Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: This Could Be Your Life!

2011-05-08T00:40:00.000-05:00

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: This Could Be Your Life!: "A guide to a shareable life. This could be your life: You wake up and whip up omelets with tomatoes fresh from your SharedEarth.com garden..."

This Could Be Your Life!

2011-05-08T00:38:00.002-05:00

A guide to a shareable life. This could be your life: You wake up and whip up omelets with tomatoes fresh from your SharedEarth.com garden before dressing your toddler in Gap cargo pants you scored on Thredup. Your Zimride whisks you to the office where you race to your Freecycle laptop to book your anniversary getaway-a cozy Parisian flat-on AirBnB. To zip around to the afternoon meetings you arranged at LiquidSpaces, you unlock your VW RelayRide in the parking lot. When you realize you forgot to buy those new nightstands, you hire a runner on TaskRabbit to swing by Ikea, pick them up, and assemble them with a drill borrowed from NeighborGoods. After this exhausting day, you arrive home to a hot filet mignon dinner for two from Gobble and two copies of Fodor's Paris BookCrossing resting on your new nightstands. Does that sound good? George Jetson esque? It is happening right now in America and will be the new marketing of products, services, and change the way we view ownership for the future. I pose this question to you...do you really need to own a car if you only drive 1-2 hours each day? Could it be better to reserve a car from a pool of vehicles for the times you need one or must you be able to look out in the driveway and see that baby sitting there?

Do we own stuff or does it own us? This Purple Heart Stamp thing really set me off and to thinking about what we Americans do honor.

We get praise and pats on the back for buying a new car or truck no matter whether it is electric or not, boats, swimming pools, home theater systems you get the idea. All material things that in themselves have no meaning at all. Do we seek to congratulate the Dad or Mom that purchases life insurance to provide for the family if they die prematurely...of course not, that's no fun. How about the family that plants a big garden and teaches their kids how to raise their own vegetables or take them to the local farmers market to learn about farming and raising quality good food...nay, that's no fun. We are so brainwashed and trained by the News Media, Madison Avenue and Wall Street to behave and perform like trained seals when we, or a friend buy their products...convincing us that our quality of life will improve if we just own stuff! Well I say to hell with them I won't behave anymore like their trained seal. I will create my own whenever I can and buy from the little guy when I can't make it myself. Then I will feel proud that I own the best thing to own...myself and it ain't for sale anymore

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: Do We Own Things or Do Things Own Us?

2011-05-07T18:48:00.000-05:00

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: Do We Own Things or Do Things Own Us?: "This Purple Heart Stamp thing really set me off and to thinking about what we Americans do honor. We get praise and pats on the back for b..."

Do We Own Things or Do Things Own Us?

2011-05-07T18:47:00.000-05:00

This Purple Heart Stamp thing really set me off and to thinking about what we Americans do honor. We get praise and pats on the back for buying a new car or truck no matter whether it is electric or not, boats, swimming pools, home theater systems you get the idea. All material things that in themselves have no meaning at all. Do we seek to congratulate the Dad or Mom that purchases life insurance to provide for the family if they die prematurely...of course not, that's no fun. How about the family that plants a big garden and teaches their kids how to raise their own vegetables or take them to the local farmers market to learn about farming and raising quality good food...nay, that's no fun. We are so brainwashed and trained by the News Media, Madison Avenue and Wall Street to behave and perform like trained seals when we, or a friend buys their products...convincing us that our quality life will improve if we just own stuff! Well I say to hell with them I won't behave anymore like their trained seal. I will create my own whenever I can and buy from the little guy when I can't make it myself. Then I will feel proud that I own the best thing to own...myself and it ain't for sale anymore!

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: Grow your own tobacco and Save thousands of dollar...

2011-05-05T18:07:00.000-05:00

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: Grow your own tobacco and Save thousands of dollar...: "There has never been such a need like there is today to grow your own tobacco. With huge tax increases adding even more to the cost of ciga..."

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: How To Smoke Fish

2011-05-05T18:04:00.000-05:00

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: How To Smoke Fish: "Smoking Fish Smoking Fish The fisherman's catch, if properly preserved, can be a welcome addition to family meals over a period of s..."

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: SPROUT PEOPLES PLACE

2011-05-05T18:00:00.000-05:00

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: SPROUT PEOPLES PLACE: "EAT MORE SPROUTS...SPROUTS ARE A POWERHOUSE OF NUTRIENTS Sprouts have been grown by many civilizations over the past 5,000 years. Research..."

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: MAKING CANDLES IS FUN AND EASY!

2011-05-05T17:58:00.000-05:00

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: MAKING CANDLES IS FUN AND EASY!: "Candle making has come a long way since the pioneers made tapers by dipping wicks in bear fat or beeswax. Today you can get all the suppl..."

