Preparedness and your health.

[Ole and Lena]

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-7854-...5956139&sr=8-2&keywords=fiskars+splitting+axe

You like quality tools, here's one. Normally I'm not into new fangled gadgets, I'd rather find the old stuff at a flea market as it often works better but after I tried one of these at a friends cabin in Ontario I had to have one. I feel no need for a gas logsplitter with one of these. Made in Finland out of high grade steel, splits Oak, Maple, Ash, Birch,.... even ELM with ease. Swings like an axe, splits like a maul. You'll never swing an 8lb maul or sledge and wedge again.

Along with ice fishing and trapping, woodcutting is my winter exercise. Just seems like work lately as the guy who lets me cut his woodlot insists on being there while I cut and he's usually only availabe a couple weekend days per winter so I have to cut and move A LOT of wood in a short time. After I get the logs hauled home I can slow down and pick at the pile with chainsaw and axe. You're right, it is relaxing. Once I get the sawyers helmet on and start running the saw, the rest of the world melts away. I used to work as a contract feller/bucker for a high-grade hardwood logger in northern WI. Was very hard, very rewarding work. Worked with a partner, just the 2 of us alone in a stand of maple/cherry/yellow birch in the winter woods. We typically cut through a stand ahead of the equiptment so daily life was boiled down to saw maintenance, felling and bucking.

 

[Spifflove]

An example of what you can avoid by limiting yourself to organic foods: Arsenic.

In the past 10 years most apple [and grape] juice concentrate is sourced from China. Since they allow arsenic in their pesticides it is finding its way into our food. Arsenic, specifically inorganic arsenic from pesticides and industrial contamination, bioaccumulate over time.

Be careful, however, organic apples sourced from China will still be subject to heavy lead and arsenic contamination from unrestrained coal burning.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...-january-2012/arsenic-in-your-juice/index.htm

 

[GardenerGal]

I read online that American-grown rice, particularly brown rice, has been found to contain arsenic and other heavy metals. Not sure if it's coming from use of partially treated sewer sludge as fertlizer, or if whether it's due to runoff from contaminated areas. But "organic" isn't always a guarantee of purity.

In general, though, I agree with you Spifflove. Organically grown foods from farms whose sources of compost and fertilizer are clean, are way better than pesticide/fungicide drenched fruits and vegetables from Monsanto-esque corporate "farms."

 

[GardenerGal]

Ole-and-Lena,
That looks like a handy little splitter from Fiskars. I think I saw it or something like it at a tradeshow, but it's good to get a review from someone who's actually used one.

Working "smart" with the right tools is a great energy and time saver. I have a cellar full of old tools, some from flea markets and yard sales like yours, others were $ investments. Over time, you get what you pay for either way... all good tools, if you use them and can rely on them, pay for themselves.

 

[Spifflove]

When going to a store like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Sprouts, etc, a major pitfall you have to avoid is the term "All Natural.

"All Natural" is a misleading and meaningless term. Companies label their product "All Natural" and pump up the price, hoping to snare the well meaning but careless. Sometimes these products even cost more than their organic counterparts!

"All Natural" means avoid at all costs. At worst your are buying a toxic product loaded with gmo and with synthetic pesticide sprayed right on the grain in the grain bin. At best you are paying too much when a similar conventional product can be bought at half the price or less.

 

[Spifflove]

Well I am looking at these shears:

http://www.amazon.com/Okatsune-Hedge-Shear-Inch-Blades/dp/B000152JKS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_lg_1

Darn expensive. But I would buy them if someone asked me: "Excuse me, that is impressive steel, where did you get it?" To which I would reply: "It is Izumo Yasuki Steel." [movie reference, don't worry if you don't know the movie]

 

[GardenerGal]

My biggest expenditures have been for pole saws and pole pruners ... ARS is a Japanese company that makes really good quality ones, but you pay top dollar for 'em. My pruners and shears are mostly carbon steel, but they are works of great craftsmanship and are "ergonomically" compatible." I can prune for hours with them, which often is the case when I am doing corrective and aesthetic shrub and ornamental tree pruning.

If you want to see drool-worthy steel work, check out the woodworking tools @ Japan Woodworker. Blue steel, white steel, gorgeous grains from swordsmith-quality folding. And if you think that those hedge shears were pricey... wait till you see what top-of-the-line Japanese woodworking chisels will set you back.

But getting back to the thread topic, IMO it's good to have multiples of the same tools. Several good spades, several good saws, etc. In my work as a horticulturist/gardener, the last thing I want is to have my sole pruning saw break on a job, with no backup. Same with being prepared at home. Extra good-quality wood or fiberglass axe handles, shovel handles, and replacement blades for saws, extras of each size screwdriver... It may seem redundant but I think of it as backup.

 

[Spifflove]

Selecting a good brand: As in nature, bright colors mean avoid at all costs. Compare two different brands of Vlasic pickles:





Right away you should be able to spot which one is not natural. One should be flashing like a warning light or a bright red berry on an unknown bush.

Lets look at the ingredients:


Again notice the loads of high fructose corn syrup. But lets examine the dye yellow 5. From the free wiki:
Tartrazine appears to cause the most allergic and intolerance reactions of all the azo dyes, particularly among asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.[8] Symptoms from tartrazine sensitivity can occur by either ingestion or cutaneous exposure to a substance containing tartrazine.[citation needed] Symptoms appear after periods of time ranging from minutes to 6 to 14 hours.[9]
A variety of immunologic responses have been attributed to tartrazine ingestion, including anxiety, migraine,[9] clinical depression, blurred vision, itching, general weakness, heatwaves, feeling of suffocation, purple skin patches, and sleep disturbance.[10]
Certain people who are exposed to the dye experience symptoms of tartrazine sensitivity even at extremely small doses, some for periods up to 72 hours after exposure.[citation needed] In children, asthma attacks and hives have been claimed, as well as supposed links to thyroid tumors, chromosomal damage, and hyperactivity.[11][12]
Notice Yellow Dye 5 is also linked to hyperactivity in children.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartrazine

 

[Spifflove]

Preventing inattentiveness and Hyperactivity:

First you must get proper sleep. Everyone from Superman to granny needs 5 hours of sleep every other day or they will die. Optimally for alertness and maximum attention you need 8 hours of sleep. The last hour gives the biggest increase in higher mental function. Missing two days of sleep in a row will drastically decrease our ability to function. Contributors to sleep deprivation include apnea [brain oxygen deprivation related to snoring], restless leg syndrome, and reflux. More often, sleep deprivation is related to TV, video games, porn downloading, or other useless activity.

Decrease your time on multimedia, increase your time doing work, exercise, sports [not spectator] and reading. Spending time with family or friends communicating also counts.

 

[GardenerGal]

Light has a big effect on our sleep patterns. If you don't have light-blocking curtains, blinds or shades on your bedroom windows, you can get a pair of eye shades that you simply put on when you go to bed. My neighbors on both sides keep very bright floodlights on at night, so I have nice shades to keep out the light. Otherwise I'd never get any sleep in my little house with lots of windows.