Power, glorious power!That’s what I think when I see the stream raging through the ravine in early spring. I’ve wanted to put a hydroelectric generator in there for ages. There is one problem, there isn’t really enough water flow for enough of the year to do anything. Actually, it’s either dry or frozen solid for […]
Hydroelectric Power for IOT devices (more fun than practical) Read More »
One of my coworkers had setup a nice webcam, and looking at it, I thought, wow, that makes a big difference. In the world of working fully remotely, it seems like something worth having myself. I have been relying on built in webcams for ages, and it works, but it could be much better! I
A good webcam vs USB camera Read More »
My bed at the parent’s farm was hurting my back – and with a old 5 inch spring mattress, it was clear the mattress there was a leading factor. A 2″ foam topper had not done much to help. When a friend start shopping for a mattress for their new apartment, it finally occurred to
DIY Mattress – a crazy idea that actually worked Read More »
Of the many natural disasters that can befall our fields, two plagues in particular trouble the lands here. The first is my dad, armed with a riding mower. The second is my dad, armed with a backpack sprayer of herbicide. If a plant is not currently laden with flowers or fruits, it is ‘a weed’
Native Prairie 2020 Read More »
Willow bark is definitely the most common herbal medicine in any fiction book. No doubt that is because the very common real drug aspirin is directly related to it, so we all feel comfortable prescribing it. Which of course means I need to try it. It is really quite simple. Strip the inner bark from
Almost two years ago I threw a bit of money into Robinhood to learn a bit about the stock market. At the time, they were the only major company offering free trades, and now, my primary broker (Schwab) offers that feature as well as many others. And during that time I managed to beat the
Accidentally Beating the Stock Market, slightly (and I share my secret to success!) Read More »
This particular digging operation was inspired by a mistake. Instead of getting lots of small stones for the Kelly memorial zen garden, we got a bunch of really big river stones. Useless for that project, but we do still have lots of work to do on erosion-proofing the driveway and yard. Thus, this experimental idea:
More Digging of Holes Read More »
In the process of tidying up the house for sale, we had part of the driveway replaced which was fairly well cracked. Alas, it was actually perhaps a mistake, as the new concrete stood out hideously from the old concrete which had been stained darkly by many years of acorns and oak leaves. The human
The Power of Acorns Read More »
This time of year I have traditionally made lots of jam. I even have a third place ribbon for my grape jelly at the Minnesota State Fair back in 2016 – the only year I got around to entering so far. In my opinion, strawberry jam is actually best as a ‘freezer jam’ – it
On Smashing Strawberries Read More »
I somehow failed to take and upload any pictures of my cold frame in operation, so here have a stock photo of a similar one. Mine, however, was placed high up on our ‘fortress’ raised bed, exposed to winds. Cold frames have a long history as an agricultural tool to expand the growing season, in
Cold Frames Need Insulation/Wind Protection: Measuring the Benefits of a Cold Frame Read More »