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: MAKING SOAP IS GOOD CLEAN FUN

2011-05-05T17:57:00.000-05:00

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: MAKING SOAP IS GOOD CLEAN FUN: "Making Soap is Good, Clean Fun Soap making has a long and illustrious history extending at least 5,000 years in written history. It is li..."

MAKING SOAP IS GOOD CLEAN FUN

2011-05-05T17:43:00.001-05:00

Making Soap is Good, Clean Fun

Soap making has a long and illustrious history extending at least 5,000 years in written
history. It is likely that it was in use long before that period. Probably an accidental
discovery, soap has become a part of our daily lives.
The basic soap making process involves mixing lye, a base, with some fatty acid, such as
oil, grease or fat. By heating the combined ingredients, a chemical reaction takes place
converting the liquids to a foamy substance. This process could take six to eight hours,
or longer. When cooled, the gelatinous mass would be stored in a barrel and accessed
by a scoop.
Hard soaps, which were rarely made, could be created by adding salt to the mixture at
the end of the cooking process. Salt was simply too valuable to use for such purposes
for most homesteaders. Therefore, soft soap was the standard formulation. Hard soaps
were sold by the pound in town, occasionally scented with various essential oils to
attract high-brow clients.
Today Soap Making is much easier
The simplest way for a beginner to try soap making is to avail themselves of all the premade
soap making supplies available at the local hobby shop. Pick up a couple of the
“melt and pour” soap bases available and you are ready to experiment. The soap base
can be melted either in a double boiler or in the microwave, making it ideal for new soap
makers.
The tools you need to make your first bars of soap are as follows;
1. “Melt and Pour” soap bases
2. Plastic wrap
3. Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils
4. Colorant
5. Rubbing Alcohol
6. Soap Making Forms
Planning your Soapy Adventure
You will need to plan out how many soaps you want to make, in which forms and what
you want them to look and smell like. Gather up your tools and let’s get started.
1. Melt your soap base, either in the microwave or the double boiler.
2. Once the base is fully melted, add the fragrance or essential oil. With
essential oils you want to work quickly from this point, heat helps them
dissipate faster. Mix the oil in thoroughly.
3. Add the color. Use the rubbing alcohol to break any “mica bubbles” by
spraying the surface of the soap as you mix. Add colorants carefully and
slowly, especially if you opt to use food coloring. Some colors will dye
everything, including your hands and towel, when you wash. Don’t over do
it.
4. First stabilize your molds then pour in the liquid soap. Use rubbing alcohol to
break any surface bubbles.
5. Let the soap cool fully before you remove it from the mold.
Now, let’s get fancy!
Fancier Soaps that are Just as Easy
There are lots of ways to make your soaps appear fancier without needing to invest a lot
of money or learn a long list of additional skills.
The frst way to add some fun to your soaps is with a double pour. Mix two batches of
soap with different colors. When pouring into the mold keep each color as close as
possible to its own side. The soaps will meet in the middle and swirl together
beautifully.
Make a bar of soap with dried flowers embedded deep inside. Use a completely clear
soap base and several dried flowers. Using the melted base, fill the mold about 1/3 of
the way. Spray with alcohol and wait about 15 minutes for a thin skin to form, and then
place the flowers in a pretty pattern. Gently cover the flowers with more melted soap
base to fill the mold.
If you try out these soaps and catch the soap making “bug,” then take a look online. You
will find hundreds of soap making recipes to try; from the simple to the complex.
Making soap is good, clean fun!

MAKING CANDLES IS FUN AND EASY!

2011-05-05T17:30:00.001-05:00

Candle making has come a long way since the pioneers made tapers by dipping wicks in bear fat or beeswax. Today you can get all the supplies you need for beautiful candles at your local crafts store. Whether you want to have scented pillars for elegant dinner tapers, it is all available. For a fun accent to use at a summer barbecue or a poolside party, seashell candles are the perfect project.
Supplies for the project
For this project you will need several things;

Paraffin, either blocks or beads
Teal dye, liquid – or another color you like
Cotton wicks – the ones with a small metal plate at the bottom, so they stand independently
Large Seashells
A pouring container
Hot Glue Gun
Fragrance – optional
Thermometer

The Process of Making Sea Shell Candles

Set out your seashells and let them reach their natural balance point. Using a glue gun, attach the wicks to the lowest reasonable point inside each shell. Prop each shell in its optimal position so it doesn’t move when you pour in the wax.
Heat your wax, according to the directions on the packet, until it is just liquid and then add your color and your fragrance. Mix in carefully, but well.
Let the wax cool slightly, to about 145°, so the wax just begins to form a shell at the edges of the pot. Now, stir rapidly so you incorporate some air into the mix. These bubbles will promote a water-like look.
Quickly pour the wax into each seashell being careful not to tip the shells and to keep the wicks out of the wax. Let the wax cool fully.
Tip; if you want a more unique look have on hand some sand and tiny shells that you can use to decorate the cooling wax and make “beach scenes” on top of the wax. Avoid flammable materials if you do this.

