Unplug and Go Outside....

Unplug and go outside. It’s kind of ironic that I read and then “pinned” these words on Pinterest. They seemed to haunt me ever since. In an attempt to find rest after work and from the heat I’d tried multiple things from Netflix to naps on the couch. Maybe you’ve done the same. But for whatever reason the restlessness continued until this past weekend.

While my husband and I only camped for a night, we spent the next day wandering Grant Grove and the surrounding area of Sequoia National Forest. It’s the same story every time we go. I am anxious and my usual uptight self beforehand. And once we’re there, I relax for once and can “just be.” It’s like Prozac and chocolate rolled into one (now there’s an idea).

There is something so freeing about the natural world. For some it’s nerve wracking because it’s something they can’t control. Nature runs on its own schedule and doesn’t need our assistance to accomplish what it must. But once you accept that even without our control, something can be beautiful and thrive; you can enjoy just being part of it all.

We can often ignore God’s artistry when it comes to people, but you can’t deny it when you see the parks. There’s so much that will stop you dead in your tracks. That’s part of the magic of our local National Parks. They offer more than just scenic views and fresh mountain air. They force us to unplug (no service up there anyway) and go outside (obviously). It’s something we seem to have trouble doing in our usual surroundings (I know I do). And yet we need it. We need to unplug and go outside. Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Netflix, Xbox, Pinterest, Call of Duty are all nice things (especially you Pinterest), but they are forms of entertainment, not rest.

I don’t mean to sound like a Ken Burns documentary and you should know for the record I don’t think I’ve ever hugged a tree. This is merely personal observation and experience. And I know it’s not easy to unplug now a days. It’s also not easy to go outside, especially when it’s 104 degrees. But with the parks less than an hour and a half away, it’s easy to retreat from the heat and the ever present Technology Loop.

And more than anything, it’s a chance to view ourselves away from the information saturated, consumer driven world where we reside. It’s not that our world is bad; it just becomes necessary to unplug and go outside from time to time. And our parks have become the last real retreats where we can truly do that.

So do yourself and your family a favor and visit the parks. Doesn’t have to be overnight, even a day trip will do wonders. Just unplug and go outside.

For more information about preserving our National Parks visit www.npca.org. 

There’s an App for That....

While much of homesteading is based on time tested, old fashioned principles that doesn’t mean you can’t use modern technology to help you get things done. For Mac mobile devices, and most likely other devices there are plenty of applications that can be used for reference and productivity. Here are a few I think you’d like.

The brilliant people at Mother Earth News Magazine (MENM) decided to create a few applications for their readers. And since MENM represents some of the best experts in homesteading, you should check them out. There are currently three applications available: Pickn Chicken, Garden Guides and How to Can.

Pickn Chicken is your all in one reference app for choosing the perfect breed of chicken for your family. You can search by use, climate, temperament, etc. It then gives information on each breed. The app also lets you keep track of your favorite breeds, gives you links to information on chicken care, glossary of terms and even gives you a chance to win a free chicken coop.

The Garden Guides application is one of my favorites. The beautiful guides that run in the print magazine are incorporated into one easy-to-use app where you can get expert advice and plenty of information on every crop from carrots to tomatoes.

How to Can is what it says, everything you would want to know on how to can. Here are the categories they cover: Getting Started, Food Acidity and Safety, High Altitude Adjustments, Maintaining Color and Flavor, Hot Packing, Raw Packing, Headspace, Jar Sterilization, Lid Prep, Jar Prep, Processing Time Tables, Cooling Jars, Checking Seals, Storing Canned Foods, Water Bath Canning and Pressure Canning. This app is better than most books out there on canning and it’s an easy reference tool to have with you in the kitchen.

A company called Primolicious LLC created several reference apps perfect for homesteaders. The first one is the Vegetable Planting Calendar which lets you know when and how you should plant more than 90 veggies and herbs. The second one is Vegetable Garden Guides, which covers the planting, growing, harvesting and storing of more than 90 crops. It also gives you a stat summary on each plant with information such as planting/row spacing, how many seeds and how much to plant per person. Disease/insect information is also provided.

The same company also makes applications on making jerky, various cuts of meat and on storing the harvest. Check those out too.

Permaculture by Smart Media Innovations Pty Ltd, is one of those apps that exceeds expectations. This fantastic app will keep you abreast of the latest Permaculture tips, videos, advice and more from their featured publishers. Inside you have access to: up to the minute Permaculture tips, blogs and information , the latest Permaculture videos, news and reviews and access to the latest Permaculture courses in Australia, the UK, USA and more.

These are just some of the applications available that will aid you with homesteading projects. Most, but not all of these are free. All are easy to use, additions to your homesteading tools. Download a few and check them out.