1000 feet out to where we need it. I trenched a bit of it under ground for the trucks to still go over by attaching the hot wire to a insulated house wire left over from a remodel. Its only under the surface by like 4 inches but it should be alright. Right? And since we are renting the land I didnt want to try a gate and depend on strangers to close it for the power to make it out to the paddocks. I don't know if you've ever experienced having to herd 20 pigs back to where there supposed to be but it isn't fun. So far its working!

Like 80% of plastic has been removed from our kitchen. There's little things you never think of thou. What I thought was paper tea bags have been our problem. Turns out they mix plastic into the paper tea bags so they don't disintegrate into your hot tea water, some paper bags as well do this now. So we switched to bulk tea from a small local online tea store that Iv gotten to vend next to at a few events and like. (Shout out to Under The Mountain Apothecary) But my son didnt like the added steps nor did he want to learn how to use a tea strainer. Until I mentioned the plastic in the tea bag thing.(He has like 3 mugs a day) Im not sure wev ever mentioned the problem of micro plastics to him but he just nodded sagely and grumbled about god damn micro plastics invading his brain. So I asked him where he had learned about them. His friends, online and its now included in joke insults apparently. He also seems to know way more about the dangers of micro plastics the I do. So my 10 year old schooled me in the ickyness of plastic and then I schooled him in the art of a tea strainer. Win-Win situation.

We also ran into this problem! We used our RMH for the first winter this year and ran out of our giant stash of newspaper. And only went thru two face cords of wood. We bought crayons and candles from the thrift store. Roll the crayon in the subpar starter like cardboard or junk mail and now its a super starter.

Iv also heard good things about using pinecones. Il have to send the kiddo out to collect us a bunch so we can try them out.

Fence energizers are expensive! We picked up one recently trying to avoid the solar cause they cost more and now we regret it as the pasture we are using has no easy way to plug it in. Im curious what others are using before I go back to the store and buy the 500$ solar one we were considering the first time!

Sorry I should have left a explanation! The sink drain is plastic and HAD a faux metal paint on it that's worn off. It's been like this since before I moved in. The stove top has what I'm pretty sure is burnt sugar around the burners. It's a 13 year old new to me stove and the whole top used to be covered in it. Iv tried for hours to get the black to come off. Everything in our kitchen needs replaced or repaired.

Heres my kitchen I cleaned while making dinner. Its muddy out so I skipped putting the rugs back cause they will just get stained and gross looking. I clean this room at least twice a day and if anyone has any working, homeschooling, homesteading parent tips on how to keep this clean Id appreciate it lol.

I think Iv now made like 20 toad habitats but keep forgetting to take pictures of the before. I dont generally keep my phone on me and just get into a groove and then realize later that I never took pictures as proof! So these are over this year and last year as I upkeep gardens and weed.

Here is Clodhopper, This was actually completed last year and Id forgotten to post it. Clodhopper has already been used and abused into retirement but we now have a few others that get made as needed. But the original is now a door stop cause I think its pretty cool we made a tool and cant bring myself to burn it!  

My couch was due for a clean and this BB was a good kick in the pants to get it done.

Here is my area rug of choice. We have a lot and I try to do this at least once a month with them and vacuum in-between. Its definitely been over a month thou!