Floating Flowers; Summer Beauty in a Bowl

To make floating flowers you need the following:

Parafin
Plastic Wrap
Fragrance, optional
Liquid Candle Dye
Craft Knife
Thermometer
Wick material

You will melt your wax until it is about 139 degrees Celsius. Once it is liquid, add in the color and optional fragrance. Your goal is to pour sheets of the wax that are about 1/4 inch thick, once the dye and fragrance are mixed in. Line a cookie sheet or baking pan with plastic wrap and pour in the wax.
Once the wax is somewhat set, but not firm, cut petal shapes from the wax. Wrap increasingly larger petals around a central wick, forming a flower as you go. To seal the bottom of the flower, and give it a good base, hold the wick with pliers and dip it back into wax you have kept warm on the stove.
You can let your imagination run wild. Use several colors per flower. Blend the edges with a warm finger. Make large and small flowers to use together. This is where you can get really creative.
Let the candle cool completely and place them in a bowl of water.
There are so many ways to make candles. Functional and fun, they are a great project to do with the kids on a rainy day.

SPROUT PEOPLES PLACE

2011-04-24T11:46:00.006-05:00

EAT MORE SPROUTS...SPROUTS ARE A POWERHOUSE OF NUTRIENTS

Sprouts have been grown by many civilizations over the past 5,000 years. Research shows that sprouts are a veritable fountain of youth. Sprouts abound with antioxidants, they are full of protein, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Broccoli sprouts have been found to contain 50 times as much of the antioxidant sulfurophane as mature broccoli. Wheat Grass juice is the closest substance to hemoglobin, and is therefore a phenomenal blood purifier and liver de-toxifier. Sprouts contain enzymes, giving your body a much needed rest as they digest themselves - invigorating you while requiring no help from your body to process them. New research indicates that peanut sprouts reduce harmful cholesterol and that sunflower, buckwheat and grain sprouts dramatically improve the quality of life for diabetics. The list goes on and on.

Why not be the first in your group to look like you just came from one of those $25,000 health spa experiences that took twenty-five pounds and twenty-five years off your life?
All you have to do is eat sprouts for protein.
Sprouts for protein? Who ever heard of that?
It's not a fad, really. Before we had fire, we knew the value of sprouting grains, legumes and seeds. We knew instinctively that Nature had created them as potent nutritional bundles of health and energy. Without science at our disposal to tell us what we needed, we automatically germinated and sprouted these concentrated natural sources of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids. We built our bodies on them.
Hung up on protein?
Amino acids are proteins in their most digestible form. Pound for pound, Lentils and other sprouted beans give you as much protein as red meat, chicken or fish, with none of the fat, cholesterol, hormones, anti-biotics, and dangerous rendered feed residues found in animal proteins today.
Not to mention the cost.
The Lentils and other beans you sprout in your kitchen cost just pennies per pound. Think about this next time you pull $10.00 out your wallet for a small package of skinless, boneless chicken breasts or fish fillets.

Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to rejuvenate?

Just this month, try something different. Grow fresh protein in your kitchen.
Simply purchase a pound of red or green Lentils or Mung beans. You'll find them in packages in your supermarket or in bulk in your favorite natural food store.
Measure out about a cup and soak them overnight in a covered container. Drain them in your colander and rinse them well to be sure you washed off all the natural inhibitors that keep them from sprouting until you need them to sprout. Now leave them right in the colander, on your kitchen counter, spreading them out a little so they don't clump together.
And watch what happens.
In only a few hours to just about a day, Lentils and Mung beans will start to grow little tails. As they begin to sprout, rinse them occasionally, and you'll see a miniature, kitchen garden of tiny, power-packed, living plants. When the tails are just barely visible, place the sprouts in an airtight container and store them in your fridge. They'll continue to sprout more slowly.
If rejuvenating weight loss is your goal, this is the clean, fat-free, practically instantly-absorbed protein you want for a beautiful body.
Now once, or twice a day, if you're motivated, add your sprouts to your salad. I say twice a day, because, like me, you may love this revolutionary high-protein, power-packed meal so much, you'll occasionally want it that often.
Not only for the slenderizing protein, but also for the abundance of vitamins and minerals, in readily available, economical form.
Here's how I make one of my REVOLUTIONARY HIGH PROTEIN SALADS:
I mix my dressing directly into a large salad bowl, using twice as much fine quality olive oil as lemon juice, and adding some coarse Celtic sea salt, whisking this mixture into a creamy slenderizing dressing.
Now I add plenty of ripe, sliced tomatoes and some chopped basil, mint and thyme. The tomatoes and herbs macerate while I prepare the rest of the salad. I finely chop my favorite greens - baby spinach, mesclun, baby lettuces, romaine, butter or Boston lettuce, so they absorb lots of the dressing. I thin-slice unpeeled cucumbers and radishes. They add the silicon and sulfur I need for healthy hair, skin and nails. Sometimes, I toss in lots of oil cured olives, high in protein and fatty acids, and low in salt.
Time to add the sprouts from my kitchen harvest, about 1/2 to one cup per person.
Time to toss and toss to insure my REVOLUTIONARY HIGH PROTEIN SALAD is really well blended and combined. It should be like a live chop suey. I serve an ample portion, and eat it slowly, chewing well to appreciate the textures and flavors of living protein for my living body.
Are you sick and tired of how the years take their toll on your health? Are you bored and frustrated with all the confusing and contradictory diet fads and trends? Would you enjoy having so much energy you practically never run out? How about having the confidence to know each time you sit down to the dinner table that you're preventing, rather than causing disease?

