Live Off Your Land - Fifteen Steps You Can Take to Get Out of the Cubicle and Onto Self-Reliance

Want to live off your land? More people are pursuing a lifestyle of self-reliance, depending upon themselves for their food and making a living by homesteading. If you long to get off the office treadmill and onto your own land, here are fifteen crucial steps you should take to pursue your life of freedom:

Get out of debt

As any farmer will tell you, unless you own a corporation with hundreds, if not thousands of acres, you won't make a fabulous income living off the land. Those farmers who do own hundreds of acres and thousands of dollars worth of equipment (along with the mortgages to prove it) are struggling to get by. The secret is to live simply and downsize. Sell that newer car with those high car payments and buy a used model, preferably with no payments. Stop eating out as much and use that extra money to pay off your loans.

Live Off Your Land - Fifteen Steps You Can Take to Get Out of the Cubicle and Onto Self-Reliance

Get some land

You don't need hundreds of acres, but if you want to live off your land, you will need at least five. You will want enough space for a good sized garden, along with some farm animals. Live in town? Consider selling or renting that house and buying a used manufactured home set on a small acreage instead. Many people do it and live quite comfortably - and debt free.

Learn to grow your own food

Put in a lot of raised beds and grow potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and other vegetables. Learn to preserve your food through canning, drying and freezing, so that you go to your pantry instead of the grocery store, cutting down on cost and time.

Raise chickens

These wonderful birds will supply you with eggs, meat, and even income if you raise enough of them. Fresh chicken eggs are easy to sell. These eggs are delicious, and if they come from chickens who have eaten mostly grass and insects - chickens who live in chicken tractors, for example - they are also far healthier and more valuable than the store-bought brand.

Get your goat

Goats will supply you with milk, meat and cheese. Control their diet - only hay and grains - and your goat's milk will taste exactly like cow's milk, only sweeter. Plus, many people are realizing the health benefits of raw goat's milk, making it a marketable product. Get two or three female goats - or does - along with a billy goat, and you will have enough milk for your family and some extra to sell to cover your cost.

Diversify what you sell

Many people who try living off the land make the mistake of raising a single product in large supply and then selling it. But if the crop fails, then you are in trouble. Instead, raise a small supply of several items to sell. Sell chicken eggs and goat's milk, honey and produce when it's in season. That way if one item fails to produce, you have others to fall back on.

Avoid the exotic

A few years ago, raising ostriches were all the rage. At least they were until those raising them realized not many people are willing to eat ostrich meat. It is far wiser to stick with the standard fare - chickens, pigs, and beef, for example. Raising something unusual and hoping to get rich off it - like many get-rich-quick schemes -usually leaves you with an empty pocketbook and an animal nobody wants and you have to feed.

Raise only what you want to eat

This goes with the ostrich example above. If you don't sell those hundreds of bushels of Swiss chard, then be prepared to eat them. If you don't enjoy them that much, then don't grow them.

Be prepared to learn a new trade

My grandfather was a plumber, and even during the depression, he prospered. During hard times, people might not need an insurance adjuster, but they will need someone who can fix their leaky pipes. Consider learning carpentry, electrical work or mechanics. Learn to make practical, useful items that you can sell or barter with.

Simplify

Do you really need three television sets? They use electricity even when they are not running. How about that 3,000 square foot home? Do you really need all that space, and all that clutter you accumulated to fill it? Learn to live on less. Cleaning and protecting all those things simply takes up precious time and money.

Give up driving

You won't be able to homestead successfully if you are driving into town everyday for one thing or another. If you are a soccer mom and trying to homestead, you are going to become exhausted in a hurry. Caring for livestock is a full time job that requires you to spend a lot of time on your land. Plus, the gas and wear and tear on your car is expensive. If you don't like staying at home, the homestead life may not be for you.

Don't go it alone

Don't try to homestead by yourself. Accidents can happen, and when you live in the country, there will be few neighbors who will hear you call for help. If you are single, consider finding one or two like-minded individuals who will room with you and share expenses.

