Friend, here are ways to thrive during tough economic times.

Hello, Friend, Issue #013, April 3, 2009. In This Issue... --How to Thrive During Tough Economic Times --You Can Build a Chicken Tractor - the Book Will Soon Be Available! --The Homestead Pig --The Homestead Cow or Steer Lots of great information, so stop worrying about the economy and read on! How to Thrive During Tough Economic Times The economy looks grim these days, and there's a chance we may be facing hard times similar to those we had during the thirties. But with a little self discipline and foresight, you can not only survive during these difficult times, but actually thrive. Here are some tips: Budget, Budget, Budget Once and for all, stop thinking of a budget as something negative. Rather, look at it as a spending plan, a way to ease stress rather than increase it. It's when we don't know what we're doing that we get into trouble. Be realistic, sit down and figure out all your expenses, list your income and decide the best way to spend your money and reduce debt. Eat Frugal, Eat Well Believe it or not, you can cut your grocery bills in half and eat better quality food than you've ever had. The secret is to avoid fast food and look for food that is high in quality, low in calories and low in costs. Here are ways to cut your grocery costs. Make It Yourself Learn how to make your own soaps and lotions. Not only will you save on costs, but you will also end up with a far superior product. Start by trying this basic handmade soap recipe. It's not fancy, but it gets the job done and can be used for bathing, laundry and cleaning. Then use that soap as a base for your own homemade cleaners. And once you've mastered that basic handmade soap recipe, try this one. It comes courtesy of From Nature With Love: Bubble Gum Soap Recipe 8 oz. soft water 3 oz. lye 7 oz. crisco 7 oz. coconut oil 6 oz. olive oil 1 oz. jojoba oil 1 oz. bubble gum fragrance oil Red Sandalwood Powder to color Instructions: Mix water and lye together. Let cool to 100 degrees. Blend oils together over a double boiler all except the essential/fragrance oil. Melt and cool to 100 degrees. Blend the lye mixture and oils together slowly and stir till it traces. Add the red sandalwood powder mixed with the fragrance oil so there are no clumps of powder. Pour in mold and wrap in blanket to keep temp at an even 100 degrees then insert thermometer to keep track. When it gets to 80 degrees, it's ready to unmold. Cut and let rest for 2 weeks to cure. Keep Chickens Even if you live in the suburbs, you can keep chickens in a chicken tractor. Your flock will get fresh grass every day, fertilize your lawn and supply you with eggs. You Can Build Your Own Chicken Tractor – The book is coming! This handy guide will take you step by step through the process of building your very own chicken tractor, with lots of great information, such as the tools you'll need, how to acquire free wood, how to get your chickens and brooder (almost) for free, and lots of tips on how to care for your flock. Both the ebook and the print edition will be available in April, 2009. Click here to learn more. What's New at Organic Gardening and Homesteading The Homestead Pig Having a pig on your acreage will not only improve your soil, but also provide you with an excellent source of low-cost meat. Here's why you need one. The Homestead Cow or Steer Having your own cow or steer is a practical way to convert your extra pasture into milk and cheese for your family. Learn more about it here. And as always, happy homesteading! Like this issue of Successful Homesteading? Please forward it to a friend! And if a friend did forward this to you and you like what you read, please subscribe here. Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this zine and tell me what you think! And thanks! You are subscribed to Successful Homesteading. The back issues are at the following URL... http://www.organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com/Successful_Homesteading-backissues.html If you wish to remove yourself from this mailing, please click on the following URL... http://organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com/cgi-bin/mailout/mailmgr.cgi?us=LQ.21104303.21128990.e44fef1f7b4939716802195d7d7eaf58 (If the above URL is not a link, copy-and-paste the URL into your Web browser. That will confirm your removal.) To change your e-mail address, please click on the following URL... http://organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com/cgi-bin/mailout/mailmgr.cgi?ca=LQ.21104303.21128990.e44fef1f7b4939716802195d7d7eaf58 (If the above URL is not a link, copy-and-paste the URL into your Web browser. That will confirm your change.)

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Video: Honey Bees Fighting Varroa Mites and Bee Louse Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:20 PM PDT This video, Bees fighting varroa and braula coeca, was made by Ivan Brndušic, an electronics technician (from a long line of beekeepers on his mother’s side) who lives, works, and watches honey bees in the town of Bor, Serbia. When you see the bees’ attempts to remove the pests, it makes it very clear why hygienic grooming behaviour is a desireable trait for breeding in honey bees! There’s a great explanation — with annotated photographs — of exactly what we’re seeing in this video as the bees try to fight off both Varroa mites and the very similar-looking but relatively benign-to-bees braula coeca (bee louse) on Brndušic’s website at brnda.com. Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance

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