Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to create a self-reliant homestead. Now we produce our own food and our own power, and can tackle whatever craziness this wild world throws at us. If you’re ready take back control from Big Pharma and Big Food and feel confident facing Everyday Emergencies, join us.
Common Sense Home Good News Letter 2/2/25
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"I was brushing my hair the other day and came across one of my "crazy hairs", as I call them. Coarse and grey, sticking out all wild while the hairs next to it were smooth and cooperative. I paused for a moment, considering pulling it out. Then I thought about those I've lost who won't have a chance to have more crazy hairs, and I let it be." I submitted my introduction and first chapter to the publisher this week. Now it's time to celebrate - by writing more chapters. It's a different way of writing than online articles, but hopefully the end product will be worth it. I have to build up new "writing muscles" to speed up my writing so I can tackle more online and off. There are some interesting learning opportunities coming up this month, and I'm looking forward to sharing them with you. First up, the Herbal Academy is hosting its first ever Virtual Herbalism Conference February 16-21, 2025. They have a wonderful lineup of speakers, presenting on topics that are extremely timely, such as:
With over 30 world class herbalists, this conference has something for everyone who is interested in learning how to use plant for food and medicine, and connecting back to our roots. You can register to watch for FREE here - https://commonsensehome--herbalismconferences.thrivecart.com/2025-virtual-herbalism-conference/ I was reading more this week about boosting cellular function and energy levels by spending more time outside (in the Good Energy book), and got curious about how much difference there was between inside and outside light. We have large south facing windows because of our passive solar setup, so our house is brighter than most. Rather than buying a lux meter (which measures brightness), I found a phone app that measures it. Not perfect, but close enough for rough measurements. The difference was impressive. Outside on a sunny day, I had readings up to around 150,000. Inside, standing in the sun, it dropped to around 70,000 to 80,000. Still high, but what a difference two panes of glass make. In our home office, which still has a big window, but is on the north side of the house, the reading dropped to around 100. Even on a completely overcast day, the meter read 6000-7000 lux outside (and 20 in my office without the light on). It was yet another reminder to take breaks from writing and get my backside outside. Have you ever checked the brightness in your home? If you have a cellphone, you should be able to find a free app to measure it. Not enough light during the day and too much at night can cause significant health issues. Just taking small steps like more time outside in the morning (and less screen time at night) can help reset our circadian rhythms to improve our sleep quality and overall health. In other news, our honeybees made it through the (hopefully) worst part of the winter. They took advantage of an unusually warm day this week to do cleansing flights and remove a few dead bees from the hive. August V noticed them outside when he was gathering some kindling, and Duncan and watched them for a while to see how they looked. The ladies were landing on the top of the hive and by the hive entrance, sunning themselves and inspecting each other. It's a little too early for pollen here in northeast Wisconsin, but come March, the trees and shrubs should provide a nice buffet. All our best you you and yours, Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan) This week's featured articles...Speaking of bees... whether you want to raise honeybees or welcome native bees, here are five tips to help you create a bee friendly yard. You may have seen advertisements about this "powerful natural pain reliever" - wild lettuce. We skip the hype and share how to identify this wild plant and how to use it safely. Fires, hurricanes, train derailments, and other disasters have become commonplace in the news. August put together a list to help you prepare a bug out bag for emergencies. |
Laurie Neverman @ Common Sense Home
Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to create a self-reliant homestead. Now we produce our own food and our own power, and can tackle whatever craziness this wild world throws at us. If you’re ready take back control from Big Pharma and Big Food and feel confident facing Everyday Emergencies, join us.
Her hands were wide and strong, with short fingernails and a dusting of age spots along the base of the thumb. "You've got man hands!" she'd been told in a comment. Truth be told, they did look a little rough at the moment, with a lacework of fine scratches from a marathon of squash bug hunting. The garden was not happy with the dry conditions, and stressed plants were a beacon to pests, which meant more work for the gardener. But those same rough hands could gently comfort a child, create...
The morning began with the cheerful warbling of the house wren, perched on the porch railing outside my bedroom window. The little fellow and his lady nested nearby, their wooden box sheltered by the sturdy windbreak evergreens. Later in the day, we were treated to a marvelous display by the tree swallows. Their fledglings had left the nest, but weren't quite ready to be on their own. They perched bravely on the edge of our two story roof, while mom and dad worked to bring them tasty morsels....
The elderflowers perched atop the branches like lacy fairy houses, swaying in the breeze. Their heady aroma beckoned as we walked down the nearby driveway, coaxing us to stop and linger a bit before heading back to the house. Around the yard, summer abundance was building. It was a good year for catnip and milkweed, both of which made excellent food for the bees. Juneberries, currants, and mulberries were ready to pick, with blueberries soon to follow. By day, birdsong filled the yard, and...