Join a community

Find others in your area passionate about homesteading. Look for a local online group or start one. Go to your nearby feed store and see if they offer classes on animal husbandry. Sign up for an organic gardening class. All of these will get you in touch with people who can share information with you and who will encourage you.

Give back

Be willing to help those who are just starting out. There's an old phrase that rings true: what goes around, comes around. Make certain that what goes around from you is positive, rather than negative.

Embrace hard work

The homestead life is wonderful, but it does involve a lot of hard, physical labor. You will be lifting hay bales, roping contrary critters and moving chicken tractors. I personally love the hard work (and the great sleep I get each night), but if you prefer a desk job, then naturally, the homesteading life probably isn't for you.

Think you can do these fifteen things? Then start working on getting out of debt and go forward! A life of freedom and purpose awaits you.

Live Off Your Land - Fifteen Steps You Can Take to Get Out of the Cubicle and Onto Self-Reliance
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Sue Merriam is author of the website, Organic Gardening and Homesteading. http://www.organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com

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Waste Disposal Method - 5 Ways to Prevent Contamination

Human waste disposal is of great concern in sub urban and rural areas. This article outlines the basic precautions to be followed when disposing human and other household waste.

Excreta Disposal Without Water Carriage

Excreta disposal is more frequently a problem of the rural areas or small towns having no amenities of a water carriage system. It is important that the human excreta should be removed or disposed of hygienically and in an efficient manner. Any waste disposal method employed should generally aim at achieving the following objectives:

Waste Disposal Method - 5 Ways to Prevent Contamination

(i) All excreta should be removed to an isolated area for the proper disposal of waste.

(ii) The excreta should not be accessible to flies, insects or other animals.

(iii) It should not contaminate any surface or ground water supply.

(iv) There should be freedom from odors and unsightly conditions.

(v) The waste disposal method used should be simple and economical both in construction and operation and further should ensure privacy and convenience.

Hazards In Disposal Of Household Waste

How to dispose of household hazardous wastes safely? Many household products are potentially hazardous to people and the environment, and never should be flushed down drains, toilets, or storm sewers which is actually a violation of waste disposal safety guidelines. Treatment plant workers can be injured and waste water systems can be damaged as a result of improper waste disposal method used for the disposal of hazardous materials.

Other hazardous chemicals cannot be treated effectively by municipal waste water systems and may reach local drinking water sources. When flushed into septic systems and other on site systems, they can temporarily disrupt the biological processes in the tank and soil absorption field, allowing hazardous chemicals and untreated waste water to reach groundwater.

Some examples of hazardous household materials include motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze,
paint, paint thinner, varnish, polish, wax, solvents, pesticides, rat poison, oven cleaner, battery fluid

Many of these materials can be recycled or safely disposed at community recycling centers.

Classification of pesticides by function:

Acaricide is used to control mites and ticks;

Algicide inhibits Algae;

Arachnicide kills Spiders;

Attractant traps insects by attraction;

Avicide kills Birds;

Bactericide eliminates Bacteria;

Chemostreilant limits the spread of insects by sterilization;

Defoliant initiates leaf drop;

Desiccant induces drying of leaves in plants;

Disinfectant protects against general bacteria, fungi;

Growth regulator regulates the growth of plants;

Herbicide eliminates Fungi;

Insecticide kills insects;

Molluscicide is used to control Molluscs;

Nematicide kills Nematodes;

Piscicide eliminates Fish;

Repellent repels flies, fleas, moths, etc.

Rodenticide eliminates rodents (mice, rats, etc.)

Slimicide is used to kill slimes

Waste Disposal Method - 5 Ways to Prevent Contamination
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For a FREE eBook on a waste disposal method using a new breakthrough technology, click http://www.all-about-wastewater-treatment.com

Richard J. Runion is the President of Geostar Publishing & Services LLC. Rich loves net research & blogging. His new blog on Waste Water Treatment is fast becoming popular, as it is comprehensive and well-researched.

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Importance of Your Skin's pH

One of the most important roles of our skin is to protect our 'insides' from the external environment, acting both as a barrier and a filter between 'outside' and 'inside'. In addition, the skin is involved in regulating our body's temperature, like when we have a fever or we're physically working hard, we tend to sweat, which is the body's way to attempt to lower the temperature.

