NY Homesteader

ISBU-Shipping Container Homes, Myths and Truths

RichNY — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:51:19 +0000

Shipping container (ISBU) home construction has made incredible advances over the past few years. Today nearly everyone has seen a news segment about container home, or visited an internet site that featured a story or a few renderings of futuristic container concepts.

With the way today’s economy is, when more and more people are serious about saving on construction costs, reducing maintenance, and keeping more equity in their pocket it’s not really surprising that there is so much interest in container home construction.
When you can build a sleek modern house with the classic looks of the case study homes of the mid 20th century for a fraction of the cost of traditional construction, that gets peoples attention pretty quickly.
But even with all the interest it’s awfully hard to get concrete information on actually building a container home. And, sadly, you can’t just drive down and take a look at the container homes models at the local sub-division.

Download a complete, comprehensive instructional and design guide by Clicking Here

These are some of the Myths:
They rust away, you can’t run water or electric in them easily, they are hot in summer and freezing in winter, they are not easily available.

And some Truths:
Keep in mind these are being built as a home not a storage shed for people. They are trimmed out and constructed on the inside (or outside) just like a conventional home. Doors, windows, plumbing, electric, insulation, drywall, and flooring are done without all the hassle of framing a structure first. They are readily available and for very cheap vs. conventional construction.

When you consider all the advantages of an ISBU home it makes good sense to explore the potential of an ISBU design.

Here are some more Truths:

They are easily transportable, fire proof, hurricane proof, extremely secure, fast construction, meet US building codes (check your local codes), easily customized, low maintenance, lower initial cost, increased equity, and termite proof.
Due to the ISBU’s modular design & ease of assembly, ISBU construction is often the most viable and cost effective approach for the owner/builder.
Shipping containers are strong, they exceed all US building codes for strength and safety.
Sadly, much of what you read about ISBU projects on the Internet is just the same simplistic info recycled over and over again. Not much help if you actually want to build an ISBU home.
All that has changed with this comprehensive e-book. Learn all you need to know about building and customizing your own ISBU home.
Just click on the picture below!!!

Remember to sign up for our Updates (and get a 127 page Veggie recipe book for FREE) in the right sidebar !!

Peace and Prosperity to You,
Rich @ NY Homesteader

How Much Incandescent Bulbs Really Cost

RichNY — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:21:22 +0000

This is an Article from Clean Technica

How Much Incandescent Bulbs Really Cost (via Clean Technica)

With so much misinformation out there, consumers are not being given good information about lighting. There is especially poor reporting about the ongoing elimination of 100w, 75w, 60w, and 40w incandescent lamps from the national inventory. In fact, incandescent lighting is not being eliminated…

Peace and Prosperity,
Rich @ NY Homesteader

Grains and Pseudo-Grains – Quinoa

RichNY — Sun, 06 May 2012 12:07:02 +0000

We have recently partnered with Living Whole Foods Inc./ Wheatgrass Kits in Utah to deliver high quality, organic, non-GMO seeds, grains, and growing kits for sale. We here at NY Homesteader trust them and have used several of their products. Our primary focus for these posts is to give you links to grains that are getting harder and harder to find that are Non-GMO.
These grains can be used for sprouting or to be ground into flour for breads and baking. One of the best Gluten free grains,pseudo-grains is Quinoa
(pronounced Keen-wah).

Here is a link for a low cost Grain Grinder at Amazon, There are many to chose from as well. You can make your own flour for breads, and baking or even grind your own cereal with a very minimum expense.

We urge you to consider starting your own small grain field at your homestead or farm to protect the integrity of organic, Non-GMO crops for our future. In the near future we will be adding links for Wheat, Oats, Buckwheat, and others. Be on the lookout for them as well.

Please sign up for our updates (far right sidebar, and get 300 veggie recipes for free) or RSS feed (top right) to insure you don’t miss one.

Below is an overview of Quinoa Seeds via Wikipedia.

“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa”

Derived from the Spanish spelling of the Quechua name kinwa or occasionally “Qin-wah”, Quinoa originated in the Andean region of Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, where it was successfully domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago for human consumption, though archeological evidence shows a non-domesticated association with pastoral herding some 5,200 to 7,000 years ago. [1]

Similar Chenopodium species, such as pitseed goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri) and fat hen (Chenopodium album), were grown and domesticated in North America as part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex before maize agriculture became popular.[2] Fat hen, which has a widespread distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, produces edible seeds and greens much like quinoa, but in smaller quantities.

The nutrient composition is very good compared with common cereals. Quinoa grains contain essential amino acids like lysine and good quantities of calcium, phosphorus, and iron.[3]

After harvest, the grains need to be processed to remove the coating containing the bitter-tasting saponins. Quinoa grains are in general cooked the same way as rice and can be used in a wide range of dishes. Quinoa leaves are also eaten as a leaf vegetable, much like amaranth, but the commercial availability of quinoa greens is limited.

If you need any of the grains we are going to list here you can click on the Quinoa Seeds links or pictures in the body of this post or if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Peace and Prosperity,
Rich @ NY Homesteader

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Recycling – By The Numbers !