Sprout Nutrition

Sprout	Protein	Vitamins	Amino Acids	Minerals	More

Alfalfa	35%	A, B, C, E, K		Calcium,Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, Zinc	As much Carotene as carrots. Chlorophyll
Adzuki	25%	A, C, E	All except Tryptophan	Iron, Niacin, Calcium
Buckwheat	15%	A, C, E		Calcium	Lecithin
Clover	30%	A, B, C, E		Calcium,Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, Zinc	Trace Elements
Fenugreek	30%	A		Iron, Niacin, Calcium	Digestive Aid
Garbanzo	20%	A, C, E		Iron, Calcium, Magnesium
Lentil	25%	A, B, C, E		Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus
Mung Bean	20%	A, C, E		Iron, Potassium
Pea	20%	A, B, C	All Essential		Carbohydrates
Radish	Yes	C		Potassium	Chlorophyll
Sunflower Greens	Yes	B Complex, E		Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium	Chlorophyll
Wheat (and Rye)	15%	B Complex, C, E		Magnesium, Phosphorus	Pantothenic Acid, Carbohydrates


Now most of the time, I MONETIZE anything I do but this posting is an exception as I will not be offering any products for sale here. I would not being doing family, friends, or readers any favor by doing so. Here is why: SROUTPEOPLE.ORG ARE SIMPLY THE BEST IN THE WORLD AT WHAT THEY DO. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED, BIGGEST AND BEST SELECTION OF ORGANIC SEEDS, BEST SPROUTING EQUIPMENT, BEST KNOWLEDGE AND "HOW TO RESOURCE" OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE. THEY GROW AND EAT THE SAME SPROUTS THEY WRITE ABOUT AND HAVE FOR YEARS. I AM A CUSTOMER MYSELF...GIVE THEM A VISIT AND START EATING AND LIVING BETTER FOR LESS MONEY AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW WHILE YOU ARE AT IT! Tell em Chet sent you!

How To Smoke Fish

2011-04-16T22:13:00.001-05:00

Smoking Fish

The fisherman's catch, if properly preserved, can be a welcome addition to family meals over a period of several weeks or months. Smoking is an excellent way to preserve fish that you don't plan to eat right away. Fish is smoked as it dries over a smoldering fire. Wood smoke adds flavor and color; the brining process helps to preserve the fish.

Smoking Methods

There are two general methods of smoking fish: hot-smoking and cold-smoking. Hot-smoking (also called barbecuing or kippering) requires a short brining time and smoking temperatures of 90°F for the first 2 hours and 150°F for an additional 4-8 hours. Hot-smoked fish are moist, lightly salted, and fully cooked, but they will keep in the refrigerator for only a few days.
Cold-smoking requires a longer brining time, lower temperature (80-90°F) and extended smoking time (1-5 days or more of steady smoking). Cold-smoked fish contain more salt and less moisture than hot-smoked fish. If the fish has been sufficiently cured, it will keep in the refrigerator for several months.

Parasites In Fish

Freshwater and marine fish naturally contain many parasites. These parasites are killed during the hot-smoking process, if the temperature reaches 140°F. Use commercially frozen fish for cold-smoked fish and lox, or freeze the fish to -10°F for at least 7 days to kill any parasites that may be present. Freezing to -10°F is not possible in most home freezers.