Another important role of our skin is to protect us from harmful substances entering our body, and in eliminating toxins. This takes workload off our Liver and Kidneys to filter out by-products from our body's metabolism. The skin also breathes!

Hormones, Sweat glands and pH

Importance of Your Skin's pH

The pores of our skin are made up of a combination of oil and sweat glands (sebaceous and sudoriferous glands) helping to keep our skin healthy and elastic. An excessive sebum secretion is often associated with oily skin and acne. This is particularly common in adolescents as the increased levels of sex hormones stimulate sebum production and secretion. When in balance, the combined excretion of oil and sweat from the skin's pores has a pH of about 5.5.

The Acid Mantle, Age and the importance of the skin's pH

This slightly acidic layer, also referred to as the "Acid Mantle", is our body's first defence mechanism against bacteria invading it and is not a favourable environment bacterial growth to occur. This defence layer develops at puberty, which is why children are more susceptible to disease, viruses and fungal infections such are ringworm. The pH of children's skin is closer to neutral (pH 7).

At puberty, however, we start to produce more hair on our bodies. Hair follicles have an associated sebaceous gland or glands which become active as hair growth increases, causing changes in the skin's pH. The hormones that control sweat also become active and the whole surface of a teenager's skin is totally different to that of a young child. This is our body's way to increase our defence system.

The pH of normal, healthy human skin is somewhere between 4.5 and 6. However, this varies with age. Typically, newborns have a pH closer to neutral (pH 7) that quickly turns acidic in order to protect young children's skin.

In the late teens to early 20's, our Acid Mantle is well developed and provides good protection against potentially harmful, external environmental factors. Our skin usually looks healthy, heals quickly when injured and seems to take care of itself.

With increasing age however, the skin's pH becomes more and more neutral, and thus more susceptible to bacterial growth. This reduced acidity kills fewer bacteria than before, leaving the skin susceptible to bacterial growth and infections. The skin weakens as a result and begins developing problems with increasing age. (Interestingly, the pH value rises beyond 6 when a person actually suffers from a skin problem or skin disease.)

The aging process of the skin causes biochemical changes in collagen and elastin, the connective tissues underlying the skin, which give the skin its firmness (collagen) and elasticity (elastin). The rates of loss of skin firmness and elasticity differs from individual to individual, depending on their genetic makeup, general health, over exposure to the sun, skin care regime, or lack there of, and other factors.

As the skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier; the underlying fatty tissue begins to disappear resulting in the skin beginning to sag. Our skin is less supple, and wrinkles begin to form. At this stage, our skin is more easily injured, heals more slowly and tends to dry out more quickly.

The role of pH in Acne

As outlined above, the skin's pH is important and maintaining a slightly acidic pH of around 5.5 is critical.

The skin's pH value is one of the major contributors to acne and other skin problems. Propionibacterium acnes is a bacteria that normally lives on the skin and is a normal bacteria found in all persons regardless of the presence or absence of acne.

However, in individuals prone to acne, the number of P. acnes is greatly increased. It has been found that the growth of this bacteria is very much dependent on the pH value of the skin and its growth is at its minimum at the normal skin pH of 5.5. A slight shift towards the alkaline pH would provide a better environment in which it can thrive.

Importance of the skin's pH: Do's & Don'ts

One of the major culprits that radically alter the pH of the skin, is soap. Ordinary, commercially available soaps are highly alkaline (pH range 9-11) and raise the skin's pH to be much more alkaline. This can be adjusted by using products such as Wildcrafted Herbal Products' Wild Herb Toner or Milk of Roses Toner, depending on your skin type. These toners restore normal pH of the skin and thus provide an environment not conducive to the growth of bacteria. In addition, soap dries out the skin, because of its high alkalinity.

Thus if you choose to use a commercially available soap, you must restore the pH of your skin to prevent loss of moisture and the excessive growth of bacteria. It is important to remember that this applies to the entire surface of your skin, not just the face.

