Just curious who else is living super frugal

[oldrooster]

Quote: THat issue crossed my mind too.

MIght have the boys do a huve for spring as a boy scout project. Win-win-win.

I have been noticing an unusual bee at the side porch light at night: very large, about twice the size of a hiney bee, grey/black striped and humming away to stay warm. I let them mooch as we are happy to help mother natures critters.

I hope you meant a HONEY bee, otherwise I don't want to see the bees in your area....

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

Quote: THat issue crossed my mind too.



MIght have the boys do a huve for spring as a boy scout project. Win-win-win.



I have been noticing an unusual bee at the side porch light at night: very large, about twice the size of a hiney bee, grey/black striped and humming away to stay warm. I let them mooch as we are happy to help mother natures critters.


I hope you meant a HONEY bee, otherwise I don't want to see the bees in your area....

 

[lazy gardener]

THat issue crossed my mind too.

MIght have the boys do a huve for spring as a boy scout project. Win-win-win.

I have been noticing an unusual bee at the side porch light at night: very large, about twice the size of a hiney bee, grey/black striped and humming away to stay warm. I let them mooch as we are happy to help mother natures critters.

Bees would be tucked into the hive at night. I'm thinking that the "unusual bee hovering at the light" is a moth that looks like a bee. The Sphynx moth actually looks and moves like a humming bird, though it is smaller. But, I've had folks try to convince me that they've seen a "baby hummingbird". Do a google search on the sphynx moth, and check one out in flight. It's possible that's what you're seeing, or perhaps an other variety designed to look like a bee.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: While waiting for the insect site to load . . .

Oh I would love to see a sphynx mothe!!!! These monstrous bees I can see up close and really personal. Withing a few inches actually. THey look more like bees than wasps. Enough to make me wonder what mason bees look like. I am concerned that these few(2-6) are very mixed up about where they should be. . . and havent made it home before dark. Happy to leave the light on if it truey helps them.

Deb-- definitely NOT the popular bumbe bee. THey look like a cuddle stuffed animal inminature. THis bee looks all business. A little sleeky. And determined to stay with the light. Bumble bees bounce around flower to flower. THough I dont hink I saw one this year. very sad.

Using the bug finder inhopes of IDing this beeish-thing.

 

[Arielle]

Found it . THis bugger is a hornet. Talked with DS so about it today. ANd my DS said it was vicious and attacked. BUT ate lots of bugs. Not a bee, and not a true wasp.


http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Bald-Faced-Hornet


LOts of these around this year.

 

[perchie.girl]

Found it . THis bugger is a hornet. Talked with DS so about it today. ANd my DS said it was vicious and attacked. BUT ate lots of bugs. Not a bee, and not a true wasp.


http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Bald-Faced-Hornet


LOts of these around this year.

Oh My I thought you said it was fuzzy.... My bad...

deb

 

[nayeli]

See, I live off pinterest... and BYC. DIY is the best thing if you are poor or not. In my case, me and my mother are poor and dont have a house yet but we have property with a huge bank barn and a Mobil home that we cannot use... So what we are doing is:

#1 Use Mobil home as CHICKEN COOP!!!!

#2 Nippler system

#3 Use rain water (Best thinking ever!!)

#4 Rescue and rehome

#5 Breed (I use rescued roosters for breeding but i never use my rescue hens for breeding, to me its just not right... even when they dont want a rooster around them.
There is a few hens that I have that really like one of my rescued roosters so I let them out with him and they all became a wonderful flock.)

#6 RECYCLE: Anything from wood to anything from GOODWILL! (My favorite place to shop for chickens) You will find anything and always keep your mind open... I mean it. I have used the weirdest things for my chickens and it works great.

#7 Reuse: Bleach anything you can for reusing it. Old wood from old barns can be turned into a chicken coop! We got hired to take down someones barn and so we got to keep everything, we reused all the wood and doors! Not to mention lighting!

#8 Make your own food: We havent gotten to this part yet but there is so many things you can do for this. Amish auctions are best when they sell food! I am wanting to buy a gaylord of watermelon for my 70 chickens for only 50 dallors... Thats like 20 watermelons in there if not more... depends on how big they are. Or other types of fruit. Pinterest has many other ideas.

HERE IS A GREAT TIP FROM MY PINTEREST! I found it searching so its not mine.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/151081762474452762/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/151081762473848474/

So yeah, I can keep going but this is how I have to live... Being houseless for 4 years, you learn allot on saving. Im just turned 18 and im already able to hold my own. Me and my mother have become a team. Somehow we have a business with chickens now? Rescue roosters on craigslist and rehoming them and keep a few for breeding with hens that were not rescued but you raised yourself.

Ive learned to get to know my neighbors, they are all good at gardening but don't have chickens so i give them eggs and they just so happen to give me their best veggies! WIN WIN!!!!

So I'm confused. Where do you live? Someone else suggested you lived in the barn but there wouldn't be running water in it...
I think your post sounds like you and your mom are on the right track though. You sound mature for your age especially to be posting here about being frugal, most 17 years old hate the word.

 

[perchie.girl]

I live in a place where there are no Amish. But this community has something called commodities. They supply food for people who are in need. I have used Commodities when i was unemployed... In several instances. They give you one or two bags of staples.... Rice beans pasta some canned goods and occasionally hamburger or canned chicken. Its free. All you have to do is talk to the local church to find out where its being offered. Commodities are only offered once per month and are divided up by how many people are in the house hold. Also if you are on disability there you get more bags and meat and cheese fruit and fresh vegitables.

Another place is project share. you find out where the program is and in exchange for shares you do public service. This is directed by the church that is associated with the Share project. It could be working handing out bags of food or helping the community in some way. you get a card and so many signatures on the card gets you bags of food.

Hey Often times its stuff just that close to being expired... But most expiration dates are a suggestion. So even after several months beyond the expiration date its edible... As long as the can doesnt bulge.

Grocery stores donate the food. Same goes for bakeries.

I met a man who was a CFO for a company.... Chief Financial Officer.... He had been layed off and was working within the Professional Networking Group through the Employment Development Department. The group was all volunteer and offered classes on job search as well as resources like computers and phone lines. (before cells) this fellow had gone from 100,000 per year to 0. Nice nice man He told me about the Shares. When I asked him how He knew about it.... He said he had twelve kids. There were many times over the years where he needed to work for a share.

I knew people who with only a few additions to the food could make it a whole month.

deb

 

[jeepguy982001]

Found it . This bugger is a hornet. Talked with DS so about it today. ANd my DS said it was vicious and attacked. BUT ate lots of bugs. Not a bee, and not a true wasp.


http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Bald-Faced-Hornet


LOts of these around this year.

Lol enjoy from a a good distance. i had one sting me right above my ankle on my shin bone. about three days of walking like i owed money to the casinos. But they are defiantly neat looking though.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Bald-Faced-Hornet


LOts of these around this year.

Oh My I thought you said it was fuzzy.... My bad...

deb

Deb I never would have found their ID with out your link!!

Quote:

http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Bald-Faced-Hornet


LOts of these around this year.

Lol enjoy from a a good distance. i had one sting me right above my ankle on my shin bone. about three days of walking like i owed money to the casinos. But they are defiantly neat looking though.

THey are buggers!! LOVe that they kill so many flies. THough we dont have so many now that the chickenss are free ranging.