Smoking Tips

Any fish can be smoked, but species high in fat (oil) such as salmon and trout are recommended because they absorb smoke faster and have better texture than lean fish, which tend to be dry and tough after smoking. Use seasoned non-resinous woods: hickory, oak, apple, maple, birch, beech, or alder. Avoid: pine, fir, spruce, etc. or green woods. If heavier smoke flavor is desired, add moist sawdust to the heat source throughout the smoking process.
Control heat by adjusting air flow.
Control temperature:

Hot-smoking--90°F for the first 2 hours; 150°F for remaining smoking time
Cold-smoking--80-90°F for 1-5 days or more
Lox--70-80°F for 1-3 days

Preparing Fish For Smoking

Use only freshly-caught fish that have been kept clean and cold. Fish that have been handled carelessly or stored under improper conditions will not produce a satisfactory finished product. Do not use bruised, broken, or otherwise damaged flesh. If you catch your fish, clean and pack them in ice before starting home. When you get home, store the fish in the refrigerator until you are ready to prepare them for smoking.
Different fish species generally require specific preparation methods. Salmon are split (backbone removed); bottom fish filleted; herring headed and gutted, and smelt dressed. The following preparation steps can be applied to any fish:

Remove scales by scraping against the grain with the dull edge of a knife.
Remove head, fins, tail, viscera.
Wash body cavity with running cold water to remove all traces of blood and kidney tissue (dark red mass along the backbone).
Split the fish by cutting through the rib bones along the length of one side of the backbone.
For large fish, remove the backbone by cutting along the other side of the backbone to produce two fillets or boneless sides. For small fish, the backbone can be left attached to one of the sides.
Cut the sides of large fish into uniform pieces about 1½ inches thick and 2 inches wide. Small fish halves can be brined and smoked in one piece.

Preparing Brine

Prepare a brine of 3½ cups table salt in 1 gallon of cold water in a plastic, stainless steel, or crockery container. Red or white wine can be substituted for a portion or all of the water, if desired. Stir the salt until a saturated solution is formed. Spices such as black pepper, bay leaves, seafood seasoning, or garlic, as well as brown sugar, may be added to the brine depending on your preference.
Use 1 gallon of brine for every 4 pounds of fish. Brine fish in the refrigerator, if possible.
Keep the fish covered with brine throughout the brining period. A heavy bowl can be floated on the brine to keep the fish submersed, but do not pack the fish so tightly that the brine cannot circulate around each piece.

Cold-Smoking

To cold-smoke fish, follow steps 1-6 under "Preparing Fish for Smoking."
Brine ½-inch-thick fillets for ½ hour; 1-inch-thick fillets for 1 hour; and 1½-inch-thick fillets for 2 hours. Brining times can be lengthened if the cold-smoked fish are to be preserved for long periods of time.
After brining, rinse the fish briefly in cold running water.
Place the fish skin-side down on greased racks in a cool shady, breezy place to dry. The fish should dry for 2 to 3 hours or until a shiny skin or pellicle has formed on the surface. A fan will speed pellicle formation.
Place the fish in a homemade or commercial smoker. The temperature of the smoker should be kept at about 80°F, and should never exceed 90°F. If a thermometer is not available, the temperature may be tested by hand. If the air in the smoke-house feels distinctly warm, the temperature is too high.
Smoke the fish until its surface is an even brown. Small fish that are to be kept 2 weeks or less may be ready in 24 hours. Salmon and other large fish will require 3 to 4 days and nights of steady smoking. To store longer than 2 weeks, smoke all fish a minimum of five days; for larger fish, at least a week or longer.
The smoker should not produce a lot of smoke during the first 8 to 12 hours if the total curing time is 24 hours, or for the first 24 hours if the curing time is longer. When the first part of the smoking ends, build up a dense smoke and maintain it for the balance of the cure.
If cold-smoked fish has been brined for at least 2 hours and smoked for at least 5 days, it will keep in the refrigerator for several months.

Lox

Lox is similar to cold-smoked salmon, but is moist, lightly salted and lightly smoked. Much practice and experience are needed to prepare satisfactory lox. The appropriate length of brining and smoking to produce lox that suit one's taste is determined mainly through trial. Lox can be prepared following the instructions for cold-smoking with the following modifications:

Smoke at 70-80°F for 1 to 3 days (temperatures above 80°F will cook the fish).
To give a sheen to the surface of lox, rub with vegetable oil after the smoking is completed.
In the refrigerator, lox will keep for 1 to 2 weeks. It will keep longer, if frozen.