Instead of using ordinary soap, you need to use products such as the Skin Renewal Gel from Wildcrafted Herbal Products, which cleanses your skin, removing dead skin cells and leaving your skin's pH as it is meant to be. Following this with the use of a Toner will close the open pores, preventing blackheads and loss of moisture from the skin.

Other factors influencing your skin's pH

Another factor that helps in regulating your skin's pH is the presents of microflora on your skin. Staphylococcus epidermis is involved in the breakdown of fatty acids, and is therefore partly responsible for the acidic pH of skin. The use of ordinary soap, not only changes the pH of the skin to be more alkaline, effectively removing the protective acid mantle, but also kills the bacteria responsible for creating, at least in part, the acidic pH of your skin - a double whammy.

It is therefore of great importance to have a good skin care regime in which high quality, natural skin care products are employed. There are a couple of simple steps to take before buying a particular brand of natural skin care products.

Identify the skin type(s) on the face. There are usually two or more. One skin type is usually isolated to the T-Zone (forehead and nose), the other applies to the rest of the facial skin.
Carefully select your natural skin care products. It is not good enough to choose products, which add natural ingredients to an otherwise non-natural base crème or lotion, as is the case in many supermarket brands. READ the label carefully, ask questions and if you are buying the products on-line, make sure there is a guarantee that allows you some time to evaluate the products before they need to be returned for a refund.
Look for manufacturers that have qualified herbalists or naturopaths on staff. These people generally do not support the use of artificial ingredients because it goes against everything they teach their patients, friends and family. - For the most part, it's a pretty good indication that the products are pure, when natural therapists are in charge of the formulation of the products.

Importance of Your Skin's pH
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Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Wildcrafted Herbal Products' natural skin care range is suitable for men and women and contains only pure, natural ingredients, formulated according to Naturopathic and Aromatherapy principles.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter – it’s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.

© Copyright: Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2005

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Is Alcoholism Hereditary? Yes and No

Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to grow up to be an alcoholic than any other children, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (NCADI: Fact is Alcoholism Runs in Families). This does not mean that alcoholism is hereditary. Alcoholism can and does skip some generations. But if one of our parents is an alcoholic, we are at a higher risk of developing it, too. Just like most diseases, alcoholism definitely has genetic factors.

My Dad drank heavily every night after my Mom passed away. Was he an alcoholic? That can be argued both ways. Did it interfere with his life? Definitely. Did it cause problems? No, it didn't. My brother and I are alcoholics. My older sister and brother are not. My mother was not an alcoholic but she suffered from terrible anxiety and depression (she ended up taking her own life). My brother and I have anxiety and depression just as she did. I believe "genetic predisposition" and "at high risk" are better terms to use when referring to the generational transference of mental illness, substance abuse and other diseases.

Webster's Dictionary defines genetic as "Of or pertaining to the origin or development of something; of our relating genetics." Gene is stated in the Webster's Dictionary as "A functional unit on a chromosome, responsible for the transmission of hereditary characteristics." In some cases, the gene skips a generation or is not inherited. This means that even though our father or mother is an alcoholic it does not mean that we will become an alcoholic.

Is Alcoholism Hereditary? Yes and No

Alcoholism is influenced by both hereditary and environmental factors. Addictions, particularly addictions to alcohol tend to run in families and it is known that genes play a role in this process. Research has shown that people who have/had alcoholic parents are more likely to develop the same disorder themselves.

Is alcoholism genetic? There are many illnesses that run in families: diabetes, heart disease and cancer, just to name a few. However, this does not mean that they are genetic. Recent studies have determined that genetics plays a vital role in the development of alcoholism but the exact genes or genetic pathways to addiction have not been found. At this time, it is thought that the genetic tendency toward alcoholism in a person does not ensure that he or she will become an alcoholic. In effect, the determination of genetic risk is only a determination of higher risk toward the addiction and not necessarily an indication of future alcoholism. It has been said that the person with the genetic predisposition to alcoholism is an alcoholic at birth whether or not he or she ever takes a drink. Taking the drink initiates the disease into its active phase.

