Dennis Goyette

K Eilander wrote:Which generator type is "better", diesel or propane(dual-fuel) as a backup power source for an offgrid system?

Also, since it may factor into it, which has the best/simplest homemade green fuel alternative?
Where the one generator would be running on biodiesel, and the other could (presumably) be run on woodgas.

What do you think?  What would/did you all go with?

Mine is propane, hooked up to my 500 gal. tank and with auto transfer switch. Only issue with a permanent set up is that it is taxed. They assess a generator by the size of the house which is ridiculous. That would be like vehicle registration being based on the size of the driver. I'm still fighting this with the assessment company. Assessor is suppose to bring it up at their Nov. 18th meeting and I will hold his feet to the fire until they change how it is assessed, by the size of the generator (amps and kilowatts) like the size of a shed.

Matt McSpadden wrote:

Dennis Goyette wrote:By "reporting" do you mean how to report their advancement so they get "real" school credit to move forward in grades? Had to research the term, never heard it before.

In the state of Maine, it is required to state your intentions to homeschool via letter at the beginning of the year. At the end of the school year, or at least before the next year starts, you are required to report on how they are learning. This can be done by standardized test or by a report by a licensed teacher who reviews the work (and I think there is a third way).

So, "reporting" in Maine is a requirement by the state to make sure your kids are actually learning stuff and not just truant from public school. I have heard that other states have similar requirements. I have not read that book, but I suspect that is what "reporting" is talking about, rather than credits towards college. That is a separate thing.

Same in NH.....many courses are dual credit nowadays. having been involved in reviewing a dual credit course years ago for NH's virtual school and having taught the college course at the university that was giving the credit, I can tell you that the dual level course was NOT college level as was taught at the university.

Ra Kenworth wrote:

Dennis Goyette wrote:

By "reporting" do you mean how to report their advancement so they get "real" school credit to move forward in grades? Had to research the term, never heard it before.

I haven't found an instance yet where they must get "real" school credit so if anyone out there knows about this please contribute?

Open university (prerequisite courses and/or high school diploma not required):

A lot of bright kids of high school age can pick areas they are particularly interested in, and go straight for the open university credits available worldwide -- or take the course without credit for free.

Athabasca University is an open university but has challenge for credit as well: sometimes a project is required as well, but essentially you read the textbooks and pay to take the exam, and the grade you get in your exam is your grade for your credits. I took a bunch of computer programming courses that way myself because it is cheaper and quicker.

I went to school on the GI Bill. Took both math and computer courses in grad school and worked in the computer industry for years. Took a break for a couple of years and taught at a couple of universities. Then I went back to the computer industry and got out after I was laid off (millions were) 2 weeks after 9/11.

Ra Kenworth wrote:

Dennis Goyette wrote:

The organ meat is great for them. However, don't give them a lot of liver at one time, causes the runs. I mix boiled liver with pumpkin/squash (equal parts) and bake a cookie treat.

Good point!
Context : we're talking liver for dogs can cause the dreaded dog poop soup

Nah I love liver -- he has to share
He gets the bones, none of the tongue or jaw meat, we fight over the lips, he gets the kidneys and the grissle around the heart, and the tougher parts of the liver, which I bake so I can get it cooked quickly and prepared (cooked in homemade salsa)

I save all the juice as well and cook up split lentils with it because they are quick and there's a lot of cooking to do quickly.

Yes I use the squash family a lot for us both, and if I have tasteless melon I cook that in as well, plus dried carrot tops, nettles, frozen/canned radishes, green tomatoes, zucchini etc
If the dog gives me the look of disgust, I mix in half a can of cat food, but directly into his bowl, not the communal pot if we are eating the same delicacy lol

I use Dr Becker's raw, but I boil the meat, I don't give it to them raw. They also get pureed fruits and veggies, all the necessary vitamins and minerals and an egg sunny side up (don't break the yoke until it all gets mixed.)  I use trade for the organs with a farm that raises beefalo. I roast my own coffee beans so its meat for coffee. My friends down the road trade eggs for coffee. Nothing beats barterin.

Ra Kenworth wrote:I have a livestock dog and have found the best use for my non working freezer is for bones: I found a farm with a personal quantity of dairy cows, who keep their girls going into January with a late calf, which they then bucher in January, giving her a break, and the buchering can't be done at the meat cow commercial buchery, go figure...
so they do the buchering themselves in their full service setup for hunters.

I get all the bones including the head, and the organ meat, and if I'm lucky ground beef. So by January it doesn't matter that the freezer doesn't work: I have bones and meat for the rest of the winter. I took the gasket off the lid so it doesn't freeze shut, a larger piece of plywood and a couple of chunks of wood to weigh down the top and everything inside is triple bagged, and it stays outdoors.

The organ meat is great for them. However, don't give them a lot of liver at one time, causes the runs. I mix boiled liver with pumpkin/squash (equal parts) and bake a cookie treat.

Ra Kenworth wrote:Home schooling, unschooling, there are lots of options. I was excited to receive my used copy of How to Report Unschooling to School Officials, 2015, yesterday! I would highly recommend reading some books about this topic as well.

By "reporting" do you mean how to report their advancement so they get "real" school credit to move forward in grades? Had to research the term, never heard it before.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:

Dennis Goyette wrote:Don't forget dog poop......I use it to scoop the poop and then throw it over the hill side....yes wood chips from the pile created by my log splitter that are to small to bag for kindling.

I use a junk steel shovel with a sharp bevel for dog poop scooping, winter and summer. A snow shovel would just smoosh it all around and it would end up on my shoe.

Snow shovels are useless for "soft serve", that's when your steel shovel comes in. With winter and colder temps almost here (they come and go now), frozen doo cones are easy to scoop up with any shovel.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:My snow shovels (scoopers as opposed to pushers) have moved all manner of bulk materials. Compost, wood chips, char, soil, straw mulch and of course leaves. Great tools.

Don't forget dog poop......I use it to scoop the poop and then throw it over the hill side....yes wood chips from the pile created by my log splitter that are to small to bag for kindling.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Haha, I use my big snow shovels to move leaves as well. This year I used the 3' wide snow pusher -- worked great. If I don't take the leaves off our lawn the snow mold makes us miserable in spring.

I would have to say it is easier pushing leaves with those darn big shovels then snow. Nice idea. I tend to use the smaller shovels for snow.

Deane Adams wrote:Yes, today I brought the dreaded shovel out of storage and -------- used it!!!  Indeed here in Virginia at the great height of 934 feet,  while finishing up the front yard piles of leaves I  made yesterday I could stand for the mess no longer and broke down and started the dreaded hickory nut and hull removal.  Three trips with a tarp to remove all the leaves, two trips for the nuts, shells and hulls, I should not need a stress test any time soon!

I look at the yard work as rehab and or physical therapy, I think it's really helping me with my range of motion issues.  Also found a few Violets blooming in the lawn.  No frost here - yet!

Peace

2300 ft up.....I only rake a small area so I can see where my rescue dogs poop for easier cleaning. I let the wind blow the leaves where they may and this time of year there aren't many left. The leaves are good fertilizer for the ground....