RichNY — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:43 +0000

So do you recycle? That is awesome! Hopefully more people will join you on the bandwagon and get their recycling on, too.

It’s true the weak economy has hurt recycling markets just like it has every industry, but things will turn around. And it’s still true that remaking things uses much less energy and resources than fashioning virgin materials into new toys, utensils, cars and houses. But even the most well-meaning greenies can get confused by the different rules that govern plastic recycling. Policies vary according to state, town and recycler, and guidelines can change at any time, so the best advice is to occasionally check with your local service, and ask to stay updated.

In order to make it easier, the vast majority of plastic products are now stamped with a code, which indicates the primary type of resin they are made of. (However, don’t assume that a number in a recycling “chasing arrows” symbol means the item was made of recycled plastic—that’s not necessarily the case.) The presence of a code doesn’t always mean you can find a local recycler. But here’s a handy guide to help you get started:

Number 1 Plastics

PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Found in: Bottles for water, soft drinks, mouthwash, peanut butter, salad dressing and vegetable oil, as well as food trays.
Recycling: Picked up by most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Fleece and other fibers, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling.
PET is lightweight and easy to recycle, and it poses a low risk of leaching toxic chemicals into contents.

Number 2 Plastics

HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found in: Bottles for milk, juice, bleach, detergent, shampoo and motor oil, as well as tubs for butter and yogurt. Also used in some bags.
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks, which has to do with the length of the constituent polymers.
Recycled into: Bottles, pens, bins, tile, drainage pipe, lumber.
HDPE is also relatively easy to recycle and carries a low risk of leaching.

Number 3 Plastics

V (Vinyl) or PVC (polyvinylchloride)
Found in: Bottles for window cleaner, detergent, shampoo and cooking oil, as well as certain electronic and medical equipment. Also used in building materials like siding, windows and piping.
Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
Recycled into: Decks, paneling, gutters, flooring, cables, mats.
PVC contains chlorine, so factories that make it can release highly toxic dioxins. That strong smell coming off PVC shower curtains and from new cars can be toxic as well, so many concerned parents try to avoid it.

Number 4 Plastics

LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; clothing; furniture; carpet.
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile.
LDPE has many uses, and it is gradually getting easier to recycle.

Number 5 Plastics

PP (polypropylene)
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup and ketchup bottles, many caps, straws, medicine bottles.
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, bins, pallets, trays.
Polypropylene has a high melting point, so is often chosen to contain hot materials. It is thought to pose low risk of leaching.

Number 6 Plastics

PS (polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, compact disc cases.
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Insulation, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers.
Polystyrene can be rigid or foam. Unfortunately, it can also leach toxins into foods or drinks. As most consumers know, it is rarely recycled.

Number 7 Plastics

Miscellaneous
Found in: Large water containers, bullet-proof materials, DVDs, iPods, signs, food containers, nylon.
Recycling: Not usually recycled.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber, custom products.

Any plastics that don’t fit into other categories are grouped into number 7, including compostable plastics made from corn or other plants (which are safe and green!).

The most controversial is polycarbonate, the hard plastic of Nalgene and baby bottles that has been shown to leach the hormone disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA).

Compostable plastics are easy to dispose of, but the rest can be tricky…

Plastic is not entirely the “enemy” many things in the medical field need to be made of plastic because of it’s flexability and it’s low rejection rate (like artificial shunts, stints and hearts)

ALL plastics are recyclable some are harder to recycle than others, but they all can be recycled. I hear many folks saying, “plastics are bad”, plastics are not bad it’s the people that do not recycle them that is bad. It’s kind of like saying “spoons made me fat”. If we recycled all of our plastics we would not have to make new plastic from oil for several decades or more!
I’m sure it seems funny that a “green” person like myself would be advocating plastic’s, but it is more advocating the recycling of plastics!!
I urge you to recycle all of your plastic! It will make a huge difference in the future.

Peace and Prosperity to you,

Happy Homesteading,

Rich @ NY Homesteader

When Do I Plant That ???

RichNY — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:32:00 +0000

Hi everyone,
I have had quite a few requests again this year to post a planting schedule, because of space restrictions on this blog it is far easier to post a link to one.

Here is a link to one on Heirloom Seeds.com

Click Here for Planting Schedule

Keep in mind that our “average last date of frost” here in the Catskills is about May 15th or so, and if you live in a valley it could be later than that, so keep some type of covering for your plants handy!!
Usually after Memorial Day there is little worry of frost here. We are on the line between zones 4 and 5, but I like to use zone 4 as a little “safety net”

It is now 4 to six weeks before our last frost date here on our homestead so we are starting some of our tender and very tender plants indoors now. This week and next week should be a veritable frenzy to get them sorted, planted and on with the “thinning”. I really do love this time of year.

Remember that a small amount of planning can result in big dividends in your garden.

Happy Homesteading!! ,
Peace and Prosperity,
Rich @ NY Homesteader