Hot-Smoking

To hot-smoke fish, follow steps 1-6 under "Preparing Fish for Smoking."
Brine ½-inch-thick fillets for about 15 minutes, 1-inch-thick pieces about 30 minutes, and 1½-inch-thick pieces about 1 hour. Brining times can be adjusted to give the fish a lighter or heavier cure.
After brining, rinse the fish briefly in cold running water.
Place the fish skin-side down on greased racks in a cool, shady, breezy place to dry. The fish should dry for 2 to 3 hours or until a shiny skin or pellicle forms on the surface. The pellicle seals the surface and prevents loss of natural juices during smoking. A fan will speed pellicle formation.
Place the fish in a homemade or commercial smoker. For the first 2 hours, the temperature should not exceed 90°F. This completes the pellicle formation and develops brown coloring.
After the initial 2-hour period, raise the temperature to 150°F and smoke the fish for an additional 4 to 8 hours. The length of time will depend on the thickness of the fish, and on your preference for dry or moist smoked fish. Generally, ½-inch-thick pieces are smoked for 4 hours, 1-inch-thick pieces for 6 hours, and 1½-inch-thick pieces for 8 hours.
Store hot-smoked fish in the refrigerator. Freeze hot-smoked fish if it will be stored longer than a few days.

Grow your own tobacco and Save thousands of dollars!

2011-04-16T21:11:00.004-05:00

There has never been such a need like there is today to grow your own tobacco. With huge tax increases adding

even more to the cost of cigarettes more and more people have decided to grow their own tobacco plants.

Don't be forced to buy store bought cigarettes ever again.

....

Easy to grow this large leaf tobacco can be grown in pots on your patio or in your garden.

Curing tobacco

Grow your own organic smoke or chew! Even if you don't smoke, the plant and flowers are very pretty, a talking point of your garden.

.TA34 Havana #608
Said to be the best Havana for home use. Produces a quick crop in about 65 days, and is good for cigars or chewing. This plant gives a high yield and is also recommended for growing in the North. First time growers should definitely try this one!

Great Taste. Press tiny seeds into the ground, don't cover they need light to germinate. start inside or outside. Tobacco seeds initially require temperatures of 70-80°F
Grows great in pots and even as a houseplant. full sun is best, but will grow in part shade.
$4.99 for 40+ Seeds. Free shipping in the US $1 International shipping.

250+ Maryland Tobacco Seeds

Easy to grow this large leaf tobacco can be grown in pots on your patio or in your garden. Includes growing instructions to get started. $5.99/250+ seeds US shipping-free International shipping- $1.00

~Orinco Tobacco Seeds~

~250 seeds~

Orinco is a favorite of pipe smokers. It also is a good

blending tobacco for cigars and cigarettes.

$5.99/250 Seeds US shipping-free International shipping- $1.00

Seeds are Germination tested

~Monte Calme Tobacco~

~250 seeds~

Monte Calme has wide leaves used for cigar wrappers.

It's mild flavor also makes it good for use in cigarette blends.

Grows to 6 feet tall.

Used for cigars and cigarettes.

$5.99/250+Seeds US shipping-free International shipping- $1.00

Seeds are Germination tested

~Midewivan Sacred Tobacco~

~100 seeds~

A stronger flavor tobacco good blended

with other tabacco's (Virginia, etc).

Used by Native American Indians in scared ceremonies.

Fast grower. $5.99/100 Seeds

US shipping-free International shipping- $1.00

250+ Walker Broadleaf tobacco seeds

Easy to grow this tobacco can be grown in pots on your patio or in your garden.

Includes growing instructions to get started.

$5.99/250 Seeds US shipping-free International shipping- $1.00

Seeds are Germination tested

HOW TO GROW TOBACCO

Growing your own tobacco is so easy and not dissimilar to growing tomatoes. Place commercial seedling compost into a tray and soak the soil with water and allow the excess water to drain off. Sprinkle the tobacco seeds onto the surface of the damp soil. Do not cover the seeds, as they need light for germination. Tobacco seeds are very tiny, so be careful to spread the seeds as evenly as possible. Keep the soil damp being careful not to wash the seeds around when you water; better still water from below or use a mist sprayer.

Start the seeds 4-6 weeks before the last frost, making sure they are kept warm during this period and not allowed to dry out. A typical propagator is ideal. At a temperature of 75-80 degrees, seeds typically take a matter of days to germinate; though at this stage they are still rather small. At lower temperatures, the germination simply takes a few days longer.

Get this Seed Starter Terrarium Kit to Start All Your Seeds!
Use it for Tobacco Seeds, Herbs, or to grow your own Sprouts!
Includes everything you need, 4 Terrariums with Bases and Grow Pellets, and Plant Food. Instructions included.
Only $12.99 Best Seller! Limited Quantities!
Plantlets are ready to be transplanted into bigger pots, when the leaves are about 1cm in length. Plant outside after all danger of frost is past. Care should be taken not to disturb the roots. Feed should only be given to established and rapidly growing plants after they have been replanted. Tobacco requires a lot of nitrogen and potash, which can be supplied using standard garden fertilizer. You may want to grow your tobacco using only organic fertilizers.