In conclusion, even though alcoholism may run in our family it does not mean that we will become an alcoholic. Alcoholism does have genetic factors but is not necessarily hereditary. I cannot pass being an alcoholic down to the next generation. Not everyone in my family will inherit this gene. Only a person who has inherited that gene and picks up his/her first drink can become an alcoholic. It does not matter whether we are rich or poor, young or old, black, white, Hispanic, male or female, alcoholism has no respect for the person. It is an equal opportunity destroyer. No one every hopes or wishes to grow up to be an alcoholic. But today I am a grateful recovering one.

Is Alcoholism Hereditary? Yes and No
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For an uplifting dose of encouragement and inspiration, please go to: [http://www.recoveringme.com/blog] to view my blog. You can also order my newly released book: Recovering Me, Discovering Joy by Vivian Eisenecher at [http://www.recoveringme.com]

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Google Sets The Standard For A Happy Work Environment

Google is the place to work according to Fortune magazine, which listed the top 50 companies to work for. Google appears as a top contender for most features, including unusual perks, cafeterias, health cover and work environment. Most of the other companies that made the top 50 only excel in one or two areas. This is the second year in a row that Google has managed to capture the number one position on Fortune's company assessment.

Standard perks that Google offers include 100% health care coverage and onsite childcare facilities. In addition, new moms are entitled to 18 weeks of paid maternity leave while dads get 7 weeks. Some perks that aren't quite standard include 17 cafeterias that offer free food to all employees.

The rule at Google is that no staff member should ever be further away than 100 feet from a source of food. That doesn't mean that they only have access to vending machines with junk food, or that the cafeterias give out quick, easy and grease-laden meals. Chefs of the highest calibre prepare range of meals, with unique variations on everyday meals. Macaroni and cheese, for instance, comes with wild mushrooms and truffles.

Google Sets The Standard For A Happy Work Environment

They also have a keen interest in environmental conservation and have a department dedicated to researching "green" technologies. Google makes every effort to be as energy efficient as possible, which is a mind-set that is encouraged in their employees. In the spirit of energy conservation, they subsidise staff members who buy hybrid or electric cars to the tune of 00. Employees based in California are entitled to special discounts if they install solar panels in their homes.

Google is also fairly unique in that they have a policy that allows ardent animal lovers to bring their cherished pets to work. The obvious proviso is that the various dogs, cats, and assorted others must be reasonably well behaved and house trained. It's been reported in The Inquirer, UK, that the pet's policy is under revision, after a pet python that was not very well behaved created chaos and terror in the New York branch.

Bingham McCutchen only made it to 41 on the list, but is the number one firm when it comes to high pay packages. The law firm is known for hiring promising law school graduates at a whopping 0, 000 a year. Their legal secretaries, whose importance is often overlooked by other firms, earn an average of ,000 a year. This is higher than what some managers of other companies' earn. The average salary for staff at Bingham McCutchen is a staggering 1, 017 per year.

The eBay San Jose campuses have special de-stressing areas for employees in need of some serenity and relaxation. Rooms with comfortable pillows and tatami floor mats are ideal for midday prayer and meditation, so that staff can return to their tasks refreshed and revitalised.

Camden Property Trust gives a 20% discount to employees who live in the company's apartment complexes. Staff members going on holiday are also able to use fully furnished apartments for only a night.

Nike is one of the most socially conscious businesses to work for, as those employed in the Portland office volunteer as Portland Mountain Rescuers. They respond to emergencies at a moment's notice, no matter what they are doing or how important it is. When prospective employees are interviewed and warned about the possibility of having their work interrupted by mountain searches, the standard response is, "what's more important, saving lives or selling shoes?"

The one thing that all of the businesses on the top 50 list have in common is that they all realise that a company is only as good as its employees, and so go out of their way to ensure staff happiness and contentment. Staff turnover is low, while job satisfaction is high. Who wouldn't want to work for a company that rents an entire movie theatre for a day so that their staff can see a blockbuster movie on its release date?

Recommended site:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2008/snapshots/1.html

Google Sets The Standard For A Happy Work Environment
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Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Employers Jobs work opportunities and vacancies one of the leading site directories for information on work opportunities and job vacancies, as well as developing trends in the professional world.

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