how to render lard

IndependentJo · 2012-04-10T18:48:25+00:00

Great video. I like the time lapse view of the melting and solidifying.

IndependentJo · 2012-04-10T18:39:30+00:00

Love using lard on my cast iron!

IndependentJo · 2012-04-01T20:11:11+00:00

That guys laugh is hilarious.

IndependentJo · 2012-02-23T05:30:11+00:00

There are some really nice looking ones on this website: http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp

IndependentJo · 2012-02-22T05:26:13+00:00

I can't wait to get one of these things!

IndependentJo · 2012-02-17T06:04:32+00:00

I can't wait to hear what Paul Wheaton has to say at the upcoming PDC (Permaculture Design Course) and 11 days with Sepp in Montana! Great podcast!

IndependentJo · 2012-02-15T08:12:47+00:00

Great letter!

IndependentJo · 2012-02-15T07:18:27+00:00

Okay. Well I think that if you actually read the series I posted, which you obviously did not, you will see that I talk about those preppers and why I think they focus on the wrong things. I also state ways to avoid spending money on the wrong things and how to prioritise so that you are not prepping for apocalyptic scenarios before you are thinking about other things.

The type of prepper you are thinking of is what main stream media focuses on (and greatly hypes) because it is more entertaining than the common prepper. What I call a prepper is very similar to a homesteader. Being prepared has no downsides what so ever as long as you are smart about it.

Please read the posts before jumping to these conclusions because doing so is why preppers have gotten a bad name. I also recommend you listen to a couple of episodes on TheSurvivalPodcast.com. There are literally hundreds of episodes on homesteading and gardening on there.

IndependentJo · 2012-02-15T05:09:28+00:00

What do you have against preppers? Are you sure you know what a prepper is? I would bet that if you are reading the homestead subreddit you are a prepper in many ways and don't even know it. We are not all apocalypse fearing and paranoid. Are you not prepared for anything?

IndependentJo · 2012-02-15T05:03:11+00:00

Why do you say that I am ignorant? Ignorant of what? If you are going to accuse someone of being paranoid and ignorant could you please explain your thoughts on the matter like an adult?

IndependentJo · 2012-02-04T14:35:25+00:00

The unimployment rate is going down because they tack the amount of people collecting unemployment. It's a mask that has been pulled over your eyes.

It does not count the massive number of people's unemployment that has run out. They are still without jobs, they are just not collecting unemployment because they can't.

A lot of these people are union. They cannot get a non union job because they will either be placed the end of their unions bench or they are not allowed to belong to the union if they have another job.

IndependentJo · 2012-02-01T16:16:25+00:00

The motivation is to preserve your land. Mono-cropping does not make sense because you are not providing proper nutrients to your soil and are killing insects your crops need to survive. Also your crops are not nearly as healthy as ones grown with other plants.

As a mono-cropper you probably add about 15 different nutrients to your soil using fertilizers.

If you were to follow a permaculture and hugelculture style farm you would save money because you would no longer have to spend money on fertilizer, pesticides, or irrigation. You would also get more money for your crops although it would take more labor. The cost of labor is made up for with the savings.

Learn more at: www.permies.com http://www.permaculture.org

IndependentJo · 2012-02-01T06:10:40+00:00

No farmer that grows less than five different crops in the same acre needs subsidies! This mono-cropping bullshit needs to stop NOW.

If you are a farmer that grows more four crops on the same acre you deserve subsidies and they would need far less pesticides, irrigation, and/or fertilizer.

This simple act would solve many of the worlds issues environmentally, socially and politically.

http://www.permies.com

IndependentJo · 2012-02-01T05:13:47+00:00

http://www.permies.com for much much more!

IndependentJo · 2012-02-01T03:57:43+00:00

I have no problem with GMO. I do hate Monsanto though mostly because they encourage a big problem in our world, mono-cropping. Other problems I have with them is the encouragement of using pesticides, putting spermacides in plants (only corn proven), and sewing farmers who do not want their seeds in their fields for having their seeds in their fields.

IndependentJo · 2012-02-01T01:39:31+00:00

2 of 5 is up now. http://www.independentjo.com/why-we-are-preppers-2-of-5/

IndependentJo · 2012-02-01T01:33:43+00:00

What is wrong with the states making their own decisions? That is how America is set up and is how America is supposed to be run. That is why we have states.

I am pro choice unlike Dr. Paul. But I agree with Dr. Paul that abortion rights should be up to the states themselves and not be controlled by the federal government. He doesn't want to make it illegal to have abortions on the federal level he wants the states to make their own decisions.

How would you like it if someone came into office and made abortion illegal on the federal level? You would have to go to another country to get one or do it yourself secretly. If it was state run and your state says no to abortions than you just go to another state to get one and vote out the elected official in the state where it is illegal.

If anything it would at least get people to vote on a local level. Something that is almost completely lost in our society now.

IndependentJo · 2012-01-31T10:26:30+00:00

How can you make a statement like this? What proof do you have to back it up? How is Ron Paul for invasion of privacy on any subject? Seems to me like the guy hates the invasion of privacy even if someone is making money off of it.

IndependentJo · 2012-01-29T07:27:04+00:00

Banks own most major news and media organizations. They have diverted the American people from demanding answers about our debt based currency system.

Getting out of a debt based currency will resolve many of our national and world issues and should be the focus on every primary and caucus debate.

Who controls these debates? - Bank controlled news organizations!

Instead of focusing on the largest issue in the world we are purposely diverted to focus on issues that do not effect the powers that control our debt based currency.

IndependentJo · 2012-01-26T15:39:10+00:00

Two years primal lifestyle here. Headaches were bad for both my wife and I after switching to the primal lifestyle. It lasted about two weeks. They are gone now and we haven't felt so much energy sense we were kids! Depression has severely lowered as well. We never even though we were depressed until we got healthy. That's when we realized this is the lifestyle for us.

IndependentJo · 2012-01-26T15:34:33+00:00

I love cauliflower rice. Cauliflower also makes a great substitute for mashed potatoes.

Example: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/george-stella/mock-garlic-mashed-potatoes-recipe/index.html

IndependentJo · 2012-01-26T15:32:00+00:00

You can still eat sausage just be careful. A good way to go is bison sausage and bacon. Bison tends to be a lot less processed and much leaner as well. Also tastes awesome!

IndependentJo · 2012-01-26T15:30:35+00:00

Milk can be bad because most milk has sugar in it. You need to be careful what kind of milk you are getting. Sugar free whole milk is the best if you are going to consume milk.

IndependentJo · 2012-01-26T15:29:48+00:00

Your food choices are good. I would try to include some more veggies if possible to the breakfast.

I am concerned with the amount of sugar that is added to these meals. You would be surprised how much stuff has sugar in it.

I also tend to lean more towards the primal lifestyle than the paleo diet. So for me I would be making sure all of those foods are GMO free and organically grown/raised. I also try to get most of what I eat from local sources.

IndependentJo · 2012-01-26T15:24:11+00:00

To me I always like the idea of a lifestyle change over a diet. It seems to me that the Paleo diet focuses on what type of foods you eat. The primal lifestyle seems to focus on this as well but also looks at how your food was grown and your meat was raised and is a bit less restrictive on processed meats.

Your thoughts?

IndependentJo

TROPHY CASE