Ideally, space the tobacco plants about 2 ft. apart in rows 3 ft. apart. Transplant outside in the evening or when it is cloudy and overcast to avoid the youngsters from drying out. Water plants thoroughly after transplanting and water daily until plants become established. Like tomato plants, the branches (suckers, offshoots), should be removed to focus the plants energy on the large leaves.

Tobacco plants generally require full to partial sun to grow properly. Tobacco is ready to be harvest after 60-90 days after planting.

HOW to CURE TOBACCO

Put simply, after tobacco is harvested, it is cured, or dried, and then aged to improve its flavor. There are four common methods of curing, and the method used depends on the type of tobacco and its intended use.

Air-cured tobacco is sheltered from wind and sun in a well-ventilated chamber, where it air-dries for six to eight weeks. Air-cured tobacco is low in sugar, which gives the tobacco smoke a light, sweet flavor, and high in nicotine. Cigar Tobacco and burley tobaccos are air cured.

In fire curing, smoke from a low-burning fire on the barn floor permeates the leaves. This gives the leaves a distinctive smokey aroma and flavor. Fire curing takes three to ten weeks and produces a tobacco low in sugar and high in nicotine. Pipe Tobacco, chewing tobacco, and Snuff are fire cured.

Flue-cured tobacco is kept in an enclosed heated area, but it is not directly exposed to smoke. This method produces Cigarette Tobacco that is high in sugar and has medium to high levels of nicotine. It is the fastest method of curing, requiring about a week. Virginia Tobacco that has been flue cured is also called bright tobacco, because flue curing turns its leaves gold, orange, or yellow.

Sun-cured tobacco dries uncovered in the sun. This method is used in Turkey, Greece and other Mediterranean countries to produce Oriental Tobacco. Sun-cured tobacco is low in sugar and nicotine and is used in cigarettes.

Once the tobacco is cured, workers tie it into small bundles of about 20 leaves, called hands, or use a machine to make large blocks, called bales. The hands or bales are carefully aged to improve flavor and reduce bitterness.

Further technical reading : Harvesting & Curing Flue-cured Tobacco - An excellent pdf document guide to curing cigarette tobacco by the University of Georgia.

HOW TO MAKE A CIGAR

There are three parts to a cigar:

   The bottom third of the plant is called the binder.
   The middle third is the filler,
   The top of the plant is the wrapper, which holds the filler under the binder.

Once dry, the leaves are stacked into piles. Darker tobacco is stronger, while the lighter-colored leaves smoke milder.

The leaves are laid out and flattened. The vein is cut out from the filler leaves and binder leaves. The leaves are stacked into bales, and ought to sit for about a month to complete the aging and drying process.

The first step is bunching. Here, you fold the prepared tobacco leaves by hand to the desired thickness. At this stage, you can blend different types of tobacco together to give the finished product its distinct character and flavor.

Once the tobacco is bunched and is as thick as it needs to be, it is rolled into a softer more elastic piece of tobacco called the binder. Its purpose is to hold together the tobacco in the body of the cigar. Once the binder is in place, the body is then pressed in a mold for about two hours to give the cigar its shape.

When the body comes out of the mold, it should be a perfect cylinder, and ready for the wrapper. The wrapper is responsible for the cigar's even appearance and aroma. Fold the end of the wrapper over each end of the cigar and cut to length.

Sounds easy? It's not!!

Be The Braumeister King in Your Neighborhood

2011-03-30T20:17:00.008-05:00

What could be finer than having a few friends over, opening the fridge or cooler, reaching in and bringing out your Own Special Brew of Beer for the adults and Root Beer for the youngins? Bragging rights will be yours for sure. Home Brewing is much easier and fun than you think if you know a few simple rules and get the right equipment, supplies, and ingredients.

Brewing beer is an amazing hobby because there are so many different methods you can use to make your home brew. Whether you are using a 2-gallon fermenter and naturally carbonating in 1-liter bottles or you are using a 10-gallon fermenter and force carbonating 5-gallon kegs, the end result should always be great tasting beer. With MR.BEER® you need only a few things to make some of the most amazing beer you have ever tasted.

