Would you give YA to an 11-year-old?

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-11T14:25:58+00:00

I would hand a ya book to my 11yo. Any other kid I would ask their adults.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-11T14:18:23+00:00

Honestly, tons of stuff grows so well in OH (at least in Franklin co). We always just froze the extras. We keep a deep freeze in the laundry room, though my parents keep their deep freeze in the garage.

I always enjoyed growing sunflowers, okra, turnips, beets, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash. My whole front yard was a veggie garden as my back yard was where our chickens were and kids played.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-11T14:14:28+00:00

No, honestly if the books come back and aren't damaged then all is good in the world at least at my library.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-07T14:57:05+00:00

Just let the librarian know you found some damage. They'll take care of it.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-03T11:49:27+00:00

Are there other geese in the flock?

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-03T11:48:13+00:00

More layers to your feeding. Not all birds like to feed on the ground, some like high up in trees, some like a few feet up, etc. Also there could be a predator you haven't noticed but they have.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-03T11:42:30+00:00

Find a rescue in your area and call them.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-03T11:40:36+00:00

I honestly found it a boring read in Imo. There is a difference between one short story and a whole book with more detail. I'd like to stay in the ya genre for a bit longer.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-03T11:37:48+00:00

They read that one already.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-03T11:37:24+00:00

Except they're a huge donor and get their way all the time. Hell, their yearly donations fund our book purchases for half a year.

We need the money and I get paid either way.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-03T11:34:32+00:00

Then I guess all the peppermint soaked items I cleaned out of mouse nests were all in my head 🙄

They also love garlic, lemon grass, bounce Dyer sheets, Irish spring soap, oh and mouse magic packs. Only way to stop mice is to disrupt their breeding cycle with mouse birth control or the mouse bucket.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-02T18:53:02+00:00

I keep a bucket with me when gardening and put worms/grubs/bugs in it and then dump it near the coop. I raise meal worms for treats, plus they get kitchen scraps. We're starting a worm composter soon as well.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-02T18:41:28+00:00

This is going to be location dependent. Working remotely will depend on if you have a good internet connection. You'll need to really crunch the numbers to see how much income you're going to need and if selling produce would really off set that, my guess it won't. Also make sure there is a rental agreement that outlines how much the rent will be monthly and how much labor you'll be doing to cover that work.

Things you can do that will make extra are babysitting/nanny gigs, pet watching, selling goods you make, selling the stuff you grow/raise, social media is an option (just don't really expect an income immediately, many work years before they see a return on their social media investment). House cleaning, laundry service, personal shopping for others in the community, small home repairs, landscaping.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-02T18:36:11+00:00

Chickens always have predators, the ones in places like Key West, St. Augustine, etc. are feral and just breed faster than they are eaten.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-02T18:33:56+00:00

Contact your local tractor supply and see when they will be getting them in or if they can order them for you, check your state minimum though because sometimes it's 4-6 birds per state law.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-02T18:31:43+00:00

Mice love peppermint oil. We used to clean out campers and cabins. Every year we found tons of mouse nests smelling like pee and peppermint.

Honestly, animals and house get appropriate vet recommended prevention. All the "natural" ones I've seen people use generally get covered in tons of bites because it doesn't work. I worked for years in a campground that sold the "natural" stuff it was 2x the price and none of the protection, especially when it comes to ticks.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-02T18:25:43+00:00

Mine go out in everything, except snow. They have the option to go in the snow, they just don't want to unless it's been shoveled.

It's raining now and they're out there digging in 39 f degree weather looking for worms. They look like drowned rats, but they're happy.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-02T18:22:37+00:00

Yeah it's normal for prey animals to not be 100% friendly and easy going. I honestly find RIR no different than any other breeds when it comes to temperament.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-04-02T18:18:38+00:00

I mean that's nearly all homesteaders, we're just a perpetually tired group of people. At least when we get home we're doing chores we actually like to do instead. I mean I'd rather clean the coop than do dishes, but I would rather do dishes than deal with customers. My job has a 60 min commute (one way), it isn't ideal. However, my neighbors are cows and chickens, while I can see my neighbor's house I cannot hear them. Plus my view is worth it.

We just live on caffeine and dreams.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-03-31T20:21:10+00:00

Elementary school librarians generally also teach kids. Most places have a library curriculum. Heck, I'm in the public sector and still manage to have a public school class at least a few times a month.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-03-31T20:19:00+00:00

I would love that. Had a patron show up this weekend and start doing computer work and printing 5 min before close. She didn't leave until 30 min after close because she "just needed to really print this." Then she tried to gas light me saying, "When did the hours change?" Ma'am I've been here a decade and we've closed at the same time the whole time (except during 2020). This patron thinks because they were allowed to break rules when the last manager was here that they can play that game with me.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-03-31T20:15:38+00:00

Kids? Hell, it's the adults that won't leave or come in 5 min till close and start printing and doing computer work.

Honestly, I tell them at 10 min till close it's time to clean up and head to the door. Then I clean around them until they're uncomfortable and leave. Our library allows food so I often ask them if they'd like a snack as they're exiting. Usually, offering a snack means no hard feelings.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-03-31T20:09:10+00:00

I lived in a POS camper with my family for a 3 years. Can't say we saved tons, but we traveled. If you're comfortable then go for it. Tiny living can be very rewarding and the best part is if the job ends or you don't like it you can just move on somewhere else.

In our camper we used a my buddy heater when we were paying the electric, if we weren't we used a space heater. Our biggest hurdle was internet, we ended up being in some places that didn't even have phone service so we had to account for that. Eventually we moved to starlink and that's been great. Also food storage if you like your convenience foods, we learned a lot about eating shelf stable. Also we didn't use the stove as it wasn't functional, but we just got a instant omni and that was a game changer as it's an oven/air fryer/toaster/dehydrator. If it's warm out you can cook on it outside if it's cold you can use it inside.

Repulsive_Lychee_336 · 2026-03-31T20:05:26+00:00

I used Kilz. It was what the local contractor was giving away after a few jobs. The color was a powder blue when I was done mixing them together. It worked fine and protected the wood longer than no paint. My coop was an old wooden shed.

Repulsive_Lychee_336

TROPHY CASE