1) Brew Keg -- The brew keg is where fermentation occurs, turning sugars into alcohol.
2) Hopped Malt Extract (HME) -- MR.BEER® HMEs contain all the essential ingredients needed to make beer- malted grain in extract form and hops, plus they include a dry ale yeast packaged under the plastic lid. All you add is water.
3) Booster™ or Unhopped Malt Extract (UME) -- These ingredients add the additional sugars needed to create the appropriate amount of alcohol. Booster™ simply adds the required sugar, and UMEs add the required sugar and additional flavor.
4) One-Step™ Sanitizing Cleanser -- The most important key to making great beer is proper sanitization. One-Step™ assures a sterile environment every time you brew.
5) Bottles -- In order to carbonate, store and serve your beer you will need bottles. MR.BEER® sells 1-liter PET bottles that are perfect for bottling your beer.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/mrbeer to "LIKE" Mr.Beer for a chance to win a Home Brewing Kit. Promotion ends 4/30/2011

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Waste Not Want Not...Turning Spent Grain Leftover from Home Brewing Beer into Wheat Bread!

Spent Grain Wheat Bread

By: Misty Heath

"This bread is an excellent way to use some of the grain that is left over when brewing beer. Just make sure that you aren't using spent grain that has hops mixed in with it!"

Prep Time:
10 Min

Cook Time:
40 Min

Ready In:
3 Hrs

Servings

US
Original Recipe Yield 1 - 1 1/2 pound loaf

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups water
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/4 cup spent grain
1 1/2 tablespoons powdered milk
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup rye flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1/4 cup vital wheat gluten
1 teaspoon active dry yeast

Directions

Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select whole wheat cycle; press Start. If using the delay timer, decrease water by 1 tablespoon.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 185 | Total Fat: 3.5g | Cholesterol: 8mg P

Labels: Baking Bread, Beer Bread, Bread, Brewing Beer, Grain,

Beer Bread

Ingredients:

Servings: 6-8

3 cups flour (sifted)
3 teaspoons baking powder (omit if using Self-Rising Flour)
1 teaspoon salt (omit if using Self-Rising Flour)
1/4 cup sugar
1 (12 ounce) can beer
1/2 cup melted butter (1/4 cup will do just fine)

Change Measurements

Metric

Directions:

Prep Time: 3 mins
Total Time: 1 hr

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients and beer.

Pour into a greased loaf pan.

Pour melted butter over mixture.

Bake 1 hour, remove from pan and cool for at least 15 minutes.

UPDATED NOTES: This recipe makes a very hearty bread with a crunchy, buttery crust. If you prefer a softer crust (like a traditional bread) mix the butter into the batter instead of pouring it over the top.

Sifting flour for bread recipes is a must-do. Most people just scoop the 1 cup measure in the flour canister and level it off. That compacts the flour and will turn your bread into a "hard biscuit" as some have described. That's because they aren't sifting their flour! If you do not have a sifter, use a spoon to spoon the flour into the 1 cup measure. Try it once the "correct" way and you will see an amazing difference in the end product.

I have had many email from you kind folks about using non-alcoholic beverages instead of beer. That is fine to do but I highly recommend adding a packet of Dry Active Yeast or 2 teaspoons of Bread (Machine) Yeast so that you get a proper rise.

The final result should be a thick, hearty and very tasteful bread, NOT A BRICK! ;).

Thank you all for the incredibly nice comments and those of you who left a bad review - learn to sift sift SIFT! You will be amazed at the results you get.

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: This Could Be Your Life!

This Could Be Your Life!

Do we own stuff or does it own us? This Purple Heart Stamp thing really set me off and to thinking about what we Americans do honor.

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: Do We Own Things or Do Things Own Us?

Do We Own Things or Do Things Own Us?

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: Grow your own tobacco and Save thousands of dollar...

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: How To Smoke Fish

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: SPROUT PEOPLES PLACE

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: MAKING CANDLES IS FUN AND EASY!

Going my Way...Hop on in and we'll get you where you want to go.: MAKING SOAP IS GOOD CLEAN FUN

MAKING SOAP IS GOOD CLEAN FUN

MAKING CANDLES IS FUN AND EASY!

The Process of Making Sea Shell Candles

Floating Flowers; Summer Beauty in a Bowl

SPROUT PEOPLES PLACE

Sprout Nutrition

How To Smoke Fish

Smoking Fish

Smoking Fish

Smoking Methods

Parasites In Fish

Smoking Tips

Preparing Fish For Smoking

Preparing Brine

Cold-Smoking

Lox

Hot-Smoking

Grow your own tobacco and Save thousands of dollars!

Be The Braumeister King in Your Neighborhood

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Waste Not Want Not...Turning Spent Grain Leftover from Home Brewing Beer into Wheat Bread!

Spent Grain Wheat Bread

Prep Time: 10 Min

Cook Time: 40 Min

Ready In: 3 Hrs

Servings

Ingredients

Directions

Nutritional Information

Ingredients:

Directions:

Prep Time:
10 Min

Cook Time:
40 Min

Ready In:
3 Hrs